Thanks for that. The boss of the haulage company seems to be amenable, so I'm trying to do a deal with him without getting the insurers involved. That'll be better for both of us. I'll just have to find out what he's prepared to pay. As I mentioned to Hippo, it's not dead, it's just really unsightly now and it's put paid to my ambitions of getting it "tidy". Sadly, it was surprisingly rust-free. Like you, I was put off the FL1 by other industry colleagues, and when we were looking for a small 4x4 for Mrs Avocet!, we ended up getting a Nissan X-Trail (which, frankly, was a disappointment). Although I've only had this FL for just under a month, at 18 years old, it's more solid and refined than her X-Trail was at 12. The Exy had SOME good points, where it was better than the FL, but I'm starting to think we backed the wrong horse!
Thanks for that. The boss of the haulage company seems to be amenable, so I'm trying to do a deal with him without getting the insurers involved. That'll be better for both of us. I'll just have to find out what he's prepared to pay. As I mentioned to Hippo, it's not dead, it's just really unsightly now and it's put paid to my ambitions of getting it "tidy". Sadly, it was surprisingly rust-free. Like you, I was put off the FL1 by other industry colleagues, and when we were looking for a small 4x4 for Mrs Avocet!, we ended up getting a Nissan X-Trail (which, frankly, was a disappointment). Although I've only had this FL for just under a month, at 18 years old, it's more solid and refined than her X-Trail was at 12. The Exy had SOME good points, where it was better than the FL, but I'm starting to think we backed the wrong horse!
rob_bell
Well-Known Member
Keep it - and have some fun in it! Now you can take it green laning and you won't be worried about scratchy bushes damaging the paint! The FL1 is great off road and only really limited by ground clearance. I don't do rock climbing, so the lack of a low-range hasn't concerned me so far. 
weemac
Well-Known Member
Shocker. Condolences @Avocet1. Keep yer chin up, though.
I'll second @GrumpyGel and suggest you get another FL1 TD4.
If you have somewhere to keep your write-off SORN, it's a perfectly viable parts car. A situation a lot of us FL1 keepers would benefit from.
You've made effort to get it running nice and have put the time into research. Shame to see that knowledge go to waste. Plus, you know you'll miss all the loonies on the forum
I'll second @GrumpyGel and suggest you get another FL1 TD4.
If you have somewhere to keep your write-off SORN, it's a perfectly viable parts car. A situation a lot of us FL1 keepers would benefit from.
You've made effort to get it running nice and have put the time into research. Shame to see that knowledge go to waste. Plus, you know you'll miss all the loonies on the forum
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
I was suggesting getting a parts car to keep this one on the road - but if this one's to far gone, then yeh, its probably worth more as a parts car.Shocker. Condolences @Avocet1. Keep yer chin up, though.
I'll second @GrumpyGel and suggest you get another FL1 TD4.
If you have somewhere to keep your write-off SORN, it's a perfectly viable parts car. A situation a lot of us FL1 keepers would benefit from.
You've made effort to get it running nice and have put the time into research. Shame to see that knowledge go to waste. Plus, you know you'll miss all the loonies on the forum
The main love of my life (apart from Mrs Avocet1 of course!) is a 1989 Alfa 164. It's the 4th one of those I've had, and all the others have been broken as they've reached the end of their lives, to provide spares. This FL1 is a revelation though! I'm so used to simply not being able to find ANYTHING for the Alfa and I've been shocked (in a good way!) about how much stuff there is still available for the FL1, (Either in scrapyards or as aftermarket spares). One slight disadvantage is that the FL is just an inch too tall to get into my garage. I can do it, but I have to let the tyres down! Also, although I'm lucky enough to have a ramp in there, I can't lift it very high before it hits the roof trusses.
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
If an Alfa is the love of your life, then you're well used to trouble and grief with your motors
I could never get the D1 in my garages, but the Freelander's been fine - although I can't lift the bonnet and get the stay in if I back in as the up and over door gets in the way. However, that is a secondary issue, as there's so much junk in my garage I can't get the car in anyway
My brother bought himself a hoist one christmas to. It sounds great...
If an Alfa is the love of your life, then you're well used to trouble and grief with your motors
I could never get the D1 in my garages, but the Freelander's been fine - although I can't lift the bonnet and get the stay in if I back in as the up and over door gets in the way. However, that is a secondary issue, as there's so much junk in my garage I can't get the car in anyway
My brother bought himself a hoist one christmas to. It sounds great...
Oh very nice! Original Triumph V8 in it?
Oddly, (I really have no idea what they did wrong!) the 164 is an incredibly reliable car. I scrapped my previous one with just under a quarter of a million miles on it! They have an awful reputation for dodgy electrics and rust, but neither were an issue on the 164. OK, I've had to weld it in a few places, but it's 30 years old this year!
And yeah. My garage is "full". On a good day, I can see (some of!) the floor....
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
lol
1/4 million miles is a good run for any motor!
Yes its got the original V8 and he's taken it all over Europe with only minor issues on Triumph club runs.
