Which are the best of the FWD alfas?
Discussion
Chris71 said:
Thinking more about a daily driver for a second.....
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the 90s FWD alfas like the 33, 145, 146 and 155?
I presume they're rather tougher than the 75s and GTVs that preceeded them?
They're not really that much more reliable! The 75 is a great car, won't rust particularly (apparently they're galvanised, which I hadn't realised until quite recently) and has a cracking engine. The 80s GTV does rust, but is the proper petrolhead's car. The 33 is a cracker of a car, but rusts. The 145/146 is ok, but like all 90s Alfas suffers from mediocre Fiat type build quality so electricals tend to be a bit of an issue. The 155 is a good car, but with similar issues.What are the strengths and weaknesses of the 90s FWD alfas like the 33, 145, 146 and 155?
I presume they're rather tougher than the 75s and GTVs that preceeded them?
All of the cars you've picked on are great with the right engine (especially V6 versions)in them and if they've been well looked after and any electrical issues rectified. But don't assume that the older ones are worse than the newer ones.
I had two 145 Cloverleafs and enjoyed them both enormously. Proper rorty hot hatch fun. The 146 Ti is much the same with two more doors. Avoid any 145/6 boxer engined cars. They were very poor compared to the Cloverleaf/Ti. The 155 has a very popular following and the widebody cars in particular handle very well. All are now exceptional value for money.
The 156 and GTV are great cars but will be costlier to buy than the earlier cars and I suspect more fragile, especially in the suspension department.
The other car to consider is a Fiat Coupe. Not sure how much those are going for now, but I suspect not a lot!
The 156 and GTV are great cars but will be costlier to buy than the earlier cars and I suspect more fragile, especially in the suspension department.
The other car to consider is a Fiat Coupe. Not sure how much those are going for now, but I suspect not a lot!
JR said:
Don't forget the nineties GTV. I can vouch for that being a fine everyday car as well as good for trips to the factory museum.
And if you need a bit more practicality you should also look at Fiat Coupés.Galvanised, hand built. Mine is utterly reliable and not a micron of rust.
The turbo engines are a riot; both the earlier 4pot (as integrale) and the later quattro-esque 5pot.
richardxjr said:
JR said:
Don't forget the nineties GTV. I can vouch for that being a fine everyday car as well as good for trips to the factory museum.
And if you need a bit more practicality you should also look at Fiat Coupés.
The trade-off is one of handling vs. practicality. The looks are a personal thing.I'd love a GTV, but for me they sit in an awkward position - a bit too small to carry mountain bike frames and guitar gear and not quite a full-on weekend car. In that respect the Fiat Coupe would be superb - they have tardis like practicality and the 20VTs go like stink. However, I looked on the Fiat Coupe forum and I don't think I could see a single car that had done 100,000 miles on it's original engine.
I need to do around 15,000 miles a year, albeit on motorways for the majority. In answer to the obvious question; I could get a Diesel Mondeo, but I want something that stirs a bit of emotion whilst I'm stuck on the M25. An alfa, better still an Alfa V6 might just be the right idea.
On a practical note, do any of these cars have folding rear seats? Not remotely concerned about rear seat passengers, but I need somewhere to get my bike in
Thinking about Wadgebeast's comment, I may have been a little quick to dismiss the 75. Combining a practical saloon with RWD and a sonorous V6 sounds like a very satisfying mode of transport.
I need to do around 15,000 miles a year, albeit on motorways for the majority. In answer to the obvious question; I could get a Diesel Mondeo, but I want something that stirs a bit of emotion whilst I'm stuck on the M25. An alfa, better still an Alfa V6 might just be the right idea.
On a practical note, do any of these cars have folding rear seats? Not remotely concerned about rear seat passengers, but I need somewhere to get my bike in
Thinking about Wadgebeast's comment, I may have been a little quick to dismiss the 75. Combining a practical saloon with RWD and a sonorous V6 sounds like a very satisfying mode of transport.
Chris71 said:
However, I looked on the Fiat Coupe forum and I don't think I could see a single car that had done 100,000 miles on it's original engine.
I've never owned a FIAT but have a friend who sold a coupe last year; it had 160,000 and was on the original engine. The manifold had rust badly and needed replacing so he opted to change the car and now drives a 2.0 145 which he bought and fettled for less than £500.Chris71 said:
On a practical note, do any of these cars have folding rear seats?
145 and 146 do. The 145 is hugely practical due to it's breadvan shape. Regularly used to take two bikes in mine plus kit for a week away. The frames would actually stand up in the back! I don't think the 155 seats fold, but they have a huge boot. 75 looks like a hatch but isn't.A bit of an exageration perhaps on my part, but there seemed to be a disconcerting number of people celebrating 100,000 not simply as a milestone, but as an acheivment and a few "my first coupe never made past 60,000 RIP" type comments 
If I'm doing 15,000 miles a year and want to keep it for say three years, it still has to be resalable in 45-50,000 miles time without too much risk of anything serious going wrong in the meantime. Plus, good value as they are, the Fiat Coupes still aren't "90's Alfa" cheap!
If I'm doing 15,000 miles a year and want to keep it for say three years, it still has to be resalable in 45-50,000 miles time without too much risk of anything serious going wrong in the meantime. Plus, good value as they are, the Fiat Coupes still aren't "90's Alfa" cheap!
Chris71 said:
I'd love a GTV, but for me they sit in an awkward position - a bit too small to carry mountain bike frames and guitar gear and not quite a full-on weekend car. In that respect the Fiat Coupe would be superb - they have tardis like practicality and the 20VTs go like stink.
I know what you're saying! I have put a bike in my GTV a few times, but it's a real squeeze and only for when there's no other option.I'd take issue with the "not a weekend car" thing, though; you can actually get a decent amount of luggage in the boot as long as its in soft bags rather than hard suitcases. Removing the spare wheel gives you half as much bootspace again and you always have the rear seats to fall back on. We did a 2 week trip around Europe with plenty enough space in the car (and plenty of wine squeezed in on the return leg!)
Chris71 said:
On a practical note, do any of these cars have folding rear seats? Not remotely concerned about rear seat passengers, but I need somewhere to get my bike in
I may be wrong but iirc the Fiat Coupé has folding rear seats.
pdV6 said:
Chris71 said:
I'd love a GTV, but for me they sit in an awkward position - a bit too small to carry mountain bike frames and guitar gear and not quite a full-on weekend car. In that respect the Fiat Coupe would be superb - they have tardis like practicality and the 20VTs go like stink.
I know what you're saying! I have put a bike in my GTV a few times, but it's a real squeeze and only for when there's no other option.I'd take issue with the "not a weekend car" thing, though; you can actually get a decent amount of luggage in the boot as long as its in soft bags rather than hard suitcases. Removing the spare wheel gives you half as much bootspace again and you always have the rear seats to fall back on. We did a 2 week trip around Europe with plenty enough space in the car (and plenty of wine squeezed in on the return leg!)
Chris71 said:
On a practical note, do any of these cars have folding rear seats? Not remotely concerned about rear seat passengers, but I need somewhere to get my bike in
I may be wrong but iirc the Fiat Coupé has folding rear seats.Would love a GT or 159, but they're leagues out of my price range.
Of the models discussed I think a 145 or 146 twin spark might actually be the best option. Small enough to park, big enough to carry a decent amount and with toys like air con and ABS thrown in. With the seats folded a 145 should be fairly cavernous. We had to ditch my current car (an MG ZS) for the last MTB trip as it was almost impossible to fit two bikes in. We ended up taking a friends 106 with no problems at all - just goes to show the inherant advantages of a 'high backed' hathcback even over a considerably larger saloon.
One of the bigger cars with a V6 and possibly RWD appeals too though - unfortunately it's their differences that give them their relative strengths.
The coupé has a ski hatch, not folding seats. There are plenty 20vt's going on original engines well over 100k. Ask the guy at powerfiat.co.uk in Basildon (he services most of them).
The ones that die early will be almost entirely due to numpty owners letting them run dry. Turbos burn a bit of oil and this must be checked religiously.
Keep an eye on the oil level (daily) and they are bulletproof IF the previous owner has looked after it too.
The ones that die early will be almost entirely due to numpty owners letting them run dry. Turbos burn a bit of oil and this must be checked religiously.
Keep an eye on the oil level (daily) and they are bulletproof IF the previous owner has looked after it too.
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