Cars - Considering an alfa as my next car. Need advice.

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Considering an alfa as my next car. Need advice.

Problem I have is that both me and the missus have conpletly different=20
tastes in cars.

I like them to be long(ish) (Saab 9000, 900, Skyline/Supra/GT3k) she=20
likes nice dumpy round mini hatch types (PT cruiser, most superminis, Nu=20
Beetles). just about the only cars we have agreed to liking are the 147=20
and the 156.

Much as I would like to go out and buy either of them, the budget won't=20
stretch.

So I've been looking at some of the older ones. I'm looking for=20
something a little small (in exterior length) than the '84 Saab 900 T16S=20
that I currently drive, and something a little more town drivable than=20
the Saabs's "Nowt, Nowt, Oh **** new underwear please" lag/boost=20
scenario. But I want something that I can have fun buzzing arround in=20
too.

After asking other italian car drivers/former owners I have aquaintance=20
with, they suggested either 164 (bargain basement, not to bad rust wise,=20
nice cam chain engine (I like that)), or 155 (again camchain on the=20
narrow bodies, some bargains).

now looking at them, and others I've looked at, I like the look of the=20
145, although I have been advised against it, becuase it's too heavy for=20
the boxer engines, and the TS models are too pricey still, adn they are=20
the belt rather than chain twinsparks.
I realise buying an alfa, I'm getting out of my <=A3500 car bracket that=20
I've stuck to until now, but I fancy something a little better under the=20
hood, on the outside, and in the cockpit (I can have any 2 from 3 in my=20
budget category).

So, would a 145 cloverleaf be a good first Alfa, am I going to lose=20
loads on it in a couple of years. How big compared to another car is it?

Is the 155 (2.0 again probably) a large car, compared to say a Saab=20
9000? I think the 164 would be too big in this case, as I want to reduce=20
the size of car, plus I really don't like the starship enterprise dash=20
panel in the centre console.=20

Which is the bigger of the two? The 145, or the 155?

I won't be carrying passengers very often, so it isn't really a problem=20
if back seat space is a little down.

I appreciate that with the 145 I'm going to be suffering the dealer a=20
lot more for belt changes (although probably on one during my ownership,=20
I tend to change cars, if now marques regularly, and only do a couple of=20
hundred miles a week). Is there a list of independant specialists=20
throughout the UK anywhere online?

How are basic jobs like filters oil and plugs like on the 145 and 155?
I don't want a hulking beast this time, buit equally, I don't want a=20
supermini either.

TIA
--=20
The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

On Fri, 21 May 2004 14:00:17 +0100, MeatballTurbo
>, wrote:

>Problem I have is that both me and the missus have conpletly different
>tastes in cars.
>
>I like them to be long(ish) (Saab 9000, 900, Skyline/Supra/GT3k) she
>likes nice dumpy round mini hatch types (PT cruiser, most superminis, Nu
>Beetles). just about the only cars we have agreed to liking are the 147
>and the 156.
>
>Much as I would like to go out and buy either of them, the budget won't
>stretch.
>
>So I've been looking at some of the older ones. I'm looking for
>something a little small (in exterior length) than the '84 Saab 900 T16S
>that I currently drive, and something a little more town drivable than
>the Saabs's "Nowt, Nowt, Oh **** new underwear please" lag/boost
>scenario. But I want something that I can have fun buzzing arround in
>too.
>
>After asking other italian car drivers/former owners I have aquaintance
>with, they suggested either 164 (bargain basement, not to bad rust wise,
>nice cam chain engine (I like that)), or 155 (again camchain on the
>narrow bodies, some bargains).
>
>now looking at them, and others I've looked at, I like the look of the
>145, although I have been advised against it, becuase it's too heavy for
>the boxer engines, and the TS models are too pricey still, adn they are
>the belt rather than chain twinsparks.
>I realise buying an alfa, I'm getting out of my <£500 car bracket that
>I've stuck to until now, but I fancy something a little better under the
>hood, on the outside, and in the cockpit (I can have any 2 from 3 in my
>budget category).
>
>So, would a 145 cloverleaf be a good first Alfa, am I going to lose
>loads on it in a couple of years. How big compared to another car is it?
>
>Is the 155 (2.0 again probably) a large car, compared to say a Saab
>9000? I think the 164 would be too big in this case, as I want to reduce
>the size of car, plus I really don't like the starship enterprise dash
>panel in the centre console.
>
>Which is the bigger of the two? The 145, or the 155?
>
>I won't be carrying passengers very often, so it isn't really a problem
>if back seat space is a little down.
>
>I appreciate that with the 145 I'm going to be suffering the dealer a
>lot more for belt changes (although probably on one during my ownership,
>I tend to change cars, if now marques regularly, and only do a couple of
>hundred miles a week). Is there a list of independant specialists
>throughout the UK anywhere online?
>
>How are basic jobs like filters oil and plugs like on the 145 and 155?
>I don't want a hulking beast this time, buit equally, I don't want a
>supermini either.
>
>TIA
Why not just spend an hour walking around a car park with a
notepad and pen. Make a list of all the cars you like, and a list
of all the cars you don't like. Then go and buy another yourself a
local car advertisement paper and see how many you can actually
afford. If your budget is 500 quid, you aught to worry about finding any
car in working order not running an Alfa Romeo :-)

Pete
======remove the rust to reply======
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

> From: MeatballTurbo >
> Organization: Bouncing-czechs.com
> Newsgroups: alt.autos.alfa-romeo
> Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 14:00:17 +0100
> Subject: Considering an alfa as my next car. Need advice.
>
> Problem I have is that both me and the missus have conpletly different
> tastes in cars.
>
> I like them to be long(ish) (Saab 9000, 900, Skyline/Supra/GT3k) she
> likes nice dumpy round mini hatch types (PT cruiser, most superminis, Nu
> Beetles). just about the only cars we have agreed to liking are the 147
> and the 156.
>
> Much as I would like to go out and buy either of them, the budget won't
> stretch.
>
> So I've been looking at some of the older ones. I'm looking for
> something a little small (in exterior length) than the '84 Saab 900 T16S
> that I currently drive, and something a little more town drivable than
> the Saabs's "Nowt, Nowt, Oh **** new underwear please" lag/boost
> scenario. But I want something that I can have fun buzzing arround in
> too.
>
> After asking other italian car drivers/former owners I have aquaintance
> with, they suggested either 164 (bargain basement, not to bad rust wise,
> nice cam chain engine (I like that)), or 155 (again camchain on the
> narrow bodies, some bargains).
>
> now looking at them, and others I've looked at, I like the look of the
> 145, although I have been advised against it, becuase it's too heavy for
> the boxer engines, and the TS models are too pricey still, adn they are
> the belt rather than chain twinsparks.
> I realise buying an alfa, I'm getting out of my <£500 car bracket that
> I've stuck to until now, but I fancy something a little better under the
> hood, on the outside, and in the cockpit (I can have any 2 from 3 in my
> budget category).
>
> So, would a 145 cloverleaf be a good first Alfa, am I going to lose
> loads on it in a couple of years. How big compared to another car is it?
>
> Is the 155 (2.0 again probably) a large car, compared to say a Saab
> 9000? I think the 164 would be too big in this case, as I want to reduce
> the size of car, plus I really don't like the starship enterprise dash
> panel in the centre console.
>
> Which is the bigger of the two? The 145, or the 155?
>
> I won't be carrying passengers very often, so it isn't really a problem
> if back seat space is a little down.
>
> I appreciate that with the 145 I'm going to be suffering the dealer a
> lot more for belt changes (although probably on one during my ownership,
> I tend to change cars, if now marques regularly, and only do a couple of
> hundred miles a week). Is there a list of independant specialists
> throughout the UK anywhere online?
>
> How are basic jobs like filters oil and plugs like on the 145 and 155?
> I don't want a hulking beast this time, buit equally, I don't want a
> supermini either.
>
> TIA
> --
> The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
> http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

I have a 164 Tspark and it really isn't as bargelike as you might think. I
got a 164 TSpark 95N with 90k miles on the clock in beautiful condition and
FDSH for £700 about two years ago, but the prices seem to be going up a bit
as they are pretty much all owned by enthusiasts now. The 145/6 is nice, but
there aren't many particularly cheap ones about. I would think the 155 (or
maybe a 75) is probably the car for you, the earlier 155 TSparks were the 8v
with chain rather than belt (all the 164 Tsparks are, and I prefer it as an
engine, not only is the power delivery a bit smoother, they seem to be a bit
less fragile). There's a few 155s on ebay at the moment.

If you want a real idea of what alfa ownership is like, check out the forums
on www.alfaowner.com.

In article >, iowna156
@alfa.com says...
> If your budget is 500 quid, you aught to worry about finding any
> car in working order not running an Alfa Romeo :-)
>=20
>=20

It's not that hard.
I found a Skoda Estelle that needed a couple of quid spending on it for=20
the MOT, for =A395 sold for =A3150 with 2 weeks MOT and a couple of months=
=20
tax nearly a year later, but by then I spent a little more like new=20
tyres and stuff (fun playing with an old Skoda). The guy drove from=20
Oxforshire to Cheshire to buy it).

I then had a Skoda Favorit that I bought for =A370, it was advertised with=
=20
8 months MOT, and a slight crack in the widnscreen, and tax on it for=20
=A380. The windscreen was needing relacing, so i got it for =A370. Sold it=
=20
over a year later having gone through another MOT to a mate for =A3250 who=
=20
needed a cheap car for trialing, and I needed space because I had bought=20
a lot bigger car.

that was the Saab I'm driving now. Bought for =A3325, passed it's first=20
MOT with me for a set of tyres, passed this year needing a leaky caliper=20
swapping. Over the last year and a half, I've probably spent =A31500=20
including buying the car, but that includes shocks, front balljoints,=20
wear and tear stuff, new shocks becuase I thought I should after 130k, a=20
camchain becuase the tensioner needed replacing because a more reliable=20
one was available, and the cover was off anyway, and loads of vacuum=20
hosing and bypass valve for the turbo, because the old one was leaking=20
and had been bypassed by the "Specialist" used by the last owner because=20
he was a muppet.

Plus, I've seen a 155 for under =A3300 currently on Ebay with full FSH.
Same car being advertised for =A3600 by the dealer/owners in Autotrader.
A 75 with a years MOT for under =A3700

And 3 more 164 and 146's all within 40 mile for under =A31k

all appear to be in good knick and most have full or near full history,=20
and reasonable mileage.
--=20
The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

"MeatballTurbo" > schreef in bericht
t...

- IIRCC the 145/146 Cloverleaf is a 16V engine so belt, no chain.
- 164 & Saab9000 are built on the same platform, so comparable in size; 155
is smaller
- 155 "narrow bodies" (prior to 1995, 8V TS engines, chain, no belt); 1.8 is
best compromise engine.
- plugs on TS engines are expensive and you need 8, but only every 100000km
- maintenance is quite simple

Are you sure you want a car?

In article >, am
says...
> If you want a real idea of what alfa ownership is like, check out the forums
> on www.alfaowner.com.
>
>

ah excellent. Just the kind of place I was looking for.

I shall have a peruse, and be back with more questions later.
--
The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

> From: MeatballTurbo >
> Organization: Bouncing-czechs.com
> Newsgroups: alt.autos.alfa-romeo
> Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 16:03:03 +0100
> Subject: Considering an alfa as my next car. Need advice.
>
> In article >, am
> says...
>> If you want a real idea of what alfa ownership is like, check out the forums
>> on www.alfaowner.com.
>>
>>
>
> ah excellent. Just the kind of place I was looking for.
>
> I shall have a peruse, and be back with more questions later.
> --
> The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
> http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

forgot too mention the 33 as well. That's probably right up your alley,
although they too are getting a bit thin on the ground.

On Fri, 21 May 2004 16:01:11 +0100, MeatballTurbo
>, wrote:

SNIP
>Plus, I've seen a 155 for under =A3300 currently on Ebay with full FSH.
>Same car being advertised for =A3600 by the dealer/owners in Autotrader.
>A 75 with a years MOT for under =A3700
>

I am not suggesting for one moment that buying an AR costs lots of cash.
Buying one with a budget of 500 quid, and not needing to spend more than
a few bob putting it right and running it for a year is the rub.
Yes, I agree there are bargain AR cars in plenty. However, if it is cheap
motoring that you are looking for then I question that AR would be the best
Marque to look at.

>And 3 more 164 and 146's all within 40 mile for under =A31k
>
>all appear to be in good knick and most have full or near full history,=20
>and reasonable mileage.

I am not surprised that you can find these cars, but that is double the
budget and even if the car is well-found and as described, it could cost
another 50% if anything went wrong.

Hey, I am not trying to put you off Alfa Romeo. I love them with a passion.
Just as many here do. I would just hate for you to go away, buy an AR, land
yourself with a repair bill and hate us and Alfas for life <G>

If you are looking for a great car with which to experience great driving,
and to develop a passionate relationship, this is another matter.

I am fortunate enough to afford a wife and a mistress.
The only way I get away with having a mistress, is that I bought my wife
her own mistress. <BWG>

Pete
======remove the rust to reply======
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)