Alfa Romeo advice/experiences

[jgtr]

Hi all, not strictly retro but I'm looking at an 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 1.9 TD 16v M-Jet and wondered if anyone has any experience and can comment on reliability? Has 88k and FSH. I need a reasonably modern car and Alfas in my opinion are pretty cool, a bit of a break from the normal mundane Focus, Meganes etc but don't want a money pit. I'm a qualified mechanic albeit been out of the trade for a few years so no scared of a bit of maintenance.

Thanks

[retroade]

Do it, do it, do it! Used to have a 2.4 Mjet Veloce as a company motor. It was awesome! Loads of torque, pulled like a train, and even when trashed still returned good mpg. Lovely leather interiors too.

Also had a 155 2.0 TwinSpark widebody that cost me a monkey, it was an unwanted trade in. 150K plus miles and apart from being a little rattly still performed beautifully.

The reliability thing is a bit of an urban legend, neither of mine gave me any jip.

[MiataMark]

Buy it, I bought a 159 1.9JTDm, which I'm guessing is much the same car, about a year ago with 42K miles, done about 12K since with no issues. Good idea to find an Alfa/Fiat specialist independent if you can, also check out alfaowner.com.

You hear horror stories but the main components engine etc are used by other makes as well. As above the interior is lovely and the looks 156, 159 etc. set it apart from the BMW's, Fords etc.

[EmDee]

I also have a 155 tspark which has been great. Had it for a few years now and it's been very reliable. I've also had 2 Multiplas with the 1.9 JTDs which are great engines. Clutch + DMF can be spendy, but no more trouble than any other modern diesel, will go forever when looked after.

Just like any brand of car, get a good example and you'll be loving it.

Have you bought it yet?

[dan]

Going against the grain here but my mate who is a sales rep and does big millage had one as a company car from new. It suffered continually with gearbox problems that were never repaired properly. The main dealer blamed Alfa and Alfa blamed the main dealer & parts took an age to arrive. He loved the car but hated the dealer. It all got very sour in the end he replaced it with a passat which was boringly reliable.

That said I think he was just unlucky.

[paul99]

Engine is the one common to GM of that era, so water pump can seize and take out the cam belt. Replace at the same time as belt seems to be the recommended action.....

[MiataMark]

Jun 19, 2015 10:05:58 GMT paul99 said:

Engine is the one common to GM of that era, so water pump can seize and take out the cam belt. Replace at the same time as belt seems to be the recommended action.....

Second that, bought mine s/h from a dealer who changed the timing belt but not the pump so I had the water pump changed when I got it serviced as advised by the Alfa specialist I use, who put yet another new timing belt on. The only things I don't like about mine is the gear change and that I keep forgetting it's a diesel FWD 4 door estate and try to drive it like a sports car

[jgtr]

Cheers guys, haven't got it yet, going to speak to the owner tonight and find out some more info, it's a 7 hour round trip so want to make sure it's not a lemon - same owner for a few years, FSH and low miles so ticks all the boxes in that respect. I'm current driving a 1.9 Fiat Doblo which I think is the same engine albeit in 8v guise, 140k and it's been 100% reliable in the 2 years I've owned it so that's a good sign I suppose.

[jgtr]

Owner took a low offer on eBay without even speaking to me :-( just cost himself £350 for the cost of a phone call, don't understand some people.

[goldnrust]

Shame about the useless seller. Don't be put off Alfas though.

I'm on my third now (really regret selling the 2nd, my 155 v6, wish I could get it back!) and if you're happy to use a spanner then I've found them no more difficult or expensive to run then any other car. As MiataMark has already said, alfaowner.com is good. There's lots of useful info, to help you diagnose all the 'usual' issues and fix them cheaply.

Lots of Alfa owners are the type to take a car with any problem straight back to the main dealer, which always results in huge bills. I think this is part of the reason for their reputation. That and those friday afternoon cars, which it sounds like Dan's mate might have had. Hopefully if you're looking at cars a few years old the friday afternoon cars will have already died and only the good ones will remain!

[eskimogod]

comeing from very much a alfa family i have to say do it! but being the family mechanic i might have another answer lol doing a clutch change on a 156 v6 is a job i never want to do again in a hurry and the rust chasing on the 76' gtv is relentless but as they do seem to have there problems (as all cars do mind..) they always look good

[taurus]

A bit late in this case, but for future reference, my brother in law had one and loved it. He's a surveyor and does big mileages. The only snag he found was getting it serviced was expensive - to save money he bought a Merc.

A friend had one and hated it, he had all the Alfa horror stories come true. But he didn't do a huge mileage and had to drive through the traffic in Stoke every day.

They seem to thrive on munching miles, but don't like being driven round town.

[paulmakin]

very much agree - i don't know how but when they're laid up they tend to break themselves. often they will fix themselves as well

i always have at least one Alfa in the "fleet" and, to be perfectly honest, i've had more problems sidelining my much newer and more expensive dailies. every Alfa of the moment always has at least one problem on the go but nothing that has ever put me off the road.

paul