As some will know I own an Alfa 145 1.6TS. I have owned it from new (1997). Yes, it has had some problems, but then so has every other car that I have owned.
It has never broken down, ever, in over 123k miles. The engine etc. still has all the original parts (except those changed as per service schedule). Only down side is the car underseal that has become brittle in a few places where serious corrosion has started. All the salt on UK roads has not helped!
Would I buy another? Yes.
So why didn't I? Because I needed more space than a 156 could offer (so got a Mondeo TDCi instead).
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Is this forum anti alfa?
Hmmmm
Forum Rule of thumb one.
If its not a Ford Mondeo TDCi, then it is the spawn of satan.
Anyone who does not get a Mondeo TDCi as their next car is a follower of "He who must not be named"
Join me in the world of 666 motoring....drivers of the "dark arts"
Yes Ok I have just seen the latest Harry potter!
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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The amusing thing is that, after reading some of the posts above, there are still people trying to claim that the forum isn't anti-Alfa.
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Criticising Alfa's reliability and build quality seems about as sensible as knocking Bentleys for being expensive, Minis for being cramped, BMWs for being ostentatious, Fords for being ubiquitous or Toyotas for being boring.
Why can't some people accept that different makes of car offer different qualities, strengths and weaknesses & appreciate them for what they are, rather than slating them for not being something else?
Are Alfas as reliable or well-built as Toyotas? Of course not, but they are far more stylish and characterful.
I can understand Alfisti adopting the football fan mentality and defending their beloved marque's reliability with one-eyed 'passione', but the cumulative evidence of hundreds of ownership surveys would strongly suggest they are on dodgy ground. Celebrate instead Alfa's history, tradition and soul. After all, isn't that why people buy them?
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Of course it's not anti-Alfa. Anti-Alfa would means slagging them off for no good reason. But whilst almost everyone on the BR would love to drive one, few of us will buy one or recommend one because of reliability issues.
To give a simple example. Friend of mine lives in Manchester and works in Leeds and does almost no business mileage - it's pure commuting. Each day he drives about 80 miles, of which 70 miles will be on the motorway. So, the perfect way to run a car you would say. Low stress on all components, regularly serviced with no querying of prices or expenditure. Three weeks before the car is due to be replaced the cambelt snaps and car is effectively a write off. Now if this happens on a car which has been driven under almost optimal conditions, what about those cars which are driven under more congested conditions.
Hence - will not buy an Alfa.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Bradgate said "Criticising Alfa's reliability and build quality seems about as sensible as knocking Bentleys for being expensive,....
Why can't some people accept that different makes of car offer different qualities, strengths and weaknesses & appreciate them for what they are, ..."
I'm sorry but as a CONSUMER I expect every car to be well built and reliable. FULL STOP.
Then I consider the specification , looks etc.
Since Alfa - on YOUR admission - don't come to first base - then I'm anti Alfa But I'm not I'm just a sensible consumer.
madf
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Bradgate said "Criticising Alfa's reliability and build quality seems about as sensible as knocking Bentleys for being expensive,.... Why can't some people accept that different makes of car offer different qualities, strengths and weaknesses & appreciate them for what they are, ..."
Since Alfa - on YOUR admission - don't come to first base - then I'm anti Alfa But I'm not I'm just a sensible consumer.
On his admittance, but then as reasonable as he's trying to be, he's not an Alfa owner, so what exactly is he admitting?
THIS is what I'll admit as a previous Alfa owner:
Alfa's can be more tempremental than other marques IF by that you mean their reaction to being badly maintained.
They can use oil (not all do) so one element of good maintenance is checking oil levels frequently. If they're run low on oil it, surprisingly, doesn't do them any good.
I repeat what I said at the top, a well-maintained Alfa will be as reliable as any other car, but perhaps 'well-maintained' means a bit more for an Alfa (although the maintainence that is necessary should really be done on any car).
If you let the oil run low, and you don't change the cambelt till 72k then, surprise surprise, you might get an unreliable Alfa on your hands. If you're the usual type of consumer, you'll probably run off and fill in every survey you can find talking about what a terrible car it is, and how it wasn't your fault at all.
I have a friend who regularly runs his Honda with the oil light lit up. Suggests that the Honda is vey relaible that it's still going, but does it mean that any car not capable of doing the same is therefore unreliable?
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I used to have an Alfa 146 2.0 Twinspark & it was great. I'd heard of their reputation for years but still didn't put me off. All cars will breakdown at some point in their life some sooner than others but I was told if you keep it serviced twice yearly & change the oil regularly it will go on for years (their designed to consume oil apparently). I bought mine with an open mind & the fact I always wanted to see if the Twinspark was as good as it's reputation & as Clarkson had said they were. I wasn't dissappointed the car was seriously quick & was quicker than a standard Golf GTI. Only reason I got rid was because of the stiff sports suspension & sport seats played havoc with my wifes back. It was also cheaper to get rid of the car than my wife :-).
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Of course it's not anti-Alfa. Anti-Alfa would means slagging them off for no good reason. But whilst almost everyone on the BR would love to drive one, few of us will buy one or recommend one because of reliability issues.
Not sure that's true. I'm anti-murder, that doesn't mean that there's 'no good reason' for it.
To give a simple example. Friend of mine lives in Manchester and works in Leeds and does almost no business mileage - it's pure commuting. Each day he drives about 80 miles, of which 70 miles will be on the motorway. So, the perfect way to run a car you would say. Low stress on all components, regularly serviced with no querying of prices or expenditure. Three weeks before the car is due to be replaced the cambelt snaps and car is effectively a write off. Now if this happens on a car which has been driven under almost optimal conditions, what about those cars which are driven under more congested conditions.
It may have been driven under optimal conditions, but I have no knowledge from your story whether it was well maintained, and I have an inkling that certain things - the cambelt change for instance - were neglected.
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How does one define anti-Alfa? I suppose it boils down to being justifiably critical or un-justifiably critical of their range of cars.
I really can't understand the logic of the "unless you own one you are not in a position to comment" brigade.
I have never owned or been in a Trabant but from what I have read they were pretty poor cars. If, by repeating that second hand knowledge, that defines me as anti-Trabant then I am guilty as charged; and also on a second offence of being anti-Alfa.
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No more than its Anti Omega and everytrhing in between !
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Is it just possible that we may have to agree to disagree?
A number of people like Alfas, it also seems that a number of people don't.
As a Mercedes owner, I have noticed that a number of people on this forum seem to dislike Mercedes, for no good reason that I can see..........................
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.As a Mercedes owner, I have noticed that a number of people on this forum seem to dislike Mercedes, for no good reason that I can see..........................
The only substantive criticism I have seen of Mercedes was when their legendary build quality was sacrificed because earlier models had been 'over-engineered' and also when some models were built outside the Fatherland and hence their reliability suffered.
I strongly believe that the most important attribute sought by the majority of private motorists is reliability. Few will criticise the looks and dynamic qualities of an Alfa. Their relatively poor reputation is due to their questionable reliability.
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I don`t consider the Italian car automakers to be a competitive against the German and Japanese. Straight to the point Alfa is very poor brand, having in mind the quality of the different segments. The interior is awful and that`s why the demand for such car lower.
dave,
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My best mate owned a 147 for four years. He caned it, and apart from the radio failing, he couldn't fault it. One of my work colleagues own's a 156 and he is forever out in the carpark trying to fix various faults. If Alfa Romeo had managed to build a reputation for reliability, then I would have bought one years ago. As I think many of them including the Brera are absolutely beautiful. For me a car has to look good as well as perform well. I will stick with Japanese reliability.
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Like Toyota,come on in Germany where there are a lot of Alfas and Lancias this year they came very near the top in the reliability ratings run by the ADAC far better than Toyota and numerous other far east makes.It amazes me people who condemn Alfa,Fiat,Lancia but will happily drive a number of other makes with Fiat engines and gearboxes, made with the same steel using the same paint baths the same robots.Stick to Toyota its your perogative but whereas their quality has taken a nosedive Fiat have listened for once to the populace and improved their products so that they stand with the best.
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They have also started to tackle their less than perfect dealer network which is letting them down in the UK.
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As someone who drove reliable Nissans for years, I am now on to my second Alfa. My last Nissan was a box of spanners and put me off for life. My Alfas have not been perfect by any manner or means (the current one is in for clutch and DMF) however one of the perils of buying secondhand is not knowing how the car was treated previously. So I am somewhat philosophical on this matter. Besides the current malady affects all modern diesels across many manufacturers.I was just unlucky
Know what - I miss my car terribly. When I have it, it can drive me potty on an almost daily basis. However not having it all week makes me realise just how much I love it and can't wait to get it back. I have a good, trusted indie for maintenance which is worth its weight in gold. Are Alfas perfect - no. Am I blind to its faults - No. Do I love it - absolutely. Would I have another - absolutely. Does it make me feel good - undeniably (how vain ofme . . . .) For a mere lump of metal to feel like a part of me kind of sums it up really. You either get Alfas or you don't. Simples. Again though, anyone who has been in mine has never been anything other than deeply impressed.
That said, it would appear that MiTo, Giulietta and 159 are shaping up to be cars that you can buy with both heart and head
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The new models announced and shown two weeks ago in Autobild were really eyecatching.
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