Hi fans, you've been watching the Barrelbrigade for a while, so you were probably waiting for the long drive.
We're starting in the high north only to travel to the deep south, where the temperature is a little higher hopefully.
Where are we going Nic? - You'll find out. Get in.
Right. We're underway and now we're alone, I can be honest about my Scenic. First of all, you can't be any further away...
from an Alfa 156 than this. You'll buy the Alfa if you like cars and don't buy cars for rational reasons. This on the other hand is a car you buy...
if you buy cars only for rational reasons. And you'll notice that. The worst thing according to me is the position of the steering wheel.
These cars are pretty much known for that. Renault pulled the same trick on hatchbacks in those years as well, but I feel like a bus driver.
Just look at me going across the roundabout... Here we go. Everything behind me is rumbling about, because the seats are loose.
Anyway, it's not a dynamic car in any way. You can't fall in love with it. Having said that, it's in good nick. I shouldn't even complain,
because my Alfa isn't working. I should be grateful that I'm still going, which I am of course. Evert, thanks again. It's in pretty good shape.
I shouldn't jinx it, because something essential could break. But the drive is very good, not much worse than when it was new.
There's a lot of play in the gear lever, which seems to be normal in older Renaults. Normally, you can test if the lever is in neutral,
you shake it about. You shouldn't do that in here, because it will shake in every gear that it's in.
Anyway. The drive is good, it's comfortable and there are no weird noises or rattles, so we'll get there. No problem.
We prepared all kinds of questions for Jan's Alfa 156 and I won't throw them away. He's going to answer them.
Jan are you ready? The Alfa 156 has a big family. There's a saloon, a sports wagon, a coupé version...
And you probably think the question is what the coupé is called, but you're wrong. That's the GT.
However, of that GT, a one-off prototype convertible version was made. Which coachbuilder built that prototype?
What are my options? - You can ask me for options.
It would be multiple choice, so I want options!
Oh you want multiple choice? That'll cost you a point. A. Giugiaro, B. Zagato or C. Bertone.
Well, the roof was sawn off, so it must be Zagato. - Wrong.
You're driving a 140 horsepower 1.8-litre Twin Spark, but the 1.4-litre Twin Spark is the least powerful Twin Spark available.
How much power does that produce?
110 horsepower.
Do you want multiple choice? - I thought I answered, but sure.
A. 91 horsepower, B. 103 horsepower or C. 112 Italian horses. - B, 103.
- That's correct. Yes, victory.
Jan, question three is from me. As a big motorsports fan, you most certainly know the racing heritage of the Alfa 156.
In 2001, the final year of the Dutch 156 Challenge, a lady became champion. What was her name?
A. Sandy van der Beek, B. Simone van der Zee or C. Sandra van der Sloot. - That would be C.
You do know a lot Jan. - I've heard that before.
Right, the fourth question. Walter de Silva was responsible for the design of your 156. Except cars, Walter also designs shoes.
Cameraman Jasper will now give you three pictures, and which of the three belongs to Walter de Silva?
Luckily, my steering wheel is about as flat as a table. I'll put down my walkie talkie and I'm going to have a look.
I'm going for the blue-white flip flops. - That's your answer? Because it's wrong.
Surprising, which one was the right answer? - The high heeled lady shoes, Walter likes those. He designs them.
As you know, your 156 became Car of the Year in 1998. What's the current Finnish jury member called in the Car of the Year-committee?
A. Velmatti Honkkanen, B. Jarmo Markkanen, or C. Harri Luutella? - It must be Harri.
Unfortunate Jan. Harri works in Helsinki. - Oh I must've mixed them up.
It happens to the best. The right answer was A., because answer B. is the editior in chief of the Finnish AutoWeek.
Good to know, thanks! - It was our pleasure, you just wait for the points.
People often ask me what I think success stands for. Well, you're a winner if you buy a car for less money than your rivals but still is...
in better shape than them as well. That's when you're a winner. You're successful if you're able to drive a Mercedes as company car,
because you'll be higher in the hierarchy. Just look at me. Sure, it's an A140 which was about the cheapest Mercedes available back in the day.
I won't complain though. It cost me €350 and now you're going to hear what I think of it: It just doesn't produce enough power.
It's incredibly slow. Since we've flown over the Autobahn, it's become a tad quicker. But if you want to go with the flow,
you need to put your foot hard down. Luckily, the gearbox works again. Thanks for fixing it Joep, the tie-wrap does what it needs to do.
Other than that, people tend to say that my car looks like a crab. As if it were busted. But if I let go of my steering wheel,
it's fine. I think people are just jealous. Jealousy is something I'll have to live with now I'm a Mercedes-driver.
What I don't really like about my car? Usually, I think it's exciting to find something which used to belong to the previous owner,
which could be anything. From a card to some screwdrivers. Just a small detail. This car however, has been plucked completely.
The only thing left in here are small hair bands. Those are spread across the car, and I think that's disgusting.
I want to make a statement. People who wear those hair bands in the car, make sure you rid your car of them if you want to sell it.
Because it's disgusting. - Right Nic, you ready?
I know everything about Mercedes-Benz, let's go. - In 1998, Mika Hakkinen became F1 World Champion and McLaren-Mercedes...
became constructors champion. After that, Mercedes released a special A160 to celebrate: the Edition F1. It was available in Hakkinen or...
Coulthard-livery. And there's a question on the horizon here. What's the birthplace of Mika Hakkinen.
Helsinki. He was born in the hospital of Helsinki. - Well, you're wrong.
Multiple choice please. - Right. A. Esppoo, B. Vanta or C. Nastalla?
Is that last one with two a's? - There are two a's yeah, but they're divided.
It must be B then. - You're correct.
Question 2. In 1997, as a result of the Moose-test, all A-Classes were recalled to install ESP. How much A-Classes did Mercedes have to recall exactly?
A. 17.000 cars, B. 33.000 cars or C. 62.000 cars? - Moose-test? What has that to do with the A-Class?
No, it has something to do with animals. But you know everything, right? - Well, that must've been 63.000 cars.
You obviously meant 62.000, but you were wrong anyway. It was answer A., too bad.
Right, Nic. After the A-Class was facelifted in 2001, the A-Class Long was released. How much longer was that exactly?
Give me some options please. - ..., 12 or 17 centimetres.
I didn't get the first one. - 10, 12, or 17 centimetres.
17 centimetres, because I remember it was quite some length. - Damn you, you're right.
Nic, we're staying at the long version. Because there was one engine which wasn't available in the long version.
Was that A. The A140, B. The A160 CDI or C. The A210 Evolution. - I don't believe there has been an A140 Long.
You're wrong, it was answer B. Right, next question. It's not a surprise that an official AMG-version of your car never was released,
but they did make a prototype. Where did that A38 AMG get its 250 horsepower from?
Was that A. from a V6, B. from an 8-cylinder, or C. from a 4-pot with a huge compressor?
If I look at the space, it must be the four-cylinder. - Well, you're wrong. It had two four-cylinders, one in the front...
and one in the rear bumper. Both produced 125 horsepower and so you got 250 horsepower from eight cylinders.
Now you've told me, I remember it.
Tomorrow, the grand tour continues. Michiel will get loads of questions about his Thunderbird and we'll get an answer if the cars all make it.
But make it to where?