Buying a Giulietta
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm off to look at a 61 plate 1.4 TB Multiair Giulietta this weekend and wondered if there is anything I should be looking out for? I've seen some good pictures and a video of the car and it looks in excellent cosmetic condition. It has been serviced in line with the recommended service schedule by dealers, 1 owner from new, has good tyre tread and has done ~40,000 miles - it generally looks good. The only thing it hasn't had is a cam belt change which I've read should be 72,000 miles or 6 years old (which it is almost) so I would want to get that done. Otherwise it is my perfect spec (other than having a sun roof but I may compromise on that).
Is there anything mechanically I should look out for?
Thanks in advance
I'm off to look at a 61 plate 1.4 TB Multiair Giulietta this weekend and wondered if there is anything I should be looking out for? I've seen some good pictures and a video of the car and it looks in excellent cosmetic condition. It has been serviced in line with the recommended service schedule by dealers, 1 owner from new, has good tyre tread and has done ~40,000 miles - it generally looks good. The only thing it hasn't had is a cam belt change which I've read should be 72,000 miles or 6 years old (which it is almost) so I would want to get that done. Otherwise it is my perfect spec (other than having a sun roof but I may compromise on that).
Is there anything mechanically I should look out for?
Thanks in advance
Similarly I'm going up to Newcastle tomorrow to have a look at a 15 plate QV line.
http://www.richardhardie.co.uk/used-cars/alfa-rome...
I'll have a look through some buyers guides tonight, but it's that pretty I may have already made my mind up.
http://www.richardhardie.co.uk/used-cars/alfa-rome...
I'll have a look through some buyers guides tonight, but it's that pretty I may have already made my mind up.
Thanks guys!
So i had a test drive and it all seemed fine to me - spoke to the salesman and they are going to do the cambelt, change some brake discs and pads and sort a few minor scratched out.
But the deposit is paid and I'm collecting this week! Excited!
Just need to sell my 106 now.
So i had a test drive and it all seemed fine to me - spoke to the salesman and they are going to do the cambelt, change some brake discs and pads and sort a few minor scratched out.
But the deposit is paid and I'm collecting this week! Excited!
Just need to sell my 106 now.
jjcd said:
Thanks guys!
So i had a test drive and it all seemed fine to me - spoke to the salesman and they are going to do the cambelt, change some brake discs and pads and sort a few minor scratched out.
But the deposit is paid and I'm collecting this week! Excited!
Just need to sell my 106 now.
Excellent - that make 2 of us! I put a deposit on a Giulietta 1.4 TB Veloce (170bhp version) on Sat, although in my case the car is a 60 plate with 95,000 miles ('cos I'm a tight Yorkshireman...).So i had a test drive and it all seemed fine to me - spoke to the salesman and they are going to do the cambelt, change some brake discs and pads and sort a few minor scratched out.
But the deposit is paid and I'm collecting this week! Excited!
Just need to sell my 106 now.
It's with the dealer having the air con fixed and regassed, a duff brake pad wear sensor replaced, and a fresh MOT - hopefully will get my grubby mitts on the car at the end of the week. Then I've bit of amateur detailing to do, to get rid of the swirl marks and (hopefully) most of the scratches, it'll get some new rear discs and pads as the discs look fairly worn, the chrome foglight bezels have rusted so I'll see if they will polish up (failing that I'll either paint them or splash out £60 on a new pair of foglights), and although it's had oil at the prescribed intervals I'm unconvinced by 18000 mile service intervals, so I'll give it fresh oil and a new filter and repeat that every year/9000 miles.
Quickmoose said:
Hydraulic valve actuators.
I have no idea how you'd tell if they're about to pop -make sure the 'right' oil is used is pretty much the only thing I've read about...
But I had the originals go and then the replacement 'stronger' part go too...
800-1000 squid each time
Fecking ouchI have no idea how you'd tell if they're about to pop -make sure the 'right' oil is used is pretty much the only thing I've read about...
But I had the originals go and then the replacement 'stronger' part go too...
800-1000 squid each time
I presume these are the fancy multi-air valve actuating bits? Id be very paranoid of what oil had been used in the engine etc.. Perhaps do a preventive flush of the engine followed by the right amount of the correct stuff, plus new filters and all that...
If not too late it's worth checking:
Rear wiper
Rear demister
As the cables for them are on the boot hinge and known to fray if un-moddified. Although plenty of info regarding this on Alfa forums.
Check the blue&Me works with your phone.
After taking my 170 from 30K to 51K I think it's a very reliable car, my 2012 model is a bit noisy ( road noise) but other than that it's great. Lovely engine.
I use the specified Selina oil and change the oil earlier than recommended, think 18k is too long due for the work it does on this particluar engine.
Rear wiper
Rear demister
As the cables for them are on the boot hinge and known to fray if un-moddified. Although plenty of info regarding this on Alfa forums.
Check the blue&Me works with your phone.
After taking my 170 from 30K to 51K I think it's a very reliable car, my 2012 model is a bit noisy ( road noise) but other than that it's great. Lovely engine.
I use the specified Selina oil and change the oil earlier than recommended, think 18k is too long due for the work it does on this particluar engine.
Killer2005 said:
Snap.
Also went for a test drive on Saturday and picking up next weekend. Mines a 2015 QV line on 18900 miles.
It looks absolutely ACE with those skirts and that colour. One of the best looking OEM wheels on any mainstream car as well.Also went for a test drive on Saturday and picking up next weekend. Mines a 2015 QV line on 18900 miles.
Can't understand the popularity of the white ones (2nd hand), as this car looks so brilliant in red or blue.
ZesPak said:
Killer2005 said:
Snap.
Also went for a test drive on Saturday and picking up next weekend. Mines a 2015 QV line on 18900 miles.
It looks absolutely ACE with those skirts and that colour. One of the best looking OEM wheels on any mainstream car as well.Also went for a test drive on Saturday and picking up next weekend. Mines a 2015 QV line on 18900 miles.
Can't understand the popularity of the white ones (2nd hand), as this car looks so brilliant in red or blue.
Killer2005 said:
I was actually looking for Alfa red but when I saw this one and my decision was made. There was a similarly priced Brembo edition on Autotrader but it was in white and I just couldn't have a white car.
There's also white and white.The fridge white doesn't do it justice (actually I've yet to see a car where I like it),where the pearlescent white actually looks quite ok.
Still not a patch on the blue or red (either red) though.
That blue looks really nice! The one I have bought is the darker red and it was the colour I've been waiting for.
I did a good detailed advert for my old car - someone turned up to view last night and drove it away an hour later!
So now I am waiting for tomorrow afternoon when I collect the new one - can't wait
I did a good detailed advert for my old car - someone turned up to view last night and drove it away an hour later!
So now I am waiting for tomorrow afternoon when I collect the new one - can't wait
Yes that reflects my thoughts too!
I love the car, I keep making excuses to drive...
Good points:
Interior is nice, comfortable for long journeys and also feels good quality with no rattles or squeaks etc.
The car is excellent is Dynamic and I personally think it is still very good in Natural mode.
I bought it for myself to enjoy but the colour and exterior have received good comments from family and friends!
Bad points:
I am not exactly trying but with normal varied driving I am struggling to get more than 35 MPG. This is not a problem as I don't do a huge amount of miles but I had expected to reach 40 MPG!
I love the car, I keep making excuses to drive...
Good points:
Interior is nice, comfortable for long journeys and also feels good quality with no rattles or squeaks etc.
The car is excellent is Dynamic and I personally think it is still very good in Natural mode.
I bought it for myself to enjoy but the colour and exterior have received good comments from family and friends!
Bad points:
I am not exactly trying but with normal varied driving I am struggling to get more than 35 MPG. This is not a problem as I don't do a huge amount of miles but I had expected to reach 40 MPG!
No its not bad - I'm perfectly happy with it but I just thought it would achieve slightly better than that! However saying that, I did a 100 mile round trip today which was 90% motorway and averaged 49 MPG...
Overall I am very happy with the car and would recommend the 1.4 TB MultiAir Giulietta to anyone looking for a slightly different hatchback
Overall I am very happy with the car and would recommend the 1.4 TB MultiAir Giulietta to anyone looking for a slightly different hatchback
Our more "worn-in" example is also averaging around 35mpg, it would probably do better if only it wasn't so satisfying to put your foot down... 
Not only does it move remarkably well for a mere 1.4, it also has to be one of the nicest-sounding four-cylinders I've ever driven. Alfa have judged the exhaust note perfectly IMHO, it's got a nice deep note but without being intrusive or anti-social.
A couple of weeks back I noticed one of the front calipers was binding slightly. A bit of poking about revealed a failed piston dust seal allowing moisture in, the resulting corrosion causing the piston to stick, hence the binding. So I've fitted a new pair of calipers, and replaced the front discs and pads while I was at it.
Photo of the car after a wash, and "auto enhanced" by Google Photos which has exaggerated the shine somewhat, but I quite liked the effect!
Not only does it move remarkably well for a mere 1.4, it also has to be one of the nicest-sounding four-cylinders I've ever driven. Alfa have judged the exhaust note perfectly IMHO, it's got a nice deep note but without being intrusive or anti-social.
A couple of weeks back I noticed one of the front calipers was binding slightly. A bit of poking about revealed a failed piston dust seal allowing moisture in, the resulting corrosion causing the piston to stick, hence the binding. So I've fitted a new pair of calipers, and replaced the front discs and pads while I was at it.
Photo of the car after a wash, and "auto enhanced" by Google Photos which has exaggerated the shine somewhat, but I quite liked the effect!
My foot must be slightly heavier, I'm only getting between 31 and 33 according to the trip, although a short five mile commute doesn't help.
Ours seems to do something odd. As you start to bring the clutch up from the floor, it raises the revs slightly without any pressing of the throttle, which I assume it's supposed to (?) It has always done this anyway! This is fine, and as long as you let the clutch bite fully at low revs, it pulls away smoothly, but if you need to pull away swiftly so apply revs as you slip the clutch to move off, it seems to rev, and then cut the power slightly and momentarily as the clutch fully engages causing a lurch. It's pretty annoying, and I'm sure it hasn't always done this. I'm not talking giving it a boot full either, just say 2k revs or so. Does anyone else's do this? I thought I was maybe losing my ability to drive
, but it's the same when the wife drives it...
It's four weeks out of manufacturer's warranty, although it is under warranty (from Nuneaton Alfa main dealer) until next June, but the dealer is over twenty miles away so I don't want to treck over there unnecessarily.
Edit: Found this from googling "Giulietta lurch".
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-giulietta/7250...
Hmm, I need fuel, so I'll try a tank of SUL to see if it makes any odds. Usually just fill up on 95 at the local Morrisons.
Ours seems to do something odd. As you start to bring the clutch up from the floor, it raises the revs slightly without any pressing of the throttle, which I assume it's supposed to (?) It has always done this anyway! This is fine, and as long as you let the clutch bite fully at low revs, it pulls away smoothly, but if you need to pull away swiftly so apply revs as you slip the clutch to move off, it seems to rev, and then cut the power slightly and momentarily as the clutch fully engages causing a lurch. It's pretty annoying, and I'm sure it hasn't always done this. I'm not talking giving it a boot full either, just say 2k revs or so. Does anyone else's do this? I thought I was maybe losing my ability to drive
, but it's the same when the wife drives it...It's four weeks out of manufacturer's warranty, although it is under warranty (from Nuneaton Alfa main dealer) until next June, but the dealer is over twenty miles away so I don't want to treck over there unnecessarily.
Edit: Found this from googling "Giulietta lurch".
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-giulietta/7250...
Hmm, I need fuel, so I'll try a tank of SUL to see if it makes any odds. Usually just fill up on 95 at the local Morrisons.
Edited by LeighW on Wednesday 26th July 15:40
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