Okay first of all I know I have been a bit of an ass but hey I am only human after all.
A year and a half ago I ‘bought’ a 2nd hand car on pcp (first mistake)from a well known for not great customer service but quite desirable Italian brand of motor vehicle (2nd mistake).
At the time it came with a years warranty but now that I am out of that it the gearbox has gone and the dealer has quoted 3k for a new one.
The dealer approached said manufacturer for goodwill as car 09 plate has only done 29k miles.
Manufacturer are not entertaining this leaving me with a car with a knacked gearbox (though it still drives it’s very whiny).
I know I have been stupid re pcp and now feel stitched up like a kipper but could really use some advice on where to go.
I reckon approaching citizens advice first but wondering if anyone has any knowledge or experience in these things!!

Guilietta!?

Does the car have a full dealer service history?

Get a quote from an independent. Still not ganna be cheap like by th sounds of it

Right brand wrong model – bit older no longer made (cant think why!)

Gotta go independent surely?

159

Should have been serviced July. I thought it went by miles (I do not do many) but apparently the the time ticked past the service date – not good I know

Get in wrightyson!

It’s over 4 yrs old. Surely the manufacturer is well within their rights to say whistle. Plus you’re the second owner, first could have ragged the nuts off it etc etc.
Sorry to be unhelpful but can’t see any pay other than stumping up.

Find an independant gearbox specialist and see if you can get it rebuilt.

How long does the PCP run? Is there an option to give the car back after you’ve paid half?

You had t for at least a year of trouble free motoring before an issue, yes? What you expecting the garage to do, exactly? Surely they have met all their obligations?

Rachel

Bro in law big Alfa enthusiast. You want details of the alfa forum he uses. Had a full clutch rebuild on his 159. Beautiful car and that was the only problem but a big one all the same.

Pcp runs for 48 months nowhere near half value.
Independent a good idea.
Yes maybe my expectations are unreasonable.
All good so far.

Details of forum would be good ta.
Suspension goosed also by the way (this may be reasonable wear and tear though?)

*think* the engines (and therefore possibly the attached gearboxes too) are joint alfa/vauxhall units in those. Might be worth seeing if that makes it cheaper somehow?

the cam belt went on my Alfa 3 months out of warranty and they didn;t want to know.

dealer wanted £3000 to fix it.

I got a valuation to buy the contract out which was about £6k at the time.

Went to independent and got a price of it as it was from him of about £4000 or repair was about £2k.

Basically I ended up giving the independent the car + £1500 and he then paid the contract off, fixed the car and sold it on. It cost me less than the repair would have done (he got the car plus the parts value needed to fix it) and I had no more tie in to the vehicle.

As above talk to an independent – Monza Sport in Sussex are good – find out what your options are.

Suspension goosed also by the way (this may be reasonable wear and tear though?)

No, it isn’t.

check european warantees’ get it towed to france.
When my 147 blew up at 39k and 68k miles, due to cambelt,
UK had to fix it as I pointed out although uk service schedule was 75k, european was every 36k
was over 4k worth as needed new engine second time.

Text just received from bro. Hope this helps.

..Alfaowner.com/forum its a good site with some really knowledgable people on it. If he’s local there is alfatechnico in Sutton in ashfield and AFH1 in Mansfield, I have used both for my 159. Martin at AFH1 is a top bloke and one of only a few in uk to be trained as Alfa expert technician.

Thanks wrighty really appreciate it I am up in north Yorkshire will get on the forum.
More food for thought above too thanks all

We use http://www.topgeartransmissions.co.uk/ to refurbish our boxes when we get one that needs attention, always been very good.

Thanks for the link benji think I will get in touch with them

Have a look on Honest John’s website, it might be a common complaint.

Your barking up the wrong tree, speak to the finance company as they are responsible for the goods they supplied.

Cheers.

Whining gearbox? Fill it with sawdust and sell the car, quick.

I know I have been stupid re pcp and now feel stitched up like a kipper but could really use some advice on where to go.

Not sure why you think you’ve been stupid, nothing wrong buying a s/h car on pcp.

Is it a Brera, as my pals’ one has had a fair few troubles/costs – or a GT, as they were based on 156 running gear?

How long does the PCP run? Is there an option to give the car back after you’ve paid half?

You’ve usually got to give it back in a serviceable/roadworthy etc condition.

Your barking up the wrong tree, speak to the finance company as they are responsible for the goods they supplied.

This.

Your PCP is almost certainly a regulated tri-party agreement. As they retain an interest in the vehicle it is in their interest to ensure it is of merchantable quality given the likelihood they will get the car back. Despite the fact you feel that the PCP was a mistake, ironically it is probably your best chance at getting something done. Had you paid cash, or borrowed from your bank, you would be on your own. Talk to the finance company, you may be surprised how helpful they are.

Haynes Manual + Socket Set + scrapped 159 replacement gearbox?

My local gearbox man would do the job for about £1k, plus a clutch.

How certain are of you of the diagnosis?
I know you said the dealer wants £3k but has he seen or did you just ring up and ask “how much for a new gearbox?”
.
Had an issue with the gears on my Transit back in Jan, it would give me first, or very reluctantly second, nothing else. I imediately thought new gearbox required and statrted looking on the interweb for one, properly expensive! Slept on it, had another look in the morning, started taking things apart, gear lever OK, cables look fine, selector unit on top of the gear box feels very, very stiif. Bearing inside there had seized. Full instructions on the Transit forum, took about 6hrs for a complete novice like me to remove strip and rebuild it, new bearing was £15.
Anyway, point is, are you certain the box is goosed, or is this merely an assumption? Check some less expensivde stuff first!

Well it’s great to get all these different posts sometimes you get stuck in your own mindset and it’s difficult to see beyond that – is this a sign of old age?!
Cheers folks feeling a touch more positive now ….

Push it off a cliff and claim its been stolen.. or hire a skip and mini digger, dig a large hole in your garden and bury it.

If you’re the Teesside end of north yorks (your use of the word ‘knacked’ suggests you could well be!) then try FAST on Ross Road in Stockton – indy Fiat & Alfa specialist. One of the guys who has it rides bikes too.

Stufield – you did well getting your 147 fixed, the cam belt change interval in the UK was changed to 36,000 miles seven years ago!

On the V5 who is the first owner?

Anyway, point is, are you certain the box is goosed, or is this merely an assumption? Check some less expensivde stuff first!

My thoughts exactly. Do you know the difference between a noisy gearbox and a noisy wheel bearing or CV joint? 🙂

If its deff the gear box find a good independant and a 2nd hand box.

PCP? I thought you meant the drug!