Time to play Alfa roulette?

[sjabrown]

I am currently shed shopping for a replacement for my trusty corsavan that has come to the end of its days. I've yet to own an Alfa, and a 147 1.6 TS has appeared not too far away with an MOT for less than my £700 budget. Obviously there is the question of when the cambelt was last done... but other than that time for me to take a gamble?

[Krikkit]

Why not? Great cars.

[Pericoloso]

Italian cars are crap stereotype alert.

22yo FIAT owner here.

[SidewaysSi]

I have one which is coming up for sale soon - 2.0TS, cambelt and variator done, FSH etc. They are cracking cars and good fun IMO.

[spookly]

The Alfa 156 I bought had 60,000 miles on at 7 years old. Took it up to 120,000 miles over 4 years with it needing nothing other than a couple of suspension bits, tyres and servicing. Had to scrap it due to the ex wife driving into things making it uneconomic to repair.

[rxe]

Go drive it.

The engine should pull to 6k easily and smoothly. There may be clunks and knocks from the suspension, most are cheap fixes if you can spanner.

Risks:

- rot in the sills and floorpans
- the engines use oil and some owners will have let them run dry - a good hard drive will show up any knocking.

For less than a grand, if it goes and stops with a year’s ticket it will be OK.

Be warned though, they are a bit addictive, and you spend money getting the suspension right. Being able to do moderate spannering will shield you from big bills, parts aren’t expensive.

[anonymous-user]

If you're shedding and want to just run a headache free car there are far better choices. Life is nothing without risk though.

[numtumfutunch]

JFDI

I ran an Alfasud back in the day

On the one hand I became mates with the local auto electrician and on the other it was just an absolute joy

Cheers, and good luck

[sjabrown]

Okay, so that's a majority being positive about the prospect!

I will deliberately stay sober and enquire tomorrow about evidence of last cambelt change... I do still have reasonably reliable alternative transport, but reliable shedding options in the sub-£700 bracket otherwise look to be K11 micras or various Toyotas

Edited by sjabrown on Wednesday 20th March 22:58

[defblade]

156 TS, good condition overall, £1000, owned for 3 months, slight BANG from the engine, found the above on sitting on the undertray while waiting for the tow truck. It is no longer straight, true or round on any axis at all

There was plenty of oil in it when it let go, as the tailgating Audi very quickly found out. But I guess it had been left to run low or filled with cheap'n'nasty at some point in the past...

....you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?'
...Well, do you, punk?




I liked the car though, often tempted to roll the dice again... but like any other gambling, only do it with money you can afford to lose

[anonymous-user]

Also, isn't there a prize for anyone driving an Alfa more than 10 years old that can do 500 miles without the EML coming on? You get a free Toyota so you can make it to work every day, or something like that.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for it the 1.6TS is a robust engine decent oil is a must though or you'll have a rod to match the one above I'd say go for it.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 21st March 09:05

[Mr Peel]

These are meant to be good things. Old Fiats keep going as well as anything, so ignore the lazy Italian stereotypes.

[Ransoman]

dme123 said:

Also, isn't there a prize for anyone driving an Alfa more than 10 years old that can do 500 miles without the EML coming on? You get a free Toyota so you can make it to work every day, or something like that.

I'll pass on the prize.

Driver of a 14 year old GT 3.2 V6 that has had the EML light on 4 times in the last 22'000 miles (dodgy decat x3, coil pack connection came loose x1), none of them in the last 4000 miles.

[ilikejam]

I nearly fell off my seat when the OP posted "Oh that's good, lots of folk being positive" then the next post was a knackered rod - I was waiting for it to be the OP going "You're all a bunch of b@stards!"

[strath44]

As Jeremy Clarkson said - you're not a real pistonhead until you own an Alfa!

[anonymous-user]

Ransoman said:

I'll pass on the prize.

Driver of a 14 year old GT 3.2 V6 that has had the EML light on 4 times in the last 22'000 miles (dodgy decat x3, coil pack connection came loose x1), none of them in the last 4000 miles.

I love running old cars, where not having an engine fault light in 4000 miles is a source of pride and hope. 200 miles since it last came on in my dodgy old Jaguar

You just don't get this excitement with a new Hyundai.

[Mr E]

dme123 said:

Also, isn't there a prize for anyone driving an Alfa more than 10 years old that can do 500 miles without the EML coming on? You get a free Toyota so you can make it to work every day, or something like that.

Took a 10 year old 156 from 100k to 130k. Never let us down. Made a good noise whilst devouring petrol.

[sjabrown]

Sorry to let the side down but the Alfa let me down... on the test drive! So for now the stereotype holds true. I am instead heading home with an elderly Yaris.

[Mr E]

sjabrown said:

Sorry to let the side down but the Alfa let me down... on the test drive! So for now the stereotype holds true. I am instead heading home with an elderly Yaris.

I ran a elderly Yaris for a year. Miles per pound, probably the cheapest thing I’ve ever run.