If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
I have long been an admirer of the Alfa mark, and am finally able , at my
time of life, to aquire one , be it second hand. I would like advice please on the pro's and indeed, cons of buying a second hand low mileage 147 from a dealer and what would be a reasonable price to pay for a car say , no more than 3 years old . I am in the UK by the way I thank you all in advance That'll Dink Dank Do For Me ;¬D |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
mick wrote:
> I have long been an admirer of the Alfa mark, and am finally able , at my > time of life, to aquire one , be it second hand. Good man > I would like advice please on the pro's and indeed, cons of buying a > second hand low mileage 147 from a dealer and what would be a reasonable > price to > pay for a car say , no more than 3 years old . No idea. Someone will be along in a minute with chapter and verse > I am in the UK by the way > > I thank you all in advance > > That'll Dink Dank Do For Me ;¬D Resistance is futile, prepare to be assimilated. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2 Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
Catman > wrote:
> mick wrote: > > > I have long been an admirer of the Alfa mark, and am finally able , at my > > time of life, to aquire one , be it second hand. > > Good man > > > I would like advice please on the pro's and indeed, cons of buying a > > second hand low mileage 147 from a dealer and what would be a reasonable > > price to > > pay for a car say , no more than 3 years old . > > No idea. Someone will be along in a minute with chapter and verse Did someone call? Firstly - don't buy from an Alfa dealer. Secondly, check warranty small print *very* carefully. In terms of what to buy - avoid the 1.6, it's too slow and a bit pointless, the 1.8 is OK, but a 2lt is the way to go - the engine is vastly improved over smaller versions. (the 2lt TSpark engine has a balancer shaft which is missing from smaller engined models). At this point I'm assuming you're not going to buy a GTA..... which, of course would be *very* silly ;-) Also avoid the Selespeed gearbox (they're not nicknamed 'Sillyspeed' for nothing). Obviously, the usual used car checks apply, so I won't go through them all, but things to note about the 147 (or any Alfa of this generation, really)..... Any sign of rust on the shell means it's been in an accident and cheaply repaired - they're a galvanised shell and shouldn't show signs of corrosion until they're at least 10 years old. Front suspension can be problematic - check for clunking or squeeking from the front end over bumps - anti-roll bar bushes are usually to blame - squeeking is irritating, but not all that urgent to fix - rattling is the anti-roll bar hitting the floorpan and needs doing urgently. Also the bushes where the lower arms bolt to the floorpan wear - Alfa, ISTR, want to replace the whole arm, however, you can get poly bushes for them at £100 / set, which are better and last longer than the original Alfa bushes. Check all the electrical toys work - including all the lights on the dash / aircon controls as they're an absolute pig to replace if blown. I'm currently avoiding replacing a solitary blown bulb in our 156. Cambelts. This one has been done to death in here...... however, the single most important thing to remember is that they *won't* last as long as Alfa say they will. If you're buying a car approaching 36k miles, or over, then budget for replacement ASAP - definitely worth getting a belt change as part of the deal. Also ensure the dealer doesn't do it on the cheap and just change the belt - you want to see new tensioners as well. If in any doubt about the work done when the belt was changed, thing seriously about getting it done again. Hmmmm, I think that's about it, really, apart from to check the front passenger side carpet for dampness. That'll be an aircon pipe leaking - not massively expensive to sort out, but a bit of a PITA. And yes, I forgot to check this and need to get our 156 booked in to have it done. Pricing...... 03 plate 2lt cars start from £6k running to over £10k. Personally, I'd go for a Lusso as I find any spec. with the word 'Sport' in it rides far to harshly and comes with stupidly big wheels. Momo leather is worth seeking out, but not essential. Finally. Mileage. I'd be happier buying something that's done a fair amount of mileage with full history rather than something that's done very few miles and serviced by mileage rather than age, IYSWIM. > > I am in the UK by the way > > > > I thank you all in advance Hope that helps. Any more questions - post to the group again - we don't bite...... often ;-) -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
SteveH wrote:
<snip> > > Hope that helps. Any more questions - post to the group again - we don't > bite...... often ;-) And it's impossible to be afraid of a man *that* anoraky He's mostly useful to have around, mind -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2 Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
Zathras > wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 13:22:15 GMT, Catman > > wrote: > > >SteveH wrote: > > > ><snip> > >> > >> Hope that helps. Any more questions - post to the group again - we don't > >> bite...... often ;-) > > > >And it's impossible to be afraid of a man *that* anoraky > > > >He's mostly useful to have around, mind > > If he'd managed to mention the 1.9 Diesel, he'd have gained my > respect.. ;-) I've mostly managed to block diesels from my thoughts when people ask me about Alfas :-P -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 13:22:15 GMT, Catman
> wrote: >SteveH wrote: > ><snip> >> >> Hope that helps. Any more questions - post to the group again - we don't >> bite...... often ;-) > >And it's impossible to be afraid of a man *that* anoraky > >He's mostly useful to have around, mind If he'd managed to mention the 1.9 Diesel, he'd have gained my respect.. ;-) -- Z Scotland Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather 'Oil' be seeing you.. (Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
> I've mostly managed to block diesels from my thoughts when people ask me > about Alfas :-P Yer - my 1.9JTD 156 has been a dream... until my clutch went and now i'm in bother for not keeping my service history to 100% pristine... But you can ignore me - as i'm the moaner of the group Domestos |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
SteveH wrote:
> Zathras > wrote: > >> On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 13:22:15 GMT, Catman >> > wrote: >> >> >SteveH wrote: >> > >> ><snip> >> >> >> >> Hope that helps. Any more questions - post to the group again - we >> >> don't bite...... often ;-) >> > >> >And it's impossible to be afraid of a man *that* anoraky >> > >> >He's mostly useful to have around, mind >> >> If he'd managed to mention the 1.9 Diesel, he'd have gained my >> respect.. ;-) > > I've mostly managed to block diesels from my thoughts when people ask me > about Alfas :-P Pah! I want a 156 JTD. The T Spark is crippling me -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 OMF#22 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 156 TS S2 Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
Catman > wrote:
> > I've mostly managed to block diesels from my thoughts when people ask me > > about Alfas :-P > Pah! I want a 156 JTD. The T Spark is crippling me Sometimes I do, for the economy. Then I realise that the cost vs. the cost of my daily hack means it would take me 5 years to recoup the cost. -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
A Newbie Posts
> Sometimes I do, for the economy. Then I realise that the cost vs. the > cost of my daily hack means it would take me 5 years to recoup the cost. ha ! mine did 680 miles (motorway) for £55 - when the clutch worked |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ramva Posts | Bill B. | VW air cooled | 15 | January 30th 05 11:42 PM |
2005 S4 Cabriolet Newbie | Ramzi Nassar | Audi | 4 | August 7th 04 10:35 PM |
4x4 newbie. Rude and Intimidating Service | Brent Murphy | 4x4 | 32 | March 16th 04 07:14 AM |