[rogerxp]

Title should read "Honestly, how bad could it be..."

...at this price .

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

Discuss...

[creepy coupe]

By Back, do you mean bad? And if so they can be a whole shed load of trouble. I have a mate/Customer who's Alfa trained and has his own tuning/service business for Alfa's.

He sorts out all the problems, a local dealer can't fix. He bought his wife a GTV 3.0 ltr. After a year of ownership they sold it on, it was a headache even for him.

Shitty stick

[rogerxp]

Yes, I spotted the error as you were typing .

I always ignore Alfa's for the 'issues' they are renowned for but wondered if things had improved at all recently. Ah well, I'll go back searching for a TVR then .

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Yes, I spotted the error as you were typing .

I always ignore Alfa's for the 'issues' they are renowned for but wondered if things had improved at all recently. Ah well, I'll go back searching for a TVR then .

Rog, I think they do some stunning looking motors.I also think BMW drivers would find it hard to live with one, after all they are the Polar opposite in terms of reliability and build quality, to what we look for in a car. Just me two bobs worth.

Someone will be along in a mo, who knows an owner, with no faults in twenty years

[peterg1965]

Roger, step away from your computer........

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Roger, step away from your computer........

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Roger, step away from your computer........

This damn internet .

[sheps]

The guy who sorts out all of our lease deals will not offer Alfa's unless specifically requested to do so. Even then they are leased on the express understanding they're taken on the understanding that they're likely to be three years of headache.

Half the problem stems from the fact the dealers tend to have a "Couldn't give a shit" attitude; it's bad enough the car breaks down, but if the dealer doesn't go the extra mile to assist you that's soon going to wear thin, very quickly....

[davyk31]

I used to be quite an Alfa fan, never actually owned one but had a good relationship with the local Fiat / Alfa dealer and regularly got the lend of cars to try out. Often they looked spectacular and often they sounded very spectacular but I think without fail every car I had out had a fault of some sort, generally electrical. These were virtually brand new demo cars and the dealer was prepared to let them out with faults.

One of the interesting non electrical faults was a 3.0 V6 GTV where the rear window started to lift out at the top corner in speeds in excess of 3 figures on my private airfield.

[RagingKileak]

I test drove a Spyder, liked it in some ways and looked the part - grey is NOT the colour you want, surely petrol white or rosso would be more suitable??

Anyway, they feel heavy and underpowered mate sadly. Things worked on the one I drove, so can't comment on reliability...

Matt

[E902717]

Our md at work has a Alfa 157 2ltr diesel auto it's 2.5 years old now but it has had:-

2 auto gearboxes
1 prop shaft
1 differential

So pretty reliable for an Alfa!!!

I had a 147 about 6 years ago and it was great, one of the rear doors wouldn't open from the inside whenever it felt like it, and the same time a mate had a 2.0ltr 147 and she had to have a brand new engine not long after she had it, it was only 6 months old.

Go for it roglol:

[willhollin]

Get an RX8 instead Roger. It's the sensible choice.

[Em135eye]

Last decent Alfa:



Since then they have been GM euroboxes dressed in a pretty outfit.

Yet they are seen by so many as "sporty" and a bit different - they aren't (8C aside). They went the same way as Saab who were also quite good once - overpriced Vauxhalls in drag.

[rogerxp]

Don't panic folks, an Alfa isn't high on my list, but it's bloody cheap (reasons for that perhaps!).

Another question, semi-related to this thread, if a car is an ex-demo and then had two 'official' owners since, how many owners will be on the v5 (2 or 3)???

[peterg1965]

3, including the current owner.

Are you better now Rog?

[rogerxp]

Better??? Compared to what/who - give me a benchmark

[Hotcoupe]

I've had a 156 & 159.

The 156 bust it's cambelt at 24K, needless to say the warranty claim was not cheap!

Great looking cars though.

PS. There's a very nice white 3 series near where you live Roger, who's is that?

[rogerxp]

You'll have to do better than that Ian, most of the are white near me!!!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

You'll have to do better than that Ian, most of the are white near me!!!

Peugeot Cab on the drive

[rogerxp]

Well you've completely lost me now mate!!

[Snooky]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Peugeot Cab on the drive

HC has possibly had a streetview around your postcode from the link Rog??

I had a 2.0 147 many years ago. It was a beautiful thing and had the best interior of any car I've had with the possible exception of the Audi's. Unfortunately, the windows used to occasionally open themselves...usually in the rain and I often arrived back at the train station to find windows open and wet seats (nice leather ones!!). The lights, internal (dash, instruments etc) took to switching themselves off at night which was wierd and the final straw was when the immobiliser kicked in whilst I was turning right in a busy yellow box junction!

That said, I did test drive the Giulietta last year....I love the look of Alfas! Thankfully, the interior is not as nice now as they used to do and it was very very underpowered.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by Snooky

HC has possibly had a streetview around your postcode from the link Rog??

Ah yes, classic . Ian thankfully pm'd me and put me out of my misery - I've changed the link - you're all welcome to visit my office anytime for a brew . I still find that Streetview amazing...