Spider 2.4d help
Discussion
Hello everyone. New to recent Alfas (had numerous suds & 75 cl years ago) & now looking at this purchase of 4yr old car with 75k miles.
I would very much appreciate any information / things to look for or budget for.
Is this basically a 159 with the roof chopped?!
Thanks in advance of any replies
I would very much appreciate any information / things to look for or budget for.
Is this basically a 159 with the roof chopped?!
Thanks in advance of any replies
No, it's basically a Brera with the roof chopped!
The interior's lovely and the things are pretty well built. As diesel engines go, they're not bad although the thought of having a smelly noisy diesel engine in a car designed to hear and smell the great outdoors abhors me.
Very heavy cars, not really sporty and the ride isn't brilliant. Wasn't impressed with the petrol one I drove and I won't be upgrading my spider to one of the newer ones.
Look absolutely fantastic though, especially in a stronger colour like white or red.
The interior's lovely and the things are pretty well built. As diesel engines go, they're not bad although the thought of having a smelly noisy diesel engine in a car designed to hear and smell the great outdoors abhors me.
Very heavy cars, not really sporty and the ride isn't brilliant. Wasn't impressed with the petrol one I drove and I won't be upgrading my spider to one of the newer ones.
Look absolutely fantastic though, especially in a stronger colour like white or red.
Thanks for the help, very much appreciated.
We have decided to go for it. Its not the car in your response. Its ex-lease with FSH including tyre changes: just had third set of fronts, so 25k miles per set would not seem to relate to hard driving?
We want it for weekend car on sunny days, but as relaxed cruiser with better economy than say 2.2 petrol. We have another car for the fast stuff.
Fingers crossed it will proved to be ok and reasonably reliable!
Thanks again
Stu
We have decided to go for it. Its not the car in your response. Its ex-lease with FSH including tyre changes: just had third set of fronts, so 25k miles per set would not seem to relate to hard driving?
We want it for weekend car on sunny days, but as relaxed cruiser with better economy than say 2.2 petrol. We have another car for the fast stuff.
Fingers crossed it will proved to be ok and reasonably reliable!
Thanks again
Stu
Car not available for pick-up Saturday (lovely sunny day- doh!) - failed MoT due to boken front spring - is this a common problem, or perhaps just a one-off due to pothole impact?
Now have to wait for spring to apparently arrive from Italy! - is that right, no springs in UK?
Anyone had similar experience, or perhaps this is normal for Alfa parts?
Now have to wait for spring to apparently arrive from Italy! - is that right, no springs in UK?
Anyone had similar experience, or perhaps this is normal for Alfa parts?
euroboy said:
supercrispy said:
Car not available for pick-up Saturday (lovely sunny day- doh!) - failed MoT due to boken front spring - is this a common problem, or perhaps just a one-off due to pothole impact?
Now have to wait for spring to apparently arrive from Italy! - is that right, no springs in UK?
Anyone had similar experience, or perhaps this is normal for Alfa parts?
I think that is just bad luck - if the spring is unique to the Spider then it may well have to come from Italy, but they can get them quite quick.Now have to wait for spring to apparently arrive from Italy! - is that right, no springs in UK?
Anyone had similar experience, or perhaps this is normal for Alfa parts?
The spring could well be a symptom of the higher mileage?
jsc15 said:
I've been waiting about 4 months for a Brera part from Italy if that helps any (rubber thingy at end of anti-roll bar). Local (non-Alfa) garage keeps chasing for it
Do you mean bushes or a drop link?Either way on Alfa's its always better to replace bushes with powerflex ones.
If it's a drop link try somewhere like Alternative Autos, I've always had good service from them.
Springs arrived last Monday, pair replaced Tuesday, picked up car, but engine fault light on.
It will be going back to the dealer, but they are likely to use diesel 'specialist' to look at it, so I may need some more informed advice form you guys/girls.
Engine fault light is only intermittent, sometimes you can restart the engine and it goes out.
When the light is on: sometimes it runs normally, sometimes in 'get me home' mode (no boost), sometimes it has 'get me home' for a few miles and then is ok even though light is still on.
Any thoughts/experiences greatly appreciated,
Cheers, Stu
It will be going back to the dealer, but they are likely to use diesel 'specialist' to look at it, so I may need some more informed advice form you guys/girls.
Engine fault light is only intermittent, sometimes you can restart the engine and it goes out.
When the light is on: sometimes it runs normally, sometimes in 'get me home' mode (no boost), sometimes it has 'get me home' for a few miles and then is ok even though light is still on.
Any thoughts/experiences greatly appreciated,
Cheers, Stu
Light extinguished tuesday, so far has stayed off, so fingers crossed. No codes displayed, apparently!
Thanks for all the help.
Not able to put pics on here due to corporate server. Dark grey metallic with many spoke 18s, black hood, black/grey leather.
Enjoying car, particularly in recent sunshine
Thanks for all the help.
Not able to put pics on here due to corporate server. Dark grey metallic with many spoke 18s, black hood, black/grey leather.
Enjoying car, particularly in recent sunshine
supercrispy said:
Which remap would you recommend? I see there are 'bolt-on' or ECU remap options.
I didn't fancy getting a bolt-on, I've heard bad reports about them. I went for a custom ECU remap,it's given me an extra 40bhp+, probably could get more than that. I've also been contemplating having a little play with the turbo.
Doh - engine management light on again and running part time in limp mode.
Will be back to dealer next week. However, bought from independent dealer, not AR specialist - not sure where he sends cars for diagnostics or if they know what they're doing.
Anyone know if an official AR dealer would diagnose without charging and let me take away the car afterwards?
Or maybe an indi? Could be too much to ask, but I don't want to fork-out cash when it is the car sellers responsibility.
Any advice greatly appreciated (again!)
Will be back to dealer next week. However, bought from independent dealer, not AR specialist - not sure where he sends cars for diagnostics or if they know what they're doing.
Anyone know if an official AR dealer would diagnose without charging and let me take away the car afterwards?
Or maybe an indi? Could be too much to ask, but I don't want to fork-out cash when it is the car sellers responsibility.
Any advice greatly appreciated (again!)
euroboy said:
Sounds a bit like you have bought a lemon 
Helpful!!
Unless the seller is well versed in Alfas, it's unlikely they will have the diagnostic gear to see what's going on. I think I would ring them and explain the engine management light is on, but are they able to sort it out? They may be. If not, see if they are happy the car going to an Alfa specialist. There's plenty about depending on where you are. Let's hope it's just the DPF bunged up.
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