Discussion
Well today I count myslef as among the "gob smacked".
I have just been advised by the manager of Ayelsbury Alfa Romeo that it is perfectly normal for modern cars to break down within a year of ownership and that 4 times in 1 year isnt a surprise.
My Alfa 156 2.0 jts has just gone into safe drive mode and told me that it is knackered, for the 4th time, I bought it last February. It's been into main dealers twice and it has gone phut 3 times in the last 2 months.
If only Alfa could sort out the electrics and make them reliable, then they wouldnt lose 50% of new value in the first year. I'm gutted, I like the car but no longer trust the make or type. I may well have to plump for a boring Focus or new astra. Even my old TVR S was more reliable than this heap of crap.
I have just been advised by the manager of Ayelsbury Alfa Romeo that it is perfectly normal for modern cars to break down within a year of ownership and that 4 times in 1 year isnt a surprise.
My Alfa 156 2.0 jts has just gone into safe drive mode and told me that it is knackered, for the 4th time, I bought it last February. It's been into main dealers twice and it has gone phut 3 times in the last 2 months.
If only Alfa could sort out the electrics and make them reliable, then they wouldnt lose 50% of new value in the first year. I'm gutted, I like the car but no longer trust the make or type. I may well have to plump for a boring Focus or new astra. Even my old TVR S was more reliable than this heap of crap.
My RX8 didnt break down once in the 1st year, or since so far.
Did have to have a new CAT due to the shipped ECU fuel maps, sorted at 1st service. As a mod on the RX8 owners club only a handfull have been let down by mechanical faults.
I ran a 99 focus for 3 years with only 1 part faliure, a £25 speed sensor I fixed myself.
have a look over at reliabilityindex.co.uk there usualy close to the mark.
Did have to have a new CAT due to the shipped ECU fuel maps, sorted at 1st service. As a mod on the RX8 owners club only a handfull have been let down by mechanical faults.
I ran a 99 focus for 3 years with only 1 part faliure, a £25 speed sensor I fixed myself.
have a look over at reliabilityindex.co.uk there usualy close to the mark.
I have a Fiat Strada which has gone about 21 years, only leaving me stranded at the roadside once. (CV joint gave up after the gaiter split, and didn't fix it).
Whilst this doesn't relate exactly to this particular reliability issue, here's my thinking:
Manufacturers need cars to stop working after a certain amount of time, in order to keep a reasonable turnover going!
In the old days, cars rusted away in a reasonable space of time (Especially fiats, alfas and lancias etc!). These days, buyers expect rust/anti-corrosion warranties and so on - so nearly all cars are galvanised/rust proofed!
So how do you keep selling new cars? Well, you design the mechanical components with a service life of about 5 to 10 years. And even better, these days you design the electro-mechanical components (sensors etc, which are difficult to diagnose without the right computers) to do the same. And you certainly don't design an engine management system with maintenance in mind!
This means the task of keeping an old car on the road used to be mainly about welding and bodywork (with a select few mechanical problems) but the tables have now turned so that a car's bodywork will last 30 years, but the ECU will fail after 10. The only option to keep it on the road in this instance is probably to fit a custom ECU and rewire everything... not a quick weekend fix! Not many people will take this kind of work on, unless it's a car they truly can't replace!
What ya think?
Whilst this doesn't relate exactly to this particular reliability issue, here's my thinking:
Manufacturers need cars to stop working after a certain amount of time, in order to keep a reasonable turnover going!
In the old days, cars rusted away in a reasonable space of time (Especially fiats, alfas and lancias etc!). These days, buyers expect rust/anti-corrosion warranties and so on - so nearly all cars are galvanised/rust proofed!
So how do you keep selling new cars? Well, you design the mechanical components with a service life of about 5 to 10 years. And even better, these days you design the electro-mechanical components (sensors etc, which are difficult to diagnose without the right computers) to do the same. And you certainly don't design an engine management system with maintenance in mind!
This means the task of keeping an old car on the road used to be mainly about welding and bodywork (with a select few mechanical problems) but the tables have now turned so that a car's bodywork will last 30 years, but the ECU will fail after 10. The only option to keep it on the road in this instance is probably to fit a custom ECU and rewire everything... not a quick weekend fix! Not many people will take this kind of work on, unless it's a car they truly can't replace!
What ya think?
I got my Alfa Romeo 147 brand spanking new in 2001 and done 43,000 miles. It has never broken down. In that time it's cost me around a grand in servicing and parts (including a new set of 17 inch Goodyears after 32,000 miles).
I've had an E reg 8V integrale for 6.5 years. That has never broken down either.
The dealership manager is clearly just trying to fob you off - such is the big shame about Alfa dealers: they are worse than useless. Make a complaint to Head Office if I were you.
I've had an E reg 8V integrale for 6.5 years. That has never broken down either.
The dealership manager is clearly just trying to fob you off - such is the big shame about Alfa dealers: they are worse than useless. Make a complaint to Head Office if I were you.
pwig said:
Alfa dealers: they are worse than useless.
Nothing like a nice sweeping generalisation is there?
>> Edited by pwig on Wednesday 12th January 18:05
I was wondering where you had snuk away to 
I am yet to experience good customer service (even buying a tub of top-up oil requires me to wait while they go round the back for a fag and a cuppa). Maybe I should come to you - remind me where you are again?
Skunkmeister, your car's problems aren't unique. Also, it was refreshing to hear some honesty from your service manager. Just as well you didn't buy a Land Rover- you might have been able to use it on 5 seperate days in the last 12 months!
Still, I'd be pretty annoyed too. I am sorry that you now feel so justifyably strongly. Alfa really must stop these instances completely if they want to remain a serious competitor! I simply wouldn't buy a new car- far too unreliable. Best wait till the first owner has done the R&D and taken a hit on depreciation!
Still, I'd be pretty annoyed too. I am sorry that you now feel so justifyably strongly. Alfa really must stop these instances completely if they want to remain a serious competitor! I simply wouldn't buy a new car- far too unreliable. Best wait till the first owner has done the R&D and taken a hit on depreciation!
Skunkmiester said:Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but, more likely the dealer making poor excuse. Why would he sell them if he thought he'd have repeated problems to solve? Oh, and er, on my third TVR and er, no probs' plus our first ever Alfa [147 JTD] what a bloody good car it is too. I'm not helping much am I?
Well today I count myslef as among the "gob smacked".
I have just been advised by the manager of Ayelsbury Alfa Romeo that it is perfectly normal for modern cars to break down within a year of ownership and that 4 times in 1 year isnt a surprise.
My Alfa 156 2.0 jts has just gone into safe drive mode and told me that it is knackered, for the 4th time, I bought it last February. It's been into main dealers twice and it has gone phut 3 times in the last 2 months.
If only Alfa could sort out the electrics and make them reliable, then they wouldnt lose 50% of new value in the first year. I'm gutted, I like the car but no longer trust the make or type. I may well have to plump for a boring Focus or new astra. Even my old TVR S was more reliable than this heap of crap.
Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but, more likely the dealer making poor excuse. Why would he sell them if he thought he'd have repeated problems to solve? Oh, and er, on my third TVR and er, no probs' plus our first ever Alfa [147 JTD] what a bloody good car it is too. I'm not helping much am I?[/quote]
Seems TVR and Alfa owners seem to appreciate much the same qualities despite the obvious differences in the the roles of these cars.
I think it helps to have patience also...shouldn't have to be like that though.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff