Alfa Sele-speed - Anyone tried one? ANY GOOD??
Discussion
Selespeed will work as a full auto if that is what you want. In fact as a full auto it is remarkably pleasant to drive.
The problem is that as a semi-auto it is what most people would refer to as dire, personally I would go a lot further than that and state that it is amongst the worst automotive gearing systems ever devised.
Alfa and Fiat have tried really hard to improve the system and later cars are far better than the early ones but when it comes down to it, it is, in a word crap.
With a degree of skill you can smooth the gear changes out but you have to continually second guess what the car is going to do. The auto change-up operation in semi- mode is liable to leave you with a broken nose from the steering wheel if you get it wrong.
If you want to keep all of the "manual" control over the gear then get a manual, if you want an automatic then get the selespeed but if you want a semi-automatic don't buy an Alfa.
The problem is that as a semi-auto it is what most people would refer to as dire, personally I would go a lot further than that and state that it is amongst the worst automotive gearing systems ever devised.
Alfa and Fiat have tried really hard to improve the system and later cars are far better than the early ones but when it comes down to it, it is, in a word crap.
With a degree of skill you can smooth the gear changes out but you have to continually second guess what the car is going to do. The auto change-up operation in semi- mode is liable to leave you with a broken nose from the steering wheel if you get it wrong.
If you want to keep all of the "manual" control over the gear then get a manual, if you want an automatic then get the selespeed but if you want a semi-automatic don't buy an Alfa.
I am just bringing this back up to the top to see if I can get any further insight into the selespeed.
I have just sold my Merc CLK and am looking to buy a less than 5 year, less than 40k miles 156 2.0 and have found a nice one but its Selespeed.
Are they as bad as all that? Any positive comments from owners?
Thanks
I have just sold my Merc CLK and am looking to buy a less than 5 year, less than 40k miles 156 2.0 and have found a nice one but its Selespeed.
Are they as bad as all that? Any positive comments from owners?
Thanks
"156s are fine, very little goes wrong with them".
Well except for the odd gearbox. Oh & the cambelt letting go leading to the destruction of various engine ancillaries. Not to mention worn suspension bushes, mutiple electrical failures et al.
For someone who seemingly works in the motor industry pwig, you appear to be somewhat out of touch with the general motor trade opinion which is that Italian cars are damn unreliable contraptions. This is not to mention the numerous ownership surveys which usually place Alfa near or at the bottom of reliability, customer satisfaction etc etc.
Speaking personally Ill never buy any Italian car again (not withstanding a lottery win to get that 288 GTO Ive always hankered over) because in todays market, they are just too fragile & petulant.
Well except for the odd gearbox. Oh & the cambelt letting go leading to the destruction of various engine ancillaries. Not to mention worn suspension bushes, mutiple electrical failures et al.
For someone who seemingly works in the motor industry pwig, you appear to be somewhat out of touch with the general motor trade opinion which is that Italian cars are damn unreliable contraptions. This is not to mention the numerous ownership surveys which usually place Alfa near or at the bottom of reliability, customer satisfaction etc etc.
Speaking personally Ill never buy any Italian car again (not withstanding a lottery win to get that 288 GTO Ive always hankered over) because in todays market, they are just too fragile & petulant.
In the interests of balance I feel I should point out that I've had a higher than average mileage 156 for the last 9 months and it's performed (almost) faultlessly.
I had to replace a rear suspension control arm when the bush gave way (cost £25) and the bracket which holds cat to the engine which cracked when attacked by a speed bump (cost less than a tenner). Put it this way, the whole 48,000 service including those bits cost less than £300.
Apart from that there have been no squeaks, no rattles, nothing has fallen off or gone wrong. And it drives like a dream.
EDIT: I should probably add that mine is a manual though.
>> Edited by MalcolmS on Friday 15th July 16:19
I had to replace a rear suspension control arm when the bush gave way (cost £25) and the bracket which holds cat to the engine which cracked when attacked by a speed bump (cost less than a tenner). Put it this way, the whole 48,000 service including those bits cost less than £300.
Apart from that there have been no squeaks, no rattles, nothing has fallen off or gone wrong. And it drives like a dream.
EDIT: I should probably add that mine is a manual though.
>> Edited by MalcolmS on Friday 15th July 16:19
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