What would you do?
Discussion
Okay, so i've come to a crunch point with my alfa 156.
I really love this car, the tan leather seats, the way it looks, the revvy twinspark engine etc.
But, and its a big but, in the last few months its really cost me big time. At service/MOT time it needed new disks and pads all round a new suspension arm and a few other bits. A few months later the waterpump went, cue new waterpump + cambelt kit + associated labour costs. I then decided it was time to get the oil leak fixed that i had been ignoring for months before i went on a road trip to italy. Of course rather then something simple it turned out to be the oil seals behind the gearbox, cue gearbox removal + associated labour costs + a new clutch for good measure. I also have a small oil leak from the gearbox but i am in discussions with the garage about getting this fixed as i feel that this should have been done (it was noticed at the time) when they took the gearbox off the first time.
So all in i have spent £1500 ish, maybe a little more, fixing it. That is almost what i paid for the car.
So i then notice my rear tyres are wearing unevenly, as they did the first time i got the tyres replaced, so i take it back to the garage i got the wheel alignment done and they very kindly offer to realign for free. Great, i think, some good luck for once. Nope. Later that day i get a call from the garage, one of the CV joints has split and needs replacing. Another £175.
So... I had got to the point where i had said i wasn't going to spend anymore, but i cant afford to replace it with anything half decent. My budget would only be what i could sell the car for, which woudnt be much with the mentioned problems and i would have to buy a boring/reliable car as i couldn't justify taking another risk. Which lets be honest is what you potentialy do when you buy a cheap alfa.
My problem is i dont know whether to cut my loses and buy a £400 snotter until i can afford something better (might be a while), or fix the alfa and look it as i have already spent quite a bit so lots of things are new and shouldnt go wrong again.
What would you do? (i ask on th alfa forum because i know you lot will probably undertand this kind of dilemma
)
I really love this car, the tan leather seats, the way it looks, the revvy twinspark engine etc.
But, and its a big but, in the last few months its really cost me big time. At service/MOT time it needed new disks and pads all round a new suspension arm and a few other bits. A few months later the waterpump went, cue new waterpump + cambelt kit + associated labour costs. I then decided it was time to get the oil leak fixed that i had been ignoring for months before i went on a road trip to italy. Of course rather then something simple it turned out to be the oil seals behind the gearbox, cue gearbox removal + associated labour costs + a new clutch for good measure. I also have a small oil leak from the gearbox but i am in discussions with the garage about getting this fixed as i feel that this should have been done (it was noticed at the time) when they took the gearbox off the first time.
So all in i have spent £1500 ish, maybe a little more, fixing it. That is almost what i paid for the car.
So i then notice my rear tyres are wearing unevenly, as they did the first time i got the tyres replaced, so i take it back to the garage i got the wheel alignment done and they very kindly offer to realign for free. Great, i think, some good luck for once. Nope. Later that day i get a call from the garage, one of the CV joints has split and needs replacing. Another £175.
So... I had got to the point where i had said i wasn't going to spend anymore, but i cant afford to replace it with anything half decent. My budget would only be what i could sell the car for, which woudnt be much with the mentioned problems and i would have to buy a boring/reliable car as i couldn't justify taking another risk. Which lets be honest is what you potentialy do when you buy a cheap alfa.
My problem is i dont know whether to cut my loses and buy a £400 snotter until i can afford something better (might be a while), or fix the alfa and look it as i have already spent quite a bit so lots of things are new and shouldnt go wrong again.
What would you do? (i ask on th alfa forum because i know you lot will probably undertand this kind of dilemma
)I'd keep going, better the devil you know... a £400.00 snotter will be just as bad or worse.
Wouldn't have fixed the oil leak either, just buy a drip tray and keep feeding it Selenia, twinnies burn the stuff anyway, what drops out is probably irrelevant.
Are your rear radius arms OK?, might be why you have bad tyre wear?
Wouldn't have fixed the oil leak either, just buy a drip tray and keep feeding it Selenia, twinnies burn the stuff anyway, what drops out is probably irrelevant.
Are your rear radius arms OK?, might be why you have bad tyre wear?
I'd keep it unless you were trading it for something newer or a lot more valuable a you could easily wind up in the same preidicament you are in now but in a car you like less.
I would put up with any minor ailments and going off what you have spent I would be looking for a cheaper repairer!
I would put up with any minor ailments and going off what you have spent I would be looking for a cheaper repairer!
I was like this with the audi a couple of months ago. However, in order to sell it I needed to get it serviced then get some body damage repaired. After spunking a grand on it my view has changed and I'm just gonna keep it. I know the car, know what has been done recently and offloading it now only to buy potentially buy someone elses headache that they want shot of just doesn't make any sense.
Thanks guys, all of you had the answer i was hoping to hear 
Robsco - Good point and this is what half of me was thinking anyway, trouble is even if i fix the bit i have mentioned there are still other things not right that i have been ignoring! ( intermitent wonky/high idle and intermitent warning lights, i'm thinking MAF sensor maybe?)
Velocemitch - i wouldnt have bothered had i not had a 2250mile round trip ahead of me when we were depending on the car. I didnt fancy a leaking seal going completely and leaving us stranded. I dont know about the radius arms, i will look into this. The wear is on both rears on the inner edge.
crostonian/MoonMonkey - Thanks for your experiences, i think i will keep it for now, it is what i wanted to do anyway!
Mr Flakey - Good luck with that! Mine will tick over 100k this month, they do start to produce some high bills dont they!
Robsco - Good point and this is what half of me was thinking anyway, trouble is even if i fix the bit i have mentioned there are still other things not right that i have been ignoring! ( intermitent wonky/high idle and intermitent warning lights, i'm thinking MAF sensor maybe?)
Velocemitch - i wouldnt have bothered had i not had a 2250mile round trip ahead of me when we were depending on the car. I didnt fancy a leaking seal going completely and leaving us stranded. I dont know about the radius arms, i will look into this. The wear is on both rears on the inner edge.
crostonian/MoonMonkey - Thanks for your experiences, i think i will keep it for now, it is what i wanted to do anyway!
Mr Flakey - Good luck with that! Mine will tick over 100k this month, they do start to produce some high bills dont they!
If you've spent the money doing it then it's going to keep going as the parts are new again.
I was in the same predicament at the moment. Having replaced the clutch, fitted a Q2 diff and had other things done the GTA has cost me near £2500 in the last few months. It also needs the cambelts and anti-roll bar bushes doing at it's service next month so that's another £1k gone.
Have been looking elsewhere but as soon as I look at it again fall in love all over again!
I was in the same predicament at the moment. Having replaced the clutch, fitted a Q2 diff and had other things done the GTA has cost me near £2500 in the last few months. It also needs the cambelts and anti-roll bar bushes doing at it's service next month so that's another £1k gone.
Have been looking elsewhere but as soon as I look at it again fall in love all over again!
Mr Flaky said:
If it helps mate, mine just massively surprised me, passed it's MOT!
Touch wood you have similar luck!
Touch wood you have similar luck!
congratulations!I have decided to definitely repair it, it should be going to the alfa specialist for the gear box early next week and then back to get the CV joint done straight after, I'll get someone to look at the radius arms too while i'm at it!
Jimmy, to determine whether your MAF is at fault, simply unplug it and take the car for a drive. The injector light will come on (as it should), it might struggle to idle but should feel zingier through the gears if the MAF is at fault.
Generally speaking there's a noticeable hesitancy to the engines if the MAF is on its way out, unless its in the really early stages of doing so. Maybe the idle sensor?
Generally speaking there's a noticeable hesitancy to the engines if the MAF is on its way out, unless its in the really early stages of doing so. Maybe the idle sensor?
robsco said:
Jimmy, to determine whether your MAF is at fault, simply unplug it and take the car for a drive. The injector light will come on (as it should), it might struggle to idle but should feel zingier through the gears if the MAF is at fault.
Generally speaking there's a noticeable hesitancy to the engines if the MAF is on its way out, unless its in the really early stages of doing so. Maybe the idle sensor?
I have tried the trick with the MAF sensor before and it didnt really feel any different. Yeah maybe the idle sensor, that would make sense! Is that something that could be DIY'd?Generally speaking there's a noticeable hesitancy to the engines if the MAF is on its way out, unless its in the really early stages of doing so. Maybe the idle sensor?
robsco said:
and for god's sake don't sell up.
Took her into the garage today to have the CV joint replaced, i think keeping it is the right decision.As an aside i am really impressed with this garage (liphook motors). I only used them at first as they were the closest fitter that blackcircles.com use, but they have so far really impressed me. Little things like as you walk in there is a Ducati on a stand on display, and the reception is covered in motorsport photo's and paintings, gives an impression that they are enthusiasts!
Keep the car. Everyone who sold or even scrapped their 155's due to similar issues will be kicking them soon as prices are starting to go up again.
The 156 isn't a classic yet but soon will be and well looked after high spec' one will always be worth more than a thrashed shopping trolley.
The 156 isn't a classic yet but soon will be and well looked after high spec' one will always be worth more than a thrashed shopping trolley.
Liquid Knight said:
Keep the car. Everyone who sold or even scrapped their 155's due to similar issues will be kicking them soon as prices are starting to go up again.
The 156 isn't a classic yet but soon will be and well looked after high spec' one will always be worth more than a thrashed shopping trolley.
Dunno, i tried selling mine earlier and couldn't get rid of it for £1500. With MOT coming up in Sept i am minded to keep it now.The 156 isn't a classic yet but soon will be and well looked after high spec' one will always be worth more than a thrashed shopping trolley.
jimmy156 said:
Took her into the garage today to have the CV joint replaced, i think keeping it is the right decision.
As an aside i am really impressed with this garage (liphook motors). I only used them at first as they were the closest fitter that blackcircles.com use, but they have so far really impressed me. Little things like as you walk in there is a Ducati on a stand on display, and the reception is covered in motorsport photo's and paintings, gives an impression that they are enthusiasts!
Glad you've seen sense! As an aside i am really impressed with this garage (liphook motors). I only used them at first as they were the closest fitter that blackcircles.com use, but they have so far really impressed me. Little things like as you walk in there is a Ducati on a stand on display, and the reception is covered in motorsport photo's and paintings, gives an impression that they are enthusiasts!
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