Alfa's - Are They Really As Bad As People Say?
Discussion
Nuova500 said:
Are Alfa's really as unreliable as people make out
That will be the people who have never owned one I presume?
And just think what they say about Fiats!!
Look at my profile - would I (and many others) still be buying them and would the company be coming up 100 years old if their cars really were as bad as "people" like to make out? Yes, there are still some lemons out there, but many cases of Alfa unreliability come down to owners who never lift the bonnet.
The other good news is the dealer network is improving significantly (it only had one way to go!) and there is a strong and enthusiastic network of independant specialists too.
My wife has a 147 JTD and loves it. It's a great commuter/small family car with a lot of style, kit and "pep" - quick steering, punchy engine, tidy handling. It's not trying to be a Clio Cup, but it's a lot more pleasurable than an equivalent money Golf/Astra/Focus/307.
I've had five, I've currently got three, and none of them have been any worse than any of the other makes of car I've owned.
Our 147 is just over two years old, hasn't given us any problems at all. If you're thinking of one, the only thing I'd say is that it's due for replacement soon. Good thing is that you can probably get a good deal, bad thing is that it will probably depreciate more when the 149 comes out. It's also fair to say that the 147 and GT both feel a generation older than the 159 and Brera, as you'd expect.
It's odd that most people who own an Alfa don't have many problems with them, and yet so many people seem to know someone whose brother had one that was hopeless.
It seems to be that if you neglect them then they'll maybe suffer more than some other marques, but if you keep it serviced properly and look after it then you'll be fine.
Our 147 is just over two years old, hasn't given us any problems at all. If you're thinking of one, the only thing I'd say is that it's due for replacement soon. Good thing is that you can probably get a good deal, bad thing is that it will probably depreciate more when the 149 comes out. It's also fair to say that the 147 and GT both feel a generation older than the 159 and Brera, as you'd expect.
It's odd that most people who own an Alfa don't have many problems with them, and yet so many people seem to know someone whose brother had one that was hopeless.
It seems to be that if you neglect them then they'll maybe suffer more than some other marques, but if you keep it serviced properly and look after it then you'll be fine.
Hmm, interesting, sounds like a case of the stereotypical "it's Italian, so it must be unreliable".
We really like the 147, especially in Black with red leather, an as we probably couldn't afford a 149 diesel when they are out (max £15k available for car) a pre owned, low mileage, ho spec 147 diesel looks like the favorite.
We really like the 147, especially in Black with red leather, an as we probably couldn't afford a 149 diesel when they are out (max £15k available for car) a pre owned, low mileage, ho spec 147 diesel looks like the favorite.
I like all the replies..
I have owned 2 156's in the last 2 years..
Both 2002 and 2003 cars respectively.. I have had no problems with them whatsoever..
Oh apart from the GTA as my diff was about to explode..(common problem)
out of all the engines the V6 and the JTD are the most robust....
The 16v JTDm engine is a cracker..
I have owned 2 156's in the last 2 years..
Both 2002 and 2003 cars respectively.. I have had no problems with them whatsoever..
Oh apart from the GTA as my diff was about to explode..(common problem)
out of all the engines the V6 and the JTD are the most robust....
The 16v JTDm engine is a cracker..
I have owned two 156's, a GT JTD and a GTV V6 (current car).
They have all been absolutely fantastic
Whilst friends with BMW's, Mercedes and TVR's have a multitude of problems with their cars, mine just needed the usual annual servicing and the odd suspension bush.
Can't really moan about that
They have all been absolutely fantastic
Whilst friends with BMW's, Mercedes and TVR's have a multitude of problems with their cars, mine just needed the usual annual servicing and the odd suspension bush.
Can't really moan about that
Nuova500 said:
What are the servicing costs & intervals like on a 1.9 diesel?
Shoe (the wife) covers about 5k a year.
My wife covers about 8,000 and I just get an annual service done at the local indepedant Alfa guy for about £120-150'ish. I did the pollen filters myself to save him a job - they were about £15 off Ebay and only need doing once a blue moon. 205/55/16 Goodyears are about £60 a corner. Fuel consumption usually shows high 30s on the trip computer. Cambelt is every 5 years - I'm expecting that will be about £300 or so on our 8 valve. Shoe (the wife) covers about 5k a year.
You mentioned the Brera - it's not really suitable as a family car. We can squeeze our 5 year old in the back OK but if we go to the airport with two big suitcases for instance we go in the 147. The GT however is more practical. Depends on how happy the kids are in the back.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/
When the site is back up check here.. the servicing costs are good at independants but can be a little pricey at the main dealer.
There isn't much room in the back of the GT though.. not too sure on the Brera, but can't imagine it being much better.
When the site is back up check here.. the servicing costs are good at independants but can be a little pricey at the main dealer.
There isn't much room in the back of the GT though.. not too sure on the Brera, but can't imagine it being much better.
Wombat Rick said:
Fuel consumption usually shows high 30s on the trip computer.
How high in the 30's? We're looking at getting a 147 JTD as a runabout but were assumong fuel consumption would be nearer the official 47mpg figure. Is your wife's driving mainly short journeys and stop start traffic or is the official figure just hopelessly optimistic? What sort of mpg do you get on a run?The T Boy said:
Wombat Rick said:
Fuel consumption usually shows high 30s on the trip computer.
How high in the 30's? We're looking at getting a 147 JTD as a runabout but were assumong fuel consumption would be nearer the official 47mpg figure. Is your wife's driving mainly short journeys and stop start traffic or is the official figure just hopelessly optimistic? What sort of mpg do you get on a run?The T Boy said:
Wombat Rick said:
Fuel consumption usually shows high 30s on the trip computer.
How high in the 30's? We're looking at getting a 147 JTD as a runabout but were assumong fuel consumption would be nearer the official 47mpg figure. Is your wife's driving mainly short journeys and stop start traffic or is the official figure just hopelessly optimistic? What sort of mpg do you get on a run?In a word.....NO!!!
I'm currently waiting on my 4th new Alfa, and I love them! Started with a GT JTDM, then 2 Brera JTDMs, (more on that in a min!), and have a Spider LE on order.
Overall they are fantastic cars and with the exception of the 1st Brera, have been pretty much faultless. I put 45k on my GT in 2 years and apart from a couple of little niggles when I first got it, (one of the first in the country so prob to be expected), it never missed a beat. I used to average mid 40's over a mix of roads, but it could see nearly 50mpg on a steady 75-80mph motorway cruise.
The first Brera was again one of the first batch in to the country, and to be fair was a complete lemon! It broke down 5 times in 3k mls with the same engine fault, but to their credit Alfa replaced it without quibble with a brand new car. The second car has now covered 26k and apart from a couple of minor things like a faulty alarm sensor has again been faultless. However it is nowhere near as practical or economical as the GT, the back seats are next to useless unless for very young kids, (my 3 yr old niece can just about fit in the back but only behind the passenger seat with it pulled forward!), and it only averages 34mpg most of the time. I still love it though!!
As you can tell none of that has put me off ordering another Alfa, and I have friends and colleagues who have had far more issues with BM's Merc's VW's etc than I have with any of my Alfa's! For example a friend bought a Clio for his wife which developed a serious oil leak within weeks, and had to fight tooth and nail over a period of 2 months to get Renault to replace the car.
I'd say if you have no more than 2 kids and they're young you could 'get away' with a GT, but no way with a Brera!! The 147 is a bit dated now, but is excellent value pre owned and the 1.9JTDM is a great engine with plenty of power and torque and even sounds quite nice for a diesel, I'd whole heartedly recommend one!
I'm currently waiting on my 4th new Alfa, and I love them! Started with a GT JTDM, then 2 Brera JTDMs, (more on that in a min!), and have a Spider LE on order.
Overall they are fantastic cars and with the exception of the 1st Brera, have been pretty much faultless. I put 45k on my GT in 2 years and apart from a couple of little niggles when I first got it, (one of the first in the country so prob to be expected), it never missed a beat. I used to average mid 40's over a mix of roads, but it could see nearly 50mpg on a steady 75-80mph motorway cruise.
The first Brera was again one of the first batch in to the country, and to be fair was a complete lemon! It broke down 5 times in 3k mls with the same engine fault, but to their credit Alfa replaced it without quibble with a brand new car. The second car has now covered 26k and apart from a couple of minor things like a faulty alarm sensor has again been faultless. However it is nowhere near as practical or economical as the GT, the back seats are next to useless unless for very young kids, (my 3 yr old niece can just about fit in the back but only behind the passenger seat with it pulled forward!), and it only averages 34mpg most of the time. I still love it though!!
As you can tell none of that has put me off ordering another Alfa, and I have friends and colleagues who have had far more issues with BM's Merc's VW's etc than I have with any of my Alfa's! For example a friend bought a Clio for his wife which developed a serious oil leak within weeks, and had to fight tooth and nail over a period of 2 months to get Renault to replace the car.
I'd say if you have no more than 2 kids and they're young you could 'get away' with a GT, but no way with a Brera!! The 147 is a bit dated now, but is excellent value pre owned and the 1.9JTDM is a great engine with plenty of power and torque and even sounds quite nice for a diesel, I'd whole heartedly recommend one!
Edited by brerasv on Wednesday 14th May 20:23
V6Alfisti said:
The T Boy said:
Wombat Rick said:
Fuel consumption usually shows high 30s on the trip computer.
How high in the 30's? We're looking at getting a 147 JTD as a runabout but were assumong fuel consumption would be nearer the official 47mpg figure. Is your wife's driving mainly short journeys and stop start traffic or is the official figure just hopelessly optimistic? What sort of mpg do you get on a run?Now I've just got to convince the other half that she doesn't need the 60mpg that an Audi A2 would give.
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