Discussion
The answer seems obvious, but I'd like to hear some views please.
I have 1 1997 155 2.0 which I've owned for nearly 5 years. It's MOT'd till November with 155,000 miles. I've just had to spend £280 on a service and a few other bits needed for safety.
I've noticed dhe's becoming a bit sloppy and noisy lately so asked the specialist to take a look. Needs new lower front suspension arms, new discs and pads. All this is looking like a £500 job. Body-wise, the car's in pretty good nick and I like it. The specialist thinks it's a good car.
Now I know the car's only worth about £500 anyway (if that) so it seems like a no brainer to just get rid. It's also due a cam belt change in about a year's time.
My problem is a lack of the readies at the moment. I know of a 1997 2.0 GTV with 104k miles for about £2K and a 2000 1.8 145 with 70k miles for about £1,750.
My problem with the replacements is financing them. So folks what do I do?
By the way, I'm not the same Alfamike who posts on here with a dot at the end of his name. I was here first!
I have 1 1997 155 2.0 which I've owned for nearly 5 years. It's MOT'd till November with 155,000 miles. I've just had to spend £280 on a service and a few other bits needed for safety.
I've noticed dhe's becoming a bit sloppy and noisy lately so asked the specialist to take a look. Needs new lower front suspension arms, new discs and pads. All this is looking like a £500 job. Body-wise, the car's in pretty good nick and I like it. The specialist thinks it's a good car.
Now I know the car's only worth about £500 anyway (if that) so it seems like a no brainer to just get rid. It's also due a cam belt change in about a year's time.
My problem is a lack of the readies at the moment. I know of a 1997 2.0 GTV with 104k miles for about £2K and a 2000 1.8 145 with 70k miles for about £1,750.
My problem with the replacements is financing them. So folks what do I do?
By the way, I'm not the same Alfamike who posts on here with a dot at the end of his name. I was here first!
Edited by Alfamike on Monday 7th April 13:46
Thing is, I know both replacements quite well. The 145 belongs to my son, he's had it a couple of yars and it's in really good nick. It's great to drive.
The GTV's had all the suspension joints replaced and also good to drive.
Will sorting the lower arms restore the 155 to its former glory?
The GTV's had all the suspension joints replaced and also good to drive.
Will sorting the lower arms restore the 155 to its former glory?
Hi, wishbones, pads and discs should cost you something like £250 all in...does that change your mind?
Wishbones can be had for as little as £12 each (www.bypartsby.co.uk) although they don't last as long as OE versions (@£35ea iirc).
Pads can be had from ebay, for about £20 + post if you look around....same with discs, although your garage should be able to find some for about £30 a pair.
If you're any good with the spanners the whole lot could be done for under a ton
Edit: forgot to add the tracking will need doing after the wishys have been fitted, so add another £20-30.
wrinx
Wishbones can be had for as little as £12 each (www.bypartsby.co.uk) although they don't last as long as OE versions (@£35ea iirc).
Pads can be had from ebay, for about £20 + post if you look around....same with discs, although your garage should be able to find some for about £30 a pair.
If you're any good with the spanners the whole lot could be done for under a ton
Edit: forgot to add the tracking will need doing after the wishys have been fitted, so add another £20-30.
wrinx
Edited by wrinx on Monday 7th April 18:44
wrinx said:
Hi, wishbones, pads and discs should cost you something like £250 all in...does that change your mind?
Wishbones can be had for as little as £12 each (www.bypartsby.co.uk) although they don't last as long as OE versions (@£35ea iirc).
Pads can be had from ebay, for about £20 + post if you look around....same with discs, although your garage should be able to find some for about £30 a pair.
If you're any good with the spanners the whole lot could be done for under a ton
Edit: forgot to add the tracking will need doing after the wishys have been fitted, so add another £20-30.
wrinx
I'll second that, disks and pads are a doddle to change, lower wishbones a little trickier, but if you are even half handy with a spanner they should cause you no probs. Wishbones can be had for as little as £12 each (www.bypartsby.co.uk) although they don't last as long as OE versions (@£35ea iirc).
Pads can be had from ebay, for about £20 + post if you look around....same with discs, although your garage should be able to find some for about £30 a pair.
If you're any good with the spanners the whole lot could be done for under a ton
Edit: forgot to add the tracking will need doing after the wishys have been fitted, so add another £20-30.
wrinx
I'm another that sold my 155 and misses it terribly. always having a nose in the classifieds on here and ao, along with ebay and the itch is really bad atm. also thinking about speaking to the guy that bought my silverstone to see how much he wants for it.
not had another car that does everything so well, lugging and hoonig and cruising, what more could you want eh
not had another car that does everything so well, lugging and hoonig and cruising, what more could you want eh
Alfamike said:
Just to add to my woes.
Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
Seriously.... keep the 155. A cheap 156 is a whole new world of pain and financial ruin.Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
A mate who used to work on warranty claims for an Alfa dealer reckons there was a real sweet spot for Alfa reliability around the time of the 155, 145 and 146 - they suffered less claims than the 156 for mechanical failure.
(Although I'm really happy with our 156, we did pay quite a bit over the 'book' price to ensure we got a good one - I'm not sure anything around the £1k mark or less is worth having - £2k+ is where you find really good examples)
75_Steve said:
Alfamike said:
Just to add to my woes.
Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
Seriously.... keep the 155. A cheap 156 is a whole new world of pain and financial ruin.Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
A mate who used to work on warranty claims for an Alfa dealer reckons there was a real sweet spot for Alfa reliability around the time of the 155, 145 and 146 - they suffered less claims than the 156 for mechanical failure.
(Although I'm really happy with our 156, we did pay quite a bit over the 'book' price to ensure we got a good one - I'm not sure anything around the £1k mark or less is worth having - £2k+ is where you find really good examples)
Alfamike said:
Just to add to my woes.
Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
Are these garage prices you're quoting, as they seem rather high?Radiator on the 155 packed up yesterday. Water pouring out as fast as I put it in, so that looks like another £200. Moving towards replacing it with a 156, depnding what's about.
Radiators are about £100 and fitting is a doddle if you're a bit handy
wrinx
The other point to note is that, despite having some niggly things to fix on the 155, there's nothing to say a 156 won't also need these kind of things fixing.
Certainly stuff like radiators are likely to need replacing on a lot of 156s these days, especially on cheaper cars which are rapidly approaching a decade old.
Certainly stuff like radiators are likely to need replacing on a lot of 156s these days, especially on cheaper cars which are rapidly approaching a decade old.
Well chaps, decision made. Head gasket found to have cooked last week so its bye bye 155.
So it's a 2001 156 2.5V6 with leather and aircon found at a good price. Now dilemma is whether to remove the high rear wing or not. Car is black which makes it not quite so "in yer face". Must admit, I've never liked it on the silver cars. Mrs Alfamike hasn't seen the car yet, so decision probably rests with her.
So it's a 2001 156 2.5V6 with leather and aircon found at a good price. Now dilemma is whether to remove the high rear wing or not. Car is black which makes it not quite so "in yer face". Must admit, I've never liked it on the silver cars. Mrs Alfamike hasn't seen the car yet, so decision probably rests with her.
Edited by Alfamike on Monday 26th May 09:29
Edited by Alfamike on Monday 26th May 13:00
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