alfa 33 advice
Discussion
Hi All
just breaking my 924 and am now car less been having a nightmare thinking of a new car to get and someone has said a alfa 33
i have found a nice 16v model and just wanted to aks what do people think anything to be looking out for?
are they easy to work on?
what are the common faults and how best to keep them on the road
also anyone else got one that they track day at all?
CHEERS BEN
just breaking my 924 and am now car less been having a nightmare thinking of a new car to get and someone has said a alfa 33
i have found a nice 16v model and just wanted to aks what do people think anything to be looking out for?
are they easy to work on?
what are the common faults and how best to keep them on the road
also anyone else got one that they track day at all?
CHEERS BEN
fulham911club said:
Had a permanent 4 many years ago. And I loved it.
Motors went in both (front) windows - and was expensive to repair
I got through a lot of window winders with my two 33's. Loved them to bits though.Motors went in both (front) windows - and was expensive to repair
They are getting quite rare now, I would have thought a 146Ti is an easier car to live with.
Not sure about tracking them, but a garage near here races a 33.
http://www.ahmotorsports.co.uk/index2.htm
Interiors fall to bits
Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
These are now rare cars. You just don't see them at Alfa events anymore. So it's well worth buying for that reason. That said I've had quite a few 33's and had experience with several more and only have good memories of them. Pretty much what everyone else has said regards rust etc (although I've never heard of a door handle popping out). The biggest problem you are likley to have with the engine will be the airflow meter, of the car isn't running well this could well be the culprit. Second hand ones are becoming quite rare now.
As someone else has already said; If you don't fancy it let me know where it is and I'll buy it.
ps; how much is it? A mate recently paid £2800 for a mint series 2 veloce
pps; anyone selling revolution 5 spokes for the above?
As someone else has already said; If you don't fancy it let me know where it is and I'll buy it.
ps; how much is it? A mate recently paid £2800 for a mint series 2 veloce
pps; anyone selling revolution 5 spokes for the above?
I've had 2 - a 1.7ie and a 16v.
As above - rust can be an issue - but less so on the 'phase 3' 16v cars which were at least partially galvanised from new. Most of my experience suggests that the rot gets in where Alfa pop-rivet plastic to the shell (same happens with 75s, too), where crud is allowed to accumulate in the arches and the rear 'slam' panel (on which the number plate is mounted).
They can use oil, depending on what you put in them - I ran mine on whatever Castrol bulk oil my mechanic used - but once tried Selenia, which burned off at an alarming rate.
Check that the cambelts have been done recently - they're a 36k / 3 year change at the most - I used to do mine on 30k to be on the safe side. Depending on which plugs are fitted, a full set can be 60 quid or more - and they're an absolute pig to change.
'Leatherette' / cloth seats split where the cloth is stitched to the 'leatherette', but that was the only hassle I had with my interior.
A lot of electric windows issues can be traced to the relays - as I recall a window relay is around 15 quid. Alfa control never works properly - watch for people replacing the resistive, flexible dip-stick with a standard one and shorting the connections to stop the light from flashing!
They go very well on Yoko tyres, but you can wear out fronts in as little as 3k miles.
Despite what people may say, Pirelli P6000s suit the car very well and were OEM when new.
The stereo fitted as standard is awful. The solution is JBL speakers in the dash and rear doors, with a sub in the boot - or alternatively, run the JBLs in the front with 6x9s on the rear shelf.
Gearboxes are a weak spot - I destroyed 2 sets of diff. bearings in 2 boxes. My 2nd replacement 2nd hand box lasted well, though - if you do need to buy a used box, ensure it's from an injected car and not an earlier carbed box or box from a Sud, as they don't have a speedo pickup on them.
I think that covers it.
Great cars, hugely under-rated, I personally think they were one of the great hot hatches of their era.
As above - rust can be an issue - but less so on the 'phase 3' 16v cars which were at least partially galvanised from new. Most of my experience suggests that the rot gets in where Alfa pop-rivet plastic to the shell (same happens with 75s, too), where crud is allowed to accumulate in the arches and the rear 'slam' panel (on which the number plate is mounted).
They can use oil, depending on what you put in them - I ran mine on whatever Castrol bulk oil my mechanic used - but once tried Selenia, which burned off at an alarming rate.
Check that the cambelts have been done recently - they're a 36k / 3 year change at the most - I used to do mine on 30k to be on the safe side. Depending on which plugs are fitted, a full set can be 60 quid or more - and they're an absolute pig to change.
'Leatherette' / cloth seats split where the cloth is stitched to the 'leatherette', but that was the only hassle I had with my interior.
A lot of electric windows issues can be traced to the relays - as I recall a window relay is around 15 quid. Alfa control never works properly - watch for people replacing the resistive, flexible dip-stick with a standard one and shorting the connections to stop the light from flashing!
They go very well on Yoko tyres, but you can wear out fronts in as little as 3k miles.
Despite what people may say, Pirelli P6000s suit the car very well and were OEM when new.
The stereo fitted as standard is awful. The solution is JBL speakers in the dash and rear doors, with a sub in the boot - or alternatively, run the JBLs in the front with 6x9s on the rear shelf.
Gearboxes are a weak spot - I destroyed 2 sets of diff. bearings in 2 boxes. My 2nd replacement 2nd hand box lasted well, though - if you do need to buy a used box, ensure it's from an injected car and not an earlier carbed box or box from a Sud, as they don't have a speedo pickup on them.
I think that covers it.
Great cars, hugely under-rated, I personally think they were one of the great hot hatches of their era.
shouldbworking said:
Interiors fall to bits
Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
You saw a new car they stopped making 3y ago? Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
ZesPak said:
shouldbworking said:
Interiors fall to bits
Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
You saw a new car they stopped making 3y ago? Rust, commonly around the filler cap, door bottoms.
Wing mirror mounds falling to bits (I saw a new gtv the other day with the same problem.. talk about not learning from your mistakes)
Cambelt goes without saying
Door handles also tended to pop out iirc.
You should also watch out for the awesome engine noise
- the oldest alfa ive had was an 88 sprint that had the same trouble.
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