2002 Alfa 147 1.6 T Spark Lusso

[Tuvra]

Hi Guys.

I have been keeping an eye on local cars in view to changing my "shed" Mondeo. I was all set on a little Ford Ka as these appeared to be cheap to buy, run and insure. After missing out on a lovely SportKa I have struggled to find anything of value, it appears that everything I consider good value is rotten in more ways than one.

So the other night I'm browsing all general local cars and come across the above car. The car is a 5 door version, is black with red leather interior and has 116k on the clock but claims to have a full and comprehensive Service History, Tax & MOT and one lady owner from new. A brief exchange of texts with the seller gives me a bit of confidence and he informs me that the Cam belt was changed in July 2012. I will be arranging to view this car at some point today and agreed to give him a bell before hand to have a little chat.

Therefore, can someone with experience of this car please inform me of what I should be looking out for or whether or not this car at 116k miles is worth it. From my online research I believe the Cam belt & Variator are the key things to go wrong on these cars plus the minor suspension niggles. Can anyone advise me what I should be looking / hearing for on the inspection?

I believe the "diesel rattle" on start up signals the Variator is broken and this should have been changed with the Cam belt. Any tips and advice very much appreciated. I think I can get the car for around £500, which seems exceptional value for money, providing it don't go bang on the way home

[trashbat]

Oil level is critical. Especially if the seller's the owner, get them to show you the dipstick.

You don't have to replace the variator when you do the cambelt, but if you don't, it's a gamble as to whether it'll turn noisy in the next three years.

[waynedear]

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt...

[Vitorio]

trashbat said:

Oil level is critical. Especially if the seller's the owner, get them to show you the dipstick.

If this is about the big-end bearings on the conrods, even a good oil-level right now is worth nothing, typically a TS with bad bearings will be caused by running (even for a short period) with oil below the min mark, and it will end up lunching the engine ~6K down the road.

1.6TSses are supposedly less prone to the issue though, the 2.0 is the primary suspect when it comes to crank-bearing problems

Another weakness on this generation of alfa is the front suspension, the bushes wear out relatively quick, which means replacing the wishbone.

Honestly though, for 500 quid, buy the damn thing, even if it goes poof, seeing that its a lusso, you might have a decent amount of luxury kit to sell to other alfa owners to recoup costs (a leather interior will fetch 200-300 easily)

[trashbat]

Vitorio said:

If this is about the big-end bearings on the conrods, even a good oil-level right now is worth nothing, typically a TS with bad bearings will be caused by running (even for a short period) with oil below the min mark, and it will end up lunching the engine ~6K down the road.

Of course - but it's a start. If I was buying in a private sale, and the owner couldn't show me how they check the oil, or talk about how often they do it, I'd walk away right there.

[Tuvra]

I spoke to the seller who told me that he was selling on behalf of his mother. I told him I wanted to come and see the car ASAP. He explained he could meet me at his mothers at 6 because he's in work till 5.

Turn up at 6 and there's no car, I knock the door and meet the mum, she explains the car had been sold at 4pm, What a knob! A simple text would have saved me building my hopes up and wasting time and petrol travelling 30 miles to view it!

Gutted