Why don't more PH shed fanatics drive alfas?

[okie592]

Looking on auto trader there are no less than 60 156s 166s and 147s for less than a grand, or just over for a really good one. Surely alfas and PH go hand in hand?

Why don't more people own them?

[kambites]

My experience of old(ish) Alfas is that they're hardly the pinnacle of reliability.

[hedges88]

okie592 said:

Looking on auto trader there are no less than 60 156s 166s and 147s for less than a grand, or just over for a really good one. Surely alfas and PH go hand in hand?

Why don't more people own them?

Well Iv'e had three, and the last one exploded in a ball of flame and tried to kill me so I dont think as much as I like them I could risk it again

[Mr2Mike]

People are frightened off because they believe all Italian cars are inherently unreliable.

[wheedler]

My uncle bought an alfa then bought another, to fix the first one. He now drives a 2001 audi a6 estate

[okie592]

Isn't that what PHs like getting down and dirty and covered in oil? They have their quirks but surely like every PHer will demand that if they are serviced well they will run forever

[elvismiggell]

FiL has run a 156 and 159 for the last 7 years now. Never had a problem with either of them.

He did mention that about the time he got the 159 there was a significant improvement in their customer service.

[Killer2005]

I loved my old 147, nippy enough and far more reliable than my current mrs' Audi TT and a few other Audi's owned by various friends and colleagues

[Bear Phils]

The problem with Alfa sheds is you need another one for when the first breaks

And a third for when that goes...

[ruff'n'smov]

Killer2005 said:

I loved my old 147, nippy enough and far more reliable than my current mrs' Audi TT and a few other Audi's owned by various friends and colleagues

That's just a proper fib isn't it. !!

[DKS]

I've worked on a 55 plate 147 1.9JTD. To replace the turbo at 78k miles. All the old tales I'd heard about build quality, reliability and, considering it was only 7 years old, the amount of rust creeping around it, were totally justified.
Plus I think they're mostly ugly.

[Killer2005]

ruff'n'smov said:

Killer2005 said:

I loved my old 147, nippy enough and far more reliable than my current mrs' Audi TT and a few other Audi's owned by various friends and colleagues

That's just a proper fib isn't it. !!

Nope

[JDFR]

Brother in law ran a 159 and it spent 3 months of his 3 year ownership in the garage, and it was bought new.

Great to look at it but not great to run!

[Ari]

Mr2Mike said:

People are frightened off because they believe all Italian cars are inherently unreliable.

And in the case of an old Alfa, they're bang on!

[Mr E]

Done a 156. 159's aren't cheap enough yet.

[smegma]

I run a 156 Sportwagon and V6 GTV: 230k miles between them and total value less than £5k. Fantastic value if you're prepared to look after them.

[otolith]

Seems to me that the special ones are less reliable and the reliable ones are less special.

[rallycross]

Because they are pretty crap when they get old and are dull to drive compared to the older generation Alfa's.

Post 1998 the run of the mill Alfa's drive a bit like an early 90's Fiat Tipo!. I've had a few including 156 4 cyl and V6, 147 T/s and Gtv V6 they look nice and are cheap but that's about all you can say for them.

[Ace-T]

We have had 3 GTVs. 1 and 3 were fab 2 was awful. Mind you 2 was a shed of a twin spark the other two were 3ltr v6s

He should never have sold number 3.

[NotDave]

2000 alfa 145 1.8 tspark

£400 paid

3 months, 5,000+ miles done

Awesome, nippy & fun