Re:Alfa Boutique stuff

[Luca <nodoubt@domain.elided>]

The 23 Nov 1999 at 09:03:19 -0500 "Jay T Hinton" wrote:

>Just returning back from a stay in France and Italy,  I always try to
snip
>selection of both 156 and 166 cars,  both equipped with turbodiesels, 
>which are desirable in France due to the price of 98 sans plomb, 
>which may average about 7.5 FF per litre, vs gasoil   (diesel),  which
>can be bought for anywhere from 4.43 FF to 5.4 FF per liter.  You can
>do the math fer yerself.  

Sadly, gasoline price, is a very painful wound here in Europe.
Here in Italy we do have Diesel, then Unleaded 95 and Leaded 97.
Most of older Alfas (the ones we love) were made for Leaded gasoline
and for a lot of it... we all know the poor mileage our beloved car
are capable of.  
Mine, by example, driving normally w/o abousing of
it so much can offer an average 9 kilometer per liter (I mean driving
in a quite traffic, w/o strong accelerations).
Running in a motorway at constant speed, w/o turning on the turbine
you can get a 10km/liter.  Surely, at 60-80kph, constant, you can
even talk about 15km/h... but where the hell, at least in our twisty
roads, can you keep such a pace for more than FEW kilometers? Nowere.
For FUN driving, well... 8 km/liter would still be a GREAT GOOD RESULT :-)
I filled up sunday, and price range for LEADED one was from 1,990 ITL
to 2,025 ITL per liter... and it's rising in these days (petrol price
is rising!).
For a matter of calculation, today's dollar value is 1,880.7 ITL ...
go figure... it sounds like we get one liter for the price you
buy a US-Gallon (3.8 liters).
Ain't enough: most of EU countries (like Finland, Germany...) took away
from market the LEADED gasoline many years ago.... and now there's ITALY
too wanting to do that... suddenly, and forcing us all to install a cathalizer
(note that countries selling UNLEADED only, allow the presence of older
vehicles
w/o a cathalizer).
I hope they will not really force us do to that...
I mean, most alfas should have no problems with unleaded gasoline, since (I
HOPE)
valves places should be made in bronze, or in some material that will not
suffer of the lack of lead.  Detonation shouldn't be a problem cuz 97 LEADED
should be replaced by 97 or 98 UNLEADED (like in France, Geramany and so so
on).
The problem could be the Cathalizator that I really dunno if is available
at HUMAN-compatible :-) price for my 75 turbo or all older beauties around
here.







nodoubt, 
937 landpilot
"A lifetime isn't enough"
937RS2, 75 Turbo, RM250

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/6818/

------------------------------