RE: You Know You Want To: Alfa Romeo 33S 1.7i 16v P4
Discussion
My sister had a lower power one as a company hack for a while - it really did feel very low rent even at the time - but it seemed quick enough - lots of fire and brimstone, shaking steering and noise, seemed very sporty till I looked at the speedo and found I was going about ten miles an hour slower than in my trusty Mk2 Golf.
I've always felt that sums up the Alfa's I've tested since - lots of fuss but not a huge amount of speed, but does that make them low speed fun? I just don't know!
I've always felt that sums up the Alfa's I've tested since - lots of fuss but not a huge amount of speed, but does that make them low speed fun? I just don't know!
I've always liked the 33, and the looks in particular have for some reason always worked for me, but I must be honest, I'd be looking at 145 and 146QVs for that money. Actually, that will buy you a V6 in a couple of decent cars.
No, if I was going for an '80s Alfa, it would be one of the Alfetta family or derivatives
No, if I was going for an '80s Alfa, it would be one of the Alfetta family or derivatives
I loved my QV despite 2 cylinder heads, a gearbox, the ludicrous seating position (I'm 6'5") and all of the other Alfa niggles that came with it.
Sadly, it wasn't up for the 600-odd mile a week commute that I was doing at the time - in the end I sold it to an Alfa specialist in Nuneaton for a few hundred quid.
It was a moneypit but that didn't matter - it sounded great and was quick enough to keep up with my other mates' hot hatches and also be a bit different. It was the object of envy amoungst many of them!
Amusingly, I got a call from Manchester police a couple of years after I sold it; apparently the garage hadn't sent in the V5 after the sale and had subsequently sold the car at auction. The car had been used in an armed robbery and was found, abandoned near a gypsy site. It crossed my mind that the people who carried out the robbery obviously didn't know much about Alfa's terrible reputation for reliability - I mean, would you want to use one as your getaway car?
Sadly, it wasn't up for the 600-odd mile a week commute that I was doing at the time - in the end I sold it to an Alfa specialist in Nuneaton for a few hundred quid.
It was a moneypit but that didn't matter - it sounded great and was quick enough to keep up with my other mates' hot hatches and also be a bit different. It was the object of envy amoungst many of them!
Amusingly, I got a call from Manchester police a couple of years after I sold it; apparently the garage hadn't sent in the V5 after the sale and had subsequently sold the car at auction. The car had been used in an armed robbery and was found, abandoned near a gypsy site. It crossed my mind that the people who carried out the robbery obviously didn't know much about Alfa's terrible reputation for reliability - I mean, would you want to use one as your getaway car?
The write up is extremely unfair here. I owned a 33 P4 for 4 years, im 23 now. One of the best cars i have driven. easily out handle a golf gti in P4 attire. Yes they rust, but the only thing i ever had to change was the clutch. They had the best retro recaros i have ever seen. Unfortunatley you cant buy parts from alfa so i had to buy two spare 33's to restore the third. Most of you that moan about alfas havnt driven them, but hey you stick to your common golf's and so on, and leave the rare unknown cars to us that appreciate them.
The write up is extremely unfair here. I owned a 33 P4 for 4 years, im 23 now. One of the best cars i have driven. easily out handle a golf gti in P4 attire. Yes they rust, but the only thing i ever had to change was the clutch. They had the best retro recaros i have ever seen. Unfortunatley you cant buy parts from alfa so i had to buy two spare 33's to restore the third. Most of you that moan about alfas havnt driven them, but hey you stick to your common golf's and so on, and leave the rare unknown cars to us that appreciate them.
Totally agree. I've had several 33's and the 16v was one of the best hot hatches. Much much quicker than the competition of the day.
Totally agree. I've had several 33's and the 16v was one of the best hot hatches. Much much quicker than the competition of the day.
My brother-in-law bought a 1.7ie 2wd model. Disastrous car. The engine was lovely. Everything it was bolted to was hopeless. Three breakdowns in the first 4 weeks, on Autotrader in week 5. I remember the christmas tree effect of the "Alfa Control" warning light system which used to just light up at random. And the fuel gauge which only succeeded in telling you that you had somewhere between an empty and full tank.
Went well and sounded good though.
Went well and sounded good though.
Nice to see one surviving, the last of the 33 were nicely spec'ed and once they were 2 yrs old or more they were incredible bargains at the time, had a few of them but never a 4x4. They were let down by not very good steering, and horible driving position, plus the usual Alfa issues of rust and poor quality build.
Shame they didnt drive anything like as nicely as the Alfa sud which it replaced, that was a car ahead of its time and the 33 was struggling to keep up with the times (they just about got there with ie then 16v but was an out of date design in so many ways).
Shame they didnt drive anything like as nicely as the Alfa sud which it replaced, that was a car ahead of its time and the 33 was struggling to keep up with the times (they just about got there with ie then 16v but was an out of date design in so many ways).
ar 145 said:
IM a big alfa fan (look at my username).
Yes I may be missing the point, but £2k for this seems a lot of money considering you could pick a 145 QV up for £1k. Heck, I paid just over £3.5k for a 147 GTA!!
Why compare price with later stuff? yes anyone can buy a 145/146 or a GTA etcYes I may be missing the point, but £2k for this seems a lot of money considering you could pick a 145 QV up for £1k. Heck, I paid just over £3.5k for a 147 GTA!!
rtz62 said:
My view on this is similar to that opined by Capt Blackadder whenever Private Baldrick came up with a cunning plan;
"Oh god...."
Well put, a very apt quote."Oh god...."
Every person I know who owned an Alfa 33 has depressing tales. How did they get it so wrong? If only they'd just made the Alfasud properly.
The 33 had even worse build than the Sud, with more complicated and troublesome electrics (my Sud 1.5Ti never had an electrical problem), inferior handling balance, huge turning circle ("embarrassing" was how one friend described it). This thing is just not worth saving. I'd rather have a good (early 5 speed) Escort XR3.
My dad had a 33 from new, it never let him down, he drove all over Europe and sold it with over 100000 on the clock.
Even now many cars latter, he still says it was the best car he ever had.
Many years latter i brought one with two mates for £200 to do a banger rally.....and it did 2500 miles in five days without missing a beat. We drove it back from Nice non stop, over 800 miles.
The brakes are fine with the right pads, it has more space inside than a Focus, better steering than ANY modern electric set up, good ride/handling balance, could crack 120mph and gave about 35mpg. Plus its easy to look after.
But if your the sort of person that never looks under the bonnet of your car, never changes the oil or thrashes the car from cold, its not for you. The same goes for any Italian car.
Even now many cars latter, he still says it was the best car he ever had.
Many years latter i brought one with two mates for £200 to do a banger rally.....and it did 2500 miles in five days without missing a beat. We drove it back from Nice non stop, over 800 miles.
The brakes are fine with the right pads, it has more space inside than a Focus, better steering than ANY modern electric set up, good ride/handling balance, could crack 120mph and gave about 35mpg. Plus its easy to look after.
But if your the sort of person that never looks under the bonnet of your car, never changes the oil or thrashes the car from cold, its not for you. The same goes for any Italian car.
messyed said:
My dad had a 33 from new, it never let him down, he drove all over Europe and sold it with over 100000 on the clock.
Even now many cars latter, he still says it was the best car he ever had.
Many years latter i brought one with two mates for £200 to do a banger rally.....and it did 2500 miles in five days without missing a beat. We drove it back from Nice non stop, over 800 miles.
The brakes are fine with the right pads, it has more space inside than a Focus, better steering than ANY modern electric set up, good ride/handling balance, could crack 120mph and gave about 35mpg. Plus its easy to look after.
But if your the sort of person that never looks under the bonnet of your car, never changes the oil or thrashes the car from cold, its not for you. The same goes for any Italian car.
Well said, my 33 was fine and dandy, just a 1.7ie...Even now many cars latter, he still says it was the best car he ever had.
Many years latter i brought one with two mates for £200 to do a banger rally.....and it did 2500 miles in five days without missing a beat. We drove it back from Nice non stop, over 800 miles.
The brakes are fine with the right pads, it has more space inside than a Focus, better steering than ANY modern electric set up, good ride/handling balance, could crack 120mph and gave about 35mpg. Plus its easy to look after.
But if your the sort of person that never looks under the bonnet of your car, never changes the oil or thrashes the car from cold, its not for you. The same goes for any Italian car.
I have marked it sold, end of story
If people who know nothing about how good these are and cant see the value.... sorry
your all welcome to post your comments as you will....
Would have been nice if Alex (the person who did the article) had spoken to me before posting it.
The car has new diffs and shafts etc.... you can see them in the photos in the link I did, never mind as its not for sale on here anymore.
Many thanks for the Alfisti replys, the other muppets can say what they like and f
k off
If people who know nothing about how good these are and cant see the value.... sorry
your all welcome to post your comments as you will....
Would have been nice if Alex (the person who did the article) had spoken to me before posting it.
The car has new diffs and shafts etc.... you can see them in the photos in the link I did, never mind as its not for sale on here anymore.
Many thanks for the Alfisti replys, the other muppets can say what they like and f
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