Time to get another Car. I am thinking of used Alfa Romeo, preferably from an Alfa Dealer. Particularly a 159, either sedan or sportwagon.
Many I've spoken too have said its a bad idea. Others, Neutral. Many cite poor quality and need for constant repairs.
Looking for thoughts and experiences.
Thanks!
I have driven a 2.4 JTDM Automatic for a weekend once but was not really satisfied:
- it felt very slow, even though it has a 200 BHP diesel
- it feels very heavy and understeered. When comparing it to my BMW 3 Series, it is like a lorry
- the navigation system is rubbish: slow and lots of very small buttons
Ours had decent power, though it is cumbersome to park, espc the front end. I agree about the nav system - it sucked, and we had some weird stuff with the diesel.. Ours clogged on occasion because we didn't drive on the highway enough. I'd get a gas, manual transmission if possible. If you have a medium or larger dog, no dog box fits in the back.
It was fun to drive, felt secure and safe, looks good and really didn't cost us much in repairs. Was good in the snow, too. But, we didn't want another one, mostly because of the dog box.
Thanks
I had one years ago, a 75 Twin spark and loved it - the only problem was the electronics - sometimes you would get in it , turn the key and nothing..
Come back 5 mins later and it would start.
It did that too often and the garage could not find the fault so it had to go.
It was a lot of fun though
My first was an S4 Spider, the most beautiful. I used it as my daily drive into central London and took it on a couple of trips to Madrid and Seville. It let me down only once and that was a drive shaft bearing, but at least it got me home. Cost me £14,000 and I sold it after 5 years for £11,000
2nd was a 1963 Giulia Spider - this was harder work and took a lot of looking after (Twin Weber Carbs) but gave me the most fun. Amazing exhaust tone and handling and such a pretty car.
3rd an old 3.0 V6 164. A big 5 seater car and as fast as almost anything on the road at the time. A rusty sub frame finally failed its MOT and I sold it for scrap.
4th a 155 1.6. My favourite. Small engine but so nippy and looked mean on the road. Cost me about £2000 at 9 years old and I sold it 18 months later for for £1400
5th a dark blue 2.0 GTV, the only one that had minor niggles but an amazing and fast car, cost me £1400 and I sold it in good condition 6 years ago to the chairman of the UK Lamborghini owners club as a runabout for £1300.
Alfas aren't for everyone, if you want a simple boring car to get you to Migros get a Ford. But if you want a car that will make you smile every time you get into it, and proud to own it at a low price get an Alfa. And if you complain about it afterwards, it means you are a Daily Mail reader.
Ford Mondeo about the only thing around around offering similar bang for your buck. French cars not included because we are talking about reliability.
Reliability surveys have Alfa in front of the French cars. I had a Beemer 3 series and it had a few niggles and I have had two friends have brand new Beemers give them all sorts of strife. Our ambassadors A8 broke down a few times as well. Alfa use a lot of the same parts as other euro cars so reliability is not much worse nowadays.
I am thinking Alfa 159 as well, simply because there are lots to choose from, they look fantastic and they are cheap.
If you want worry free reliability get a Japanese car. Simple.
Rubbish I have owned an Alfa and it didn't need any more repairs than any other European car (Volkswagens are far worse).
The constant grin in your face when driving your Alfa on the other hand is priceless!
Simple minds?
Not the worst piece of shit I've ever owned but close to it.
Shittiest cars ever owned:
#1 Lada
#2 Mazda 323
#3 Renault Fuego
#4 Alfa 166
Alfa Romeo in top ten most reliable brands
Alfa Romeo has finished in the top ten brands for customer satisfaction, making a mockery of its old ‘unreliable’ tag.
The Italian brand has been revamped in recent years with the likes of the Alfa Romeo MiTo supermini and Alfa Romeo Giulietta and has quickly shed the unwanted image.
This has been confirmed after the brand finished tenth in the J.D. and Associates 2011 UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (VOSS) based on scores from customers of the brands.
Alfa scored 805 points out of a possible 1000, ahead of the industry average. It also finished seventh in the Vehicle Appeal Index category, emphasising how desirable Alfa Romeo cars are. Head of Brand for Alfa Romeo UK, Damien Dally, says: “This is fantastic news for both Alfa Romeo and our dealer partners as we enter our second century.
“To be placed tenth in overall customer satisfaction performance is a great achievement and clearly demonstrates the improvements in customer service, ownership appeal and quality that are being made at Alfa Romeo."
Alfa Romeo has been known as an evocative, stylish and iconic brand in the past, with a fierce racing history and a recommendation from Top Gear, which says any petrol head needs to own one at some point.
The great strides made by the manufacturer in recent years are highlighted by the use of Fiat Group’s award-winning engine range. For example, the Alfa Romeo MiTo uses the MultiJet diesel and MultiAir petrol engines to lower CO2 emissions and improve fuel efficiency in its smallest car.
Alfa Romeo has sold 12,000 MiTo cars since the 2009 launch, and similar success has been attributed to the Giulietta hatchback, Alfa’s answer to the Ford Focus.
The two-strong range of new Alfa Romeo cars will be expanded next year when the Giulia saloon is introduced to replace the 159.