Alfa SZ - someone talk me out of it...

[village idiot]

with my fetish for Lotus Elises now fully spent and with the new house having a decent garage, I think it about the right time in my life to have a classic (of sorts).

being an alfa nut (i've only just got 'rid' of my 166 super), i've always gone very weak at the knees for the sz... the whole idea of forking out the best part of £20k for a ropey old 75 with plastic pants on just makes me tingle all over...

so... pls pls talk me out of it!... the plan would be to sit tight and wait to see whether someone with one in a collection gets into financial trouble and see whether i can get hold of a good one at £15k-ish... i would then take the wife for an extended trip to italy... just to complete the whole midlife crisis (at 32?!?!).

anyways... on a more serious note... any words of wisdom for those who know?... i figure the 3.0 V6 will be pretty similar to the one in my 166 (perhaps without all the dodgy electrical gubbins though)... can they be regarded as a reliable and relatively easy prospect for a non-mechanically minded owner (i'll be getting those awfully nice chaps at Red Motori to look after the fettling for me).

cheers

alex

[DJC]

Walkers have one at £20k.

They have had it a while, initially up at £25k+ and from talking to them I know they want rid of it. That was before Xmas, so if you start the opening bidding at £15k Im sure you could work a deal out.

And talk you out of it? Hell no, do it!

[apex]

do it !!!!. Not that fast comapred to modern stuff but they're all about steering feel, handling and sense of occassion. Brakes (on mine at least) feel a bit soft compared to a modern sports car/hot hatch but you get used to it. Brembo do an upgrade kit i think

Had mine about 5 yrs had no real problems with it..

[wadgebeast]

It's always been on my fantasy list. Buy it. heads will turn. Think of the sound of that tuned up V6. The suspension is a lot fancier than anything they put on the 75 and that wasn't exactly bad.

[pdV6]

Shan't even try.

If you've got the cash, garage and patience, just do it.

[village idiot]

well i have the garage... and if i can get a halfway decent one at £15k... then i have the patience...

i might even be able to swing it with the wife (my average spend on an elise was circa £15k, so she's used to that sort of number being spunked away on something i'll almost certainly never use and then spend the next year trying to sell)

[jamieboy]

village idiot said:

... and if i can get a halfway decent one at £15k...

Not trying to put you off at all, but I think that £15k might be barely enough for a decent one, unless you find someone desperate to get rid of theirs. And given how scarce some bits and pieces are, it might be harder / more expensive to improve a halfway decent one than to buy a decent one in the first place.

I'm sure someone will post a load of links to auctions where they sold for £6k, but as with most low-production cars of this age there's a world of difference between a good one and a bad one.

[village idiot]

jamieboy said:

village idiot said:

... and if i can get a halfway decent one at £15k...

Not trying to put you off at all, but I think that £15k might be barely enough for a decent one, unless you find someone desperate to get rid of theirs. And given how scarce some bits and pieces are, it might be harder / more expensive to improve a halfway decent one than to buy a decent one in the first place.

I'm sure someone will post a load of links to auctions where they sold for £6k, but as with most low-production cars of this age there's a world of difference between a good one and a bad one.

i agree... my intention is to wait patiently and wait for someone with a good one to become desperate to get rid (ie. put the word about, have cash sat in the bank, and just wait)... in effect, i want a £20k SZ for £15k bought.... cash is king right now, and a SZ isn't exactly a car you can push out through Blackbushe.

as for servicing and parts... i know it will be a nightmare, but i have the upmost of faith in those guys as Red Motori... they've looked after me in the past and I'm sure they will again.

sorry if this all seems a little agressive (borderline arrogant), but if i am to make this dream come true, there will be some other dreams that will have to fall by the wayside.

[FactoryPilot]

I think it'll be a struggle to get a good one for 15k regardless. Difficult to generalise the Alfa SZ demographic, but I would have thought most owners are real enthusiasts/Alfisti and therefore, wouldn't be victim to credit crunch panic selling. Of course, I could be wrong - in fact I hope I am because if I am, I'll buy one myself

[Robertf]

...talk you out of it?

No chance. Truly magnificent car, would love one myself.

The guys at Rusper Alfa Romeo look after a couple - you might give them a call and see if they know of any that may be for sale.

best of luck. Go for it!

[swanny71]

Do it Alex - and be sure to take it into work so I can have a good look around it (Kiring)

[village idiot]

swanny71 said:

Do it Alex - and be sure to take it into work so I can have a good look around it (Kiring)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... so now i know who owns the very sexy GTA in the car park... good choice that man!... had a scoot in an estate version once... a complete giggle... had a bit of difficulty keeping it on the straight and narrow under full acceleration!

[swanny71]

village idiot said:

swanny71 said:

Do it Alex - and be sure to take it into work so I can have a good look around it (Kiring)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... so now i know who owns the very sexy GTA in the car park... good choice that man!... had a scoot in an estate version once... a complete giggle... had a bit of difficulty keeping it on the straight and narrow under full acceleration!

Thank you, she is lovely
I've had the suspension sorted and a Q2 diff fitted along with a few other improvements so no worries about using the glorious V6 to its full potential now.

Edited by swanny71 on Thursday 29th January 09:34

[alfabadass]

Just get a Brera instead.

[village idiot]

alfabadass said:

Just get a Brera instead.

ermmmm... why would i want a brera?... the point is not to buy the 'best' car, but something quirky and special that i can covet and bring out to play on high days and holidays... a brera is a cool car, but ultimately, is just a car... the sz is something else.

just my 2p's worth of course

[GTO Scott]

Talk you out of it? No chance.

Buy it, own it, enjoy it

[dpbird90]

village idiot said:

alfabadass said:

Just get a Brera instead.

ermmmm... why would i want a brera?... the point is not to buy the 'best' car, but something quirky and special that i can covet and bring out to play on high days and holidays... a brera is a cool car, but ultimately, is just a car... the sz is something else.

just my 2p's worth of course

Good on you. The Brera is a very pretty car, but the SZ is simply sublime. Some people don't like the styling but I think it's one of the best looking Alfas of the last 20 years (save the 8C of course), and with 75 underpinnings and THE V6...

So no, I won't talk you out of it. Buy it. Now. Or you deserve hitting with a hammer if you don't.

[OPC100]

Get one. I've thought about one myself many times, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I probably will one day. Like yourself, I'm watching the prices of these (and a few other cars) very carefully.

Red Motori are very good. One of the few garages that I really trust. We've been using them for over 10 years on the Fiats, Lancias and Alfas that we have had.