Alfa's - Are They Really As Bad As People Say?
Discussion
Had 2 alfas, both superb, the first one, a 3.0GTV had 160K on the clock when I sold it and was still going strong at 180K.
Not at all unreliable and I will definitely have more alfas in the future.
Used to have a 3dr 147 (a GTA) and never had any trouble getting the kids in the back. I think a GT would have been equally suitable. I know some people prefer the convenience of a 5dr, but personally I'll take looks over absolute convenience anyday!
Not at all unreliable and I will definitely have more alfas in the future.
Used to have a 3dr 147 (a GTA) and never had any trouble getting the kids in the back. I think a GT would have been equally suitable. I know some people prefer the convenience of a 5dr, but personally I'll take looks over absolute convenience anyday!
FWIW, I've put 12,500 miles on my 147 Q2 since December and it hasn't put a foot wrong.
The performance, for a 1.9 diesel, is odd: the VAG oil burners I've driven in the past always punch hardest from 1750rpm. The Alfa unit actually has the characteristics of a petrol engine - it picks up nicely from 2,000 then really goes from 3,000+. I can't get more than 42mpg out of though
The grip and accuracy of the steering is sensational for a relatively cheap 3-door hatch, and it's the best looking hatchback on the market today IMVHO.
Storage space is lacking, but if you want storage buy a wardrobe with wheels; Alfas are built to be driven!
The performance, for a 1.9 diesel, is odd: the VAG oil burners I've driven in the past always punch hardest from 1750rpm. The Alfa unit actually has the characteristics of a petrol engine - it picks up nicely from 2,000 then really goes from 3,000+. I can't get more than 42mpg out of though
The grip and accuracy of the steering is sensational for a relatively cheap 3-door hatch, and it's the best looking hatchback on the market today IMVHO.
Storage space is lacking, but if you want storage buy a wardrobe with wheels; Alfas are built to be driven!
in general listen to folks who have owned them not blokes down the pub who have never bought anything but a ford.those in the know don't mind the stigma as they are fantastic used bargains.its only the dealer network in the u.k which has let the brand down,not the cars themselves.
Edited by retrorider on Sunday 22 June 22:56
There are plenty of people who have bought a "bargain" Alfa for 1K only to find it needs half the car replacing at a cost of 2.5K+, and the early 156s seemed to have more than their fair share of problems.
Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
funwithrevs said:
There are plenty of people who have bought a "bargain" Alfa for 1K only to find it needs half the car replacing at a cost of 2.5K+, and the early 156s seemed to have more than their fair share of problems.
Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
£3300 for 200 V6 Alfa Veloce wagon + £900 top end rebuild & full service = still a bargain IMHOGiven you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
Oh and a year after all that, she's just sailed through the MOT (should fooking hope so really)
funwithrevs said:
There are plenty of people who have bought a "bargain" Alfa for 1K only to find it needs half the car replacing at a cost of 2.5K+, and the early 156s seemed to have more than their fair share of problems.
Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
Is that the experience of someone who's owned one, or someone who knows someone who's owned one?Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
The reliability thing is balls in my experience. I drove my 156 GTA to Moscow, kept it there for 10 months (including it living outside on the street in temps of below -20 degrees centigrade) and then drove it back to London last month without any trouble at all. Will be taking it back there soon.
All it has needed so far is a new front ARB (the old one started clonking after it suffered premature wear at the hands of Russia's shonky road surfaces).
All it has needed so far is a new front ARB (the old one started clonking after it suffered premature wear at the hands of Russia's shonky road surfaces).
Mave said:
funwithrevs said:
There are plenty of people who have bought a "bargain" Alfa for 1K only to find it needs half the car replacing at a cost of 2.5K+, and the early 156s seemed to have more than their fair share of problems.
Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
Is that the experience of someone who's owned one, or someone who knows someone who's owned one?Given you won't fall into either of these categories you should have a wonderful time
Even my kit car has an Alfa V6 in it.
Never owned a 156, not because I think they are unreliable I just think the 166 is waaay better value for money second hand.
Sorry -a bit late on this as I have only just joined the Forum.
I have 3 Alfas
2003-147 JTD 16 v (Wifes ) -brilliant car - only problem has been air bag light (fixed under warranty)and one driveshaft (again under warranty)
1996-155-2 Litre wide body - lowered -brilliant handling a real fun car-
and
a 1998 156 V6 Veloce with 251,000 miles on clock-original engine still burns no oil, orig gearbox, electics etc -fantastic leather interior.
All that it has had is front suspension rebuild and driveshafts at 220,000 miles. It has also suffered the usual air bag light problem now fixed by Adrian at Platts Stoke on Trent .
It still goes like stink, sounds beautiful and being in Nuvola blue also looks fantastic.
I actually once sold the 156 (to my son) and had a supercharged XJR for a year but missed it so much I repurchased when he decided to move on.-it is a much better drivers car than the Jag.
I would like to see a German product that has survived so well!
Stewart
I have 3 Alfas
2003-147 JTD 16 v (Wifes ) -brilliant car - only problem has been air bag light (fixed under warranty)and one driveshaft (again under warranty)
1996-155-2 Litre wide body - lowered -brilliant handling a real fun car-
and
a 1998 156 V6 Veloce with 251,000 miles on clock-original engine still burns no oil, orig gearbox, electics etc -fantastic leather interior.
All that it has had is front suspension rebuild and driveshafts at 220,000 miles. It has also suffered the usual air bag light problem now fixed by Adrian at Platts Stoke on Trent .
It still goes like stink, sounds beautiful and being in Nuvola blue also looks fantastic.
I actually once sold the 156 (to my son) and had a supercharged XJR for a year but missed it so much I repurchased when he decided to move on.-it is a much better drivers car than the Jag.
I would like to see a German product that has survived so well!
Stewart
i'm now on my second alfa 166 - the first one was bought sight unseen, from a salvage yard with no paperwork, no service history, and dubious milage (showed 108,000 not believed genuine) true to form, it had problems.
after the second major failure in 2 weeks, i thought 'sod it, i just want a reliable car' and bought a Lexus GS300, this was actually no better, and within 3 days i was pining for the Alfa Romeo magic again.
that weekend i bought a 166 2.5 V6 with 70,000 miles on the clock and a full service history. this car is utterly sublime, i've had it 3 months, done just over 2000 miles, and its been perfect.
buy carefully, and they are every bit as reliable as any other car, but a lot better in every other respect. do it.
after the second major failure in 2 weeks, i thought 'sod it, i just want a reliable car' and bought a Lexus GS300, this was actually no better, and within 3 days i was pining for the Alfa Romeo magic again.
that weekend i bought a 166 2.5 V6 with 70,000 miles on the clock and a full service history. this car is utterly sublime, i've had it 3 months, done just over 2000 miles, and its been perfect.
buy carefully, and they are every bit as reliable as any other car, but a lot better in every other respect. do it.
Edited by philoldsmobile on Saturday 21st June 20:09
Edited by philoldsmobile on Saturday 21st June 20:09
Forgive me phil but only 2000 mls it should be reliable.
I was educated with Alfa's from a young age, Mum had a Sud for years before selling for a 318iS, which was nicked, so then went back to Alfa with a 33 1.5Ti which I eventually purchased.
Then a 155 2.0 TSpark Silverstone, and a 156 V6 for a short period.
These were very much the days when Alfas had a very bad name but I had nothing go wrong just the usual consumables.
Have not driven a "modern" Alfa but I'm sure they are still sewn in the same cloth.
I was educated with Alfa's from a young age, Mum had a Sud for years before selling for a 318iS, which was nicked, so then went back to Alfa with a 33 1.5Ti which I eventually purchased.
Then a 155 2.0 TSpark Silverstone, and a 156 V6 for a short period.
These were very much the days when Alfas had a very bad name but I had nothing go wrong just the usual consumables.
Have not driven a "modern" Alfa but I'm sure they are still sewn in the same cloth.
Wombat Rick said:
And just think what they say about Fiats!!
Haha, so true. But I actually have a 2003 Fiat Seicento "Sporting" (really trying to find a way of chopping it in for a 2.0 Alfa 146 Ti) and it doesn't go wrong, apart from sometimes you pretty much have to ram the brake pedal through the firewall and into the egine bay to even begin to stop, but good job my dad used to be a mechanic, and assembles some of the world's most complex robots for a living, as he fixes it in 5 minutes...I know plenty of Alfa owners who report no problems with their cars (2 have 156's and one used to have a GTV 2.0 TS).
I guess it depends on how well they are looked after. Treat it well, nothing goes wrong, do nothing to maintain it then it goes to pot. Just like a Fiat!
owned one of the very first in the uk 155 2ltr Twinspark supers(widebody) rosso red( or pink as they are these days) 16 black speedlines, with the proper spoiler not that horrid silverstones spoiler. the one that would come up to the rear windscreen....Fantastic car, truely was the only problem we ever encountered with it was the electric windows, they did what they wanted when they wanted, its raining doing 80 on the motorway, lets go down and jam, followed by a session of up and down for 2 minutes....sad to see it go actually, got replaced with a bmw 328i which was crap, then a ford galaxy which was also crap.
Alfas seem to be able to take silly abuse too....I managed to fill up my 156 GTA with diesel by mistake whilst in Lithuania on Monday. Thankfully one flush and drain later, performed by the local official Alfa service place in Kaunas (yes, the presence of such a thing was a surprise to me too), and the car seems to be fine again and has since covered a further 700 miles without problem.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff