MR2 or Alfa 156??

V480

Hi there,

Just canvassing some opinion here. I have a choice between this MR2 for 1200 euro: http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/69/58059369.html which is in good mechanical condition but in need of a small bit of paint work. Or this Alfa which is in good enough condition too, longer NCT but no receipt to prive timing belt has been done:
http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/17/58429717.html real advantage with this is that it could be had for 900 euro..

My heads wrecked trying to figure out which to go for so would appreciate any opinions...

Mr Benevolent

V480 wrote: »

Hi there,

Just canvassing some opinion here. I have a choice between this MR2 for 1200 euro: http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/69/58059369.html which is in good mechanical condition but in need of a small bit of paint work. Or this Alfa which is in good enough condition too, longer NCT but no receipt to prive timing belt has been done:
http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/17/58429717.html real advantage with this is that it could be had for 900 euro..

My heads wrecked trying to figure out which to go for so would appreciate any opinions...

MR2 unless you like expensive bills. I like the 156, but...

CianRyan

Two completely different cars there...
I'd get a mechanic to check both before you buy, we all know about Alfa's (and I'm a fan) and MR2's have seen some serious abuse from high pointed peaked cap wearing chaps over the years.

If it were my money, I think it'd be the Toyota.

SV

Jesus..MR2 in a heartbeat! too easy..

death1234567

SV wrote: »

Jesus..MR2 in a heartbeat! too easy..

+1.

V480

Thanks guys. Seems to be a bit of a consensus on the MR2 then. I had the MR2 checked out by a guy from mr2.ie and he said its grand apart from some paint problems that could be sorted easy enough. Quite high milage though...122k? I've heard they can be a balls to get through the NCT too...

Unlike the MR2 I've actually driven the Alfa myself (MR2 is a fair bit away) and it seemed a grand car...it's just a pity I cant verify the t-belt. Longer NCT too.

Of course I would choose the MR2 if money wasnt an object, I've always wanted one. But the 156 would be a hell of alot cheaper @ 800 or 900 euro. I've had a Punto before this too with no mechanical problems to speak of so am not really convinced by the 'Italian cars are ****e' thing alot of people have...

CianRyan

When you're buying a car, €300 isn't really that much less.
And being a Toyota, I wouldn't worry about those miles, those cars live for ever once you show them the love and respect they deserve and even when you don't... It'll last a lot longer than the Alfa.

ShadowHearth

death1234567 wrote: »

+1.

+2 :P

Sitted in mr2, loved drivers position. Mid engined car for affordable money.

thought you have to understand that boot will be tiny and it has only 2 seats, as long as you can live with that, then its a great little machine!

V480

Thanks. The consensus is getting bigger! Yeah with the MR2 I'd def be looking to keep it long term wheras the Alfa maby just something to do me for a year or two. I liked the Alfa but the interior was a bit naff looking (green seats/mock walnut veneer) and I found it a bit difficult to engage gear at times. Still a nice quiet drive though...

Anybody have anything good a say about the alfa? thought 800 euro would be a bargain myself...

ShadowHearth

V480 wrote: »

Thanks. The consensus is getting bigger! Yeah with the MR2 I'd def be looking to keep it long term wheras the Alfa maby just something to do me for a year or two. I liked the Alfa but the interior was a bit naff looking (green seats/mock walnut veneer) and I found it a bit difficult to engage gear at times. Still a nice quiet drive though...

Anybody have anything good a say about the alfa? thought 800 euro would be a bargain myself...

well, i did not had experience with alfa, but i get really mixed reviews. I talked with my pal mechanics, and every single one of them, told me to stay away, but on the ather hand you have people who love theyr alfas more then wifes!

for 800eu you wount be able to buy tidy alfa or mr2, be prapered to spend some money on them.

I would love mr2, but you have to understand that it is not very flexible car. Engine is in the back, but its not that hard to work on it, as you can take of the side panels. Lovely car all around. I wount say anything about alfas as i dont know much about em, i allready have all BMW population on mine arse , so i dont need alfa lovers to go after me aswell

Mr Benevolent

V480 wrote: »

Thanks. The consensus is getting bigger! Yeah with the MR2 I'd def be looking to keep it long term wheras the Alfa maby just something to do me for a year or two. I liked the Alfa but the interior was a bit naff looking (green seats/mock walnut veneer) and I found it a bit difficult to engage gear at times. Still a nice quiet drive though...

Anybody have anything good a say about the alfa? thought 800 euro would be a bargain myself...

Put it like this. My brother was looking for a good 156 and we were on the way back from a test drive. He happened to stop alongside a '01 156 in traffic and decided to ask the driver if he'd had any problems with it. The 156 driver laughed and said 'Over €2000 worth of repairs and I've only had it three months!'

My brother stopped looking for a 156 after that.

ShadowHearth

Confab wrote: »

Put it like this. My brother was looking for a good 156 and we were on the way back from a test drive. He happened to stop alongside a '01 156 in traffic and decided to ask the driver if he'd had any problems with it. The 156 driver laughed and said 'Over €2000 worth of repairs and I've only had it three months!'

My brother stopped looking for a 156 after that.

haha, here you go consumers advice

V480

Confab wrote: »

Put it like this. My brother was looking for a good 156 and we were on the way back from a test drive. He happened to stop alongside a '01 156 in traffic and decided to ask the driver if he'd had any problems with it. The 156 driver laughed and said 'Over €2000 worth of repairs and I've only had it three months!'

My brother stopped looking for a 156 after that.

Blimey... Funnily enough I know two guys with 156's, same year/model everything. One of them had thousands spent on it before yer man gave up, the other never a bit of trouble. Think you just need to be lucky with them. I'm def thinkin MR2 now though...

colm_mcm

another vote for the MR2

bladebrew

if it was my money it would be the mr2,very different cars but i think the mr2 still looks good after all these years,would insurance not be mental on the mr2 compared to the alfa though??

V480

Stragely enough there is little or no difference, I was suprised too...

V480

Goin to look at a Celica tomorrow too. 1994, NCT 3-11, 120k miles...950 euro. It's near me so thought I may as well...

pa990

mr2 ftw

Tbh.. You'll have very little problems with a toyota

V480

V480 wrote: »

Goin to look at a Celica tomorrow too. 1994, NCT 3-11, 120k miles...950 euro. It's near me so thought I may as well...

The 140bhp or the 165 ish bhp ?
The 165ish one is the 3SGE engine which has 2000 twin cam 16 on it, like this



it's a non interference engine so if the belt goes, no damage. The 140bhp (3SFE iirc) is interference and underpowered, has little going for it really.

V480

I'm not sure to be honest but I think it could be the less powerful of those two...

V480

The price of Alfa down to 700 euro now...helluva jump up to 1200 for the MR2...think I'm gonna do it though..

SV

Have you test drove the mr2?

It's an experience having RWD and the engine behind you..try it out, you'll never want anything else..
hell, I drove my fathers MR2 turbo and I've been looking for one since!

V480

SV wrote: »

Have you test drove the mr2?

It's an experience having RWD and the engine behind you..try it out, you'll never want anything else..
hell, I drove my fathers MR2 turbo and I've been looking for one since!

I havent actually because I'm in Arklow wheras the MR2 is in Thurles, so a guy from MR2.ie checked it out for me. I'm gonna go see it myself on Friday or Saturday though. Funnily enough I had not even thought of the RWD...I just love the look of the MR2 and had always wanted one. But then I've always wanted an Alfa too! I've never driven RWD ever before now that you mention it...

Eoin

Anybody have anything good a say about the alfa?

I've plenty of good to say about it, despite what some self-appointed "experts" think after watching top gear.

But - I would go as impractical and fun as I could while it's still an option. You can always get a sporty 4 door saloon like the 156 when you need to be more sensible.

V480

That was actually one of the main reasons I thought of the MR2 actually. At first I thought it was too impractical...then I remembered that I'm 25 and don't have kids or any necessity for a large luggage hold. Only thing I'm gonna be carrying is me and maby the mrs

samsemtex

V480 wrote: »

That was actually one of the main reasons I thought of the MR2 actually. At first I thought it was too impractical...then I remembered that I'm 25 and don't have kids or any necessity for a large luggage hold. Only thing I'm gonna be carrying is me and maby the mrs

You hope...:eek:

V480

samsemtex wrote: »

You hope...:eek:

??

samsemtex

V480 wrote: »

??

Well you dont want to Mrs popping out any little unplanned units that require more space! Only joking obviously.

Bu yes I have a 156 and I love it. No problems so far but I've only had it over a month and its a lot newer and the facelifted model with TI specification. It seems to depend on how well the previous owner maintained them. If you get one that never had the oil checked and was barely ever serviced it will probably end up costing you a fortune. I must say the interior on that one does look a bit naff. Oh yeah and it is fantastic to drive.

V480

Very true!

B00MSTICK

V480 wrote:

I've never driven RWD ever before now that you mention it...

The MR2 can be a bit tail happy (and aren't the easiest to control oversteer wise) when you put the foot down on a bend so just watch it in slippy/wet conditions especially if you're new to it.

It will qualify for classic insurance (with some companies) in 2012 which is another bonus, so you can have a Alfa for the family and an impractical weekend fun car for yourself!

B00MSTICK

B00MSTICK wrote: »

The MR2 can be a bit tail happy (and aren't the easiest to control oversteer wise) when you put the foot down on a bend so just watch it in slippy/wet conditions especially if you're new to it.

Particularly the early models, Rev 3s had modified suspension that made a difference.

cjt156

I'm an ALFA fanboy & I'll drone on about how they can run forever if treated right yada yada... (Mine is at 130thou miles & never misses a beat).

However at EU700, you could easily spend that on suspension and belts in the next year so don't think cheap is automatically good. Also that interior is GICK! Worst combo green velour and fake wood dash - Alfa do great looking interiors; this isn't one of them.
Plus, if you don't need practicality go for the MR2 and maybe come back to ALFA in a few years? - Nice 159 estate will fit three kids and a couple of labradors when you get saddled with all that!!!:D

Eoin

Yikes, I didn't look at the interior pics of the Alfa until now. That's rank.

cjt156

cjt156 wrote: »

I'm an ALFA fanboy & I'll drone on about how they can run forever if treated right yada yada... (Mine is at 130thou miles & never misses a beat).

However at EU700, you could easily spend that on suspension and belts in the next year so don't think cheap is automatically good.

Excellent post, the Alfa is a fine bus and of course will run forever if maintained but they need to be maintained which isn't cheap. You could get lucky with a Toyota and need nothing aside from oil changes for years.

smash

MR2 - but that front bumper needs to be sorted out with a respray!

V480

steve06 wrote: »

MR2 - but that front bumper needs to be sorted out with a respray!

Yeah the seller tried to tell me that a t-cut would sort it but I agree, got a price @ 200 euro for bumper and wing mirrors...

V480

Drove home in the MR2 today for 1150...dead pleased so far

ShadowHearth

V480 wrote: »

Drove home in the MR2 today for 1150...dead pleased so far

congratz m8, now PIC or GTFO! :P

you must be like a kid on xmas day now , eh?

CianRyan

Well wear, mate.
Lovely cars, threat her well and post pics!

V480

V480

Sorry my pic posting abilities are'nt the best! Not the most scenic spot for a photoshoot but best I could do at short notice...hope you like

Many thanks to everybody who posted for their words of advice, ect. Really much appreciated.

Mr Benevolent

Good choice. Lovely car, enjoy!