On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 18:19:22 +0100, "Phil Sawyer"
> wrote:

>...but on Saturday night I called my usual taxi company to take me and the
>current Mrs Sawyer home after an evening's liquid refreshment, and instead
>of the usual Toyota Carina it was an Alfa 156 2.0TS!
>
>The driver was shocked as I knew straight away how to open the rear doors
>(apparently, most passengers assume it's a two-door and try to get in
>through the front passenger side) but I told him I had one too.
>
>He then seemed determined to drive like a true Alfisti, and made a pretty
>good job of it too. Mileometer read 116,000-ish miles and it pulled and
>cornered as well as a much younger car. I made sure to tip him a little
>extra as I'm sure he must be spending a fortune at the pumps!
>
>Thing is, I'm a little unsure about this. If I drove a Merc or B*W or any
>other normal car I'd be resigned to the fact that my car could end up as
>minicab fodder. But an Alfa? Doesn't really say Cuore Sportivi, does it?

My first ride in an Alfa was in a taxi in Mallorca - a fully-loaded
166 (leather, full digital display, the works). I was v. impressed!

Jake