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Sept 18, 2008 16:55:13 GMT
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Looking for a daily driver for work - on the shortlist are an Alfa 147 or an Alfa 156 (about 5 ys old probably). Anyone got any experience or advice about either? Only advice I've had about them so far is renew you AA membership before you buy one Last Alfa I had was a 1978 'Sud Ti many, many years ago ;D Thanks
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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Sept 18, 2008 17:08:03 GMT
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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Sept 18, 2008 17:11:44 GMT
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Only advice I've had about them so far is renew you AA membership before you buy one I'd second that....one of SWMBO's friends bought a new 147 a few years ago and she's had nothing but trouble with it. Lovely car though. Having said that a lad at one of our customers has owned a GORGEOUS P-plated 155 TwinSpark for the last three years and hasn't had a single problem.
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Sept 18, 2008 17:21:24 GMT
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My dad bought a 156 1.8 tspark for my stepmum in 2005. Excluding tyres, it has had a total of £80 spent on it - 15 litres of 10w40, and it has covered about 45k miles without a single problem, or even a bloody oil change. The 15 litres is basically what I've had top it up with when I hear it tapping everytime she leaves for work.
She's gone through 8 tyres and 4 wheels through slamming them up kerbs at speed and bending them though (Her fault, the wheels are perfectly sturdy)
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Last Edit: Sept 18, 2008 17:22:49 GMT by cobblers
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Sept 20, 2008 15:33:50 GMT
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bought one in the end......... a 1.8 twin spark Veloce Sportwagon ;D Needed an 'ordinary' car for commuting to work but couldn't face getting into a Focus / Astra etc every day Not exactly retro but I like it
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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Sept 20, 2008 15:44:26 GMT
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Can't help either but wanting a GTV at the moment
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Sept 20, 2008 16:06:08 GMT
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just make sure you pack a set of tools for the daily breakdown
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Current Fleet: 2004 Audi A4 1.9tdi Sport Avant 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.25 (wifes car, curse word box) 1987 Volkswagen Polo CL
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Sept 20, 2008 16:16:46 GMT
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I bought this on Wednesday. So far, so good. 2002 2.0 twin spark. It's lovely to drive. I looked at a few abd there seem to be a lot that look rough or don't run properly. Prices seem to be dictated by whther a belt change is due. MAFs go and make them run like a curse word and the suspension is prone to clonks and knocks.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Sept 20, 2008 16:28:12 GMT
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Mate's been running a diesel 156 (? think) with no probs, and g/f's brother has a 147. Doesn't use it every day but he's not had any probs - so far - apart from: Took it to the stealer: "dash warning light's on" quoth he. Stealer's mechanic has a look. "D'you live near a canal sir?" "Yup" Turns out a rat had eaten a couple of wires and rearranged a bunch of 'em to make itself a nest... Bro had sometimes seen a rat leggit when he fired up the car, but not thought much of it
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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Sept 20, 2008 17:55:52 GMT
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I bought this on Wednesday. So far, so good. Prices seem to be dictated by whther a belt change is due. Not surprised, mine came with a main dealer bill for £749 for a service and cambelt change (with variator and water pump) fortunately only 4,000 miles ago so hopefully ok for a while yet. Service book says do them at 72k, my mechanic mate says don't leave them more than 40k before changing the belt.
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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Sept 20, 2008 20:01:20 GMT
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Change the cambelt well before what the book say.Also keep an eye on your front tyres as these tend to wear badly on the edge of the tread and sidewall.Good luck owning a Alfa 156.
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asn
Part of things
Posts: 41
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Sept 20, 2008 22:18:41 GMT
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And pleas change the belt-tensioner to one in steel as the original plastic ones have a tendency of cracking and making a valve-salad oute of you beloved TS. If you are going for a ECU upgrade, check out Squadra tuning in the Netherlands. I´v tested a lot of different ones and nothing comes close to it. Also it ceps all the Factory "safety nets" bulidt in to the ECU. The V6 are a far better engine, both in the ways of reliability and of-course the all mighty Alfa song, but everything has a prize Congrats with a nice an inspiring daily driver!
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1951 SAAB 92 a 1969 Triumph TR6 1972 Citroën D special 1977 Matra bagheera S 1978 Fiat 131 Mirafiori Speciale 1983 Suzuki TS180ER 1985 Citroën CX 25TRI Break 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6 1996 Maserati open cup evo 1997 Citroën XM ct Berline
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Sept 20, 2008 22:18:41 GMT
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Can't help either but wanting a GTV at the moment They are so cheap it's untrue. I seriously looked at buying one. However, I need something with 4 seats and the back seat is completely and utterly useless. Very pretty though.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Sept 20, 2008 22:19:52 GMT
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36K for the cam belt or 3 years what ever comes soonest.
Avoid running a non standard air intake if you want the MAF sensor to last more than six months.
The bushes on the front wishbone go fairly quickly on the 156, keep an eye on your tyre wear(inside edge).
Some twinsparks use a stupid amount of oil, others don't, check it regulary.
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Found my flashing Pao again.
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WHS, Alfa issued a buletin reducing the cam belt to 36000 miles. My 2.0 TS has been great other than the cam belt breaking and the price of shock absorbers. Also many suffer rubbish brakes. EB spares sell soft pads, and they make a tremendous difference.
Russell
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Any guidelines as to mileage? Are ones with over 100k on likely to have a thirst for gallons of 10w40?
I'm looking at 2.0 TS models, I had a drive in a selespeed one last year and loved it
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1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i
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I drive an '02 147, the 1.6, and it's an absolute joy to drive. The Alfa specialist that I bought it from warned me that it would drink a litre of oil every 1000 miles - I've been diligently checking the dipstick in my meagre two months and 1600 miles of ownership and it hasn't used a drop. It's done 65k, if that's any help.
Rear visibility is almost non-existent, gearboxes tend to have a bit of play and the electrics are a little tempermental but my car is such a sheer delight to drive that I would forgive it pretty much anything.
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1969 Land Rover Series IIa
1980 MG Midget (bro's)
1981 Land Rover Series III
1981 Mini 'Cooper'
1982 Mini HL
1983 Mini Sprite
1987 Mini Advantage
1994 Mini Sprite auto (oil leak left as standard)
2002 Alfa Romeo 147
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horney™
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,289
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Oct 16, 2008 10:12:28 GMT
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For a modern 4 door saloon or estate the 156 is such a beautiful car. Good choice boys!
My Dad had a 155 2.0 TS in black and while it had it's faults it's still one of his fave cars. The sound of those 2.0 on full chat is truley an italian noise, never heard another 2.0 16v sound the anything like it.
Nick
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Oct 16, 2008 10:23:54 GMT
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Ran an S reg 156 1.8 T Spark as SWMBO's daily up until our daughter was born 2 years ago (when we discovered ISOFIX!).
Fantastic car, lovely to drive and never caused us any trouble other than the throttle body needing a good old clean. Got to have been one of my faves over the 30-odd motors I've had.
Had about 64k up it when I got it, a dent, a scratch or both on every panel but, crucially, only stood me £1100. Needed the Variator but I understand it's not terminal so at that money I just let it rattle away. Sold it a year later with about 2 week's ticket left on it for a grand.
Those were the days . . . !
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@pistonbroker on Twitter
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Oct 16, 2008 11:40:03 GMT
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Any guidelines as to mileage? Are ones with over 100k on likely to have a thirst for gallons of 10w40? I'm looking at 2.0 TS models, I had a drive in a selespeed one last year and loved it I bought mine from a specialist who reckons most twin sparks use a bit of oil. They break cars for spares and there is no shortage of cars with shot engines through low oil because people don't look after them. The advice was to check it regularly. That said, mine has got 85k on it but doesn't seem to use a huge amount of oil. I am completely smitten with my 2.0 TS and would say do it. I'd avoid a Selespeed though. They are known variously as sillyspeeds and sellafields because of their willingness to suffer meltdown and cost a fortune to fix. Apparently they are awkward to drive in traffic too. Other things to watch: Thermostats stick open and a new one is £35 (good bargaining point). If it feels as flat as a witches... to drive and the engine management warning light is on, it will need a new mass airflow sensor (new MAF is only about £40 so another good bargaining point). Timing belts and variators aren't cheap to replace. Look for rust along the leading edge of the roof. Try to find one with 2 keys. A replacement is about £150 from Alfa and there don't seem to be any other options. If you buy a post 1 March 2001 2.0 car, your VED will be £300pa come 2010. Also, don't test drive a V6 one first. you will want one soooo much then become a slave to the petrol station.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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