[mart356]

A mate is seling a 98 Alpha 2litre 156 for £1k

Thinking about taking it to run into the ground and easing back on the VX usage (60K in leass than 3 years).

Always thought Alphas were sh*t but it's nice inside and never gone wrong - but it has done 120K... fsh nd all that.

He also is flogging his Alpha GTV that has done 102K for £3K Looks nice car but high insurance for a car to run into the ground.

The 2litre Tspark is an OK engine, but at that milage, might be better to permamently fit the car to the back of an AA van?

[chuno]

Alfa
Never owned one, but always thought they are very good VFM.
Sorry, not much help, but wouldn't mind knowing other peoples opinions

[JimH]

A grand for a 2 litre 156? Crikey, I paid that for my dog kennel.

Sounds like a fun way to blow a grand to me.

Incidentally, it's ALFA you bloody philistine.

This post has been edited by JimH: 08 May 2006 - 03:34 PM

[Teatowel]

For £1k you can't really go wrong

Unless it breaks down and costs £10k to fix

[JimH]

Yeah but if it breaks down you just shrug your shoulders and throw it away.

My oppo ran one for a couple of years. It was pretty reliable. The only thing I seem to remember was that the rear brakes needed rebuilt with monotonous regularity.

[JG]

if you don't point him this way

[mart356]

Oops, that's my Greek classical education taking over once more. Alfalfa.

It's full leather, driven by a woman with child onboard, so not slogged but dribbled and pooped on/in.

It's the Italian version of a Mondeo.

True for 1K you can't really go wrong.

Going to be hard getting used to a car with a boot, reat seats and heating. Think it will feel and smell like a granny flat.

Or do I keep the 205 1.9 GTI? Needs money spent on it, it's not as big, or good on fuel, is 10 years older (no rust though) but insurance is stupid for the age and value of the car. At least I wouldn't feel like a twat pulling up somewhere in the 205.

[danVXT]

go for the alfa, 1k can't go wrong

i have a 156 sportwagon and love it, had it for a year and a half now with no problems at all, compared to my (apparently reliable) passat i had before that which had brake failure due to battery acid leaking, alarm problems, water leaking into passenger footwell and all very expensive to fix out of warranty!

[Huntsman]

Do it.

A good Alfa is a great car .

A bad one...oh dear.

Some idiot dinged the back of the Leon last weekend, so it's gone in for repair. While it's off the road, I snaffled an Alfa Romeo 159 from the demonstrator pool (basically it was this or a Civic).

I've been ambivalent about Alfas to this point, but I'm now converted! It’s a fabulous car in which you can cover a lot of miles very quickly and very comfortably. Plus, like the VX, people tend to stop and have a good look when it passes .

Plus points:

Styling
Poise/Balance
Handling
Engine (even if it's a diesel)
Badge

Minus points:

It's going to go wrong (probably)


In short, I want one.

It's too late for me - save yourselves while you still can...

[P40L VX]

I bought a brand new 156 a few years ago, drove it for 2 days then it spent a month in the garage. I got my money back after all of the shenanigans........

Still, I owned a 145 cloverleaf before that, it was one off my most favouritist cars ever, it never let me down and put a on my face every time I drove it.

Buy it, everyone should own an Alfa at least once in their life......

[christurbo]

You dont exactly have to worry about depreciation - do it