Bitten by the bug, the obsession begins....
Discussion
Well, I am the proud owner of my first Alfa, despite being a petrolhead all my life!
You'll have to bear with the pointlessly long story, or skip to the end which is the pertinent bit!
My Alfa obsession began with my friend's 145 Cloverleaf. Ironically, this is a car most of my group have borrowed when one of our own was in for repairs
It looks a total shed, the red lacquer has mostly dissolved, but come rain or shine, no matter how long it's stood for, 'The Baron' has never failed to start nor provide immense driving entertainment. It comes with host of Alfa-esque quirks, but that just made me love him more.
Despite my best efforts, my friend refused to sell him to me!
So, with a house renovation project on the horizon, it was obvious I would need an estate car to go alongside my daily drive (which with only 2 seats is not going to be very practical for tip runs!). I tried to force myself to be sensible, trawling ebay and looking at Mondeos, Vectras and even Volvos. But my heart wasn't in it.
When some Googling brought up a 156 JTD Sportwagon about 2 hours away, at a very reasonable price, the deal was done from that moment on.
We drove over two hours in the rush hour and torrential rain, viewed this lovely car which I was of course immediately in love with, and obviously brought it home. That drive back was so full of character that the car had a name less than an hour in (Alfie
)
The following morning allowed a better inspection and revealed the extent of the oil leak (which OH had spotted but was hard to verify in a downpour) to mean we parked it up and it hasn't moved since! Of course, the rear windows do not work, nor does the key fob, but the bodywork is amazing as is the interior (full leather).
We think the leak originates to the the new clutch it had fitted a while ago, and relates to the crankshaft, but of course this needs full investigation.
Luckily the renovation project we are buying will enable us to build a rather large garage, at which point a full and proper restoration will begin. OH is already shortlisting all the marvellous tools and gadgets he will need to basically have a fully operational workshop, and then maybe I can drive my beloved 156 again!
So, as impulse buys go I think it was a bloody good one, my friends think I'm an idiot, my OH has rolled his eyes (but secretly loves it), but it is the start of a love affair. If I am ever in a position to begin collecting Alfas, I think I'm going to have to.
I'm hoping to get into a 4C one day in the not too distant future (if it ever rolls off the production line...), but Alfa have yet to make a car I don't think is stunning.
So
hello Alfa community. I shall eventually update when we begin the restoration, and no doubt come to pick a lot of brains.
Meanwhile, here is a (rubbish) shot of Alfie alongside my daily drive:
Oh yes, and this immensely sensible purchase of mine means I'll need to borrow/buy a third car to cope with the tip runs
You'll have to bear with the pointlessly long story, or skip to the end which is the pertinent bit!
My Alfa obsession began with my friend's 145 Cloverleaf. Ironically, this is a car most of my group have borrowed when one of our own was in for repairs
It looks a total shed, the red lacquer has mostly dissolved, but come rain or shine, no matter how long it's stood for, 'The Baron' has never failed to start nor provide immense driving entertainment. It comes with host of Alfa-esque quirks, but that just made me love him more. Despite my best efforts, my friend refused to sell him to me!
So, with a house renovation project on the horizon, it was obvious I would need an estate car to go alongside my daily drive (which with only 2 seats is not going to be very practical for tip runs!). I tried to force myself to be sensible, trawling ebay and looking at Mondeos, Vectras and even Volvos. But my heart wasn't in it.
When some Googling brought up a 156 JTD Sportwagon about 2 hours away, at a very reasonable price, the deal was done from that moment on.
We drove over two hours in the rush hour and torrential rain, viewed this lovely car which I was of course immediately in love with, and obviously brought it home. That drive back was so full of character that the car had a name less than an hour in (Alfie
)The following morning allowed a better inspection and revealed the extent of the oil leak (which OH had spotted but was hard to verify in a downpour) to mean we parked it up and it hasn't moved since! Of course, the rear windows do not work, nor does the key fob, but the bodywork is amazing as is the interior (full leather).
We think the leak originates to the the new clutch it had fitted a while ago, and relates to the crankshaft, but of course this needs full investigation.
Luckily the renovation project we are buying will enable us to build a rather large garage, at which point a full and proper restoration will begin. OH is already shortlisting all the marvellous tools and gadgets he will need to basically have a fully operational workshop, and then maybe I can drive my beloved 156 again!
So, as impulse buys go I think it was a bloody good one, my friends think I'm an idiot, my OH has rolled his eyes (but secretly loves it), but it is the start of a love affair. If I am ever in a position to begin collecting Alfas, I think I'm going to have to.
I'm hoping to get into a 4C one day in the not too distant future (if it ever rolls off the production line...), but Alfa have yet to make a car I don't think is stunning.
So
hello Alfa community. I shall eventually update when we begin the restoration, and no doubt come to pick a lot of brains.Meanwhile, here is a (rubbish) shot of Alfie alongside my daily drive:
Oh yes, and this immensely sensible purchase of mine means I'll need to borrow/buy a third car to cope with the tip runs
Hey Hey,
Welcome to the boat. I, like you, bought my first Alfa 2 weeks ago (TS GTV) and I'm smitten. Yes the window wipers don't quite park properly, the air con doesn't work and Im in a constant state of worry about letting the oil run low but I love it.
Get yourself on over to alfa owner, friendly forum with loads of advice.
Pete
Welcome to the boat. I, like you, bought my first Alfa 2 weeks ago (TS GTV) and I'm smitten. Yes the window wipers don't quite park properly, the air con doesn't work and Im in a constant state of worry about letting the oil run low but I love it.
Get yourself on over to alfa owner, friendly forum with loads of advice.
Pete
Geoffcapes said:
I currently own two. My 156 which is my work car, and my 155 which is my toy.
Can't imagine me buying anything else.
Just remember to check the oil at least once a week, and get the cambelt changed after 3 years or 30k.
Oh, and enjoy screaming it up to 7,000 rpm!
Its a diesel so 60-72K belt change intervals. Mine did a clutch at 96K due to the rear main seal on the engine leaking over it & causing it to slip. The change is massive on the 2.4JTD I seem to remember it was 7.7 hours! AT main dealer rates pretty eyewatering!Can't imagine me buying anything else.
Just remember to check the oil at least once a week, and get the cambelt changed after 3 years or 30k.
Oh, and enjoy screaming it up to 7,000 rpm!
Thanks all 
Can't wait to actually be driving again, that engine is superb and much more refined than I expected from a diesel.
If I get time tomorrow evening I'll be giving him a good polish and will take some better pics. The clutch and cambelt were changed in Nov and it has done next to no miles since then, so that's one good thing...!
I know, but it's honestly very apt
Can't wait to actually be driving again, that engine is superb and much more refined than I expected from a diesel.
If I get time tomorrow evening I'll be giving him a good polish and will take some better pics. The clutch and cambelt were changed in Nov and it has done next to no miles since then, so that's one good thing...!
RicksAlfas said:
FLGirl said:
'The Baron'
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