MC12 for sale

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
That happened on my 147, Alfa's, never fail surprise with new sinking to new depths on build quality. Has anyone had their wiper blades cut through the AC pipes yet?? My 159 did that!

Bah. I had my 166 for seven years, yes seven years, and nothing bar one sidelight bulb went wrong.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,357
All my Alfas were reliable..GTV's and 155's.....My wife's 156 was definitely was not reliable....Wouldn't touch one ever again after that experience...
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,342
Bah. I had my 166 for seven years, yes seven years, and nothing bar one sidelight bulb went wrong.

You did say that when we met the other week. Loads of people say how good 166's and 156's are, think I got unlucky, but unlucky with 3 Alfas is really unfortunate!
 

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
My wife's 156 was definitely was not reliable....Wouldn't touch one ever again after that experience...

Ah yes, my 156 (Selespeed), that was another story. Alfa replaced all sorts of bits of the Selespeed system under warranty but it would still stall, in gear, at odd times. When it did the only thing to do was disconnect the battery and wait fifteen minutes to reset the gearbox. After it did that in the middle of the Camden Town junction on a busy Saturday morning (gearbox locked in first) I decided it was going. Replaced it with the 166.

My other Alfas were fine. I can't remember any problems at all with the 164.
 
Messages
169
Having run Alfas for twenty years, pound for pound, they probably offer the bet driving experience you can get although the current range is in my opinion possibly the first that hasn't had something in it that makes me want to walk into a show room. The biggest improvement has been the quality of the interior. The GT with natural leather and a sat nav in the dark colour looks wonderful and the post box experience of driving a GTV V6 cannot be matched.
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,007
TBH, I've never had the urge to have an Alfa. Mind you, I never had the urge to buy any Italian car until I got my spyder. So glad I did though, it's by far the best car I have ever had.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,357
Ah yes, my 156 (Selespeed), that was another story. Alfa replaced all sorts of bits of the Selespeed system under warranty but it would still stall, in gear, at odd times. When it did the only thing to do was disconnect the battery and wait fifteen minutes to reset the gearbox. After it did that in the middle of the Camden Town junction on a busy Saturday morning (gearbox locked in first) I decided it was going. Replaced it with the 166.

My other Alfas were fine. I can't remember any problems at all with the 164.

Ours was also a selespeed......never again.......
 

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
I also bought a brand new 156 Selespeed in 2000 and had all of the same problems with the gearbox. The car spent much of it's first 6 months in the local dealers being 'fixed' repeatedly. They eventually sorted the actuator problem and it was fine for the next 2 years. I always had doubts about it's reliability though, so took the sensible decision to trade it against a new Range Rover - hardly my best financial decision ever!
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,007
Alas Robert, no chance! We have such a laugh teararsing about in her I could never let her go. Even if I popped the engine I would keep her and try and shoe-horn a 4.7 in. I will be trying to take her round the clock and see how far we get. If you get an 04my year spyder you will never look back!
 

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
Benny, that's what I have been looking for, but the prices are still high for my budget. There are plenty of the early ones with scuttle shake and rough gearbox settings etc., but I don't think I could cope with that annoyance every time I drove it. Never mind, I will keep on looking.
Cheers
R
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
15,007
Benny, that's what I have been looking for, but the prices are still high for my budget. There are plenty of the early ones with scuttle shake and rough gearbox settings etc., but I don't think I could cope with that annoyance every time I drove it. Never mind, I will keep on looking.

The 04s shake a fair bit as well but are a lot better than the earlier ones. I've never found it to be much of a problem, I just drive through it. It makes getting there all the more rewarding!