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Talk me out of buying a 166



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 17th 05, 05:02 AM
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Default Talk me out of buying a 166

I'm thinking of buying a used 166, maybe a '99 and almost certainly a
3l V6 auto. The problem is that I am rather scared of the costs
involved after I purchase. There's a baby on the way and I don't have
much cash so the last thing I want is a massive bill when something
goes wrong.

Can anyone give me an idea of prices of common parts such as brake
disks and pads and service parts.

I can handle most jobs myself on older cars but my experience is
limited on anything in the last 10 years with the exception of simple
stuff like a Fiat Punto, so I'm worried I might get in over my head
with all the gadgetary in a 166 and end up with a huge Alfa main dealer
bill that I can't afford.

Is a cam-belt change on one of these involved? And if it is, are they
costly from the dealer?

And is there any other advice anyone can offer?

What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in
a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.

My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo

Cheers,
Dave

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  #2  
Old September 17th 05, 09:29 AM
ts86
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Default

wrote:
> I'm thinking of buying a used 166, maybe a '99 and almost certainly a
> 3l V6 auto. The problem is that I am rather scared of the costs
> involved after I purchase. There's a baby on the way and I don't have
> much cash so the last thing I want is a massive bill when something
> goes wrong.
>


Don't buy it then. Family comes first

> Can anyone give me an idea of prices of common parts such as brake
> disks and pads and service parts.


www.shop4parts.co.uk

>
> I can handle most jobs myself on older cars but my experience is
> limited on anything in the last 10 years with the exception of simple
> stuff like a Fiat Punto, so I'm worried I might get in over my head
> with all the gadgetary in a 166 and end up with a huge Alfa main dealer
> bill that I can't afford.
>


Wear parts and servicing is easy enough.

> Is a cam-belt change on one of these involved? And if it is, are they
> costly from the dealer?
>


£900? Random figure that. No idea.

> And is there any other advice anyone can offer?
>


Consider maybe a different Alfa model?

> What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
> maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in


YES.

> a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
> first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.
>
> My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo
>


Go with something in between. Fiat?
  #3  
Old September 17th 05, 09:48 AM
J-P Westaway-Green
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Default

Hi Dave,

If you're after a spacious, comfortable, executive car, then the 166 is the
one to go for - but avoid the automatic like the plague.

Mine is a 2.5 V6. I would have liked the 3L (running costs are practically
the same and you get the extra power), but trying to source a used one with
a manual transmission - that didn't have stupid miles on and also had a full
dealer service history, was like looking for a chocolate tea pot.

Brakes: I paid £55/Disc and £45/pad www.autoplanet.co.uk (although I'm sure
someone in this forum will tell me I've been ripped off).

I've just had all the belts and tensioners changed on my T plate (52,000),
along with the water pump (just because they were there at the time and it
made sense), the usual oil change and filter, total bill from an independent
was £664.00 (you'll pay over £1000 from a main dealer for that little lot).

Fuel costs: I average about 28MPG in mine - which, given its size and the
weight of the engine isn't to bad.

If the car you go for is 99-2001 - make sure its had the recall to replace
the oil cooler.

Make sure the car isn't fitted with Xeon head lights, as these are prone to
failure on the 166 and cost a fortune to replace.

If cost is a real concern than why not go for a 2L TS. Sure, you won't get
to here that wonderful V6 exhaust note, but with the lightness of the TS
engine it should be adequate for your needs - you won't be kickin' ar*e if
you've got a baby in the back will you?

Go get one and enjoy it - they're fantastic cars and highly underrated -
Alfa really should have done a proper marketing job with this motor. As a
result, there's hardly any on the roads, which makes them kinda cool IMHO.

Hope this helps

J-P

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm thinking of buying a used 166, maybe a '99 and almost certainly a
> 3l V6 auto. The problem is that I am rather scared of the costs
> involved after I purchase. There's a baby on the way and I don't have
> much cash so the last thing I want is a massive bill when something
> goes wrong.
>
> Can anyone give me an idea of prices of common parts such as brake
> disks and pads and service parts.
>
> I can handle most jobs myself on older cars but my experience is
> limited on anything in the last 10 years with the exception of simple
> stuff like a Fiat Punto, so I'm worried I might get in over my head
> with all the gadgetary in a 166 and end up with a huge Alfa main dealer
> bill that I can't afford.
>
> Is a cam-belt change on one of these involved? And if it is, are they
> costly from the dealer?
>
> And is there any other advice anyone can offer?
>
> What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
> maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in
> a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
> first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.
>
> My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo
>
> Cheers,
> Dave
>



  #4  
Old September 17th 05, 10:00 AM
Steve
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Default

The 166 will certainly cost alot more to run than say, a Vectra. Insurance,
fuel costs and servicing are all on the high side.

My previous car was a golf VR6, so I was used to high insurance premiums and
low fuel economy. However, the servicing costs for my current car (156,v6)
dwarf those of the golf. My experience is that Alfa servicing costs increase
each year until after the 72k (6,years) biggie, when they go back to the
original year 1 cost and the process starts again. On all other cars I've
owned, servicing costs are more or less the same each year, interspersed
with the occasional milestone service. The same may apply to other Alfas,
but is certainly not true in my experience.

Regarding servicing costs, I usually have to have the brake pads replaced
each year, even though I do a low mileage. According to my dealer, this is
because the pads are now made of a softer compound compared to the
asbestos-based material which was used earlier. Whether or not this is true,
I've no idea other than it usually adds £200 to the service bill. Ever other
year the dealer kindly pops another set of discs on as well.

The service which involved the cambelt change was gobsmackingly expensive. I
was quoted around £750, but once all the extras were toted up - including a
new alarm - the final cost was a fiver short of 2 grand.

If you are at all concerned about the costs involved, especially with a baby
on the horizon, then steer clear. Even if the car requires no repairs, a 3l
car the size of a 166 is not going to be cheap to run. My 156 averages
around 22 mpg - 28 if I'm lucky and there are motorways involved. Insurance
with 5 years no claims is around 1K.

Personally, I would be reluctant to buy a 166. My father-in-law had a 166
and being in one is just like driving around in a sofa - albeit a very comfy
one. The term "barge-like" springs readily to mind. Not that quick either...

p.s. I wouldn't include your real email address in posts. These posts are
spidered and you suddenly won't be short of sources where you can buy Viagra
and other lovely cocktails at amazingly low prices.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm thinking of buying a used 166, maybe a '99 and almost certainly a
> 3l V6 auto. The problem is that I am rather scared of the costs
> involved after I purchase. There's a baby on the way and I don't have
> much cash so the last thing I want is a massive bill when something
> goes wrong.
>
> Can anyone give me an idea of prices of common parts such as brake
> disks and pads and service parts.
>
> I can handle most jobs myself on older cars but my experience is
> limited on anything in the last 10 years with the exception of simple
> stuff like a Fiat Punto, so I'm worried I might get in over my head
> with all the gadgetary in a 166 and end up with a huge Alfa main dealer
> bill that I can't afford.
>
> Is a cam-belt change on one of these involved? And if it is, are they
> costly from the dealer?
>
> And is there any other advice anyone can offer?
>
> What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
> maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in
> a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
> first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.
>
> My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo
>
> Cheers,
> Dave
>



  #5  
Old September 17th 05, 10:31 AM
SteveH
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Posts: n/a
Default

> wrote:

> I'm thinking of buying a used 166, maybe a '99 and almost certainly a
> 3l V6 auto. The problem is that I am rather scared of the costs
> involved after I purchase. There's a baby on the way and I don't have
> much cash so the last thing I want is a massive bill when something
> goes wrong.
>
> Can anyone give me an idea of prices of common parts such as brake
> disks and pads and service parts.


As an example, here's the front disc and pad prices:

https://sslrelay.com/buypartsby.co.u...p?recordID=186

> I can handle most jobs myself on older cars but my experience is
> limited on anything in the last 10 years with the exception of simple
> stuff like a Fiat Punto, so I'm worried I might get in over my head
> with all the gadgetary in a 166 and end up with a huge Alfa main dealer
> bill that I can't afford.


A 166 is no more complex than any other luxury car in it's class - look
at how complex a MkIII Mondeo Ghia is, for example.

> Is a cam-belt change on one of these involved? And if it is, are they
> costly from the dealer?


Don't go to a main dealer - cambelts are surrounded by myth and mystery
- however, my local back street mechanic is happy to replace the belts
on anything (the one on my Passat was quite complicated to replace, but
he did it for under £200) - I'd say he'd charge me about £300 for a
service and belt change on a 166.

> And is there any other advice anyone can offer?


Stay away from main dealers - find a competent local mechanic with a
cheap hourly rate, but also find a local Italian car specialist who can
do the more specialist jobs - not that you'll need them very often.

> What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
> maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in
> a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
> first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.


IME, Alfas are more expensive than mainstream cars to run. The insurance
is a bit more, but not massively so, and servicing costs *can* be
higher, although I know people who've paid silly amounts of money out on
servicing Volkswagens.

> My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo


Go with your heart - the 166 is one of the undiscovered bargains on the
used car market. As you're new to Alfas, I'd definitely recommend buying
from a specialist or having the car you're interested in inspected.

As has been said by someone else - also consider the 2lt TSpark. It's a
great engine, if a little low powered for such a big car. However,
they're a lot more economical and the engine is certainly easier to work
on.

On the other hand, are you sure you need something as big as a 166? -
with the 159 on it's way, 156s are currently at bargain basement prices
- we bought a 156 2lt TSpark Lusso recently, on a 99V, with climate
control, for £2800 with a 12 month warranty, from a respected Alfa
specialist.


--
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 - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
  #8  
Old September 17th 05, 11:43 AM
SteveH
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Posts: n/a
Default

Pete > wrote:

> >What I'm getting at is, is a 166 going to cost me a lot more to
> >maintain than something dull like a Vectra? CShould I wait till I am in
> >a beter financial position before becoming an Alfa owner? I'd hate my
> >first experience with an Alfa to be a bitter one.
> >
> >My heart says Alfa Romeo, my head says Ford Mondeo

>
> How can you seriously compare a mundane family saloon with a luxury exec
> sport saloon? Vectra and Mundeo are comparable to the Alfa 156. Not the
> 166. You are starting on a false base-line. Compare the costs against a 5
> series or Merc E320 Elegance, These common panzerwagons have costs that
> will be similar to the 166.


I'd tend to disagree with your point about the 156 - it's smaller than
the current generation of Mondeo / Vectra / Passat - my Panzerwagen is
closer in size to a 166 than a 156. The 156 is, as was the 155,
somewhere between Focus and Mondeo in size - the same market sector that
was occupied by the BMW 3-series in it's E30 and E36 incarnations.

However, you're right about the 166 - it may be slightly smaller than a
5-series or E-class, but that's the sector it's marketed to.

> If you want the style of an Alfa 166 then you will have to go to the
> Maserati Quatroporte to buy better. Look how much a Maser would cost and
> the Alfa 166 is a bargain.
>
> As has been said - family first. Hope you enjoy whatever you buy.


Personally, I'd also consider the 156, but then I would, because we have
one.
--
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 - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
  #9  
Old September 17th 05, 03:48 PM
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Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was originally looking at the 156
then I "discovered" the 166 and fell in love. The reason I compared to
Vectra/Mondeo was because I was reluctantly looking at a boring family
saloon then I got onto the 156 and then the 166. The harsh depreciation
makes it a real option for me. To buy an BMW in a similar
condition/year etc I would be paying a lot more than I would for the
Alfa.. and I'd much rather have the Alfa anyway. The bottom line, is if
I don't get a 156/166 then it's gonna be a dull family saloon.

I'll be honest, there's not many modern cars in this price range that
light my fire but the Alfa is a real exception. I don't mind paying a
little more for it, but I'm just worried of it becoming a cash
blackhole.

Thanks again for your help, you have all been very helpful.

 




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