Alfa spider

[Raymans]

I am toying with the idea of getting a Alfa spider 2007 08. Any thing I should know about this model (2.2 petrol)

[Nigel_O]

Pretty car - needs a Busso V6...

Lots of info on AlfaOwner

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-...

[AlfaRSpider]

Raymans said:

I am toying with the idea of getting a Alfa spider 2007 08. Any thing I should know about this model (2.2 petrol)

I have the exact car. Coming up on 3 years of ownership. Bought at 26k miles, now coming up to 40k. I average just under 30 MPG on normal country driving.

Mechanically, absolutely sound has not put a foot wrong. Unreliability issues are a thing of the past for these cars IMO. All I've spent money on is servicing, tyres and brakes.

The biggest issue I've had is with the electric folding roof. First started going wrong a couple of years ago. Would get stuck half way at the point the folding flaps come in to operation, and showed message 'Hood Failure. Consult handbook'. Seemed like a common issue with the flap motors, so had both flaps replaced (there's one on either side). It worked fine 90% of the time (occasionally needing a bit of encouragement) up until now. it's getting stuck at the same point again.

Dropped in to my trusty Alfa specialist and his diagnostics told us that the ECU doesn't seem to be registering the flap positions. He recommends the car should be taken to a main dealer. Sigh. I smell £££ ready to leave my pocket. A quick google will tell you that the electric roofs are cursed on these things.

BUT to to be honest, I care little. If I have to spend £1k fixing the roof once and for all, it will be the only big spend on the car in 3 years. The reliability and driving enjoyment I get from it has made it massive value for money.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

[Raymans]

Thanks for info guys. Now we've gotta look for a good one in red.

[Raymans]

Thanks for info guys. Now we've gotta look for a good one in red.

[velocemitch]

Why the 2.2?, the 3.2V6 is a much better unit and probably won't cost you that much more.

[Raymans]

does anyone know the price [approx] of having a cam belt fitted to a 2.2 jts convertible [07 08]

[Nigel_O]

Raymans]does anyone know the price [approx] of having a cam belt fitted to a 2.2 jts convertible [07 08 said:

Its a chain, not a belt

The Italian specialist I work at part-time is quoting £380 (or £560 with the balance chain as well)

[Raymans]

how often should a cam chain be changed on 2.2 and 3.2 jts spiders any ideas ?