Change in reliability?
Discussion
Hi, I have tried to search on this but the answer was not forthcoming.
I have been looking at getting a Tuscan. Have done my homework and been to see/test several cars.
There are two cars on my very short list from the ones we have seen.
One an 03 S with 15k and full TVSH
The second an 04 Tuscan with 8k and again full TVRSH.
The first car can come with a 12 month warranty which will be extendible. Is exceptionally clean but at present is have a new radiator fitted. Is that a concern? ie Lack of cooling, even for a short period likely to cause damage?
The second car is a friends car and I know the history completely. It is loved and cherished. However, I cannot get a warranty on it (or so I believe - if anyone knows different please share!).
Repeated comment is made that from about 03/04 onwards the SP6 engine if far more reliable and oil flow issues seem to have been addressed. If looking at an 03/04 car, just how do you know if that car is pre or post the cut off period? Or, as I suspect, it was a gradual improvement of things and you just take the chance?
I am prepared and accept that there is no exact science to this. Everything is telling me to go with the newer, albeit less powerful/lesser spec'ed car.
Apart from the warranty thing and what would happen to me should something drastic happen and the wife starts digging into the why, what's and ifs over the purchase choice and finds out that the great cars I am telling her about actually breakdown, and that her idea of a 911 was the safer option. No need to argue that, it IS what will happen if the engine goes pop no matter how many IMS failures I point out have happened
So there you go. From experience what would your choice be? The warranted older car? Or, the newer un-warranted one? As I will be buggered if I can make my mind up on this one.
Oh, and I cannot afford both!
I have been looking at getting a Tuscan. Have done my homework and been to see/test several cars.
There are two cars on my very short list from the ones we have seen.
One an 03 S with 15k and full TVSH
The second an 04 Tuscan with 8k and again full TVRSH.
The first car can come with a 12 month warranty which will be extendible. Is exceptionally clean but at present is have a new radiator fitted. Is that a concern? ie Lack of cooling, even for a short period likely to cause damage?
The second car is a friends car and I know the history completely. It is loved and cherished. However, I cannot get a warranty on it (or so I believe - if anyone knows different please share!).
Repeated comment is made that from about 03/04 onwards the SP6 engine if far more reliable and oil flow issues seem to have been addressed. If looking at an 03/04 car, just how do you know if that car is pre or post the cut off period? Or, as I suspect, it was a gradual improvement of things and you just take the chance?
I am prepared and accept that there is no exact science to this. Everything is telling me to go with the newer, albeit less powerful/lesser spec'ed car.
Apart from the warranty thing and what would happen to me should something drastic happen and the wife starts digging into the why, what's and ifs over the purchase choice and finds out that the great cars I am telling her about actually breakdown, and that her idea of a 911 was the safer option. No need to argue that, it IS what will happen if the engine goes pop no matter how many IMS failures I point out have happened
So there you go. From experience what would your choice be? The warranted older car? Or, the newer un-warranted one? As I will be buggered if I can make my mind up on this one.
Oh, and I cannot afford both!
davemac250 said:
I am prepared and accept that there is no exact science to this. Everything is telling me to go with the newer, albeit less powerful/lesser spec'ed car.
You've answered your own question . you buy these with the heart - not the head !You have the opportunity to examine every inch of your mate's car, test drive it properly, and should have a good idea of how he has driven it and looked after it. The other is unknown, and will the warranty cover every possibility ?
FWIW I bought my '04 S with just 2 service stamps - 1k & 6k (done at 5000 miles) and it had done less than 500 miles in the 3 years since last service. I gave it an oil & filter change and had the 12k service done a bit later. All excellent and hasn't missed a beat in 6000 miles (bar a faulty relay). The decision to buy was virtually made before I even saw it !
If you like the colour combination then I would go for either a late, low mileage example or an earlier one with recent engine rebuild.
^ ^ ^ ^ what they said ^ ^ ^ ^
when i went to "look" at mine i knew i was going to come away with it as it was the colour combo i wanted so as aquatix said you buy with the heart, and as rens said re low milers, they dont like sitting in the garage, found that out to my expense, but i went in knowing its not a cheap car to run and i now have a very sorted car in the exact colour combo i would of spec'd if buying new so my advice would be go with the one you like the most(warrenties have lods of getout clauses) you wouldnt buy a brown one with red leather just cos it had a warrenty would you
when i went to "look" at mine i knew i was going to come away with it as it was the colour combo i wanted so as aquatix said you buy with the heart, and as rens said re low milers, they dont like sitting in the garage, found that out to my expense, but i went in knowing its not a cheap car to run and i now have a very sorted car in the exact colour combo i would of spec'd if buying new so my advice would be go with the one you like the most(warrenties have lods of getout clauses) you wouldnt buy a brown one with red leather just cos it had a warrenty would you
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh That brings more questions!
The low mileage car is, to say the very least, cosseted. Serviced twice yearly regardless of mileage and when used it is not short hops. It is exactly the colour combo I would choose.
The other car is the exact spec I would select from the options list although not the exact colour combo, a dark tan interior with mystic black doesn't quite do it for me.
Being pragmatic and having spent too long firstly choosing the make model (I dallied over a 996TT for ages before trying the Tuscan and deciding that I HAD to have one of those), it is make the mind up time.
Which brings me back to the question of increased (or perceived increase in) longevity.
Don't get me wrong, I know the percentage chances of having to spend out on repairs and can happily justify that - I am able to tackle most things up to a point and have access to a rather well equipped workshop. So short of a full re-build I am happy to plunder here for tips and advice and work through faults etc. In fact as a die hard Alfa owner that is actually part of the appeal!
However, IF I can lessen the chances of a large bill for repairs then obviously that would be best. And would be a factor in the choosing process.
So, when did this step up in longevity occur?
Does anyone know?
The low mileage car is, to say the very least, cosseted. Serviced twice yearly regardless of mileage and when used it is not short hops. It is exactly the colour combo I would choose.
The other car is the exact spec I would select from the options list although not the exact colour combo, a dark tan interior with mystic black doesn't quite do it for me.
Being pragmatic and having spent too long firstly choosing the make model (I dallied over a 996TT for ages before trying the Tuscan and deciding that I HAD to have one of those), it is make the mind up time.
Which brings me back to the question of increased (or perceived increase in) longevity.
Don't get me wrong, I know the percentage chances of having to spend out on repairs and can happily justify that - I am able to tackle most things up to a point and have access to a rather well equipped workshop. So short of a full re-build I am happy to plunder here for tips and advice and work through faults etc. In fact as a die hard Alfa owner that is actually part of the appeal!
However, IF I can lessen the chances of a large bill for repairs then obviously that would be best. And would be a factor in the choosing process.
So, when did this step up in longevity occur?
Does anyone know?
davemac250 said:
So, when did this step up in longevity occur?
Does anyone know?
No-one knows. The late 2003 onward cars seem to be a little better than early cars, but that depends on your point of view. Mine is at 36k now with no problems (yet!).Does anyone know?
More recent rebuilds are better (and the more recent, the better), but I would question how many have done enough miles to be really certain. If you want more confidence, the only way is to buy one that's been rebuilt since places started to offer long warranties, i.e. within the past year or so. In that case, you'll certainly be paying a premium for a recently rebuilt car.
Or you just go into it with your eyes open, like everyone says, and buy a sensibly priced and looked after car with a spec you love. If the engine turns to cheese after a year, that's where the "sensibly priced" bit comes in, plus then you get a rebuild to a known standard that you can live with.
Good luck!
Pete
davemac250 said:
Hi, I have tried to search on this but the answer was not forthcoming.
I have been looking at getting a Tuscan. Have done my homework and been to see/test several cars.
There are two cars on my very short list from the ones we have seen.
One an 03 S with 15k and full TVSH
The second an 04 Tuscan with 8k and again full TVRSH.
The first car can come with a 12 month warranty which will be extendible. Is exceptionally clean but at present is have a new radiator fitted. Is that a concern? ie Lack of cooling, even for a short period likely to cause damage?
The second car is a friends car and I know the history completely. It is loved and cherished. However, I cannot get a warranty on it (or so I believe - if anyone knows different please share!).
Repeated comment is made that from about 03/04 onwards the SP6 engine if far more reliable and oil flow issues seem to have been addressed. If looking at an 03/04 car, just how do you know if that car is pre or post the cut off period? Or, as I suspect, it was a gradual improvement of things and you just take the chance?
I am prepared and accept that there is no exact science to this. Everything is telling me to go with the newer, albeit less powerful/lesser spec'ed car.
Apart from the warranty thing and what would happen to me should something drastic happen and the wife starts digging into the why, what's and ifs over the purchase choice and finds out that the great cars I am telling her about actually breakdown, and that her idea of a 911 was the safer option. No need to argue that, it IS what will happen if the engine goes pop no matter how many IMS failures I point out have happened
So there you go. From experience what would your choice be? The warranted older car? Or, the newer un-warranted one? As I will be buggered if I can make my mind up on this one.
Oh, and I cannot afford both!
Newer one without a doubt, most of these so-called warranties are crap - just trawl back through various posts on here or ask me.I have been looking at getting a Tuscan. Have done my homework and been to see/test several cars.
There are two cars on my very short list from the ones we have seen.
One an 03 S with 15k and full TVSH
The second an 04 Tuscan with 8k and again full TVRSH.
The first car can come with a 12 month warranty which will be extendible. Is exceptionally clean but at present is have a new radiator fitted. Is that a concern? ie Lack of cooling, even for a short period likely to cause damage?
The second car is a friends car and I know the history completely. It is loved and cherished. However, I cannot get a warranty on it (or so I believe - if anyone knows different please share!).
Repeated comment is made that from about 03/04 onwards the SP6 engine if far more reliable and oil flow issues seem to have been addressed. If looking at an 03/04 car, just how do you know if that car is pre or post the cut off period? Or, as I suspect, it was a gradual improvement of things and you just take the chance?
I am prepared and accept that there is no exact science to this. Everything is telling me to go with the newer, albeit less powerful/lesser spec'ed car.
Apart from the warranty thing and what would happen to me should something drastic happen and the wife starts digging into the why, what's and ifs over the purchase choice and finds out that the great cars I am telling her about actually breakdown, and that her idea of a 911 was the safer option. No need to argue that, it IS what will happen if the engine goes pop no matter how many IMS failures I point out have happened
So there you go. From experience what would your choice be? The warranted older car? Or, the newer un-warranted one? As I will be buggered if I can make my mind up on this one.
Oh, and I cannot afford both!
willtvr said:
....most of these so-called warranties are crap..........
Are you taking my name in vain ?I bought mine with my heart, off the internet, never saw it and it cost me 20k over the next 2 years fixing her up.
Then I wrote her off.
Life can be a b
tch some times.But my new 2006 convertible has cheered me up.
I must admit that I would have bought as new as possible if I had used my head a bit more.
Good luck. Even if you have to spend a bit you still wont regret it.
Bought my Mk1 with a 6 month warranty, intended to "cosset her" and restore over time, problem it they get into your blood, currently doing average 1k miles a month, far far more than intended, and its just a weekend car!, ive had a new clutch fitted, the indicators and passenger door window give a few minor problems, and 1 breakdown which cost pennies to repair.
I know that its going to cost a lot more at some point, something major has just got to fail, but at the moment its all smiles.
Buy with your heart.
Im off to get a pint of milk, will be gone some time
I know that its going to cost a lot more at some point, something major has just got to fail, but at the moment its all smiles.
Buy with your heart.
Im off to get a pint of milk, will be gone some time
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