Any Alfa owners on here

wack61

wack61

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I've always wanted an Alfa, don't know why as they have a terrible reputation, must be the looks and drive that's attracting me

After spending thousands on cars over the years i've seen the light and now spend less than £5k on a car, always buy at trade prices then move it on after 9 months or so

I'm currently looking at a Facelifted 2004 Alfa 156 2.0 JTS Veloce 43k FSH £4k

It's a long way from where I live but the owner sounds straight as a die on the phone so I don't have any worries that he's lying to me.

So Alfa owners put me off with your tales of woe :D
 
I have an 03 147 and it's built appallingly in terms of bits of plastic that fall off and door handles that break. In terms of mechanical service it's been totally faultless over 45k of very hard millage in the last 18 months.

Would I have another, like a shot. :thumbs:

You'd have to check this out as I don't know but I was told that the 156 was the last of the old school dodgy alfas and the 147 the first of the new and supposedly much better ones. :shrug:
 
Hmm I know what you mean, I've also found a mint one owner Fiat Stilo estate, 34k FSH 1 private owner looks like a brand new car and still has 3 months warranty on it, i've got him down to £3,500

They're both cheap cars but they're cheap for a reason, they're difficult to sell on, perhaps I should get my alfa obsession out of the way buy buying a 156 for £1000 or so, scrap metal is at £200 a tonne at the moment so I won't lose too much:D
 
ucnles owned alfas for years, he races them at goodwood, never had any real trouble, same with maseratis. get one.
 
i had 3

alfasud sprint (really did rust away, it had such big holes!)
alfa 155 (people kept telling me it would rust away, but its made of galvanised steel so fat chance of that!). very reliable car.
alfa 166 3.0 pretty fast, and handled much better than a big car should. lots of plastic trim fell off by itself. car ended up losing about half its power for some reason, and started misfiring.

you've gotta have one in your life time, though! I would def have another. They have much more soul than your regular BMWs / Audis etc... Just watch out because the insurance is horrendous
 
Join the AA before you get one. Make sure your membership includes getting you home with a fresh car - including Alfas. Expect every journey to end up on a transporter. But enjoy the car while it runs!!!
 
A few years ago my Brother bought a number of 156's for his management team (about 5 I think). I remember him telling me that he was lucky if 3 or more were ever on the road at the same time. These were the V6 models if I recall.

Buy a Focus, better built, better handling and better reliability (not as much spirit though....).

Steve
 
I test drove a 54 plate Alfa 156 'veloce' 2.4JTD i think it was, was rapid and really nice to drive, even the diesel engine sounded quite good when you gave it the beans lol, however i was put off by the shoddy build quality, being a 2 year old car at the time, some of the trim on the drivers side door wouldn't fit proper, the firewall carpet was hanging off and the ashtray didn't fit properly either.
 
I love my 147 2.0TS. It's 51 reg, and I've owned it from new.

They did spend a large amount of money on improving the reliability, as mentioned above. The 147 definitely went through that process, but I can't honestly remember whether the 156 did or not. I've certainly heard of quite a few 156 issues, but then relatively, there were (or are) quite a few on the road comapred to other Alfas.
 
twin spark engines (1.8/2.0 - not sure about 1.6, who buys an alfa with a 1.6?) needs a cambelt change at 36K. Many neglected (hence the number on ebay needing a new engine or having history of a new engine).

The original recommendation was 72K but then reduced by alfa to 36K. Make sure its been done. V6 and the 2.4jtd are recommended at 60K (officially 72K). Variators on the twin sparks are moderatly costly as well - do it with the t/belt.
 
i have never liked the look of alfers for some reason, top gear was funny though :D :lol:
 
Many years ago I had a Alfasud 1.5SC


The peddles were too close together, the driving position was for a gorilla, the handbrake was on the front wheels & the brakes were mounted on the gearbox. My wife refused to drive it as it was ****** awfull to drive.

Would I have another, YES, it's still the best handling car I've ever driven :D.

(but this time I'd like the cloverleaf version)
 
mrgubby said:
Many years ago I had a Alfasud 1.5SC


The peddles were too close together, the driving position was for a gorilla, the handbrake was on the front wheels & the brakes were mounted on the gearbox. My wife refused to drive it as it was ****** awfull to drive.

Would I have another, YES, it's still the best handling car I've ever driven :D.

(but this time I'd like the cloverleaf version)
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:lol: You sound just like Mr LL who had a 'sud too years ago - that decided to drop its brake fluid on the M1 just before the Donington exit on the way to a race meet....he decided the next junction was probably the easier one to use, more time to slow down!

Despite that, I have been pestering for an Alfa for over a year now and like the OP, we have been looking at a late 156 facelifted version, estate with leather [dog taxi you see] and ... wait for it... a diesel! Yes, I know, blasphemy :bonk: However, I WANT an Alfa, he wants a bit more fuel economy, although if just the right petrol one came up in the trade, we would probably be tempted. We have looked at plenty of other options, including the new renault Koleos, the existing range of renault estate cars, honda accord estate and so on....but it still keeps coming back to the Alfa, I just have to have one, I feel I cannot call myself a petrolhead officially unless I have had an Alfa :love:

Of course we have a slight advantage over most Alfa drivers...a workshop, mechanics....wonder if you can buy one with its own complimentary breakdown truck? :thinking::lol:
 
Had a 33 Cloverleaf, cost me £1500 to buy, £1500 per MOT for the 2 I kept it for due to extensive welding [the floor came away from the body] and £1800 when the missus blew the engine. Fantastic car and was really sorry to see it go, would have another Alfa but make sure it's a good one before I buy it.
 
My dad has an Alfa 159 Ti 2.2, its a great car. I'm looking to get a 145 Cloverleaf eventually :)

Join up to Alfaowner.com and have a look on there if you havent already found one, there are plenty of helpful people on there.
 
Just arm yourself with plenty of insulation tape, scotchlocks etc.

The electrics on them are Kerapp

Rob
(22 years in the motor trade ;))
 
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The break down all the time and the dealers are hopeless. They look nice sitting on your driveway though........
 
As long as it looks nice, thats all im worried about :)

Nothing anyone says will put me off buying one :geek:
 
LadyLens said:
:bonk: soooooo nearly bought a 159 sportwagon last night, might still do depending on price.... I HAVE to have an Alfa :D
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Yes indeedy, even if they do break down and fall to bits.....I've had two Alfasuds ans an Alfetta, all under reasonably new at the time, all for pennies and all knackered :lol:
 
LadyLens said:
:bonk: soooooo nearly bought a 159 sportwagon last night, might still do depending on price.... I HAVE to have an Alfa :D
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droool!

Pics?

GTD?
 
Nothing so glamourous, 1.9JTDM, in red [my least favourite colour i have to admit], 1 year old, with all the bells and whistles, 18" alloys, satnav, girlie sensors, tan leather upholstery, etc etc - its in the trade, as are we, so might do the deal yet. Otherwise, its back to waiting for another 'just the right one' to come along - car prices are crashing, I hope the wait won't be much longer ;)

edit: not to mention all those financial institutions with middle management cars that will be coming in on early terminations off fleet after they start laying staff off :whistling:
 
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Flash In The Pan said:
Yes indeedy, even if they do break down and fall to bits.....I've had two Alfasuds ans an Alfetta, all under reasonably new at the time, all for pennies and all knackered :lol:
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I just used my tesco clubcard points to get top dollar RAC cover on their deals scheme - breakdown, homestart, onward travel, the works....can't think why I thought it would be a worthwhile investment :lol:
 
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