2005 Alfa GT 1.8 petrol

the culture of deference

Hi.
Going to look at one of these tomorrow. 1 year NCT. No tax.
98,000 miles. service history, timing belt done and new tyres.

There is only 1 key. They was an issue with log book but it is OK now.

I have had a good look through the Alfa UK forum's but does Anyone here own one or have an opinion on them.

DirkVoodoo

I had one, 1.9 diesel. Lovely car, looks stunning but unfortunately like a lot of Alfas you really need to make sure you get a well cared for example. Be rigorous when going through the service history, if in doubt then walk away.

I had a few small problems, nothing too bad, but the electrics decided to go ga-ga right before I sold it. The electric windows have to move up and down when the doors open/close because there are no window frames. This ended up causing a problem, the windows became stuck and after taking it apart myself and finding the motor was ok, I had to buy a new regulator and control unit. It cost a LOT to fix. So watch out for those.

Usual minor electrics problems, the airbag sensor for the passenger seat plays up, the engine thermostat was also problematic.

I'd happily buy one again, but only one that was owned by a proper Alfa enthusiast and well taken care of.

Oh, find a good mechanic too, an independent with a good knowledge of Alfas. Steer clear of Fiat dealers, didn't have too many good experiences.

skyhighflyer

the culture of deference wrote: »

Hi.
Going to look at one of these tomorrow. 1 year NCT. No tax.
98,000 miles. service history, timing belt done and new tyres.

There is only 1 key. They was an issue with log book but it is OK now.

I have had a good look through the Alfa UK forum's but does Anyone here own one or have an opinion on them.

Link to car OP?

skyhighflyer

And for content:

T-Belt is at 36k miles / 3 years; although TI Autos (Alfa specialist) say that 50k / 4 years is ok - look for a receipt - tipp-ex on the cam cover isn't enough

Suspension is a weak point and gets worn very quickly on Irish roads: bushes and sometimes wishbones often have to be replaced. A good tip is to switch off the engine just before going over a speedbump to listen for squeaks and bangs

The twin sparks can use a good bit of oil so frequent changes and topping up is required - stay away from anything with a low oil level

Coolant header tanks are weak and and can get damaged - not a problem as long as it doesn't cause the car to leak coolant

Make sure the body's straight as they pick up dings very easily

Undertray was missing from most of the cars I viewed

The 1.8 twin spark is actually the pick of the engines IMO. The diesel is good unit but heavy and the clutch will often need replacing at this mileage. 3.2 V6 is great but out for most people for tax reasons. The 2.0 JTS suffers injector issues and many units make a lot less then the 165bhp quoted.

the culture of deference

Thanks lads. I want to go to see it thinking with my head, these cars can cause silly impulse buying. I have a usual mechanic that I would bring but he has never worked on Alfa's.

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Link to car OP?

MODS
Is it ok to link?

the culture of deference

skyhighflyer wrote: »

And for content:

T-Belt is at 36k miles / 3 years; although TI Autos (Alfa specialist) say that 50k / 4 years is ok - look for a receipt - tipp-ex on the cam cover isn't enough

The 1.8 twin spark is actually the pick of the engines IMO. .

Very short Timing belt intervals. Will have to double check that. thanks

From wiki, says its lifted from the 156

1.8 TS I4 1747 cc 103 kW (140 PS) @ 6500 rpm 163 N·m (120 lb·ft) @ 3900 rpm 23.0 (12.1) 44.0 (6.4) 35.0 (8.5) 202 g/km

skyhighflyer

the culture of deference wrote: »

Thanks lads. I want to go to see it thinking with my head, these cars can cause silly impulse buying. I have a usual mechanic that I would bring but he has never worked on Alfa's.



MODS
Is it ok to link?

Without speaking for the mods, I'm sure it's fine to link I've seen it plenty before.

You're right to be careful - these cars are so good-looking it's hard not to stick down the cash when you see one

Be warned from my experience. I went to see a black 2006 Sportivo that looked great on the ad (FSH, t-belt done, BOSE, etc). Was about to shake on the deal but collected my thoughts and made completion subject to a mechanic check.

My mechanic spotted that the car had had a bang on the back and a poor quality re-spray. Tracking and alignment was completely out - car pulled to the left and the inner edge of all four tyres was worn off completely. There were non-standard rivets holding the rear wheelarch cover in place (another example of a crappy repair). Also the suspension was very worn and there was a noise coming from the engine that my mechanic suggested was a bearing. Best €100 I ever spent getting it checked!

It was a private sale and the guy was willing to let it go for 5k. A few weeks later the car turned up at Merlin and is now on the forecourt of a Dublin dealer who I won't name because I have to real way of substantiating this and they could have fixed all the issue for all I know. Just shows what's out there though!

the culture of deference

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3607769

skyhighflyer

the culture of deference wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3607769

Saw that one.

That was originally put up a couple of weeks ago at €3,999 which would have been a bargain.

It's now down to €3,650 which is pretty much the cheapest I've ever seen one of these. The cynic in me thinks there must be something wrong with it for it not to be snapped up by now, on the other hand it could be bargain of the year. Just get it well checked out

the culture of deference

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Saw that one.

That was originally put up a couple of weeks ago at €3,999 which would have been a bargain.

It's now down to €3,650 which is pretty much the cheapest I've ever seen one of these. The cynic in me thinks there must be something wrong with it for it not to be snapped up by now, on the other hand it could be bargain of the year. Just get it well checked out

1 key, log book issues, repo car.

I will bring a mechanic, know any good ones for Naas

Veloce

I currently own a 1.8 GT.

That car should have had at least 2 cambelt changes in its current life. Wishbones and bushes should have been replaced at least once. If he can't give prove this has been done then the car hasn't a full service history. Ideally the oil & filter should have been changed every 6k miles 10w40 semi synth.

Look for documented proof ie receipts for work carried out.

If you've any questions after seeing the car give me a shout. I would recommend getting the car inspected. Don Baker alfa specialist is probably closest than having to go to Dublin.

Bpmull

Make sure you check the car out on cartell.ie this will show finance and if the car has been crashed. a couple of years ago we went out to buy a jeep checked in on cartell and was crashed quizzed the owner it had pillar damage and had been roles we ran a mile best 30 euros we ever spent. get a mechanic and check it out well. it sounds a bit to good to be true but then again maybe there is currently no market for this car it could be the bargain of the year owner must need it gone. best of luck and let us know how you get on.

skyhighflyer

Also it seems very unlikely that whoever couldn't make the payments on a 2005 car would maintain it to the standard an Alfa requires.

Bpmull

well it is whether it was crashed or not is the main thing to check i was just saying that cartell do a finance check. you are right it is highly unlikely that the car has finance still its nice to be sure. but whether the car has been crashed or not is the main reason for doing a cartell check.

Veloce

Bpmull wrote: »

well it is whether it was crashed or not is the main thing to check i was just saying that cartell do a finance check. you are right it is highly unlikely that the car has finance still its nice to be sure. but whether the car has been crashed or not is the main reason for doing a cartell check.

Well actually I would have thought that using cartell is more useful for finding out about outstanding finance as opposed to it being crashed. A lot of (minor) crashes are not recorded and don't show up on the report. Best rely on a mechanic looking over it to look for any evidence for it being crashed. Don't get me wrong though the cartell report is invaluable for finding other info on the car.

Bpmull

But you would be a lot more concerned about finance on a 2010 car etc. chances are a 2005 7 year old car won't have finance were as cars a couple of years old car is more likely as you can get up to 5 years finance on a car. Look either way the cartel report will check finance and show any major crashes insurance claims so just get one to be on the safe side they are well worth the money.

Veloce

Bpmull wrote: »

But you would be a lot more concerned about finance on a 2010 car etc. chances are a 2005 7 year old car won't have finance were as cars a couple of years old car is more likely as you can get up to 5 years finance on a car. Look either way the cartel report will check finance and show any major crashes insurance claims so just get one to be on the safe side they are well worth the money.

Absolutely your dead right mate. I was more outlining what is the better source for finding information about outstanding finance and for crash damage and that sometimes damage is not recorded on the online reports. Like you said yourself it is unlikely that there is outstanding finance on the car as the car is 7 years old. I would get the car looked over by a mechanic it is an Alfa after all

the culture of deference

The seller told me about it being a repo car, ... after I asked if he had 2 keys.

Veloce

the culture of deference wrote: »

The seller told me about it being a repo car, ... after I asked if he had 2 keys.

I take it you didn't buy it then? Was it in good nick otherwise?

Nonoperational

They're an easy car to work on. Most mechanics should have no problem and there's loads of info online if they need guidance.

discombobulate

Just bear in mind as said its probably going go need a timing belt (around 450), service around 400 and i'd be surprised if there weren't a few other bits and pieces needed. Bear in mind that when things go they do cost that little extra but as a car you're not going to get more car for your money than with an Alfa.

I've a 1.9JTD so don't know much about the petrol version other than when I was reading up on them they seem less reliable than the diesel. Wishbones are another part to look out for. You'll hear a bit of a squeak going over bumps if their wearing.

I wouldn't have bought mine if it hadn't had a full service history at regular intervals.

the culture of deference

I am gonna go and look at it, if the history is detailed and the car feels straight I will be bringing a mechanic to check it for me.

Is there any recommended mechanic's with diagnostic tools.

Veloce

These 2 guys have diagnostic software:

http://www.tiautos.ie/ Cowper Street Dublin 7

http://www.donbakerautoengineer.com/ off Junction 9 on M4

Eoin

I had a 2006 1.9JTD for a year. I really liked it, but had to change to something more practical.

Some reviews say it's more of a cruiser than a sports car - and they're probably right, but it was still a bit of fun.

The leather seats are obviously more desirable, but the velour type upholstery in that one is still very comfortable. I loved the Bose stereo (optional extra), but I think some audiophiles complain that it's all bass and not very refined. I think it comes with cruise control, bucket seats and dual climate control as standard so even the base model will be a nice place to be.

A full, verified service history is essential for me when buying an Alfa, but I suppose if you're getting it at a serious discount it might be worth a punt.

Problems I had in the year: circuit board for the horn needed fixing, and the handbrake cable snapped.

18" wheels could make the ride a bit firm, and if they're OEM alloys they could be quite soft and prone to buckling if you hit a pothole.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I had a few small problems, nothing too bad, but the electrics decided to go ga-ga right before I sold it. The electric windows have to move up and down when the doors open/close because there are no window frames. This ended up causing a problem, the windows became stuck and after taking it apart myself and finding the motor was ok, I had to buy a new regulator and control unit. It cost a LOT to fix. So watch out for those.

Especially in freezing weather when the glass tends to stick to the seals. Caught me out a few times the Christmas before last.

Also in very cold weather, don't use the handbrake - park in gear instead.

the culture of deference

The ad says full service history, but that turned into bits and pieces and evidence of 1 timing belt and very little else.

Seller got more and more irritated with the extra questions, eventually saying FFS the car is 3 1/2 grand, if you want something better go and spend 8 in a dealer.

So I will Walk away.

discombobulate

the culture of deference wrote: »

The ad says full service history, but that turned into bits and pieces and evidence of 1 timing belt and very little else.

Seller got more and more irritated with the extra questions, eventually saying FFS the car is 3 1/2 grand, if you want something better go and spend 8 in a dealer.

So I will Walk away.

In fairness it is at a price that would be too cheap to be perfect. I'd be fairly sure at that price he's had a few people looking so is a bit fed up. His own fault though for not being completely upfront.

Just goes to show that it really really is important to have the service history etc. with the Alfa's if he can't get rid of this for that price.

What was the "full" service history then and how long ago was the belt done out of interest.

maidhc

Why not dig around the dealers yourself and see if they have records for the car?

the culture of deference

discombobulate wrote: »

His own fault though for not being completely upfront.

Just goes to show that it really really is important to have the service history etc. with the Alfa's if he can't get rid of this for that price.

What was the "full" service history then and how long ago was the belt done out of interest.

This is from the ad

New 18'' Alloys and tyres
Nct 6/2013
Full Service history



There is no real history with car, he wasn't able to answer any questions.




What's the point selling a car with a description that states full service history, and then getting pi55ed at potential buyers when they ask for more details about the history.



Should the ad include the fact it is a REPO with a single key?

discombobulate

the culture of deference wrote: »

Should the ad include the fact it is a REPO with a single key?

Yes but it looks like he's just hoping someone will come along and take it off his hands without asking too much. Whatever about the 1 key I can't see anyone not asking to see the service history.

Did you take a test drive?

the culture of deference

discombobulate wrote: »

Yes but it looks like he's just hoping someone will come along and take it off his hands without asking too much. Whatever about the 1 key I can't see anyone not asking to see the service history.

Did you take a test drive?

No. I will be up tomorrow.

maidhc wrote: »

Why not dig around the dealers yourself and see if they have records for the car?

I have done this. Car came out of The Sweep Garage Kilmeaden in Waterford. They have 1st 3 years. Not an alfa dealer anymore.

Also the Alfa databases and records are not linked to any other Alfa garage.

Veloce

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3645184

This is also a 2005 1.8TS. Might be worth a look.

the culture of deference

Veloce wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3645184

This is also a 2005 1.8TS. Might be worth a look.

Thanks, all the paperwork seems spot on, but not for me
Bland colour and interior

the culture of deference

Veloce wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3645184

This is also a 2005 1.8TS. Might be worth a look.

Tax out ages, got annoyed when I asked how long, NCT up next jan, only 2 stamps in book, no other service info but should be in the dealers, TB done at 45ish, no other info on car. They will service it.

They say no accidents, damage or recall or repair but they weren't sure.

discombobulate

the culture of deference wrote: »

Thanks, all the paperwork seems spot on, but not for me
Bland colour and interior

Always worth asking about on the Alfa Romeo forum if anyone know's any for sale. Thats how I got mine.

Veloce

You should keep an eye out for a Monza spec (ROI) or Blackline Spec if UK car. They are usually from late 2006 and have 18" LE Alloys, 2 tone leather interior, white illuminated front dash display and some external trim bits such as satin wingmirrors and front whiskers. Comes with the usual Bose sound system with sub and 10 CD changer in the boot.

Veloce

discombobulate wrote: »

Always worth asking about on the Alfa Romeo forum if anyone know's any for sale. Thats how I got mine.

+1 on that. The lads over there were great for giving advice before I bought. Still are for any other queries I may have.

skyhighflyer

the culture of deference wrote: »

Tax out ages, got annoyed when I asked how long, NCT up next jan, only 2 stamps in book, no other service info but should be in the dealers, TB done at 45ish, no other info on car. They will service it.

They say no accidents, damage or recall or repair but they weren't sure.

That car was bought in a private sale and seller was asking 4k. Missed out as it sold straight away, turned up at that dealers a day later at a nice mark up! Also it has 5 owners, can send you the cartell on it - seems like an awful lot for the mileage.

the culture of deference

skyhighflyer wrote: »

That car was bought in a private sale and seller was asking 4k. Missed out as it sold straight away, turned up at that dealers a day later at a nice mark up! Also it has 5 owners, can send you the cartell on it - seems like an awful lot for the mileage.

Glad I don't like the colour or interior now.

Thanks lads. I think the motto here is 05 alfa GT under 5k with sparse history is not the way to go.