|
|
|
May 25, 2004 11:54:30 GMT
|
|
For an Alfa 155 2.0TS 8v narrowbody, a 75 2.0, or a 164.
Can't decide which.
Hopefully be red.
Opinions?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:17:02 GMT
|
Alfa = goooood  ,... just make sure you don't get a rusty one and give it some preservation when you get it |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:25:53 GMT
|
Alfa = goooood ,... just make sure you don't get a rusty one and give it some preservation when you get it That is why I thought 75, 155 narrow body, or 164, they are made during/after the galvanised shell started, so only repairs will rust if done badly, and they all use the 8v Alfa alloy cam chain Twinspark twincam engine, not the Fiat based iron 16v cambelt horror TS that is very nice when it works, and a pain when it doesn't. A 3 litre 75 or 164 would be nice, but I want to improve economy over the Saab. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:40:07 GMT
|
I'd say 75 1.8 Turbo ,.. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:43:31 GMT
|
|
Something very nice about the sound of the alfa V6 though.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:47:43 GMT
|
|
yeah the V6 does make a lovely noise,.. but a good exhaust and you can get a nice note out of the 1.8 4 cylinder. My 33 made a lovely noise, nice burbally note that crackled and popped when I lifted off,.. lovely..
3 Litre V6 would be nice,.. but a bit more thirsty?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:49:55 GMT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:58:11 GMT
|
|
Was thinking either 2.0 Twinspark 8v 75 or 155. the 164 is a bit of a long shot to be honest.
Not because of any rarity, but because of the size, and the weird Starship enterprise centre console and Alfa electrics.
But yep, in red they work, and a decent exhaust is a must.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 13:59:21 GMT
|
I'd go for the 75. Rear wheel drive, and I reckon more classic potential than the other two. Having said which, I borrowed a 164 (V6) for a while and thought it was fabulous - wanted to buy it, but my then girlfriend (the same one who made me sell my Triumph 2000) hated it.  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 14:00:51 GMT
|
|
did you have the big button panel in the centre of the 164? really ruins the looks in my opinion.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 14:03:26 GMT
|
|
The 75 has the electric window switches in the roof,.. you can't get better than that!
|
| |
|
|
Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
|
|
May 25, 2004 14:37:32 GMT
|
|
75 Twin spark. Nice retro looking Alfa. I love the 146 but I guess thats a whole more modern car yet lovely retro looks. Thats how to do retro design, BMW mini take note!
And red, always red. or maybe black.
|
| |
This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
|
|
|
|
|
May 25, 2004 14:57:03 GMT
|
|
I'm glad people approve.
I did think of a 145/146 but the Boxer engined ones are a little underpowered but sound spanking, while a Twin Spark one holds it money as it is still rather recent, but can be just as dodgy as an older alfa with a cambelt.
At the the 8v camchain engines only have oil consumption, and electrics to worry about.
|
| |
|
|
fredi
Part of things
Alfa Romeo 75 Twin Spark Veloce
Posts: 44
|
|
May 25, 2004 19:49:57 GMT
|
|
I have a 75 twin spark - it is off the road just now but I love it to bits. Great fun with very chuckable rear drive handling. Good for p***ing off sales reps in new company cars who think it must be slow as it's old. Debadged 3 litre even better, but handling balance not quite as good, heavy fuel bills and expensive if it goes wrong.
My advice is to buy one of the LE models (comes in red or met black) with the Recaro interior - mine has the standard interior with very soft seats and zero lumbar support. I think you would definitely notice this after driving a Saab. Let you know if I see any for sale.
Until my engine seized, the car was very reliable, using little oil and electrics were okay apart from the odd flash from the red eye in the middle of the dash. I don't know why the engine seized as I haven't taken it out yet. These are normally bullet proof units unless they are starved of oil, which mine wasn't. The only thing I can think of is that I changed from mineral oil to synth and this can (I later discovered) sometimes cause circulation problems.
I have a replacement engine standing by - I bought a car which a guy had wrapped round a lamp post in Manchester for the princely sum of £60. Now well served for spares. Problem is, how do I turn the propshaft to undo the bolts at the top when it is attached to a seized engine? Answers on a postcard, please... Think I'll have a go at splitting the shaft at the middle donut, unless anyone has a better idea?
The 155 is quite a nice car too - good choice about but at wildly varying prices. The one to go for is the 2 litre with sportpack (has black 5 spoke alloys - Speedline, I think). Service history vital and ensure the cambelt and variator have been done. Front suspension bushes can also give a spot of bother.
I don't know where you live, but National Alfa Day is at Boughton Hall near Kettering on the last Sunday in June - may be worth a trip if you're anywhere near. Happy hunting - hope you get a good 'un!
|
| |
Donne e motore - gioie e dolori
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fredi, thanks. Yeah, for an apparently sound engine seizing does sound a bad thing. You might be right in the oil thing.
The last owner said he ran the Saab on synthetic, so i did the same (halfords or chevron 5w40). The handbook said 10w30->10w40, 5w40 or Saab Turbo oil for the turbos. Up until now we haven't had a local Saab dealer, and Saab turbo oil is Mobil 1, but locally all the mobil one I could get has been 0w40. I was getting quite a bit of oil use through leakage (not upto normal Alfa oil use levels but quite a bit, about 250mm for 1k miles), I read somewhere that using semi synth can cure leaks from old seals that synth causes, so I flushed and switched back to 10w40 semi synth, and in about 2 weeks/400 miles, it appears to have not lost a drop.
Kettering is a bit fair off for me, I'm in the northwest, hopefully the next long run will be Retrocars show at Santapod.
On the subject of the 155, hopefully it will be the earlier narrow body models I will be looking at, which have the same all alloy engine as the 75, with a nice solid camchain. I don't like the principle of belts too much, especially on interference engines.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd go for the 75. Rear wheel drive, and I reckon more classic potential than the other two. Having said which, I borrowed a 164 (V6) for a while and thought it was fabulous - wanted to buy it, but my then girlfriend (the same one who made me sell my Triumph 2000) hated it. Should have trtaded the girlfiend... |
| |
|
|
|
|
fredi
Part of things
Alfa Romeo 75 Twin Spark Veloce
Posts: 44
|
|
May 26, 2004 17:57:13 GMT
|
Worth a look for anyone who likes Italian classics - 62.58.184.18/portalclassicThey even have a genuine ex-Carabinieri 75 with all the bells and whistles! |
| |
Donne e motore - gioie e dolori
|
|
|
|
|
May 26, 2004 18:46:21 GMT
|
|
Oh I do like that site.
Some nice motors just waiting for a mig welder there.
|
| |
|
|
fredi
Part of things
Alfa Romeo 75 Twin Spark Veloce
Posts: 44
|
|
May 26, 2004 22:00:19 GMT
|
Even more waiting for a MiG on this one - www.citymotors.comm.it. Grab yourself a basket case! Portal classic sometimes have some immaculate stuff - Suds and Giuliettas which look like they've just left the factory. A few dodgy Giulias, though, as well as some solid ones. City motors look like they'd try to sell anything - some of the cars on there must have been in stock for about two years. The virtual tour of the Alfa museum is also worth a look. It's on the Italian site - alfaromeo.com (I think) as opposed to the British importer's. I was lucky enough to go there three years ago - almost surreal experience. An absolute treasure trove of dream machines in a really understated environment. Rightly so, the cars speak for themselves. Unfortunately couldn't sneak the Giulia Ti Super past the guard! Topped the day off by watching Milan beat Inter 6-0 in the Milan derby. Will never forget either the museum or the San Siro. The end of my trip was badly timed, however. Had to come home the following Wednesday and the Mille Miglia revival started from Brescia on the Thursday...... Damn!! By way of consolation, there were a few nice classics to be seen on the way to the airport - mostly German enthusiasts who had driven down for the event. |
| |
Donne e motore - gioie e dolori
|
|
|
|
,... just make sure you don't get a rusty one and give it some preservation when you get it 
