Alfa Romeo Owners

[urbanmaser]

How many of you still drive an Alfa Romeo as a second car and what model do you own if you do?????

Lets have some threads on the model you own, have owned or love.........every Alfa owner or ex owner has their favourite. What makes Alfas a petrol head's must have?????

Yes most have us have moved on to Maserati, but if you are like me you will always have a place in your heart and memory for Alfa Romeo.

The German's may have it nailed on reliability but when it comes to design and passion the Italians leave them cold.

 

[Emtee]

I blagged a 145 Cloverleaf as a company car a few years back. A truly stunning (and temperamental) little car. Then offspring No.1 and No.2 grew up and I got an Espace, then they went to Uni and I got a Maserati (which is what I'd always wanted).

Definition of a true petrol-head - Alfa and Maserati.

 

[conaero]

I have my 2001 Alfa Sportwagon Lusso, Black with Grey leather, 110 on the clock, love it.

 

[dickygrace]

I drive the GS and the wife has a black 159

 

[conaero]

Dicky, how do you find the 159? I have a 156 SW that I use just to keep the mileage down on the GS, and drove a 159 saloon in Italy a few years back and was very unimpressed....have they improved?

 

[alfamaserman]

Ok, it's been posted before about my Alfa experience but, since you ask, here's the list:
Last century - 1300 Spider
This century - 1.6 156, 2.0 GT, 3.2 GT, 3.2 Brera, 2.2 Spider [****], 1.9 GT [current].

Style- wise, I think the 159 shows that the original 156 was 'right first time' IMHO.
John
[3200GTA]

 

[conaero]

Ok, it's been posted before about my Alfa experience but, since you ask, here's the list:
Last century - 1300 Spider
This century - 1.6 156, 2.0 GT, 3.2 GT, 3.2 Brera, 2.2 Spider [****], 1.9 GT [current].

Style- wise, I think the 159 shows that the original 156 was 'right first time' IMHO.
John
[3200GTA]

So which one did you think is the best, I take it you have driven a GTV. Obviously the engine is a no brainer, 3.2 V6 Arese.

 

[rs48635]

Still got the daddy - 166 3.0 V6, currently sportronic gearbox, previously a Super with 6 speed manual.
The oustide is universlly like in profile, but front view is a bit marmite (or melted cheese). Interior almost as nice as my 3200, and I love everything about it. The whole car can be bought for the price of a cam belt service on the Maserati !

 

[alfamaserman]

The best engine - the 3.2 [Alfa]
The best 'screwed together' - the Brera
The best runabout - the 156 [even with the 1.6 engine]
The most surprising - the diesel-engined GT
The most girlie - the 2.2 Spider with too many squeaks!
The most underpowered - the 2.0 GT
The most charisma - the 1300 Spider.

 

[nfm]

1998 156 2.5v6, owned from new, 54k. Every time I thought about changing (pre Maser) couldn't find anything sufficiently more appealing to spend the money, especially given the 156 is now only worth circa £1k.

 

[urbanmaser]

NFM I had a 2.5 156.......paid £23,000 for it brand new when I had more money than sense and sold it seven years later for £2,500........how sick would you feel????? Not content with that I then bought an Alfa GT 3.2 V6 for £20,000 and sold that two and a half years later for £9,500........OUCH

 

[lozcb]

God Peter thats a £30K loss in 10 years , remind me not to employ you as my accountant , surely what you should have done , is paid £5K for an alfa, and £18K for a ghibli SS or Bora about that money then 10 years ago and stuck it in storage , now the Bora would be worth £50K and the alfa would still be worth a Grand


regards loz

 

[urbanmaser]

And if my aunty had balls she would be my uncle..........easy to be clever after the event. What I can tell you is that I would never buy an Italian car new. I really did make financial mistakes with my Alfa Romeos but you know what?????? I loved them so much it did not really matter at the end. Yes if I had bought a BMW 3 series the depreciation would have been less but would I have had so many smiles?????? I doubt it

 

[rs48635]

Well said. Fortunes can be saved eating only jam butties, but I like to get my teeth into steaks, wine, pasta, game, cheeses..............
Also some style in your life is essential, even if explosive speed and outrageous luxury are desrirable. I will always have a stylish italian car, even if it is a punto (wife's car) or cinquecento.

 

[urbanmaser]

Long Live Italian Cars

 

[conaero]

Peter, had similar experiences:

1999 NEW Alfa GTV 2L TS Lusso. Bought for £20k, sold 2.5 years later with 33k miles for £14k (not too bad, but I did buy it as an import and should have been £23k)
2004 NEW Alfa GTV 3.2 V6 Lusso. Bought for £21k, sold 2 years later with 24k miles for £12K (not too bad, but I did buy it as an import and should have been £26k)

Then again, I bought the wife this:
2001 NEW VW Beetle Turbo, plus leather and HiFi upgrade. Bought for £18k, sold 2 years with 17k miles for £10k. (Main Dealer car)

So its not just Alfas!

Best car was:
2000 NEW Citreon Belingo Van, Bought for £6k (plus VAT) sold 4 years later and 75k miles for £4k (Lease dealer supplied car)

 

[markp4200]

The best engine - the 3.2 [Alfa]
The best 'screwed together' - the Brera
The best runabout - the 156 [even with the 1.6 engine]
The most surprising - the diesel-engined GT
The most girlie - the 2.2 Spider with too many squeaks!
The most underpowered - the 2.0 GT
The most charisma - the 1300 Spider.

Have to agree with most of what you say.
I found the small-engined Brera underwhelming.
The 3.0 V6 is just sublime and best of all; those diesel engines are a hoot.
I have driven several Alfa diesels and loved each one.

 

[nfm]

Relaity is you should never buy a new car, if it is only going to be worth c.50% after 3 years. I "bought" the 156 new as a Company car because at the time (mine was a very early one) it was just so stunning compared to anything 2 or 3 years old. It is worth remembering just how striking the 156 was on release compared to the other dross.

It was a waiting list of 6 months or I could take a dark blue, with cloth, 2.5 that was available. As it happens that colour has dated better than the red and silver IMHO.

After 4 years as a company car I bought it from the fleet for 8k which was pretty full on but it only had 26k on it and I knew the car obviously!

Still love it, have never driven a 159, I wonder how different they are.

Cheers

 

[conaero]

NFM, I drove the 159 and hated it, and I drive a 156 Sportwagon, so your not missing anything.

Its just go that German soullessness about it.