>------------------------------
>
>Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:35:23 -0000
>From: "Jonathan Smith" <jrrs(at)email.msn.com>
>Subject: Hi, new UK lister
>
and then there were three...
Welcome, Jonathon.
I think you're the third person from the UK on the Alpines list!
>...my best bet????, ( tell me i'm wrong), is going to be a late
>series V (63,64?), with the 1724cc engine and desirable overdrive including
>a Hard top not to mention the nice goodies that go with it such as the
>Microcell? seats etc.
go for what *you* fancy...but Jarrid's right on reliability & spares
availability
>am i likley to get a better price buying now ( winter), or
>indeed when the summer has finished, taking into consideration that its a
>soft top?.
Probably best to view each potential purchase as it comes up:
you could buy a lemon in the winter
and a bargain in the Summer, or vice versa
>Again what is the potential cost for a descent ( -1 or +2 quality) in the
>UK. I have seen adverts in "Classic Car Buyer", for the same as i have
>suggested above ( from a dealer), for about £6500, which according to price
>guides seems expensive, but that may be the price for a dealer vehicle?.
>
>I have set my price to around the £4500 mark, and hope to buy privatley to
>gain a saving and hope also to buy from an honest source. One of which i
>hope will be though the UK club.
it just so happens that I know of a multicoloured, engineless,
dismantled, terminally rotten club member's series III for sale.
yours for £4499...
...but seriously...
I'm sure you could get a reasonable V for around £3500;
set aside an extra good few hundred for work that you *might* need done / parts.
there's a lot of overvalued Alpines out there, and it's a buyers market.
try the 'SAOC Alpine Horn', Practical Classics magazine, you're local
AutoMarket paper, or ask
any of the Alpine spares suppliers if they have/ know of any cars for sale.
Or you could advertise, stating you want to buy:- this might give you a choice
of cars locally.
>So my questions are as follows...
>What is the next UK club event i can attend.?
see the Alpine Horn, phone your local rep. Or tell us what area you're in
>Is the interior carpeted?.
originally on ser V GT only (?), but most ser V-sports will be by now
>Where can I get a drive in one?
visit a classic car dealer who's got one.
And tell ME what it's like, cause I never have.
>Wheres best for servicing in UK and how tricky to do it myself?
Everything is fairly straightforward, esp. compared to some contemporary models.
>Wheres best for Uk spare parts ?
there's a few different Alpine spares suppliers: prices / quality / service
seem to vary:
everybody has a favourite supplier..
>if i was also condsidering
>Fiat 124
= Fiat 126 in drag ?
>Alfa Duetto
Nice, but rusty / complicated?
( although MY next pile-of-rust may well be Italian )
>Jensen Healey 2000
Ugly, Ugly, Ugly. And rusty.
>Porsche VW 914/916.
Agricultural Hippy-sh*t!
Ah, I can feel the storm-clouds of protest gathering ;-)
>Why would i choose the Alpine ???
for *beauty, class, line, rarity, luxury(?), easy spares &
servicing, club, price...
*200+ folk on the Alpine mail-list to help you!
*Sean Connery(in "Doctor No") & George Best drove them.
against *Double check all you're rust spots when buying, or get
someone who knows how to.
*(allegedly) not the fastest in standard setup, but stick
in the Holbay engine.....
*Dale Winton used to drive one.
Andy Whiteford , Scotland, UK. SAOC 4917J
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