Anybody lived with an Alfa 147? |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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Posted: 28-March-2007 at 20:46 |
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Yes but they don't come cheap, and the rear seats are strictly for kids only! |
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flyingalexf68
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-April-2006 Location: 53°19’59,6°14’56 Status: Offline Points: 2581 |
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Saw a really nice Mini Cooper today at the shops. Lady driver. The car was
pristine. Silver with black roof and nice alloys. It looked brand new and I went to have a look to see what the differences there are but it was a '01. Couldn't believe it. These cars are aging incredibly well. Probably the best choice for a small hatch at the moment. Hope you find a nice one. |
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1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel.
2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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I would agree with that statement. |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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I've had a chat with a mechanic who I respect (and has a decent track record with BM's). He's had a few early non-TLC cars through his place and reckons that, if the car is right in the first place, it's as safe a bet as any BMW of the equivalent age. |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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The reliability issue has put her off. She takes trips down the bog to see her mum with the sprog in toe. The idea of being stranded at the side of the road is a bit of a worry to her...and rightly so. Joe Duffy won't be getting her business but they are an easy option for the all important test drive. |
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
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Just to throw a small dampener on this, I was talking with John Roche recently on this very topic because if the UK prices settle a bit it could be a contender for a replacement for Mrs D's 318Ci. The word from his pals still in the UK dealer network is that some can also be a little bit troublesome, mostly with minor but irritating issues. They've been known to munch an odd gearbox, on some the electrics can be a little bothersome, etc. I dare say that these comments should be considered in terms of the comparison against a similar age/mileage BMW levels of reliability and quality. I haven't quite decided if it puts me off the idea yet but his judgement is typically fairly sound on BMW related issues. |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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Joe Duffy wouldn't be my first choice for BMW or MINI or latterly Mazda. That's a shame she has no attraction for Alfa's anymore because secondhand they can represent brilliant value for money. Edited by 635CSi |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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Selespeed's are known to be extremely problematic! They are supposed to be absolute rubbish. The 156 is a lovely car but I would definately stay well clear of the Selespeed. |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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The missus - who has been avidly reading these posts - is chuffed with the positive feedback on the Mini. Safe to say her initial attraction to the 147 is now officially dead in the water..
Going to take a trip over to Duffy on Sat and spin a Min and see how it grabs her! |
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flyingalexf68
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-April-2006 Location: 53°19’59,6°14’56 Status: Offline Points: 2581 |
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Hi Eoin, welcome to the forum. You are one of the lucky ones mentioned
earlier. My mum has a 2001 156 Selespeed (2.0 litre). I've just ordered 900 euro worth of parts from a discount company England to service and fix her car up. New wishbone, drop links, themostat, lambda sensor, and shocks (these cars are so soft) amongst other things. And it's just had a main dealer service costing 742 euro as a valve had brocken and had to be replaced. Not to mension the new gfearbox it got last year with ANOTHER timing belt (every 30k???) and tensioners and some small stuff. That cost 3500 euro. But it's a great car to drive. (Well it will be when I fix it). And she does like it. But they are EXPENSIVE to keep. Only 70k on her car too! P.S. Having the brake pads changed by a dealer is the biggest rip off ever. Thats the one job I would insist on doing myself on ALL my cars. They're easy to do even if you're not mechanically minded. Front pads from an Alfa dealer are 80 euro or about 50 from an indy. Take 20 minutes per side to do. Edited by flyingalexf68 |
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1995 e36 3.0 M3 Coupe, Daytona Violet, AP Racing BBK, CCFL Angel Eyes, M3 Spoiler, M-Tec 3 Steering Wheel.
2000 530d Steptronic, Poverty Spec, 18" Alloys. |
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II Joined: 14-October-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 841 |
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Eoin, the 156 service intervals are gonna be about 1k every 3-4 yrs. Just got my 2nd timing belt done on mine with a few other bits and it was just shy of the 1k. Having said that, its no more expensive than the E39 to maintain that I had for over 3 yrs. Problem with most of the 156's out there is that there are far too many basic spec ones. Most of the ones that were bought were rep mobiles and they were never fully spec'd. I bought mine as a private car new and spent a few grand on a few toys, so if you come across one with leather, etc, they are rare enough. There seems to be a few more 147's with leather. The Mini Cooper is a good alternative. |
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Tom
E39 1997 523i Oxford Green (Sold) ___________________________ |
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Eoin_
Newbie Joined: 06-March-2007 Location: Bray Status: Offline Points: 9 |
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I'm not really adding anything new, but before my 320d I owned a 156 for 2 years. I got hit with one big service bill, as I needed new brake discs and pads all around.
Apart from that, and a few headlight bulbs going, I did not have ONE problem in two years of ownership. On the other hand, my BMW has cost me easily €1000 in maintenance alone over less than a year (new MAF, general service, new relay switch etc). My dad has had his since '98, and he has not had any problems either, and he doesn't keep an eye on the fluid levels anywhere near as regularly as I did. Yes, they are nowhere near as reliable as a Japanese car, but by the same token, they are nowhere near as bland and uninspiring as most of the Jap saloons. On the depreciation - this may seem like a bad thing, but it obviously works both ways. It means you can buy a 2 litre saloon that handles like an absolute animal, and is probably as quick as the equivalent 3 series saloon for peanuts. You should factor in its excellent value into any potential repair costs (rumours of which are overstated anyway). |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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That's actually a nice one. The leather in it looks lovely and I can tell it was purchased Maxwell Motors. The one I found was in Cork and it's a bit far for your to travel assuming you live in Dublin. If your willing to stretch J Donohoe in Eniscorthy have a Cooper S for 16k which seems like a very good price to me. No pictures as yet though, but I would definitely recommend at least enquiring about this one! http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car& ; ;carID=621247 You'll have to copy and paste that link because for some reason I can't give direct links on this computer. Edited by 635CSi |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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can't get your links to work 635.
This is cheap by comparison to the rest. But it is the very first of the generation when they suffered probs with the build quality. |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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The Megane is known to be quite unreliable, they have bad electrical glitches and they are quite flimsily put together therefore they can be had for quite cheap very much like the 147, but it has none of the 147's soul. The MINI is quite overpriced for what your getting and I've seen 70,000 milers making 14 grand which in my opinion is ridiculous for what essentially is a supermini, although they do have BMW build quality and when you sell it on someone will always want to buy it. As you probably know the MINI specifications start off at One which is the bog standard version, then Cooper, then Cooper S which is the supercharged hotter version. I haven't seen a Cooper S for under 19k and the one's going for 19k are rather tatty. This is the cheapest Cooper currently on Carzone: http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car& ; ; ; ;carID=551139 This MINI One also looks quite nice and I'd say the price is negotiable: http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car& ; ; ; ;carID=575019 Edited by 635CSi |
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Mick525i
Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 29-November-2005 Location: Dublin Ireland. Status: Offline Points: 1823 |
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DONT BUT A MIGRAINE!!!! Please noooooooo. ] Buy the mini you know you want to. Drove a mini one and a Cooper S and both cars were a hoot to drive. Great car. Mick |
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Cheers
Mick BMW E21 318 1980 BMW E39 525i 2002 MTech VW Golf Gti 2003 |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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Okay...her search is broadening. Anybody lived with either a new shape Megan hatchback or a new Mini? Her budget will buy a 2003 Megan with all the toys or a pauper spec 2002 Mini. Thoughts welcome.....
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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Thats kinda the nail on the head, cept the decision is ultimately up to her. There is a really nice 1994 320 coupe which she sees parked in Trinity every day (I've seen it too). Virtually unmarked with nappa leather. Can't be worth more than 5K. I reckon something similar but newer would, on the surface, make a better buy. But then she'd have to put up with not being able to get truly comfortable in it. Decisions, decisions! Edited by ivanovoitch |
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635CSi
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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[/QUOTE] Don't worry, won't be buying either. Was passing Barable so thought I'd drop in and have a looksee. I'm just really surprised at the price V's year/condition/mileage hence the post. Have to say, with depreciation & build quality issues think she might be better off with a late e36. The problem is that she finds it difficult to get a comfortable driving position with good visibility in most cars, something the 147 handled with extremely well. [/QUOTE] Well the decision is up to you, the 147 is a much more modern car than the E36 and will probably be better value but the downside is build quality and reliability. Some people have Alfa Romeo's and have never had a bother with them, it's all a case of how lucky you are so if you are going for an Alfa find the best one you can. |
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ivanovoitch
Really Senior Member II Where did all the white water come from? Joined: 18-January-2006 Location: dublin Status: Offline Points: 559 |
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Don't worry, won't be buying either. Was passing Barable so thought I'd drop in and have a looksee. I'm just really surprised at the price V's year/condition/mileage hence the post. Have to say, with depreciation & build quality issues think she might be better off with a late e36. The problem is that she finds it difficult to get a comfortable driving position with good visibility in most cars, something the 147 handled with extremely well. |
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