The Med

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Any good recommendations for car hire (Ferrari, Maserati) ?

Yes don't get ripped off for the collision damage waiver. Italian car rental companies are masters at selling you vastly inflated CDW insurance. And if you dont take the CDW insurance make sure you take plenty of photos of the car and point out any undocumented damage to the desk before you set off. Some of them also charge you extra for the simple privilege of picking your car up from an airport even if you've prepaid. And we're talking Hertz/Avis not some cowboy outfit (although they're all cowboys)

 

[rubberduck]

Thanks Mike

Being in the transport industry I am familiar with most tricks, which they try on in the UK, particularly in the commercial sector. Many a time has the guy come to pick up a vehicle & ended up walking to the train station because he tried it on !

 

[mcanderson]

For our 10th wedding anniversary we went back to Amalfi. To make the most of the driving I asked for an Alfa, I can't remember which model, but it wasn't at the base end. The hire company ensured I got what I asked for, but I could have cried when I picked the car up and it was a diesel!

 

[rafiki_]

For our 10th wedding anniversary we went back to Amalfi. To make the most of the driving I asked for an Alfa, I can't remember which model, but it wasn't at the base end. The hire company ensured I got what I asked for, but I could have cried when I picked the car up and it was a diesel!

Alfa? Fiat in drag. Lancia? Frugly Fiat in drag. Both best avoided.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Alfa? Fiat in drag. Lancia? Frugly Fiat in drag. Both best avoided.

I have an Alfa diesel since about five years. 2.4 liter TD and while I think it is a good car, I have to agree is not much fun for the curves.

But an Alfa Breva or Spider with 2.5 V6 or the new 4C would have been very fun. For Lancia you have to go for some old model as the Integrale, but which car hire would have one of those.

 

[MrB]

Alfa? Fiat in drag. Lancia? Frugly Fiat in drag. Both best avoided.

hahaha, For real? Do you drive a German car perchance?

 

[MrB]

I have an Alfa diesel since about five years. 2.4 liter TD and while I think it is a good car, I have to agree is not much fun for the curves.

But an Alfa Breva or Spider with 2.5 V6 or the new 4C would have been very fun. For Lancia you have to go for some old model as the Integrale, but which car hire would have one of those.

The JTD 2.4 is a great engine, re-mapped it's unreal. The Brera is a heavy car but the Prodrive Q4 is amazing with the 3.2 GTA engine. The 147 GTA was and still is a pocket rocket. The 156 chassis was so good they won the WTC championships a few years running with hardly any modification it was that good! The looks of a 159 are to die for....show me a German family car that looks better! 4C and 8C.....nuff said TBH. I won't go into the old GTV6 etc as i could go on all night. Now we have the Giulia.....the stats are looking very good. Alfa Romeo are more Ferrari influenced than Fiat. I don't need to go into the Integrale. :encouragement:

 

[MrB]

Sorry for the Fred drift, I'm an Alfa Romeo fan, we are like this lol....... Now back on topic.

 

[rubberduck]

Have enquired about a Maserati Grancabrio as its on the think about list for a second car, waiting for the price & terms.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Sorry for the Fred drift, I'm an Alfa Romeo fan, we are like this lol....... Now back on topic.

I am too, pity Fiat destroyed all these brands. Both Alfa and Lancia where something special before the dark side i.e Industrialization times.
Which I also think just not suit Italians as a culture much, although some industries from the NE part of the peninsula can level or beat German in productivity terms.

As for Alfa goes I get a few wet dreams for the custom made Disco Volante; https://youtu.be/DxF9vFJezRA
And I am not the only one. Possibly the best ever made TG episode.

 

[rafiki_]

hahaha, For real? Do you drive a German car perchance?

I drive a car that is properly engineered, tested on roads all over the world, optimised for ride and handling in England and Ireland, some of the most demanding roads in the world. Yep, unfortunately made in Germany ��. Not sure what that has to do with your post, but Alfa's and Lancias are Fiats with a different "top hat". All the serious engineering is common. There are a couple of Lancias that are Chryslers or Jeeps underneath, but the only vehicles worth buying from Chrysler are the 300/Chargers, built on the old Merc E platform, but getting a bit long in the tooth these days. Fiat is seriously lacking in engineering investment, as the only thing in their line up that turns a margins is the 500, and this is a Panda in drag, built in Poland ��

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Germans have never made special handling cars, even there best suffer behind a half backed Italian car.
It is a pity Fiat accounts department will make Italian brands fail for a reason or another, that is excluding Ferrari.
Look at the 156 was a better car in its time, but for some minor stupid details it failed.

Rafiki is not all wrong, but this should be an eye opener for some https://youtu.be/5gEdJmIVqLY

This is the German response; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ZpYn3TvHc

 

[petem]

Germans have never made special handling cars, even there best suffer behind a half backed Italian car.
It is a pity Fiat accounts department will make Italian brands fail for a reason or another, that is excluding Ferrari.
Look at the 156 was a better car in its time, but for some minor stupid details it failed.

Rafiki is not all wrong, but this should be an eye opener for some https://youtu.be/5gEdJmIVqLY

This is the German response; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ZpYn3TvHc

I owned two 156's and the handling was OK but at the end of the day they're front wheel drive. The two BMW's I've owned subsequently have both been more rewarding, even though they had less power.

 

[RobWales]

Once owned a Fiat 128 sport, great little car with superb handling and a great high revving motor....
Shame it disintegrated in front of my eyes due to the dreaded tin worm!

 

[petem]

Once owned a Fiat 128 sport, great little car with superb handling and a great high revving motor....
Shame it disintegrated in front of my eyes due to the dreaded tin worm!

I had a 127 Sport. A bright Orange one, registration BDD3T. It was a right hoot on 135 tyres. Written off in head on collision with a Cavalier. The lady in the Cavalier was nice enough to give me a lift home!

 

[Nigelpickin]

Have enquired about a Maserati Grancabrio as its on the think about list for a second car, waiting for the price & terms.

Best looking production car for <100k IMVHO, best way to drive one as well, (rental). Looks great, sounds great, handles ok and turns heads but not that satisfying to own. I swapped mine for a XKR and never looked back. Better handling, better space, nicer trim and nearly as good to listen to, for half the price. Still turns the occasional head but that's not the point - If I was looking for another GT the Jag XKR final edition would be on my list, but I'd probably go for a 911 Targa now the Jag is discontinued and there's no sign of a replacement...

You will love the Grancab tho, especially when the exhaust pops!

 

[rafiki_]

Best looking production car for <100k IMVHO, best way to drive one as well, (rental). Looks great, sounds great, handles ok and turns heads but not that satisfying to own. I swapped mine for a XKR and never looked back. Better handling, better space, nicer trim and nearly as good to listen to, for half the price. Still turns the occasional head but that's not the point - If I was looking for another GT the Jag XKR final edition would be on my list, but I'd probably go for a 911 Targa now the Jag is discontinued and there's no sign of a replacement...

You will to the Grancab tho, especially when the exhaust pops!

The F Type is the Jag replacement. Like you I really prefer the XKR, a much nicer all round car, and great for a long run. The F is too noisy and too harsh for genuine GT travel.
I too prefer rear wheel drive to front. Uncorrupted steering, and better weight distribution. Electric PAS has not improved steering feel either, with a tendency to feel synthetic compared with HPAS. Lost in the quest for CO2 reduction and cost saving unfortunately.

 

[MapisM]

I drive a car that is properly engineered, tested on roads all over the world, optimised for ride and handling in England and Ireland, some of the most demanding roads in the world. Yep, unfortunately made in Germany &#55357;&#56832;.

Let me guess, is it powered by one of those diesel engines that will pass into the annals of history for having been properly engineered to create the largest industrial scam in the history of mankind? :ambivalence:

 

[vas]

Rafiki is not all wrong, but this should be an eye opener for some https://youtu.be/5gEdJmIVqLY

shit!

way-way over the limit on a bloody t-shirt and jeans??? wtf, this man is crazy!

should lock him up for good!
nice car though, want to get my fiat coupe out again and play

V.

PS. apologies for the OT, but this thread has really gone way off track! To be slightly back on topic, did tour Firenze, Cinque terra, milano, few other places and then Venice a few yrs back on my car and the bit that I still remember is cinque terra, truly amazing, don't miss it!

 

[rafiki_]

Let me guess, is it powered by one of those diesel engines that will pass into the annals of history for having been properly engineered to create the largest industrial scam in the history of mankind? :ambivalence:

Not that I know. Diesel built in Austria, not Prussia.&#55357;&#56832;