omega0684
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| posted on 21/10/09 at 10:59 PM |
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Alfa's, Whats the crack?
i know that Alfa has been branded unreliable by most including the likes of the top gear crew, but they all say that you have never driven a car until
you've driven an alfa!
so whats the crack?
i really like the look of the 147 1.9 JTDM 16V diesel, its got 150 brake and looks great, but i don't want to to be sending it to alfa every
couple of months and opening up my wallet to them.
have all alfa's been tainted with the same brush, what are peoples thoughts on this, anyone drive a 147 diesel that can offer up an opinion,
i'll be commuting 100 miles a day soon (50 there,50 back) so i want a car thats going to be reliable as well as comfortable.
i've narrowed my choice down to two, the SEAT Leon FR 150 or the Alfa
Discuss. . . . . . . .
[Edited on 21/10/09 by omega0684]
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CraigJ
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| posted on 21/10/09 at 11:30 PM |
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I'd go for the seat any day over an alfa. Alfa's suffer from crap electrics. Plain and simple. A friend went against my advice and bought
a 51 reg 147 2.0 TS after a few week it started cutting out while driving. He took it to alfa and they couldnt fix it. I like them they look great and
are nice inside but nothing special to drive. There are some good ones out there but its just dropping on one. My money would be going to seat.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 21/10/09 at 11:32 PM |
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The Seat is probably the better car but you can't love it like you can love an Alfa
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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blakep82
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| posted on 21/10/09 at 11:40 PM |
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i'd say the seat is the better car, but i still wouldn't want one...
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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clairetoo
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 05:44 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
they all say that you have never driven a car until you've driven an alfa!
so whats the crack?
[Edited on 21/10/09 by omega0684]
I dont think they are referring to the diesel - the V6 is , after all , God's own engine 
Its cuz I is blond , innit
Claire xx
Will weld for food......
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 06:37 AM |
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 one of the girls in here had her Alfa taken away on a flatbed due to some engine management fault, so predictable
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 07:01 AM |
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i really really like the 147, we would have bought one except we didn't find a nice one soon enough.
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MikeR
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 07:18 AM |
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G/f got an Alfa.
(the exact model you're looking at I think).
Its great to drive with a good engine. The ergonomics are atrocious! I can't use the electric windows without jamming my elbow into my side! The
heater bit - she got 4 pages into the instructions before it said anything about how to get heat 
(but as its free diesel I'm prepared to overlook the silly italian design foibles)
I'll try and persuade her to come along 1st of the month and you can have a look (or just steal the car and you can look anyway).
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takumi
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 07:50 AM |
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Really great.
I have a 147 JTD 1.9 16v M-jet, 140bhp spec. The version before they started bringing out the JTDm 150bhp types.
Omg, the loviest car in the world. I don't think I would want to not drive an Alfa from now on..
The only niggles I've had (car had 66k when I bought it) was the front ARB bushes needed changing. so far so good. ~think they were £35 off
ebay for the bushes and droplinks.
It flies and the fuel economy is amazing.
Parts are relatively cheap when you source them from ebay and the like..
RobinHood 2B 2.0i pinto, Keihin 38mm Carbs, lightened flywheel, O'Mori remote filter kit, 10 row oil cooler. Modified head, 10.2cr, special
valves FR22 cam, 4- 1 header.
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whitestu
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:23 AM |
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I've had plenty of older Alfas [Suds and 33s] and reliability was always excellent.
Not sure about the new ones though.
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takumi
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:25 AM |
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Dont skimpt on things like fully-synthetic oil. The engine will last for ever if treated well.
With the high power JTD engines, things like the CV joints tend to wear on higher milage cars ~90k+
RobinHood 2B 2.0i pinto, Keihin 38mm Carbs, lightened flywheel, O'Mori remote filter kit, 10 row oil cooler. Modified head, 10.2cr, special
valves FR22 cam, 4- 1 header.
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adithorp
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:38 AM |
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Untill you've had one you won't really get the "Every petrol head should own an Alfa once", and if you don't go for a
quick one then you might not even then.
I had a 156sportwagon 2.5 V6 24v. Brilliant sound and with 191bhp went like stink. I once had to get out of the way of a police VolvoT5 (he was
chasing a Merc) on the motorway; Dropped a gear and left the Volvo standing. I lost more £ on that car than all the other cars I've had put
together... but I would do it again. Was the most fun I had in a car untill I got the Fury.
Go for it, but find a good one. Once they start having problems the list seems to grow. Expect squeeks and rattles: Alfa wisdom runs "Who cares
as long as it looks good... just drown it with the engine sound!".
Fiats (and therefore Alfa) JTD's are good engines. They started the whole direct injection thing. Electrics aren't thier strong point,
though mine never had any electical problems.
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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paul the 6th
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:45 AM |
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get yourself a diesel audi
GoDesign.me.uk - Self Adhesive Vinyl Artwork, Wide Format Printed Artwork and Customised Heat
Pressed Clothing...
--------
http://picasaweb.google.com/haynesroadster - Roadster Photo Build Log
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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paul the 6th
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 08:50 AM |
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and for impartial reviews written by real & anonymous owners with no agenda, have a look at:
http://www.carsurvey.org/
GoDesign.me.uk - Self Adhesive Vinyl Artwork, Wide Format Printed Artwork and Customised Heat
Pressed Clothing...
--------
http://picasaweb.google.com/haynesroadster - Roadster Photo Build Log
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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turbodisplay
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 09:17 AM |
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I think the main problem is with the more unique models. My friends GTV 2l was so unrelaible, silly things, like the alternator cable comming loose.
Darren
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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omega0684
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 10:21 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by paul the 6th
get yourself a diesel audi
was looking at an A3 2.0 ltr diesel but even second hand thay are 3k more expensive than the same spec SEAT Leon! 
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James
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 10:43 AM |
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So if the unreliability is all in the electrics...
buy one Alfa, buy one Premier Loom... blend the two together and you'll be in automotive heaven!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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britishtrident
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 11:18 AM |
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Italian car electrics + british climate = trouble
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Pdlewis
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 11:28 AM |
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Ive run the 8v 147 diesel (new shape) because I couldnt afford to insure the 16v for 3 years and its a great car the only fault i have had is a new
turbo pipe because it split. that was a recall anyway so no cash just dont take them any where near a main dealer for the service! as theyll want to
butt rape you
Build Photo Album
Updated 05/02/2009
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jimgiblett
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 11:48 AM |
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Generally speaking Alfas have always been a bit cutting edge and styling wise have generally been better than the competition.
I was converted to Alfaholism 3 years ago (bought a 67 Guilia Sprint) and just cant imagine not having mine. Pics of mine are in my photo archive
under Alfa.
Most other modern machinery I see like "white goods". Nothing wrong with white goods but I cant get emotional about them like I can for
my Alfa or Fury.
- Jim
[Edited on 22/10/09 by jimgiblett]
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flak monkey
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 11:58 AM |
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Get the Seat, you know it makes sense....
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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morcus
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 12:14 PM |
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Get the Alfa, If you buy the seat you'll spend your whole life wordering what it would have been like to have the alfa.
My uncle has had a few Alfas and they've not been any less reliable than most of his other cars, he's had much more reliability problems
with mazdas.
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Dave Ashurst
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 12:45 PM |
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Alex
My new Alfa 147 let me down big style and repeatedly. Lucky for me I have a tolerant employer!! (Phone me for details - none of the problems my car
had would apply to the diesel youre looking at though)
I'll never have an Alfa Romeo again - at least not one to rely on. It was gorgeous though.
D
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mds167
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 12:45 PM |
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Hi,
Thought I'd add my tuppence-worth.
I ran a 1994 1.6l boxer 146 for five years. It was cheaper than the equivalent Escort at time of purchase.
I loved it but problems included
Leaky aerial seal resulting in disintegrating head lining.
Infrared alarm control was useless (especially in the rain)
Gearbox bearing wore out (I think the 'boxes in the 145/146 came from the Fiat Tipo)
Door locks needed regular greasing to keep them working.
clutch master cylinder needed replacing (wear and tear)
I think my '03 Focus is a much better car (though just had to replace the corroded sump!) but I loved the Alfa in a way i can't get
attached to the Focus.
Would I have another? I'm tempted by a Mito but could I ever risk it?
I'm sure the new ones are much better, but it was said on the release of the 156 that Alfa had turned a corner and that turned out to be untrue.
On the other hand, had a diesel-powered rental Seat for a week and hated it...
Anyhoo...
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MikeR
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| posted on 22/10/09 at 01:15 PM |
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question -
nice car or reliable car you can depend upon to get to work?
g/f alfa is company car with less than 10k miles on it. It is reliable.
what age / mileage are you looking at?
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