[Closed] Buying an Alfa Romeo? Do I need certifying?

What you really need to ask yourself is "what sunglasses for a mass produced italian car"

What you really need to ask yourself is "what sunglasses for a mass produced italian car"

For when you need to look cool while stood at the side of the road waiting for the AA?

The JTS engines are sensitive to irregular oil changes / top ups .

Make sure the history suggests that has been kept on top of .

When were the cambelts last changed ?

And go for it , on my second Alfa now and loving it .

Before getting married & brats coming along I had 2 Alfas. Both 146s, one a 1.6 petrol & then an Orange 1.9 turbo diesel, it was magic.

Loved them, Always liked the 156 Station Wagon.

I've read about the oil and cam-belt issues Pete, so I'd be looking for one with a full service history.

I realise that getting rid of something German for something Italian should get you sectioned

I just fancy one though. Just because...

They make some jawdroppingly beautiful cars and if the company would allow this, I'd have it in a flash.
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The 156 isn't too bad either.

If you have a good independent Alfa specialist near by, then yes they are fun cars.

Front sus linkages prone to clonking. Servicing is to be rigorous but if stuck to they last well. Go crazy find a v6. I had a 155 v6 such a great car for me. Next owner not so good fuel tank leaked and engine blew up. Was used on track afair bit and tuned up though.

Just sold my 159 2.4jtdm. Sad times.
It got to the point where the mrs had to shout at me to hand the keys over.
Diesels have dpf issues that can be eased (or eliminated if you dont mind bbending the rules) and treat suspension arms as consumables.
Best handling car i've had, far better than the 156, both sportwagons.
If you factor in the cost to get cam belt water pump and pulley changenwhen you buy it, might asnwell while the belt is off. It should be fine.

It seems that go up to 3 grand and you can get some really tidy, really low mileage, one owner jobs. Hmmmmmmm....

This started this morning as looking for something to replace Mrs Binners aging Polo GTi, and (via 147's) mission creep, I-want-itis, and a degree of distraction has led me here.

I definitely deserve a new toy, don't I? 🙂

Flat 4pot bark, handling to run rings around anything in its day, 5speed where the first 4 were only ever needed...

Grin inducing awesomeness ..

Get it binners, get it and grin.

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If Full uk service history - compare service records against italian timelines - my 147 cambelt went twice in 66k miles - treated as a warranty issue each time, uk service interval was 75k miles where on the other side of the channel it was 35k. got Alfa struck off the company car list.... 🙁

and each time it did blow up, it was raining and despite my best sunnies couldn't look cool next to a burning / smoking mess of resentment.

I've had 3 Alfas now - the first 156 was a little trouble but the second was excellent, and the current GT has also been good with only the split pin that goes into the clutch pedal breaking.

Key is to find a good independant. Whereabouts are you ?

When I picked up my second 156, which had a sportspack on, I was driving it home and had to stop at the traffic lights just before home after driving for about 40 minutes (I was taking the long way home via the country roads).

I noticed that my face was aching and then I realised that it had been caused by grinning for that 40 minutes... It was like a limpet on the road that car, great fun.

When the clutch was going on it I asked a mtb mate near Birmingham (that had once sat in it and liked the cockpit) if he wanted it for free, as the cost of the clutch was approaching what it was worth and I wanted a GT to put my bike in the back of.

So he took it and did the clutch and had it resprayed (Alfa red often fades in the sun, needs a good wax) and fixed the floorpan rot (which I didn't know about and is commonish I believe) and other stuff, and then gave it to his wife to drive as he then bought a 3 litres GTV.

So the point of the story is that he eventually put it on ebay (because he moved, or something - less space) but it didn't sell, so I think he still has it.

Here is the ad, if you fancy contacting him to see what he wants for it.

My GT is geting tatty and I am almost tempted to get it back.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-156-2-0-Twin-Spark-SportPack-2-new-Cambelt-and-floorpan-/231989062461?hash=item3603a02b3d%3Ag%3Ame4AAOSwepZXTZDI&nma=true&si=GEAuN2jFQz9cHodh359ZQctt6sE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Got one as a hire car for work once. Had ordered an estate as we had lots of kit to carry. Hugely impractical Alfa fastback arrives (can't remember the model, but it was over 10 years ago). Had to put kit onto the back seat as it wouldn't all fit into the boot.

Best hire car ever. Though I'm not sure I'd want to own one. Not sure that helps at all, just wanted to share!

Just how pretty can a car get?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C808054

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Cliche mode on///

You aren't a true petrolhead if you have never owned an Alfa

///Cliche mode off

I qualify 😳

[i]"looking for something to replace Mrs Binners"[/i] 😯
I really shouldn't skim-read these threads, should I?

I drove a reasoably sport Giulietta a month or so ago and the lack of steering feel compared to my GT and the 156s beforehand was startling - might as well have been driving an Audi A3.

Something to do with the electronic steering.

So I might not be an Alfa homer for much longer - what's the point of buying an Alfa if not for the driving feel?

😥

Oh, my. You pretty baby.. you pretty pretty sweet thing..

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[quote=TurnerGuy ]So I might not be an Alfa homer for much longer - what's the point of buying an Alfa if not for the driving feel?

Because it looks pretty and sounds good? At least that's what I'm taking away from my couple of days of "owning" one.

Flat 4pot bark, handling to run rings around anything in its day, 5speed where the first 4 were only ever needed...

Grin inducing awesomeness ..

Get it binners, get it and grin.

Nostalgia hits hard....

I had three Giulia Coupes in the 80's and 90's

That one ^ is just perfect

The later 156s had the JTS engine which doesn't rev as freely as the 2.0 TS but is less annoying in the lack of torque at lower revs.

If you get the 2.0 it is worth using Shell V-Power - you get better economy as well as better torque, although the use of the later can reduce the former.

Other premium petrols don't work.

sound required, somewhat excitable driver :

Id love a Derv GT in the stable.

While I'd agree with every word of that, actually finding one might be a bit of a problem...
POSTED 10 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Sectioned? Applauded more like.

Make it happen!

Never had an alfa myself and fancy one next time, especially now the new Giulia is out 😯
proper good looking car

He's brilliant TurnerGuy.

Binners - ask yourself if a German (outside of a Downfall video) would ever describe a car in that way.

You know what to do.

2k - 3k on a 156 is a bit heavy. I'd buy the best one I could for under a grand and preferably £500/£600 and see what happens.

3k means youve got to fix the bugger

Oh and I had a 147 2.0 petrol for 3 years that I bought at 8 years old for 1k. Didn't break down or cause a problem in 60k. Great car

Ok TurnerGuy.

Thanks for making me cry. You..git.

That was more than awesome, that was poetry.

I understood about 50% of what he was saying, but I understood 100% the car.

Confession, I owned a 1600 GT Junior, I restored it from a neglected run around, that car brought me to tears on many occasions.. sheer frustration whilst rebuilding it, and once done... driving it. No other car I've owned has, nor I guess, will ever stir my beating heart and twist my soul like that car. I also owned an Alfasud 1.5ti (1st gen) which again melted my heart and drove my love for Alfas. Sadly the Sud rotted like teeth in a coke can and my neighbour tore the keys off my clenched fist one day outside my home when I opened the bonnet to find the front struts had disintegrated into powder.

Alfas, older ones, beat every 15th beat per minute of my heart.

Snif..

I think this is all confirming what I was thinking anyway, after spending the afternoon perusing them. I need to buy an Alfa, don't I?

Anyone want to buy a mk4 Golf GTi 1.8T? Re-mapped on 18" BBS Monza's with a temperamental gearbox? :

I knew this would happen!

Oh.... I'm presuming they're crap for carrying bikes?

Great cars to drive .....
Rubbish car to own ...

I bought the car I always wanted earlier this year.

Nowadays we worry so much about mpg and practical space and safety. Sometimes you got to just live a little, ok?

BTW My car does 18mpg and I spun it in the middle of town yesterday. That's something I won't forget!

Confession, I owned a 1600 GT Junior, I restored it from a neglected run around, that car brought me to tears on many occasions.. sheer frustration whilst rebuilding it, and once done... driving it. No other car I've owned has, nor I guess, will ever stir my beating heart and twist my soul like that car.

I picked one up in the summer; been sitting in a garage for the last 25 years and emerged in fine fettle but with seized brakes. I've had them replaced and an Alfaholics handling kit fitted, and rust stuff squirted wherever it can get squirted. Got it back last week. My god it's fun but with only 110HP it's crying out for another 50. Plans are afoot...

Had a Brera (loved that car) and in a giulietta now, next car roll be a giulia. Love the looks.

156 is a great car. Buy!

I miss this beauty.

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3720/12636161843_2cef5e9853_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3720/12636161843_2cef5e9853_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/kfBCFn ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/parkesiemtb/ ]chris[/url], on Flickr

It's got to be a red one as well. It'd be rude not too

Oh suburb..
You are one lucky person.

Stroke and kiss it for me and say you'll love it forever 😀

I'm not jealous, no I'm absolutely made up for you.

*swoon.

Go have a look at my old 156, linked to above...

Another DC video here, a Brera 1750, watch from 3 minutes in

"It gives you satisfaction for a mile or two, after that it starts to get tired, really like a beatutiful, oversized girl, beautiful but naked she has lots of secrets and secrets you will not enjoy"...

🙂

JFDI

The 33 got me. 130bhp flat four in a body made of tin foil.