Would you buy one of the fire damaged/post 05 156 V6's?
Discussion
Which i think this is: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1818578.htm
Stonking value though!
Would you buy one and if not, why not?
Stonking value though!
Would you buy one and if not, why not?
Pommygranite I looked at this car before buying mine. Spoke to Alfa Romeo UK about this car, they told me that it wasn't actually fire damaged but that the ship taking the vehicle to the Chinese market sank. The vehicle was left at the bottom of the sea in a sealed container for over a year before an external salvage company... Salvaged it! I went for an X-plate in the end because I wasn't brave enough...
Sounds like a bit of a fairy tale to me... watertight shipping containers, hugely expensive recovery operation, etc. etc.? The other version of the story is that they were just a bit smokey smelling and have been valeted to within an inch of their lives to clean them up. The only worry would be the amount of time they'll have been stuck in storage awaiting an insurers decision on what to do with them. I wouldn't let it worry me personally - just make sure there's no obvious corrosion as outdoors storage near the docks could have been involved.
DamienB said:
Sounds like a bit of a fairy tale to me... watertight shipping containers, hugely expensive recovery operation, etc. etc.? The other version of the story is that they were just a bit smokey smelling and have been valeted to within an inch of their lives to clean them up. The only worry would be the amount of time they'll have been stuck in storage awaiting an insurers decision on what to do with them. I wouldn't let it worry me personally - just make sure there's no obvious corrosion as outdoors storage near the docks could have been involved.
Just what AR-UK told me that's all 
Right, that story is rubbish.
I have a car from that 'batch' - a 2.0 Selespeed 'Wagon.
The handbook etc. are in Malay.
The real story behind them:
Alfa imported a stack of high-spec cars into Malaysia - mostly 2.0 Selespeeds, V6 autos, but also some GTA Selespeeds and some manual cars.
After importing them, the Malaysian government changed taxation rules for imported luxury vehicles, the cars were unsellable and the Malaysian concession went bust.
They sat around for a few years (build date will be late 2002), before being re-imported into the EU by a company who sold them to some of the big car supermarkets.
Problems we've had with ours - failure of a Selespeed actuator (they all do that, sir), which was covered by the Warranty Direct warranty I bought for it.
Just be aware that it may be tricky to sell on, but enjoy the fact that you have the best of the 156s - original exterior with facelift interior.
I have a car from that 'batch' - a 2.0 Selespeed 'Wagon.
The handbook etc. are in Malay.
The real story behind them:
Alfa imported a stack of high-spec cars into Malaysia - mostly 2.0 Selespeeds, V6 autos, but also some GTA Selespeeds and some manual cars.
After importing them, the Malaysian government changed taxation rules for imported luxury vehicles, the cars were unsellable and the Malaysian concession went bust.
They sat around for a few years (build date will be late 2002), before being re-imported into the EU by a company who sold them to some of the big car supermarkets.
Problems we've had with ours - failure of a Selespeed actuator (they all do that, sir), which was covered by the Warranty Direct warranty I bought for it.
Just be aware that it may be tricky to sell on, but enjoy the fact that you have the best of the 156s - original exterior with facelift interior.
As I said in the previous thread about late reg 156's mine was most definatley smoke damaged from a ship fire as on a warm day you gat a vague smokey smell inside the car after its stood for a while.
I also work on one of the ferries that transported them back to the UK, which is how I came to buy mine. Manual is in English in my car which makes me think destination was Australia /Singapore.
In nearly 5 years Ive had to replace the MAF and the usual suspension parts. I bought the car cheap and intend to run it into the ground so resale is not a worry.
Its my third and best 156 so far.
Watch for paint damage as the cars as said have been cut back quite heavily in places as the protective plastic had melted on to some body panels.
I also work on one of the ferries that transported them back to the UK, which is how I came to buy mine. Manual is in English in my car which makes me think destination was Australia /Singapore.
In nearly 5 years Ive had to replace the MAF and the usual suspension parts. I bought the car cheap and intend to run it into the ground so resale is not a worry.
Its my third and best 156 so far.
Watch for paint damage as the cars as said have been cut back quite heavily in places as the protective plastic had melted on to some body panels.
Some interesting tales!
I think the advert for that blue V6 makes quite a sizeable reference to paint treatment which seems to ring true with the discussed paint damaged cars and perhaps someone has gone to a good effort to make it looking nice and 'shiney' for sale.
Is it worth a punt on that blue one? I dont know really but there are plenty of straight Alfa's out there for better money and arent registered 3 years after build.
I think the advert for that blue V6 makes quite a sizeable reference to paint treatment which seems to ring true with the discussed paint damaged cars and perhaps someone has gone to a good effort to make it looking nice and 'shiney' for sale.
Is it worth a punt on that blue one? I dont know really but there are plenty of straight Alfa's out there for better money and arent registered 3 years after build.
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
Right, that story is rubbish.
Hope I haven't struck a nerve... 
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
Right, that story is rubbish.
Hope I haven't struck a nerve... CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
Right, that story is rubbish.
Hope I haven't struck a nerve... robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
Right, that story is rubbish.
Hope I haven't struck a nerve... CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
robsco said:
CinqAbarth said:
Right, that story is rubbish.
Hope I haven't struck a nerve... 
I believe there are two different batches of late-registered 156s in the UK. Some are a smoke affected batch from a cargo ship fire, some are a Malaysian/Singapore batch.
There's also a few 166s and GTVs which are late registered but they're all from the Malaysia/Singapore return.
Someone at Alfa UK has a wild imagination it seems.
There's also a few 166s and GTVs which are late registered but they're all from the Malaysia/Singapore return.
Someone at Alfa UK has a wild imagination it seems.
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