You're not a petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa...

After watching top gear on Dave the other night, Clarkson came out with the comment:

'you're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa'

Who here has own an Alfa and lives to regret owning it?

I was considering one to fulfill my theory 'you only live once, enjoy it and worry about the costs later' but the reviews from ownership scares me with what can go wrong, saying that i've heard just as bad stories with VAG cars

 

I applied Clarkson's theory, but acquired a Lancia instead.

Can't say I really regretted it. But then how can you regret any Integrale experience

 

A bloke that lives next to someone on here bought an alfa 75 (or 33.. I'm not too good with them) and bought it for 250.00 and, to me, looks stunning.

My mk2 golf's probably cost me just as much to run as an alfa would

 

^Exactly. Def want to drive one before death, 50/50 whether I want to own one!
Every time I see an Integrale Evo on the street, it literally takes my breath away.

As for Alfas, I love the 105-series Bertone coups. Up there with the Lancia Fulvia for me.
Check this out:





Aphex - Alfa 75s are AWESOME cars.
Transaxle gearbox, almost perfect weight balance, and the 2.0 Twin Spark & 3.0 V6 both had LSD.
Design is a little clunky - the 'wedge' theme is difficult to achieve on a 4-door saloon.
Cheap as chips nowadays, I imagine most people are put off by reliability/rot rumours.

 

drove my uncle's old GTV is it? well it wasn't old at the time - loved it but then I was only 17 and had passed a month so it seemed amazing after my mk2 driver lol

 

drove my mates 147, cant say that i felt a buzz when i drove it thou, lol

 

more clarkson drivel.

he also said alfa 166 owners were window licking nutters

 

He's also blessed with what you might call 'questionable' taste in buying cars, and has been known to sell classics (for which he paid too much) at the wrong time, making quite a loss.
I mean come on, the bloke drives an SLK...

 

Been in a 147 and I was actually impressed. The 1.6 Twin spark seemed lively and the interior felt nice and sturdy.

People seem to say the likes of a GTV/Spider (newer one's) are more weekend cars because they fall apart/leak/problems and cost a fair chunk to run

 

We nearly got a Alfa GT a few months back and probably still will. All cars have problems at some time or another. Twin spark is meant to be a ***** to do (8) plugs on though!

 

We had a hire 147 in Italy and I actually thought it was a bit cr4p.

Cramped, boring handling and not a lot of fun.

Everyone I know that has owned one has had huge amounts of trouble.

 

Just looking at carsurvey.org the saying should be

'you're not broke until you've owned an Alfa'

Alfa wants the make the shortlist for my replacement car but as a daily hack don't think work would appreciate me being towed by the AA on most occasions

 

you get great mpg when on the back of a lorry

 

I know its what I do at the moment, saying that when you get to a certain point my car feels like its going to tip over from the excess wind

But i'm adverse to TDI's and mpg now, i'm bored of wiesel's so my car will hopefully be sold next weekend when someone is coming down to view it

 

my best mate has a 2003 GTV 2.0TS (btw he always checks the oil every few days and looks after it really well)

he bought it jan 2007, they engine blew up in april, had to have a new lump put in it for 1800

he has since had to replcae all the suspension bushes as you have to catch them early before the suspension arms wreck the subframes

2 weeks ago the headgasket went on the recon engine! luckily the ppl who did the engine the first time did the work for free.

on top of all this, one of the electric windows works intermittantly and leaks. CBA

 

well im sold - where do I get one, just so clarkson thinks I'm a petrol head!!!! lol

I like watching him, he is funny but his car taste is questionable....

any ferrari that is red = the best car ever made since the last ferrari was made......

Porche = rebadged beetle???.......

 

Just wanted to point out you mixed up you words there.

You meant, Beetle=rebadged Porsche

 

well write to Mr Clarkson, it was his words not mine lol

wouldn't mind a 147 GTA, rarest hot hatch going I reckon... see more Integrale's than you do 147 GTA....

 

Apart from the early Alfas, I don't see the appeal of them. Stuff like the 156 aren't special at all, they are just poorly built saloons with an okay engine.

 

Made an offer on one of these a while ago:



The estate, in Red, with the full kit and the big cloverleaf wheels. V6, 250bhp ish, sounded amazing. And you could get half a house in the back. Cool as.