Info only - what do we think of AR 156 2.0 T Sparks

[J-Rod]

My old man's had one (a Sportwagon) from new (2002). Apart from having to have the suspension rebuilt at about 115k (I think), he's never had any issues with it. Mind you, he does look after his cars, so might be an anomaly! 

[John F]

This is the main thing that prevents me from buying a modern* Alfa:

 

 

 

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

A friend of mine had a V6 engined one as a company car bought new in 2000 - and kept it for two years. The three things I remember about it are that it looked good, had a lovely interior and that it fell to bits.

 

He did a big mileage and two years saw it go from a taught Italian charger to a wobbly worn out donkey of a  thing. Not a robust car - but a charming one. He replace it with a Subaru which lasted him three years and a third more miles and other than road rash drove like new when he traded it in. The Subaru was nothing like as good inside and very far from pretty though.

[purplebargeken]

This is quite tempting and means no cost to swap onto the insurance either. 

[purplebargeken]

Need to have a deep think as there is no cambelt history with the car and it needs those bits of suspension to be sorted for an MOT. Hmmm. 

[Bren]

Remember, buy cheap,buy twice.

[purplebargeken]

True sometimes

[flat4alfa]

I've had two

 

In fact the current one has been my daily for 6 happy and reasonably inexpensive years.  2.4 JTD 10v though.

 

^ What Barry Cade said.  Avoid ones from the ignorant.  They are so cheap and plentiful it's not worth buying anything else.  Lastability depends on the previous moaner's thriftiness.   Shonky Ford Sierra budgets kill most things after all.

 

In my experience the older the car, the better it will prove to be IMHO.  e.g. prefer to stay from the later multivalve dervs and later petrols

 

Check underpan rot of rear footwell for first look.  Friday Franco forgot to underseal plenty of them there.  Hell, they were all made at the Alfasud factory after all

 

 

[mat_the_cat]

Remember, buy cheap,buy twice.

You say that like it's a BAD thing...

[purplebargeken]

Ok, decision made. I will pass for the time being. There are plenty to choose from but the 2.0 156 saloon or sportswagon seem funkiest. They really are gorgeous looking cars.

 

I will focus on the Dolomite and the rest of the fleet for now and will review things in 12 months. I have found a local specialist who's prices seems bloody good, so that is ok.

 

In the meantime I seem to have accrued a small replacement Rover for the big Rover. More will unfold at the weekend. It has MOT and everyfink.

 

Thanks everyone for the info and advice, much appreciated.

[rainagain]

I really miss my 2.4 10v jtd, it had a re map and went like a stabbed rat. The only problem I had was present when I bought it which was a duff thermostat. Cost £90ish for the massive strange octopus thing. Was a ball ache getting all the hoses put back on it as it also had a heat exchanger that the exhaust egr went through. I saw it for sale recently on gumtree for £300 with a slipping clutch. Wish I'd bought it back now.