The myth that Alfa build quality is somehow improving...

miju

I've an 2004 156 and the badges haven't faded in the slightest and the paint hasnt faded either as I look after it well.

Or my 156 could be the exception

samsemtex wrote: »

By the way if anyone thinks that one in the ad looks nice don be fooled. It's a wreck. The side skirts on the front of both sides have been screwed on! Literally 4 screws going through the skirt into the car. Not a single stamp on the service history either and the brakes are completely shot. I barely was able to stop coming up to a set of traffic lights.

the above pretty much sums up why the car was the way it was. it was never cared for in the first place so no wonder it was a wreck.

A well looked after Alfa like any car will hold it's look but an abused one wont

Theta

I never said I loved Volvo either although some of the newer stuff is pretty nice I must say.

Each to there own and all that but I just cant seem to think why so many people like them. Maybe its a mental thing aswell with there build quality taking the shine off or something?

Tea 1000

Theta wrote: »

I never said I loved Volvo either although some of the newer stuff is pretty nice I must say.

Each to there own and all that but I just cant seem to think why so many people like them. Maybe its a mental thing aswell with there build quality taking the shine off or something?

The reason we like them is that many of them are very nicely styled cars. Obviously there has been some dogs, but mostly they're nice. And most have been styled by a styling company, so there is some artistic design in them.
Cars like the Avensis, Tiida, Corolla, Vectra etc have been styled scribbled by some guy named Jim who used to be good at mechanical drawing back in school.
I suppose not everyone thinks Chyrel Cole is good looking either, so each to their own.

fonecrusher1

Que the Psycho music........

VolvoMan

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

Volvo come out with the odd monstrosity themselves.:D:D

But doesn't every car manufacturer? Ferrari had the 412, Rolls Royce had the Camargue, none of them are immune to making bad cars once in a while. At least the 400 Series was a reasonable success and possibly made money for Volvo.

I am an Alfa fan by the way, to all Alfisti reading this thread. I just will not admit that they are up there with other manufacturers in terms of quality when they clearly are not. If that was the case, I'm sure models like the 156 would be up there with the E39 5 Series as one of the best cars ever.

Tea 1000

VolvoMan wrote: »

But doesn't every car manufacturer? Ferrari had the 412, Rolls Royce had the Camargue, none of them are immune to making bad cars once in a while. At least the 400 Series was a reasonable success and possibly made money for Volvo.

I am an Alfa fan by the way, to all Alfisti reading this thread. I just will not admit that they are up there with other manufacturers in terms of quality when they clearly are not. If that was the case, I'm sure models like the 156 would be up there with the E39 5 Series as one of the best cars ever.

True, but I found the 159 to be better assembled and finished compared to the base model Saab 9-3 when I was comparing both. Which was a surprise to say the least! And given that they have the same diesel engine, cost around the same, and both seem to have similar resale value, there's no contest in my books!

CarMuppet

VolvoMan wrote: »

I am an Alfa fan by the way, to all Alfisti reading this thread.

Thanks... I quite like the P1800 also...

Cheers,
CarMuppet

VolvoMan

miju wrote: »

I've an 2004 156 and the badges haven't faded in the slightest and the paint hasnt faded either as I look after it well.

Or my 156 could be the exception

That's the problem with Alfa's though. It will all go very well and everything will be wonderful, provided you look after it. If you don't, the car will throw a wobbler and it will suddenly become the worst car you ever had.

bladespin

VolvoMan wrote: »

That's the problem with Alfa's though. It will all go very well and everything will be wonderful, provided you look after it. If you don't, the car will throw a wobbler and it will suddenly become the worst car you ever had.

The same can be said of anything really, you get out what you put in

miju

bladespin wrote: »

The same can be said of anything really, you get out what you put in

QFT

Fozzie Bear

I always felt it was a case of "no smoke without a fire" when it came to stories about Alfa's and reliability. Like others I always wanted to own one but I was always too cautious/worried to take the plunge. However a fearless friend of mine bought a brand new 147 in 2006. It went OK for the first year and then all the stories you ever heard about them breaking happened over the next threes years to him.

There are currently 80ish thousand miles on it right now. The timing belt has gone twice on him requiring two engine rebuilds. The first one fell within the warranty thank God but the other was outside and cost him 2grand. He has replaced most of the suspension on all four wheels and had to replace his two front wheel as they wore on the inside. The electrics have gone nuts on several occasions. Windows not opening or else opening by themselves and refusing to close. Random lights on the dash/display coming on for no reason. Handbrake seized up. Various pieces of plastic trim fell off. Switchs broke. The lock on the boot packed in. Headlights would not dip from highbeams at night. It continuously blows the bulbs in the right side back lights. Window washers wont work. Thats all I can remember at the moment but there are more. He has traded it in in the past few weeks and bought a 90hp diesel Octavia! A poorer but wiser man now and scared me off Alfa's for life.

BrianD3

Fiat have been doing well in the ADAC reliability stats for a number of years. Alfa is not in the stats in recent years, maybe due to not selling enough cars for valid statistics to be generated.

A concern I'd have about the 156 is safety. It has not been officially tested by EuroNCAP but here's what happened when it was subjected to an NCAP style offset test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r42In1t9-8o

Also the Alfa 147 (which AFAIK shares a lot with the 156 under te skin) was tested by NCAP and did badly in its offset test, scored 3 out of a possible 16 points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Sa4I5v1OI

The 159 is way, way better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPTbQmPb2I

whiterebel

Fozzie Bear wrote: »

I always felt it was a case of "no smoke without a fire" when it came to stories about Alfa's and reliability. Like others I always wanted to own one but I was always too cautious/worried to take the plunge. However a fearless friend of mine bought a brand new 147 in 2006. It went OK for the first year and then all the stories you ever heard about them breaking happened over the next threes years to him.

There are currently 80ish thousand miles on it right now. The timing belt has gone twice on him requiring two engine rebuilds. The first one fell within the warranty thank God but the other was outside and cost him 2grand. He has replaced most of the suspension on all four wheels and had to replace his two front wheel as they wore on the inside. The electrics have gone nuts on several occasions. Windows not opening or else opening by themselves and refusing to close. Random lights on the dash/display coming on for no reason. Handbrake seized up. Various pieces of plastic trim fell off. Switchs broke. The lock on the boot packed in. Headlights would not dip from highbeams at night. It continuously blows the bulbs in the right side back lights. Window washers wont work. Thats all I can remember at the moment but there are more. He has traded it in in the past few weeks and bought a 90hp diesel Octavia! A poorer but wiser man now and scared me off Alfa's for life.

The lucky bast*rd, he got one of the good ones......:D

Got a rented 159 JTD last year in Spain, and the body and interior were shoddy. I was so looking forward to my first Alfa experience........Then the Avis rep told me it was about 6 months old:eek:

TheColl

Theta wrote: »

Now you see I see alfa threads come and go here and I always here people say they are lovely looking cars or the best looking cars but im going to say it....

I think Alfa make the most disgusting looking cars out there

There I said it. Riddle me all you want about it!

Do you not just want to have sex with this?!

Theta

TheColl wrote: »

Do you not just want to have sex with this?!

Nope i really dont. I dont like the triangle grill its just not for me dude. Think alfas look tacky or something.

saltandpepper10

personaly i own a fiat car and a volkswagon van guess which one is a ball of ****e g erman quality my arse no probs at all with fiat and id take a chance on an alfa too at right money

murphyebass

Theta wrote: »

Nope i really dont. I dont like the triangle grill its just not for me dude. Think alfas look tacky or something.

How can you look at that and not think its a great looking car!

Anyway. I have recently bought a 04 GT so I'm probably slightly biased but I think the GT and the Brera are two of the nicest looking cars on the road right now.

As for Saloons I would have a 159 over say a BMW 3/5 series or Merc any day.

TheColl

Theta wrote: »

Nope i really dont. I dont like the triangle grill its just not for me dude. Think alfas look tacky or something.

:eek::eek::eek:

Ah no, each to their own! Love the look myself, I never tire of lookin out my front window at my 147, and that is by no means the nicest looking alfa.

mondeo

The 156 is a sh!te car, I suffered with one for 2.5 years, don't know how I managed to put up with it for so long. Just kept hoping it would be the last time it broke but it wasn't. Don't care how good looking the new ones are I just would not touch one again.

PaulKK

Never warmed to the Alfas myself, I don't hate them or anything but never liked the look of the 156/147 or any of the previous models.

Some of the newer ones look alright but I don't think I'd ever consider buying one, they just don't appeal to me.

To be honest I don't know what the boards horn is for them, its nearly as bad as the octavia thing... I actually don't know anyone whole likes them very much, or regards them to be "good" cars.


Each to there own though!

murphyebass

PaulKK wrote: »

Never warmed to the Alfas myself, I don't hate them or anything but never liked the look of the 156/147 or any of the previous models.

Some of the newer ones look alright but I don't think I'd ever consider buying one, they just don't appeal to me.

To be honest I don't know what the boards horn is for them, its nearly as bad as the octavia thing... I actually don't know anyone whole likes them very much, or regards them to be "good" cars.


Each to there own though!

Own one and you'll know.

Theta

TheColl wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:

Ah no, each to their own! Love the look myself, I never tire of lookin out my front window at my 147, and that is by no means the nicest looking alfa.

Jesus does everyone on the motors forum own an alfa?

PaulKK

murphyebass wrote: »

Own one and you'll know.

Thats the thing, I don't particularly want to own one.
I don't like how they look and I don't like their reliability record.
I don't care how good people say the new ones are, if in 10 years time the current models still have a good record then I'll believe it, but not until then.

I have driven a 159 too and didn't see what the fuss is about.

I agree with the above poster who said they don't feel like a quality product and at the end of the day along with the other issues it just puts me off completely.

Again I don't hate them, just not a marque I'd ever consider.

murphyebass

PaulKK wrote: »

Thats the thing, I don't particularly want to own one.
I don't like how they look and I don't like their reliability record.
I don't care how good people say the new ones are, if in 10 years time the current models still have a good record then I'll believe it, but not until then.

I have driven a 159 too and didn't see what the fuss is about.

I agree with the above poster who said they don't feel like a quality product and at the end of the day along with the other issues it just puts me off completely.

Again I don't hate them, just not a marque I'd ever consider.

out of curiosity what do you drive?

TheColl

Theta wrote: »

Jesus does everyone on the motors forum own an alfa?

No but the few who do are always likely to post in a thread about alfas!

PaulKK

murphyebass wrote: »

out of curiosity what do you drive?

I don't see what difference that makes.

You like Alfas, you probably don't like what I drive.

Everyone has different tastes, I have a 320d.

fuelinjection

Wow, lots of Alfa owners on here or at least some lurking Alfa dealers.

They look great, no question. They may have improved their engine reliability and trim and paint quality but everyone knows (especially the ones who own an Alfa) that they are not as well built as other cars and in the worst cases will cost you a lot of money. Improving their reputation from terrible to below-average is not something to boast about.

Alfa looks or else buy a less attractive looking car that will go farther for less money. Thats always been Alfa's motto.

bladespin

fuelinjection wrote: »

Alfa looks or else buy a less attractive looking car that will go farther for less money. Thats always been Alfa's motto.

I'd have to disagree, lets face it, no-one buys an Alfa by accident, you either want one or you don't, simple really, there seem to be quite a few posters with opinions on cars they've never owned or have 'a mate who had one' :rolleyes:

An Alfa, probably more than any other car mentioned in this thread is an enthusuasts car, as I said you have to want to own one, it's not about getting into a car and forgetting what you're driving; if that's what you're after you'll already know you want an Avensis, Passat etc, it's not about luxury and finish either, that buyer should be looking to Germany's finest.

They're not cheap to run but they aren't what I'd consider expensive either, you do have to understand the car and look after it to get the best out of it, the same as most other sporty saloons, there's plenty of dodgy 318s and 320s, A4 etc about too.

samsemtex

And after all that...i just bought one

unkel

samsemtex wrote: »

And after all that...i just bought one

LOL, what did you get?

samsemtex

A 2004 156 TI, 1.8 TS. Its immaculate. There's a huge difference between it and the one i saw in Dublin. Still a couple of things on it that I wouldnt expect on another car like a faded badge and the panel between the door mirrors and the door itself is flaky. Its a strange place to have paint/lacquer fade but its only a tiny thing. Im happy.

JHMEG

samsemtex wrote: »

the panel between the door mirrors and the door itself is flaky. Its a strange place to have paint/lacquer fade but its only a tiny thing.

Not painted from the factory?

http://www.screene.com/carwallpapers/Alfa_Romeo/221.jpg

samsemtex

Yeah, it is black plastic but its bubbly and a bit flaking. I dont really understand how its happened to be honest but it is very minor and i dont really care. I think ill change the badge on the front alright though. that will bug me.

JHMEG

samsemtex wrote: »

Yeah, it is black plastic but its bubbly and a bit flaking. I dont really understand how its happened

They weren't sprayed properly. Only solution is to rub (sand) them down and start again.

BigEejit

Well, I hope it lasts well for you :P

I have to agree with some of the other posters that I dont know why people are mad about them .... apart from the GT they do not appeal to me at all. I havent driven one since I had a go in a workmates 147 some years back and tbh it wasnt anything to write home about.

But you never know, they might have sorted quality issues, and in 5 years time they may make a big comeback

pcardin

captainspeed wrote: »

Why is it that those who have no experience of Volvo's are those who complain about them the most?

yepp...why is that those who have no experience of Alfa's are those who complain about them the most?

pcardin

BigEejit wrote: »

I dont know why people are mad about them .... apart from the GT they do not appeal to me at all.

Alfas do have a nice design, good look at least but how can someone be mad about Passat, Golf or Corolla?!:eek:

samsemtex

pcardin wrote: »

Alfas do have a nice design, good look at least but how can someone be mad about Passat, Golf or Corolla?!:eek:

Yeah! You tell em! Only a clueless eejit could start a thread like this (or someone who is over reactive and emotional. ie. A perfect Alfa buyer) But I agree, I will gladly take a few issues with an Alfa if it means i dont have a bore of a car like a passat/Golf. That said i dont think the last few years of VWs are any better.

EPM

I've seen faded badges on 159's. But there are a number of high mileage Alfa's on here running well. I'd imagine relative to the number of whatever else the rest of us drive they hold their own

bladespin

samsemtex wrote: »

A 2004 156 TI, 1.8 TS. Its immaculate. There's a huge difference between it and the one i saw in Dublin. Still a couple of things on it that I wouldnt expect on another car like a faded badge and the panel between the door mirrors and the door itself is flaky. Its a strange place to have paint/lacquer fade but its only a tiny thing. Im happy.

Go on ya mad thing.

Flaky mirror stem's on mine too now that you mention it :rolleyes: but can testify to the strength of the mirror tiself, a beemer whacked off my drivers side mirror (he must've been doing about 30mph - I was parked at the time) result - 1 BM mirror detached and in a million bits, 1 Alfa mirror, unmarked (his red paint streak rubbed off ), had a chuckle to myself when he came asking about the damage.

Nonoperational

Good stuff. Look after her, oil and filter every 8ish k miles and check her and top her up with 10w40 semi every week. If you have any issues/questions give us a PM, have done thousands of hours reading on the alfa forums by now!

laurpat

I've a 159 from new that's 14 mths old and has 90K Km on the clock. . . Never once has it ever had a problem....

In fact I love the car so much I'm getting a new Ti in April 10.

The Alfa in question is the 150bhp diesel

Nonoperational

The 159 TI is absolutely beautiful.

laurpat

gpf101 wrote: »

The 159 TI is absolutely beautiful.

Can make up my mind on red or black.....

Redsoxfan

laurpat wrote: »

I've a 159 from new that's 14 mths old and has 90K Km on the clock. . . Never once has it ever had a problem....

In fact I love the car so much I'm getting a new Ti in April 10.

The Alfa in question is the 150bhp diesel

Will you be getting the newer diesel? The 2.0?

laurpat

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Will you be getting the newer diesel? The 2.0?

No, I've a deal made on the 150 bhp 1.9 Jtdm. I'm happy enough with it. I put a remap on the last engine and it made some difference ... Was running at 190+bhp on a rolling road in the UK. What a lovely car to drive. For the first time in my life I do not want to change... Only that it's a Ti Spec I wouldn't

bladespin

laurpat wrote: »

Can make up my mind on red or black.....

Red, red, they look sooo well in it.

Redsoxfan

laurpat wrote: »

No, I've a deal made on the 150 bhp 1.9 Jtdm. I'm happy enough with it. I put a remap on the last engine and it made some difference ... Was running at 190+bhp on a rolling road in the UK. What a lovely car to drive. For the first time in my life I do not want to change... Only that it's a Ti Spec I wouldn't

Was more interested to know if they'd decided to sell the lower emission 2.0 over here-haven't seen any publicity for it.

There nice gains from the remap-where was it done?

bigjohnny80

Have an 06 GT. Beautiful car. Has been perfect for me and I love it!

samsemtex

gpf101 wrote: »

Good stuff. Look after her, oil and filter every 8ish k miles and check her and top her up with 10w40 semi every week. If you have any issues/questions give us a PM, have done thousands of hours reading on the alfa forums by now!

Will do thanks. Whats 10w40 btw? I presume its oil but why would I put oil in every week?

I must say I am probably the most smug man in the country right now. Even though its 6 years old I just look at other cars and think "mine is so so much better looking than yours" I cant stop smiling everytime I look at it. Actually the fact that it is 6 years old but its in such good condition probably makes me even more smug than if it was a brand new car and the handling is superb.

Ive put about 250 miles on it since Wednesday night. Not bad considering Im working every day! I love it.

If only I could go back and delete this thread