I want an Alfa but...

easyontheeye

my mechanic told me he wouldnt service one... and hes sound as a pound!

Anan1

You don't want your mechanic to service it, you want an Alfa specialist.

easyontheeye

Anan1 wrote:

You don't want your mechanic to service it, you want an Alfa specialist.

really? they sound like a car that required so much effort to own...why do people bother

Anan1

Because some people like driving.

Esel

easyontheeye wrote:

my mechanic told me he wouldnt service one... and hes sound as a pound!

You got your post wrong - it should read:

my mechanic told me he wouldn't service one... proves he's sound as a pound!:D

OKenora

Most mechanics won't service an alfa for a simple reason. They take too much effort to get right and have parts on them that many mechanics fail to understand the workings of.

Get a guy that knows fiat/alfas, let him service it and forget about the oil change monkey you already have.

siralfalot

easyontheeye wrote:

really? they sound like a car that required so much effort to own...why do people bother

if thats your attitude to motoring, then maybe you should consider a nice Corrolla, Alfas are for people who actually enjoy looking after, and driving a car

nastysimon

Anan1 wrote:

Because some people like driving.

That might have been true of older Alfas, but current ones are quite outclassed in this area, particularly in the handling department.

OP, in terms of reliability, Alfas have a bad rep. It's not deserved, but similarly they aren't up there with Toyota either.

Fey!

siralfalot wrote:

if thats your attitude to motoring, then maybe you should consider a nice Corrolla, Alfas are for people who actually enjoy looking after, and driving a car

He only asked a question, as in "Is it worth it". After all, he's considering getting one.

No need for you to be so obnoxious in your reply.

cjt156

easyontheeye wrote:

my mechanic told me he wouldnt service one... and hes sound as a pound!

Your mechanic obviously doesn't have much confidence in his own abilities. I'd steer well clear TBH.

Owen

cjt156 wrote:

Your mechanic obviously doesn't have much confidence in his own abilities. I'd steer well clear TBH.

I don't think it's that so much as he's afraid any potential long term issues with the car will be blamed on his workmanship. We all know that there are great Alfas out there, and we all know there's a lot of bad ones, particularly early 156's ... I should know, I had one.

I guess this guys is just covering his ass though, because on the off chance it is a dodgy 156, or other Alfa, the OP gets an oil service, and then 3k miles later the car won't start, well then, the Mechanic won't look the best, now will he? I can't blame the guy either, why draw headaches on yourself when you don't have to? Especially if he's self employed, there are more productive ways of earning his money and spending his time.

barryfitz

cjt156 wrote:

Your mechanic obviously doesn't have much confidence in his own abilities. I'd steer well clear TBH.

I wouldnt say its so much as he lacks confidence, more like he doesnt want to spend half his day on a service. Seriously, some of these car companys dont make life easy for a mechanic (I think sometimes they forget that some one has to service these things every ~10k miles) and strip half the electrics out to change a fookin filter!!! :mad: :mad:

cantdecide

cjt156 wrote:

Your mechanic obviously doesn't have much confidence in his own abilities. I'd steer well clear TBH.

That's also what I thought.

Alfas are beautiful but they're not bullet-proof. They are one of the few ordinary car you can have that give you that warm feeling to drive (-not because they're overheating-). Generally speaking, no cars are unreliable any more unless they're abused. The odd MAF, lambda, knock sensor... so what- virtually every car gets those things eventually.

If you're absolutely to the pin of your collar at the end of every month and you're borrowed up tho the eyeballs to buy it, maybe you shouldn't get one. But if you haven't blown the bank to buy it and you want a fanciable car at a good price- the pros outweigh the cons

On the other hand, Toyotas are horrible IMO. They're reliability is exaggerated. Noisy, cheap cabin materials and feel like they're made of tin.

You kind of have to sell your soul to own one IMO.

Owen

cantdecide wrote:

Generally speaking, no cars are unreliable any more unless they're abused. The odd MAF, lambda, knock sensor... so what- virtually every car gets those things eventually.

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I've owned an Alfa, on top of this, I had one of my best mates working for a FIAT/Alfa dealership, and I've traded a few in in my time. They're not well built, and they're not reliable, and resale values show this - my mate's garage would take bets on when a new car would be back for warranty work. Some Alfas are better than others, but the 156 was an unmitigated disaster ... cheap unreliable bosch electronics really left the cars down, and as a result of that (along with many other issues) left owners with a very bitter taste in their mouths.

They're still fantastic cars to drive, but like all things Italian, especially italian women, they look fantastic, but end up being high maintenance, and after a few years, you'd be embarrassed to show it to your friends.

prospect

nastysimon wrote:

That might have been true of older Alfas, but current ones are quite outclassed in this area, particularly in the handling department.

LOL compared to what?

I am driving my Dads 159 at the minute and it is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.

bazz26

I reckon the OP's mechanic makes a nice living as it is off regular work on regular cars and doesn't need the potential hassel. Alfa Romeos are high maintenance and require alot of TLC from their owner as well as the specialist servicing it that most other cars don't.

I'm thinking the mechanic is at least being honest with the OP and not one of these cowboys who will have a go at it end up making a bad situation worse and then drop it like a hot potato.

I wouldn't let it put you off from buying an Alfa Romeo, just be aware what is involved in owning one and have a specialist who knows all about them maintain it for you.

galwaytt

ned78 wrote:

... cheap unreliable bosch electronics really left the cars down..

interesting that electrics are still proving the Italians achilles' heel, and that that heel - Bosch - is German..........

Which goes to show why German cars are now also to be filed along with - Alfa's, if you like - as similarly, electronically, 'unstable'. As my local guy says - 'thank god for German cars.......otherwise I'd have nothing to fix'.

Interestingly, as per my 'handle' here, TT's are similarly plagued with electrical issues, and one in particular - the dashpod.........which is made by.......Magnetti Marelli.....:rolleyes: The pic on their homepage even extols the fact.......(bottom, r.h. corner pods is the TT one...)

Owen

galwaytt wrote:

interesting that electrics are still proving the Italians achilles' heel, and that that heel - Bosch - is German..........

Which goes to show why German cars are now also to be filed along with - Alfa's, if you like - as similarly, electronically, 'unstable'. As my local guy says - 'thank god for German cars.......otherwise I'd have nothing to fix'.

That's an incredibly simplistic version of reality. Just because something is made in Germany doesn't imply perfection. There will always be companies in every country who just don't do quality control like their more expensive counterparts. Cheap is cheap, no matter where it's bought.

And you also seem to forget, the likes of FIAT and Alfa are the people who design the electronics. They then outsource the manufacturing. So it's a compund issue ... poor electronics not tested thorougly at the design house, and then even shoddier practises at the bulk manufacturing facility where using cheap connectors, and inferior components lead to long term issues.

galwaytt

ned78 wrote:

That's an incredibly simplistic version of reality. Just because something is made in Germany doesn't imply perfection. There will always be companies in every country who just doing do quality control like their more expensive counterparts. Cheap is cheap, no matter where it's bought.

simplistic, maybe, inaccurate, not necessarily. From personal experience, you can put the following cars on that list: TT x 2, 320d Touring, E200K. All fabulous cars, all nice to own, all had issues of one kind or another. Vast majority electrical.

btw, you don't see any irony on your comment on German not implying perfection, and your offering of 'the ultimate driving machine' ?? Like, the ultimate is, no longer perfection ??;)

Owen

galwaytt wrote:

btw, you don't see any irony on your comment on German not implying perfection, and your offering of 'the ultimate driving machine' ?? Like, the ultimate is, no longer perfection ??;)

I'm getting really sick of boardsies using lines like this every other week directed at me. I'm entitled to my own motoring views just like the rest of you.

prospect

ned78 wrote:

I'm getting really sick of boardsies using lines like this every other week directed at me. I'm entitled to my own motoring views just like the rest of you.

Thats true.

I am an Alfisti, and I know Ned is a BMW fan.
I have nearly always found his comments to be fair, with a leaning to BMW/MINI, which is understandable giving he is a fan. As much as I would like to think my comments are fair, with a leaning to Fiat/Alfa, considering I am a fan.

Maybe we should go back on topic.

Owen

prospect wrote:

Maybe we should go back on topic.

Amen! I think the OP should, if he's considering an Alfa, first of all tell us which one he's going for. That way, we can all give input, positive or negative. And of course OP, if you are looking at one, inspect the service history thoroughly, even get the AA to check it out.

Anan1

It seems clear to me that the OP would be better off forgetting about the idea of buying an Alfa.

cantdecide

If that were entirely true, how do they stay in business?? I know of 2 big companies that have FIATs and Alfas as their company cars.

nastysimon

prospect wrote:

LOL compared to what?

I am driving my Dads 159 at the minute and it is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.

BMW 3-series and Ford Mondeo are both a league (or so) ahead. BTW, it's not a good idea to surf the net while driving

prospect

nastysimon wrote:

it's not a good idea to surf the net while driving

LOL



I have posted this before, but it seems it requires another link:

From GERMAN telly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zON4bWsl2Ek


I cannot comment on the new Mondeo (the recently deceased mondeo was a boat compared to the 159), as I have not yet driven it.

junkyard

In my experience Alfa's are one of the most awkward difficult and badly designed cars to work on, I know what your mechanic is talking about. If you want to spend your weekends working on them, fine, but if you want to get from A to B buy something practical like a Focus or a Corolla.

easyontheeye

barryfitz wrote:

I wouldnt say its so much as he lacks confidence, more like he doesnt want to spend half his day on a service. Seriously, some of these car companys dont make life easy for a mechanic (I think sometimes they forget that some one has to service these things every ~10k miles) and strip half the electrics out to change a fookin filter!!! :mad: :mad:

lol he told me that in 25 years on the job the only car to make him work a saturday was an alfa romeo 156...they guy is a great mechanic and i think its good to have a mechanic you can trust and isnt a cowboy.

I suppose my current maybes are
celica,
focus,
altezza,
astra sports hatch

junkyard

Also remember, it's your the one who'll be paying the bill at the end of the day and who's car will be off the road.

bazz26

easyontheeye wrote:

lol he told me that in 25 years on the job the only car to make him work a saturday was an alfa romeo 156...they guy is a great mechanic and i think its good to have a mechanic you can trust and isnt a cowboy.

I suppose my current maybes are
celica,
focus,
altezza,
astra sports hatch

The best advice is to drive everyone of them and see which one you like the best.

barryfitz

Here Here!.