Car thread - How bad are Alfa Romeos these days?

[garth]

In particular 2003 ish 147 JTD Diesels.

Anyone had any experience?
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[Kickstart]

Hi

No experience with the diesels, but happy with the petrol ones. The 156 we have is certainly better built than the Jaguar X Type we have.

What a 147 will use (and a 156 or a GT) is the upper suspension arms. They are fairly cheap and easy to replace but expect to replace them every 30k.

We have had our 156 since 102k and it is now on 147k. Non service bits it has needed are a MAF sensor, several side light bulbs, the resistor unit on the radiator for the fan, battery, a heater servo motor, set of brake disks, front brake hoses, a rear caliper, rear window winder mechanism and the upper suspension arms. Power steering pipes also got damaged on a speed hump. None of these things have been that expensive nor most difficult to change (power steering pipes were a pain though).

Also replaced the cam belts and the clutch (belts as a service item, clutch probably didn't need doing but at least means we can forget about it now)

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[groovylee]

Alfas are only as good or bad as the person that owns them. keep on top of the required maintenance, and they will do fine.

just one thing to note, the cambelt changes on the twinspark petrol engines are 36K or 3 years, whichever is the soonest. DO NOT let anyone tell you otherwise, it will end up costing you.

for more info, you could try www.alfaowner.com (i used to be the south east regional rep on there, good bunch really)
apologies for the link, if i shouldn't post it please remove, but they really are one of the best sources of info for all alfa stuff.

hope it helps
____________________
Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[st3v3]

[defblade]

Twin sparks can have a ....minor.... problem with cylinder #3 if the previous tightfisted pikey bastard owners used cheap oil:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/defblade/conrod.jpg

But I can't say about diesel engines as I've now had an Alfa and don't feel the urge again

In the meantime, my 156 had had a LOT of welding to the floor and the suspension, while nice and accurate, was too soft for pushing on. And the electrics were buggy. But I did like it... until the engine went
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Robby]

My father in law to be has a 2003ish 147 with the 1.6 petrol engine. He loves it, great car to drive.

However, it has had the following problems:

Cam belt went at 40k/4 years. Needed a replacement engine, Alfa didn't pay for any of it.

Variator wasn't replaced at the last cambelt change, so it sounds like a diesel when warming up.

3 of the 4 door bottoms are very rusty, a screwdriver would punch through them.

Poor fuel burn - mostly used around town, achieves about 25 to the gallon. Driven in a fairly Italian manner though.

He wishes he had gone for the 2 litre, it is quite a heavy car and you don't save anything from having the 1.6, the fuel burn is the same as you would expect from the 2.0.

Would be quite a good buy now, seeing as they don't cost a great deal and will do a few years service before becoming terminal. Don't buy a scabby one and pour loads of money into making it perfect though, money down the drain. Show it too much love and it'll reward you by breaking.

[garth]

This is what I'm considering.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250945202106?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[Kickstart]

[P.addy]

Can't give much insight, but had a 2008 Spider JTDM 2.4 hire car with 18000 miles on it.

After a week it decided to lose oil pressure and I watched the oil level plummet and car went into limp mode and broke down.

Before that, was fantastic. It has put me off one but I heard it was just a sensor that went faulty and the ECU decided to cut it to 30mph

[Kwaks]

had a 147 selespeed, 2L petrol. Loved that car but had a few problems with the selespeed so got rid. Engine and bodywork were spot on though
____________________
Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[defblade]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not so sure on the exhaust cooking the big end as plenty of oil and metal in the sump to act as a heat sink. Oil light I meant was for the previous owner letting the level get low, damaging the big end but not immediately terminal so they flog the car quick.

One other issue that people suffer on the TS engine is from a bodged repair following a cam belt failure. These are an interference engine so a snapped belt will result in a load of bent valves, but also often it seems to damage the big ends which fail shortly after the valves are sorted.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[andys675]

the wife's nephew (ron) has a brera

one of the car buying web sites refused to make him an offer for it

so now our kids sing to him "we buy any car, not ron's!"

[defblade]

[Kickstart]

[knocker]

Bought my first Alfa, a 156 six months ago and absolutely love it.

The clutch hydraulics have recently started giving me grief and the front suspension creaks a bit now and then but other than that it's been great. Lovely to look at and even better to drive.

It certainly won't be the last alfa I buy.

[Shaft]

[Oldie]

My 156 was superb - great value for money. Only ever had the one problem and that was with the wipers

[Kickstart]

[Shaft]

[Irn-Bru]

[Shaft]

^^^^ No great surprise, it's essentially the same car, although every cosmetic panel is different.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[DXB]

Had a 1996 3.0 liter Spider, bought some parts from Autodelta for it, was an epic car when running, but broke down with monotonous regularity.
____________________
superchargers good