What Alfa for 2k?

[podman]

Im buying a a "new" car soon…quite fancy an Alfa , I had a Sud back in the 80’s and loved it, now im just as interested as you can get a lot of (newer)car for the money.

I have a budget of 2K max..have been looking at 156’s so far.

Any good or bad points on these? Any particular models to look out for/avoid?

Whats the service intervals and costs like?

Any other suggestions to different models?

Thanks in advance

[bint]

I paid £3300 for mine, 2000 X reg V6 wagon, so guess you should find something easily enough for your budget.

You've got experience of Alfas which is good - I had none so didn't realise the 156 clutch is very high bite point - thought the clutch was going or something but seems is normal. Other than the odd electrical niggle (headlight bulbs kept going), and having to replace the top end due to a monkey mechanic not tightening bolts, the car has been fine.

As with all I guess check when belts and services have taken place, look at bodywork (it is an alfa....) and get the best example you can.

[fasterpussycat]

GTV TS?

[podman]

Thanks..

I thought rot wise the newer cars would be OK?

[Wombat Rick]

Depends what you want really. £2,000 might be lower end of the 156s, but would get you an exceptional 145, 146 or 155 - with money left over for your cambelt change.

If you want to replicate the fun you had in your Sud, I'd get a 145 Cloverleaf. Cracking fun, very practical, well equipped (especially post '99 facelift) and good prices now.

[mat1227]

A really nice 164 cloverleaf I reckon lovely cars

[Pooh]

145 cloverleaf or a wide body 155 V6 if you can find one.

[podman]

Would love a decent 164 or 155 but there isn’t many left out there from what ive seen.

I need something that I haven’t got to fret over looking after, worrying about electrics(which I know 164’s are famed for)servicing on the button , not having the expensive of buying performance tyres for etc etc and nothing too horrific insurance wise. Plus I need decent MPG

Looks like a 145 or maybe a 156 might fill the bill from the ads ive seen…Anything other than a bland Escort/Nissan anyway ..I cant believe how much they go for.

Must make you weep if you bought the things from new.

[Wombat Rick]

podman said:

I need something that I haven’t got to fret over looking after,

A £2000 Alfa might not be the best thing then! You NEED to change the cambelt and associated bits and pieces every 3 years or 36,000 miles (£500). Twin Sparks have 8 plugs (£60 minimum). You NEED to check the oil regularly. Suspension bushes wear quickly.... and so on. I'm not trying to put you off but the cars do need looking after and a neglected one will soon let you down. Keep up to them though and they are a joy.

[AutoLusso]

Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TS Veloce, or if you can find one in your budget a 2.4 JTD Veloce, make sure you get one with leather and full service history. Don't worry too much about mileage as long as it has been serviced and looked after. If it were me I would buy a Sportwagon but this will go over you budget.

Good luck with your search, ebay is the best place to look.

Ned

[Avocet]

£2k will get you a very good 164 but there's no way you can just drive them and forget them. Even the newest of them are 10 years old now. For what it's worth though, I've had several of the pre-facelift 3 litre 12 valve V6 164s and they have been amazingly durable and reliable - even the electrics! As a case in point I'm hoping my current one will hit a quarter of a million miles in the next year or two!

[phil1979]

Avocet said:

£2k will get you a very good 164 but there's no way you can just drive them and forget them. Even the newest of them are 10 years old now. For what it's worth though, I've had several of the pre-facelift 3 litre 12 valve V6 164s and they have been amazingly durable and reliable - even the electrics! As a case in point I'm hoping my current one will hit a quarter of a million miles in the next year or two!

Re the 145, aside from oil and the cambelt, mine's run like a Jap motor for the 4 years I'd had it. It's certainly not high maintenance.

[coetzeeh]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALFA-ROMEO-75-V6-3-0-litre-S...

[Alfahorn]

I bought my 156 a year ago for just over 2k I've been very happy with it in the first 10,000 miles that i;ve covered.

My advise is get one with as few owners as possible, full service history that you can verify, ensure the belts have been done and finally make sure it's got leather.

[alfabadass]

2k should buy a goodish 2000 x reg 156, even a high miler 2002 model.

[greggers]

The 2.4 Diesel is a great engine and has a lot of scope for re-mapping if you wanted even more torque and power although the clutches do start to slip a little if you tune too much. In standard form though they are quick and the MPGs are excelent.

I'd steer clear of anything with the 2.5 V6... So many people have had problems with them!

I've got a facelifted 145 cloverleaf... Something which should be in your budget, as with all the T-Spark engines make sure it's had the Cam Belt done every 30,000 and if it's due a new one expect to pay at least £250 unless you're going to do it yourself.

[Wombat Rick]

greggers said:

I'd steer clear of anything with the 2.5 V6... So many people have had problems with them!

Eh?! The V6 is one of the strongest engines there is.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Selespeed??

[Pooh]

Wombat Rick said:

greggers said:

I'd steer clear of anything with the 2.5 V6... So many people have had problems with them!

Eh?! The V6 is one of the strongest engines there is.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Selespeed??

The V6 is pretty much bomb proof, the one in my GTV has done 90k miles and is smooth as a babies bottom and burns no oil at all, same with the 2.5V6 I had in my old 155.

[bint]

Pooh said:

Wombat Rick said:

greggers said:

I'd steer clear of anything with the 2.5 V6... So many people have had problems with them!

Eh?! The V6 is one of the strongest engines there is.
Are you sure you're not thinking of the Selespeed??

The V6 is pretty much bomb proof, the one in my GTV has done 90k miles and is smooth as a babies bottom and burns no oil at all, same with the 2.5V6 I had in my old 155.

:werd: I mentioned I had my top end rebuilt, but that was due to previous owner's mechanic not tightening the bolts down properly so the cams were loose and wore smooth - the engine was like that for about 50K miles and it still pulled like a freight train. Even better now it's done.

[wrinx]

greggers said:

The 2.4 Diesel is a great engine and has a lot of scope for re-mapping if you wanted even more torque and power although the clutches do start to slip a little if you tune too much. In standard form though they are quick and the MPGs are excelent.

I'd steer clear of anything with the 2.5 V6... So many people have had problems with them!

I've got a facelifted 145 cloverleaf... Something which should be in your budget, as with all the T-Spark engines make sure it's had the Cam Belt done every 30,000 and if it's due a new one expect to pay at least £250 unless you're going to do it yourself.

The 2.4 is indeed a great engine but you'll struggle to get one for under 2k unless it's really high mileage or just tatty...unless prices have dived recently???

The 2.5 is absolutely bomb proof and one of the best production engines EVER...not sure where you're hearing about the problems???? The only one I'm aware of is the plastic water pump impeller which can be replaced for a metal version. The 12v engines have rattly tappets and occassionally wear the inlet cam but still go on forever.

Also...the timing belt/tensioner interval for Twinsparks is 36k/3yrs, not 30k

wrinx

Edited by wrinx on Friday 19th October 19:18