Alfa Selaspeed, low miles and FSH
Discussion
djt100 said:
Should i or should I walk away and stay with the manual, I mostly drive on the Mway and little around town, are they good or not worth the trouble ?
The one I'm looking at is 2002 estate, 54k, FSH 1 owner car, seems like a good deal at £2k
Your comments gentlemen ( and ladies) please
Its an Alfa, its going to break. Having said that, its all part of the Alfa experience. Although with a added help of selespeed, it will just happen more frequently and cost more money. I say, go for it!The one I'm looking at is 2002 estate, 54k, FSH 1 owner car, seems like a good deal at £2k
Your comments gentlemen ( and ladies) please
Avoid like the plague is the advice I was always given when looking at a 156. The Selespeed is notorious for going wrong and being uneconomical to repair when it does. I'm sure there are several long-standing happy owners, but the amount of adverts for cars as spares/repairs because the semi-auto gearbox has gone tits up seemed to substantiate the warnings nicely!
ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
Edited by McSam on Wednesday 8th December 13:33
My only news on the Sillyspeed boxes is what was in the magazines, which described it as slow and annoying around town.
On that basis I'd take it for a good drive around town, in stop - start traffic, try some reverse parking and stuff, to see if you can put up with it on your way to and from the motorway. Then make up your mind.
Sorry I can't offer first hand experience though.
EDIT: I mean, the box is slow to change gears, not that it makes the car slow.
On that basis I'd take it for a good drive around town, in stop - start traffic, try some reverse parking and stuff, to see if you can put up with it on your way to and from the motorway. Then make up your mind.
Sorry I can't offer first hand experience though.
EDIT: I mean, the box is slow to change gears, not that it makes the car slow.
Edited by Alfanatic on Wednesday 8th December 13:37
A friend of mine has had two - the first one was pretty troublesome, but the second one has been fine.
As ever with Alfas, a lot of the problems are exaggerated, and most of the common Selespeed problems are now well known and seem to be fairly easily (if not always cheaply) fixable.
That said, there's no doubt the Selespeeds can still be problematic, so unless you're desperate for it then I'd probably stick with the manual.
As ever with Alfas, a lot of the problems are exaggerated, and most of the common Selespeed problems are now well known and seem to be fairly easily (if not always cheaply) fixable.
That said, there's no doubt the Selespeeds can still be problematic, so unless you're desperate for it then I'd probably stick with the manual.
McSam said:
Avoid like the plague is the advice I was always given when looking at a 156. The Selespeed is notorious for going wrong and being uneconomical to repair when it does. I'm sure there are several long-standing happy owners, but the amount of adverts for cars as spares/repairs because the semi-auto gearbox has gone tits up seemed to substantiate the warnings nicely!
ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
Agree. The actuator is the part that goes wrong and costs £900 before fitting. The sele is supposed to be brilliant to drive but an arse to own. Factor in the other 156 foibles (engine maladies, suspension made of spaghetti etc) and you're just adding to the hurt IMHO.ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
Edited by McSam on Wednesday 8th December 13:33
My 2.0 twinny has a nice (manual) gearbox with well thought out ratios (for me anyway) and the manual is known to be reasonably robust. For me it's a now brainer because the manual is not a chore to use. Good for you though that you're doing research first.
Selespeed's are not called 'Sillyspeeds' in Alfa circles for no reason...
Thanks all, I'm thinknign best bet leave this one and off to find a manual. it was this one of anyone is brave..
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
said he'd do £2k cash
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
said he'd do £2k cash
jains15 said:
McSam said:
Avoid like the plague is the advice I was always given when looking at a 156. The Selespeed is notorious for going wrong and being uneconomical to repair when it does. I'm sure there are several long-standing happy owners, but the amount of adverts for cars as spares/repairs because the semi-auto gearbox has gone tits up seemed to substantiate the warnings nicely!
ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
Agree. The actuator is the part that goes wrong and costs £900 before fitting. The sele is supposed to be brilliant to drive but an arse to own. Factor in the other 156 foibles (engine maladies, suspension made of spaghetti etc) and you're just adding to the hurt IMHO.ETA - The rest of the 156 is quite sound so long as the cam belt change interval is kept, before any more sterotypers jump in
Edited by McSam on Wednesday 8th December 13:33
My 2.0 twinny has a nice (manual) gearbox with well thought out ratios (for me anyway) and the manual is known to be reasonably robust. For me it's a now brainer because the manual is not a chore to use. Good for you though that you're doing research first.
Selespeed's are not called 'Sillyspeeds' in Alfa circles for no reason...
Sellafield was the one I kept hearing
The one in that advert seems a bit steep anyway. There are quite a lot of sub-100k examples around, and even though it's a late-model one I wouldn't want to spend that - especially with no tax or ticket! My experience looking at 156s told me that there are plenty worryingly cheap, but also plenty where the owner seems to have taken a wild guess at what it might be worth!
Now this little baby, on the other hand..
Honest advice?
Look for a V6. 25-30mpg, which is pretty good when compared to the 32-ish from a 2.0 twinny. Double the interval on the cam belt (72k), 6 spark plugs not 8, and much more "cruisability". Brilliant noise, and a rather attractive rev-limiter.
I've got a V6, had it through 2 terrible winters and a good summer. It has needed only service items, except for a suspension arm and a MAF sensor (which some might call service items). Oh, and a remote locking reset when the fob battery went flat. But approx 30k miles, 99.9% enjoyable. I am confident I shall take it to the Ring come June.
Look for a V6. 25-30mpg, which is pretty good when compared to the 32-ish from a 2.0 twinny. Double the interval on the cam belt (72k), 6 spark plugs not 8, and much more "cruisability". Brilliant noise, and a rather attractive rev-limiter.
I've got a V6, had it through 2 terrible winters and a good summer. It has needed only service items, except for a suspension arm and a MAF sensor (which some might call service items). Oh, and a remote locking reset when the fob battery went flat. But approx 30k miles, 99.9% enjoyable. I am confident I shall take it to the Ring come June.
Buying an old selespeed is asking for trouble, the gear actuators fail and there is no cheap way of fixing them.
Alfa's 156's are great value for money, at £2k its not really a bargain, there's plenty to chose from you'd be better off finding a manual one if you are going to keep it for a while and want to avoid large bill for the gearbox on the sillyspeed.
Alfa's 156's are great value for money, at £2k its not really a bargain, there's plenty to chose from you'd be better off finding a manual one if you are going to keep it for a while and want to avoid large bill for the gearbox on the sillyspeed.
Opulent said:
Honest advice?
Look for a V6.
+1Look for a V6.
The Twin Spark is a super engine, but the V6 is something else. Mine is noticeably juicier than yours though Opulent. The engine is "a peach" according to my specialist, but I'm looking at 21mpg on average, with a mixture of town work and runs. Not sure I'd be happy leaving the belts 72k either, I think in Alfa circles 48k is the recommendation.
As for the 'box, unfortunately I don't have experience of the Selespeed OP. The manual, on the other hand, has a lovely chunky action. It does have a fairly long throw, but its certainly no chore whisking it around the ratios. 5th gear is a little short on the V6s though.
The Selespeed boxes weren't very good when brand new so 10 years on it really isn't worth going for one. They are unreliable and the buttons are pretty horrid to use, they also take a rather long time to chift gear.Think more Smart car speed of gearchange then 458. Buy a Manual and save yourself a load of trouble.
robsco said:
Opulent said:
Honest advice?
Look for a V6.
+1Look for a V6.
The Twin Spark is a super engine, but the V6 is something else. Mine is noticeably juicier than yours though Opulent. The engine is "a peach" according to my specialist, but I'm looking at 21mpg on average, with a mixture of town work and runs. Not sure I'd be happy leaving the belts 72k either, I think in Alfa circles 48k is the recommendation.
As for the 'box, unfortunately I don't have experience of the Selespeed OP. The manual, on the other hand, has a lovely chunky action. It does have a fairly long throw, but its certainly no chore whisking it around the ratios. 5th gear is a little short on the V6s though.
They feel really rather well built too. Very solid feeling doors, minimal creaking inside. I'm a bit of a convertee from my younger, "no french, no italian" days, I must admit!
Mr E said:
robsco said:
Mine is noticeably juicier than yours though Opulent.
Indeed. Low twenties is all we ever see.
t then. Even in the snow, with slower speeds but longer durations, lights, heaters etc on full time, little bit of playing in the works car park, I was getting 26mpg across the average of the tank. rallycross said:
Buying an old selespeed is asking for trouble, the gear actuators fail and there is no cheap way of fixing them.
Alfa's 156's are great value for money, at £2k its not really a bargain, there's plenty to chose from you'd be better off finding a manual one if you are going to keep it for a while and want to avoid large bill for the gearbox on the sillyspeed.
Low miles examples are not cheap from what I've seen, I do 25-30k a year so don't buy cars with 100k on, if anyone can find me a nice one with 50 ish on for that money i'll happy look if it's in surrey / south london....Alfa's 156's are great value for money, at £2k its not really a bargain, there's plenty to chose from you'd be better off finding a manual one if you are going to keep it for a while and want to avoid large bill for the gearbox on the sillyspeed.
Opulent, mine does indeed have a 6 speed 'box, I was complaining more about the shortness of 5th. I just tend to block change now from 4th to 6th. Autodelta even have a longer 5th gear ratio over on their internet shop, so I can't be the only one who doesn't understand it. As for the carbon intake, I haven't got it fitted to the car yet as it hasn't arrived! Reviews on Alfaowner seem to be a mixed bag, but I'm just hoping for more induction noise rather than a noticeable performance increase. I'll PM you with my findings once its on.
Here's the car anyway if you're interested in having a peek:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As for fuel consumption Mr E, the last tank of V-Power was consumed at a rate of 17.1mpg! I can only imagination it's the bitter cold weather, as she doesn't get driven particularly hard and I've had the oil and thermostat changed less than 1000 miles ago. The noise makes up for it though.
Here's the car anyway if you're interested in having a peek:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
As for fuel consumption Mr E, the last tank of V-Power was consumed at a rate of 17.1mpg! I can only imagination it's the bitter cold weather, as she doesn't get driven particularly hard and I've had the oil and thermostat changed less than 1000 miles ago. The noise makes up for it though.
Very pretty. And very unusual to see a White one. Makes me ashamed of mine. It's black with the last 2 weeks of filth, it needs a good going over by the kosovans up the road!
Did you go for red leather? I'm so tempted but am at risk of redundancy so gonna save future mortgage payments while I still can!
Did you go for red leather? I'm so tempted but am at risk of redundancy so gonna save future mortgage payments while I still can!
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