So I bought an Alfa 156...
Discussion
Hi guys,
I haven't posted on here in ages, but I thought I'd pop up and tell you about my latest acquisition.
Basically, until very recently, I had a job with a 95-mile daily commute and a company car. But then things changed, the company car got taken back and I had to buy a car of my own to do the same commute in.
So I needed something cheap, reliable and economical.
But that would be really boring, so instead I went out and bought a 55-plate Alfa Romeo 2.4 20V JTD Veloce. It has 99,000 miles on the clock and, worryingly, no service book - but then it I managed to buy it for a bit less than £2,300 and it's in absolutely immaculate condition and drives beautifully. It's also MOT'd till next August.
The lack of service history is obviously a bit worrying, but it came with invoices covering the last 20,000 miles or so, one of which was for a service. There's no mention of any timing belt changes though. I have booked it in for a service anyway tomorrow at my girlfriend's work, so I'm hoping they can tell me if it needs one (though I'd imagine the car would not have survived to see 99,000 miles if it hadn't already been done).
Worryingly, there is a squeaky belt somewhere in the engine - naturally we're hoping it's just the auxhilary belt.
Anyway, other than that, it is a properly lovely car and I've been loving driving it.
So... how utterly f
king mental am I for buying this car to do such a long daily commute in?
I haven't posted on here in ages, but I thought I'd pop up and tell you about my latest acquisition.
Basically, until very recently, I had a job with a 95-mile daily commute and a company car. But then things changed, the company car got taken back and I had to buy a car of my own to do the same commute in.
So I needed something cheap, reliable and economical.
But that would be really boring, so instead I went out and bought a 55-plate Alfa Romeo 2.4 20V JTD Veloce. It has 99,000 miles on the clock and, worryingly, no service book - but then it I managed to buy it for a bit less than £2,300 and it's in absolutely immaculate condition and drives beautifully. It's also MOT'd till next August.
The lack of service history is obviously a bit worrying, but it came with invoices covering the last 20,000 miles or so, one of which was for a service. There's no mention of any timing belt changes though. I have booked it in for a service anyway tomorrow at my girlfriend's work, so I'm hoping they can tell me if it needs one (though I'd imagine the car would not have survived to see 99,000 miles if it hadn't already been done).
Worryingly, there is a squeaky belt somewhere in the engine - naturally we're hoping it's just the auxhilary belt.
Anyway, other than that, it is a properly lovely car and I've been loving driving it.
So... how utterly f
king mental am I for buying this car to do such a long daily commute in?Mine had a squeaky belt - it was the aux one. If you're getting cambelt changed for peace of mind (it's due every 5 years / 72k miles) then just get a new one put on.
Biggest complaint with mine was the appalling ride on the Veloce suspension. I part-exed mine at a little over that mileage and it felt like it would have done it again.
Biggest complaint with mine was the appalling ride on the Veloce suspension. I part-exed mine at a little over that mileage and it felt like it would have done it again.
Ah, that's good to know. My girlfriend works at an accident repair centre which in approved Alfa repairer and they're servicing it for me tomorrow and investigating the squeak. I'm half tempted to have the cambelt done anyway for peace of mind, but could naturally do without the expense.
I won't lie that the ride's not the greatest going around town, but I do pretty much 95% motorway miles, and the car seems top notch for that. Absolutely loving it so far.
I won't lie that the ride's not the greatest going around town, but I do pretty much 95% motorway miles, and the car seems top notch for that. Absolutely loving it so far.
I may be paranoid, but I'd change the belt on the basis it's so much cheaper than having it snap, especially when unsure of the service history.
There's a problem on the 1.9 JDT that basically means it's worth doing the water pump while you're in there, since it's got a habit of seizing and then stripping the belt. Not sure if that applies to the bigger engines though.
There's a problem on the 1.9 JDT that basically means it's worth doing the water pump while you're in there, since it's got a habit of seizing and then stripping the belt. Not sure if that applies to the bigger engines though.
Zio said:
Hi guys,
I haven't posted on here in ages, but I thought I'd pop up and tell you about my latest acquisition.
Basically, until very recently, I had a job with a 95-mile daily commute and a company car. But then things changed, the company car got taken back and I had to buy a car of my own to do the same commute in.
So I needed something cheap, reliable and economical.
But that would be really boring, so instead I went out and bought a 55-plate Alfa Romeo 2.4 20V JTD Veloce. It has 99,000 miles on the clock and, worryingly, no service book - but then it I managed to buy it for a bit less than £2,300 and it's in absolutely immaculate condition and drives beautifully. It's also MOT'd till next August.
The lack of service history is obviously a bit worrying, but it came with invoices covering the last 20,000 miles or so, one of which was for a service. There's no mention of any timing belt changes though. I have booked it in for a service anyway tomorrow at my girlfriend's work, so I'm hoping they can tell me if it needs one (though I'd imagine the car would not have survived to see 99,000 miles if it hadn't already been done).
Worryingly, there is a squeaky belt somewhere in the engine - naturally we're hoping it's just the auxhilary belt.
Anyway, other than that, it is a properly lovely car and I've been loving driving it.
So... how utterly fking mental am I for buying this car to do such a long daily commute in?
Good choice OPI haven't posted on here in ages, but I thought I'd pop up and tell you about my latest acquisition.
Basically, until very recently, I had a job with a 95-mile daily commute and a company car. But then things changed, the company car got taken back and I had to buy a car of my own to do the same commute in.
So I needed something cheap, reliable and economical.
But that would be really boring, so instead I went out and bought a 55-plate Alfa Romeo 2.4 20V JTD Veloce. It has 99,000 miles on the clock and, worryingly, no service book - but then it I managed to buy it for a bit less than £2,300 and it's in absolutely immaculate condition and drives beautifully. It's also MOT'd till next August.
The lack of service history is obviously a bit worrying, but it came with invoices covering the last 20,000 miles or so, one of which was for a service. There's no mention of any timing belt changes though. I have booked it in for a service anyway tomorrow at my girlfriend's work, so I'm hoping they can tell me if it needs one (though I'd imagine the car would not have survived to see 99,000 miles if it hadn't already been done).
Worryingly, there is a squeaky belt somewhere in the engine - naturally we're hoping it's just the auxhilary belt.
Anyway, other than that, it is a properly lovely car and I've been loving driving it.
So... how utterly f
king mental am I for buying this car to do such a long daily commute in?owned 156's for the last 6 years. Love my 156 JTDM SW, wouldnt swap it unless its for a 2.4 TI version or a Veloce with silver rails.
CaptainSlow said:
OK so who hid the cup-holders?
Ha ha! I never even noticed it had no cup holders till I'd bought it. I've just got used to wedging plastic bottles in my coat pockets now.I'm absolutely loving the car, though plonking my foot down on the go pedal does cause a dark cloud of soot to envelope the road behind me. I'm hoping a few tanks of VPower diesel and some time spent near the redline might help clear that out a bit.
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