The Italian Shite is Right...

[greengartside]

I'm not sure if this would be classed as shite but I have been offered an Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf with a fresh M.o.T - it's a bit battle-scarred but has 134k on the clock and it sounds alright when started up (haven't driven it yet) - apparently it's been superchipped by the last owner!?

 

So what do you think? Buy or avoid like the plague? What should I be watching out for on these?

 

Have some pics...

 

 

 

[Torsten2001]

A sensible man would avoid like the plague but I would embrace it like the prodigal son

[pogweasel]

If it is cheap enough, why the fuck not! I would.

[dollywobbler]

Not my cup of tea (no Alfa without at least a V6 is) but I've heard good things about them. Have also heard bad things about electrics and gearboxes, but then that's what shite motoring is about!

[eddyramrod]

If the price is right (like a couple of bags of chips) then grab it, at least you can then say "well when I had my Alfa..."

[Cavcraft]

As above, if it's seriously cheap and well serviced probably worth a punt. What I would be asking myself though is 'how much will I get for it when it breaks?' because you just know it will at some point. If you get a few months out of it first and the price is right you can't really lose though.

[barrett]

A sensible man would avoid like the plague but I would embrace it like the prodigal son

 

I reckon that's be the attitude of most 'Shiters tbh.

 

I like these, and you should get it for no other reason than to educate the rest of us on what goes horribly wrong on them after a few weeks of daily use

[Inspector Morose]

That's one of the cars on my "must get one to try before they all disappear/get too expensive" list Suppose they wouldn't like to swap it for a Rover 216 would they? No, thought not.

[Tayne]

.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

It's survived 14 years without exploding, why shouldn't it survive another year or two?

[Cheggers]

The only thing that would put me off is the talk of it being superchipped...that can put a strain on a 130k-old engine. But as my learned colleagues so eloquently put it, if it's cheap enough, then why the fuck not.

[woolleyiain]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes. It'll break, but it'll be ace until it does.

[pompei]

The Italian bread van - glorious, do it!

[Pillock]

I'd tap that.

 

Continuing the theme, I'd only spend enough on it to not cry when it throws all it's electrical toys out of it's rusty italian pram in 3 months time, but it's gotta be worth a punt if it's cheap. Something to tick off "the list" at any rate, if you flog it still working then bonus

[Mr Lobster]

As Tayne said, I had one. I absolutely loved it.

 

It did break down and was probably the most unreliable car I've ever owned, but it was also the 'best' car I've ever owned - in that it was the car I enjoyed most. When they work they are great, fast, handle well, pretty comfy and I think they are a fantastic looking car. I absolutely loved mine.

 

Did I mention that it cost me about £3k in the space of twelve months in repairs? Maybe I should gloss over that bit and tbh it could have been sorted a lot cheaper but I'm fussy and wanted it to be really right. What went wrong? From memory I had replaced the following - Air Flow Meter, Steering Rack, Servo, Balljoints, Variator, Cambelt, Rear Wiper Motor, Cam speed sensor. Electrically it was actually quite good - everything worked with the exception of the n/s window which didn't always want to play and the boot release button on the dash which gave up the ghost at some point.

 

DO IT. And if you do, I've got a resonator replacement pipe sat in the garage you can have - replaces the resonator before the air filter and makes them sound like the devil gargling coffee granules and makes tunnels very addictive Proper Alfa part and everything.

 

S885 LKN. I think it died in the scrappage scheme. I miss it very much

 

 

ETA - If its seriously cheap and you don't buy it then let us know. Looking at that ^ picture is upsetting me as I really do miss it. Had the bonnet, roof and mirrors repainted as well y'know just so it looked right. Sold to a lad from Worcester as I'd been offered my Toledo at a price I couldn't refuse so it had to go.

[Torsten2001]

I have to own an Alfa Romeo before I die, a Rolls Royce is more important but the Alfa I most desire is:

[pogweasel]

poohats

[pogweasel]

If the price is right (like a couple of bags of chips) then grab it, at least you can then say "well when I had my Alfa..."

 

Quite.

A few years ago a friend & I acquired this lovely* 155 silverstone from Paul Wakely in exchange for a bag of chips. RLY.

It had 1 day of tax/test left on it and every shock, bush and joint on it was pretty much fuquered. Anyway, we fixed it up and matey used it as a daily driver for a few months.

Looked like utter shit but it sounded heavenly as Alfas do and drove wonderfully.

I'll have another some day (pref less scruffy!)

[eddyramrod]

I'll have another some day (pref less scruffy!)

 

I think you got that just about right! If you do it again, do it the same way, ideal. Here's my friend's Alfa, which is for sale...

I'm extremely tempted!

[Inspector Morose]

I'd move for that.

[greengartside]

Sorry guys but I'm gonna pass on it, the thought of spending trillions of quids keeping it on the road is scary. I can pass on the garage's phone number and price of it if anyone fancies a go at it

[jnoiles]

Stop the bad man tempting me. A fiat 500, an X1/9 is enough for one man......and yet. I still like this.

[greengartside]

Well after much umm-ing and ahh-ing I have reconsidered my options and it looks like I'll be going to go for the Alfa after all. Now has 12 month's M.o.T too. Would be foolish to let something this good (and rare as eBay figures show) go.

 

Will be conducting a test drive soon so watch this space. I may well be buying that resonator pipe off you after all, Mr. Lob!

[eddyramrod]

Avanti, avanti!

[greengartside]

Test drive tomorrow!!

[Mr Lobster]

Good. You won't regret it.

 

 

 

 

Well, not immediately anyway

[ashmicro]

Forza GG! Had a V6 155 myself, and drove it everywhere a lot like this:

 

 

Everything went wrong with it, and I couldn't rely on it, but it was great fun.

 

ETA: Owning an Alfa gets you loads of hochmagandy

[The Liberator]

ETA: Owning an Alfa gets you loads of hochmagandy

 

Statistically no more than Fiats in my experience, but then I had to look 'hochmagandy' up so maybe not the best person to ask.

 

My 155 with the 1.8 version of the 145 QV's engine was pretty reliable, the closest it came to a breakdown in 7 years was a seized throttle cable in 2003 and an exhaust that fell apart in 2007. Regular maintenance (especially cambelt, tensioner and variator every 36k) helps. Check the floor for rust, especially where it joins the sills.

[Mr Lobster]

Test drive tomorrow!!

 

Well, come on. Don't keep us in suspenders, how did it go?

[flat4alfa]

Just buy it

 

My Missus ran 146TI (the five door, same spec) for three years an it proved no less reliable than both her Rover and Fiesta before it

 

Yes, it was reliable! Got her to work and back daily. Why? Because the belts and tensioners were done and the oil wasn't skimped. They do sup a bit of oil and folks do run them on miniMetro budgets and that's when they go hochmagandied. The pre-facelift dashboard (didn't get post in UK) is shod though and fell to bits.

 

Nowt wrong with gearbox. Nowt wong with engine. Arms and dampers wore, but they're supposed to. Sold it this year with 140k on. Not because she needed to, but a younger more comfier motor came our way. And TI/QV suspension is a bit wearing when you're up the duff.