MikeyRules

Yeah surely it's a no brainer and should be relatively cheap and cheerful to do - Pretty much all cars have gas bonnet struts so I was surprised to find a cheap metal manual leg.

Yeah I'm aware of most of their woes... Trophy cars would be the only place I'd buy one if I did have a moment of madness. Not sure I will though as I've a few other Italians on my must buy and have fun list before they get more expensive and appreciate! I'm a firm believer that you can some great cars around the £5k mark both in the classic and modern classic arena.

Yes I quite like them for what they are... They're definitely a turn key proposition if you want something cheap and fun. I gave £5k for mine off a club member, kept it a year and sold it on £6.5k so can't complain as it didn't cost anything at all in my ownership other than some BP ultimate and a bit of spit 'n' polish! There's a place in Peterborough that specialises in MGTF's and they all come with the triple layer gaskets done and a warranty from about £1500 upwards... £2k - £2.5k gets you a minter... Now that is some cheap roof down action ! I have them saved as a search on eBay and occasionally get email reminders so have a butchers...Quite tempting as a summer blast and sell option!

Was yours a 1.6, 1.8 or 2L? I believe the 2L is a Ford engine (I hate Ford with a passion so this did not please me) Mine had a small induction kit fitted and allegedly a sport exhaust from the factory so had a bit of a rasp and snort to it, but wasn't out of keeping as they are a bit of a girls car ha-ha... We only had it a year and did minimal mileage in it really. We managed to do the hill climb at Shelsley Walsh last year which was fun and a couple of car shows throughout the summer before we sold it on. I can't say I noticed the passenger leg room being that bad. I'm just under 6ft and with the seat all the way back and not too reclined it was ok. The drivers side was better though.

It's well known that Vauxhall were very strict with build quality when they got Lotus to produce the VX for them. They pretty much shoulder watched the entire production process so the rumours go, and it definitely showed especially in the later cars. Also at the time only the 1.8 K series engine was available in the Elise whereas the VX had either the GM sourced 2.2 NA or like mine the Z20LET 2,0L turbo charged engine out of the VXR. (210bhp as standard) I had an equally distant stainless manifold, sports 200 cell Cat and exhaust system made for the car and then charge cooled the air intake with terrifying results (Dry Nitrous)... sub 4 seconds to 60 in the dry if you could keep the power down, and it was an animal if you poked it. On a rolling road day they couldn't keep the car on terra firma as it kept lifting off the rollers!! The VX was also slightly wider and longer in the wheel base which made it feel more planted. Turn in and direction changes were incredible... and it definitely used be better round the track than my Elise friends. A good friend of mine bought the Elise off me and we used to go for Sunday runs through the Pennines with a pub lunch thrown in for good measure. I used to play cat and mouse with him literally, which used to really pee him off

How weird! I wonder how it ended up there of all places? I guess it remain one of life's unsolved mysteries lol!

I can't believe my Delta has a retro style bonnet strut that you have latch on yourself instead of a gas one!? Are they all like this? Has anyone thought about changing it for a gas strut so it holds itself up? Can't be that difficult to do surely?

Mine was a 2006 (56) 2.0L sport with the folding factory hardtop, factory body kit and heated leather, so I think quite rare for a 2006 MK3 especially in the pearl grey... I thought the interior was quite good to be fair, certainly much improved over the previous versions. The seats were of good quality leather, the dash plastic's tactile and the Bose hi-fi was great even with the roof down. It was a great point to point car with very direct steering. I bought it to share with my Dad, but he hardly found the time to drive it, so I sold it last September for about £1500 more than I paid for it.

I think my taste is as eclectic as yours! The nearest I've got to a Lotus was this: Which was closely followed by this which was infinitely better: After crashing that at 110mph on the back straights of Oulton Park I bought this: (Nismo 350bhp edition) and for work just for fun so I couldn't get clamped in the works car park: (230bhp/505lbft boost pack) 10 Alfas ensued as my love affair with all things Italian grew (Think you've seen most of those) So I've just sold this: (my summer toy) and this: (My winter toy) and now we only have the 147 twinnie and my Delta...

Ah good man...What a great selection of cars! Always wanted a Fiat Coupe as I love the styling and they are another wolf in sheep's clothing especially the 20v turbo. I can't even remember the last time I saw an X19, but do remember how small they were. They must be quite rare now I would have thought!? The nearest I got was a Barchetta which I still love to this very day. The Esprit is very Bond... Again still a very cool and timeless car! Which series is it?

Yeah we looked at those ages ago as I wanted a mini 4x4 for the other half... They were really good value but we couldn't find the right car at the time either as an SX4 or Sedici. Unbelievably her 147 has just past its MOT with zero advisories so it might live for a little while longer until we have to replace it. (It had to have a new Rad, and still has an oil leak which I'll need to keep an eye on) What has Mrs Nello got now then?

Sorry Neil, I realised after I'd posted that both versions of the car were produced under Fiat ownership.... I still stand by my 'polished' statement though You're right about the 500x...so much for Fiat branded cars being the budget brand hey! One of my friends has just bought the new Panda Cross thingy and paid the thick end of 20 grand for it. I think he's off his tits personally, but it just goes to show there are people out there that will pay silly money for this type of car.

Not sure to be honest as I haven't really read into it yet, but I do like what they're doing with the Jeep brand. I've always had a soft spot for Jeep, probably as they're a bit left field and quirky which I naturally gravitate too. The new Grand is fantastic to drive, well spec'd and of solid quality but very pricey,and that new baby renegade looks fun and has a kind of Fiat 500 take on a 4x4.

Haha small world! I had John from Gough's make me a equally distant stainless steel manifold for my vx220 turbo back in 2003! I have to say it was a work of art an the welding was something else! It sounded sublime too!

But that's my point Rosso, there is no Lancia influence in the interior or exterior other than the badging! Look at the picture above and tell me where they differ?? ...and as for a dealer telling you they've made big improvements...well that probably wasn't worth the breath he wasted in saying it...Absolute tosh. That interior is classic Chrysler with the plastic fantastic interior and silly clock. I've sat in one and it was like a Jeep Patriot I once had. If Chrysler had had any influence on the Delta I wouldn't have bought one. My point is the Delta is 100% Lancia and the 300c is 100% Chrysler. Fiat will want customers to believe the product has improved now they've bought Chrysler but the reality is it hasn't, and the reviews and sales are reflecting that. However I have to say the Jeep brand does finally seem to be reaping some benefits as there new line up looks great and the quality seems to have improved considerably.

I'm laughing at the fact that Fiat couldn't find the fault.... It's almost second nature as most of the UK network is less than useless! In the Alfa world good dealerships are almost non existent and even the specialists are questionable! I now have to travel from South Manchester to the High Peak in Derbyshire to Peak Alfa which is a right PITA, but at least I know Roger is 100% and worth the travel.

Stuart did you say you needed the book pack for your car? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHRYSLER-DELTA-HANDBOOK-PACK-OWNERS-MANUAL-WALLET-2010-2015-/131422793455?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9968aeef

Yeah all my Alfa's have had a fuel release lever and to be fair I never had any issues with them...The only car that was a bit weird was my MX5 roadster coupe with the folding hardtop. The lever was hidden inside the centre console glove box which is on the rear wall of the cabin so you had to get out and reach in to grab it unless you had double jointed elbows!

What's that saying? Oh I know.... 'You can't polish a turd' . It gets absolutely awful reviews and it isn't exactly pretty now is it... and from those pic's it doesn't look any different to the Chrysler branded one unless I'm missing something?

Yes know completely what you mean about a full garage... Note to self: Need to sell all the crap out of there so I have my working space back! Would be good to see some pic's of your car fella and the changes you've made so far.

Wow I never thought I'd hear you utter those immortal words regarding a 300c! I can't say I share your enthusiasm.... at all...

Yeah mine exactly the same fella... It is really flimsy and you do have to be firm with it as you say. I must admit I don't remember the Ipsylon's I hired in Italy being like this? I wonder if they are having similar issues?

I guess Neil (Nello) would be best to compare with as me and Rosso have dirty diseasels

So... Have you fitted yours yet Neil? Be good to get a final verdict before buying another set.