Which 2nd hand Alfa Romeo

Rackstar

Which of these and what engine would be considered the most reliable Alfa?

145
147
156
159
GT
Spider

I had a 145 previously when I was in college and didn't maintain it right as money was tight. Let the timing belt go to 40k with out changing and it snapped Really liked that car and would love to get another Alfa and look after it properly this time.

Am I mad thinking of getting another Alfa? Which would be the most reliable / efficient / economical ?? I have a car from work so this would only be for tipping around midweek and at the weekends, 100km max per week. I would stretch to €8k to buy.

Thanks in advance!

eth0

feck it 40k isn't much for a timing belt after. how often do they say to change?

ARGINITE

Every 36K.

Tazio

8k? What about a 159?

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/all/for-sale/Ireland/alfa%20159

mondeo

159 is a lovely cosmetic piece of work

Rackstar

Tazio wrote: »

8k? What about a 159?

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/all/for-sale/Ireland/alfa%20159

Hadn't really thought about a 159. Nice car as well. Anyone know what they are like to run? Ant common issues with them?

Rackstar

eth0 wrote: »

feck it 40k isn't much for a timing belt after. how often do they say to change?

Think Arginite is right with the 36k. Was raging with myself had done 40k over a year and a half on the belt. Damn those tsparks with their extra valves, was working out very expensive to get it going again.

Tazio

Rackstar wrote: »

Hadn't really thought about a 159. Nice car as well. Anyone know what they are like to run? Ant common issues with them?

I actually own two! So I'm biased. Anything in particular you want to know?


Here is a post I make about 159's few months back:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=74043269&postcount=6

and Alfas in general:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=75034230&postcount=64

Timmaay

Certainly the 147 and 156s have their fair share of problems, and as you know all about with the timing belt ha, poorly maintained older examples of these are just moneypits! I would go for a 159, or a GT if you don't need something practical! (back seats in them wont be any fun over a long trip other then for young kids!) In terms of engines, You certainly don't do high enough mileage to have any major saving going with a diesel, my choice would be a petrol, which for most 2nd hand motors, will have a lower miles on it. Having said that the Alfa Diesels are mean to be fine modern engines, more alike petrol engines in terms of smoothness etc, and you will suffer less deprecation with a diesel then a petrol.

So anyways, I havn't given you anything very conclusive there, but whatever one you decide to go with, make sure it has a good full service history, and preferably owned by someone who loves their alfas (and will have taken care of it better then the average joe soap who thinks all cars are reliable as toyotas and you can drive them for a million miles with no service etc!)

Rackstar

Rackstar wrote: »

Think Arginite is right with the 36k. Was raging with myself had done 40k over a year and a half on the belt. Damn those tsparks with their extra valves, was working out very expensive to get it going again.

they don't have extra valves really, 4 valves per cylinder is par for the course really, 'tis extra spark plugs they have.

Anan1

Rackstar wrote: »

I have a car from work so this would only be for tipping around midweek and at the weekends, 100km max per week. I would stretch to €8k to buy.

GTV 3.0, or maybe a 156 GTA. The others are a bit vanilla for a second car, IMO at least.

Mr Benevolent

I'm going to see a '01 156 1.8 tomorrow morning, anything I should be looking out for apart from the obvious suspension clonks and crunchy gear changes?

ARGINITE

Anan1 wrote: »

GTV 3.0

+1

Rackstar

Anan1 wrote: »

GTV 3.0, or maybe a 156 GTA. The others are a bit vanilla for a second car, IMO at least.

I'm still under 30, will have to have a look at what the insurance on one of them would be like! Thanks

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2642878

Timmaay

Confab wrote: »

I'm going to see a '01 156 1.8 tomorrow morning, anything I should be looking out for apart from the obvious suspension clonks and crunchy gear changes?

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/ theres good info here about issues with them to look out for.

166man

Rackstar wrote: »

Which of these and what engine would be considered the most reliable Alfa?

145
147
156
159
GT
Spider

I had a 145 previously when I was in college and didn't maintain it right as money was tight. Let the timing belt go to 40k with out changing and it snapped Really liked that car and would love to get another Alfa and look after it properly this time.

Am I mad thinking of getting another Alfa? Which would be the most reliable / efficient / economical ?? I have a car from work so this would only be for tipping around midweek and at the weekends, 100km max per week. I would stretch to €8k to buy.

Thanks in advance!

I would go for a Alfa 159 seeing as your budget will allow but definitely go petrol as you won't be doing the mileage for diesel. I would go for the 1.9JTS though instead of the 1.8 MPI. Having been in both the 1.9 is faster where it needs to be and sounds better too! There are a few on donedeal afaik..

Definitely get one with leather though, the cloth seats are no comparison. My old man has a 2010 159 diesel and seeing as it's been excellent reliability wise there's not much that I would advise you look out for.

I drive a 2001 156 1.6 and these can be picked up very cheaply with long NCT's for around 2k, might be better if you don't wish to spend all your budget. Any questions PM me. The 166 is a lovely car too!:D

EPM

Breras are getting close to budget. There was one for sale for €10k recently. 2.2 JTS with extras.

Redsoxfan

If you can afford the running costs, then a GTA would be a great car as well, this came up for sale recently, not a great colour, but a rare car on the roads over here

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2710088

If insurance is a concern, then I guess the 2.0TS is as big an engine as you can go (unless maybe a 2.5V6 156 is a compromise).

Given it's a 2nd car, maybe something more 'impractical' is a good idea, and if you're not going to be driving it much, then fuel economy is hardly much of a concern is it?

So, look at the GT, the GTV and the Spider. The 2.0TS is available in all 3 (actually is a JTS in the GT), or you can have the 1.9JTD in the GT. If you get the TS/JTS, make sure the belts are done (and have been done) as scheduled (3 years/36,000 miles) and that the oil is not low. Suspension tends to be the other thing that may wear quicker than expected, and of course the electrics should also be tested. The JTD has a longer interval on the belts (5 years/60,000 miles)

Of the 3, the GT is the most practical and the JTD the most efficient, but the TS will offer better value if it's not for everyday use. Spiders tend to command big enough prices, even for 10 year old cars. The GT will be the most modern of the 3, and have more toys than the others.

unkel

Anan1 wrote: »

GTV 3.0, or maybe a 156 GTA. The others are a bit vanilla for a second car, IMO at least.

If you give it a bit of thought, these are actually great suggestions. Yes motor tax is very high and yes, insurance won't be cheap either

They would be the most exhilarating to drive though and have the best Alfa engine of the last 40 years. For a weekend car fuel consumption isn't very important. But the most important bit is that keep them well and they will have zero depreciation. That's where other cars (like a 159 i.e.) lard on a few thousand per year in hidden costs

Think about it!

Rackstar

Thanks for all the replies! Some great information in there. Given me a lot to think about. Will have to check out insurance and tax costs for some of those bigger engines

zilog_jones

Are the GTAs really that good? All that power to the front wheels sounds like a recipe for disaster, mainly in the form of torque steer and understeer when you actually want to turn.