High mileage Alfa?
Discussion
I'm about to get a diesel hack for the commute, and had nearly decided on a 525 touring with high miles (£3-4k)
But then I saw a good spec JTD 156 Sportwagon veloce. '02 and 134k miles.
I'd be fairly confident of a NASA mileage BMW / Audi etc, but something about Alfa still nags at me. What's the PH collective's opinion?
TIA
Nathan
But then I saw a good spec JTD 156 Sportwagon veloce. '02 and 134k miles.
I'd be fairly confident of a NASA mileage BMW / Audi etc, but something about Alfa still nags at me. What's the PH collective's opinion?
TIA
Nathan
My 156 JTD had 180k miles on it when I sold it and still pulled like a train (albeit it wasn't its first turbo) if I recall there was more trouble with it between 70k miles and 110k miles than the 110 to 180k that I had it.
Was a damn good car as well, the 156 was a lot better than the Alfa's of old the AFM is a common weakness on them but any faults with that are fairly obvious
Was a damn good car as well, the 156 was a lot better than the Alfa's of old the AFM is a common weakness on them but any faults with that are fairly obvious
I certainly wouldn't make such a sweeping statement as some of the previous less well informed answers.
Each one is different, and because of the way Alfas are, and how their owner's regard them, there are much more significant differences between a good one, and a bad one, when compared to their German counterparts.
As some people have said, you can pick up a good high mileage car, but beware...
It's true some components don't last as long, and I suspect that Alfas have a shorter design life, but a bit of a good old fashioned check over should help.
All the engines should be good, but listen for noises and look for leaks. However, I think it will be the switchgear, the wiper linkages and motor, the heater PAS pump etc which will make a big difference between and affordable car and a lemon. Look at a few, and judge for yourself what seems to have seen too much of life.
You'll never be able to guess when electronics will pack up, but at least you can eliminate the other stuff.
Two 155s on 115K and a 75 at 144K are just my personal experience that 500 to 1000 miles per week can be covered reliably in older Alfas.
Oh, and I'll be taking one of them to Germany in October....
Each one is different, and because of the way Alfas are, and how their owner's regard them, there are much more significant differences between a good one, and a bad one, when compared to their German counterparts.
As some people have said, you can pick up a good high mileage car, but beware...
It's true some components don't last as long, and I suspect that Alfas have a shorter design life, but a bit of a good old fashioned check over should help.
All the engines should be good, but listen for noises and look for leaks. However, I think it will be the switchgear, the wiper linkages and motor, the heater PAS pump etc which will make a big difference between and affordable car and a lemon. Look at a few, and judge for yourself what seems to have seen too much of life.
You'll never be able to guess when electronics will pack up, but at least you can eliminate the other stuff.
Two 155s on 115K and a 75 at 144K are just my personal experience that 500 to 1000 miles per week can be covered reliably in older Alfas.
Oh, and I'll be taking one of them to Germany in October....
"think they have peugeot engines so should be ok"
Complete crap!
The engine is a joint Fiat/GM development and Fiat actually lead diesel development in the world (first with common rail etc).
So good that Vauxhall now put it in their range and reputedly other manufacturers are looking at them.
Only concern is Common rail diesels can be megga bucks to fix if the ancillaries break. Mine (now Siverback Mikes) did a high pressure pump and it was £1K to fix
And before anyone mutters anything about Italian cars, ITS A BOSCHE PART eg GERMAN!
Also be wary of clutches on JTD 156s as its a 7.7 hour change.
Jim
Complete crap!
The engine is a joint Fiat/GM development and Fiat actually lead diesel development in the world (first with common rail etc).
So good that Vauxhall now put it in their range and reputedly other manufacturers are looking at them.
Only concern is Common rail diesels can be megga bucks to fix if the ancillaries break. Mine (now Siverback Mikes) did a high pressure pump and it was £1K to fix
And before anyone mutters anything about Italian cars, ITS A BOSCHE PART eg GERMAN! Also be wary of clutches on JTD 156s as its a 7.7 hour change.
Jim
The Peugeot "Expert" and the Fiat Scudo both have the same diesel engine. Its the 2 litre HDI diesel in the Expert and the 2 litre JTD in the Scudo. While I have no idea whether they share car engines, I can confirm that as far as light goods vehicles and car-derived vans are concerned, they DO share engines!
The Peugeot "Expert" and the Fiat Scudo both have the same diesel engine. Its the 2 litre HDI diesel in the Expert and the 2 litre JTD in the Scudo
Confused the JTD is the Fiat/GM engine and the HDi is a Peugeot development. Are they actually using the same engine or just a shared chassis.
I must admit I hadn't thought of the commercials.
Jim
>> Edited by tr7v8 on Friday 19th August 09:30
Confused the JTD is the Fiat/GM engine and the HDi is a Peugeot development. Are they actually using the same engine or just a shared chassis.
I must admit I hadn't thought of the commercials.
Jim
>> Edited by tr7v8 on Friday 19th August 09:30
Nope, absolutely the same engine. I work for a company that converts Experts and I've seen all the type approval documents for the Expert / Scudo. It's complicated by the fact that Peugeot / Fiat / Citroen all share this common "pool" of engines for the Expert / Scudo / Dispatch. There is a 2 litre HDI 8 valve and a 2 litre HDI 16 valve (and various others including petrol engines). Peugeot initially only ever decided to fit the 8 valve engine in the Expert and Fiat decided to only fit the 16 valve in the Scudo. Citroen, I think, always offered either.
Raify said:
I'm about to get a diesel hack for the commute, and had nearly decided on a 525 touring with high miles (£3-4k) <br/> <br/>But then I saw a good spec JTD 156 Sportwagon veloce. '02 and 134k miles. <br/> <br/>I'd be fairly confident of a NASA mileage BMW / Audi etc, but something about Alfa still nags at me. What's the PH collective's opinion? <br/> <br/>TIA <br/> <br/>Nathan
Bump.
Raify,
Was this the silver one for sale at Northants Alfa Romeo? If so, I won it for £3,500 at about the same time that you started the thread and have put another (touch wood) 12k on it since then, with no real problems.
They've serviced it today (very rea£onable too) and all in all, I like it.
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