Advice sought for 1st foray into Alfa's

Hi, As it says really, time to give up the humdrum bulletproof reliability of Mondeo ownership i "think" & give in to my desires and get an Alfa.

Am toying with the idea of a 156 2.0 Selespeed (though open minded to a 1.8 & the Selespeed generally which comes across as a right donkey of a box??) circa 2000-2001 seems to fit my buget £1500ish from what I've found with below 80k hunting around, (eBay admittedly, some are real pigs, but a genuine "looking" 156 passes through now n then, it seems) I would spend more, but decided to put this aside to allow for the inevitable problems that will ensue.
What I'm asking for is some good, honest, no holds barred advice on 156's running costs, etc as I dont know anyone who has / had an Alfa in recent yrs, I only the "myths" of sh*te reliability bla bla. what to look for, expect, to allow for etc.
My heart is begging my head to "Go on, get one" but my head is saying "You'll regret it!" So I'm not sure which way to go, which is annoying.
Any help you can give will be taken on board & appreciated.

Your's VERY confused, Dan.

This is a good start

Alfa Romeo 156 Buyer's Guide

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/for_sa...peed_108.shtml

If you can stay away from the Selespeed then that's better in the long run, but don't be put off them, most of them run till the car rots out befor the actuator plays up, plus it's exactly the same gearbox as the 2.0TS, it's only the selection input method that differs, but if you want an even more reliable version, look into the 2.4 JTD or even a 2.5V6, all are in your price range and if you do need anything, it will not go over £600 in general.

Welcome to AO
To be Honest, purchase is relatively cheap, but running costs, especially if you need parts will be much more expensive than a Mondeo...part if this is because Mondeo are volume selling cars therefore parts are cheaper....also Ford thinks more seriously about ease of servicing than Alfa Romeo.
I suspect that even simple things like insurance will be dearer.....
So if owning a Mondeo is 'expensive' to you then I would think twice about owning an Alfa Romeo...
NB I have been "stupid' enough to own them continuously for 29 years.....


Typical 'reliability' issues seem to relate to Selespeed gear box , suspension noises , noisy variators and broken cambelts if you do not strictly follow the 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first (TS /JTS four cylinders).....not sure on Diesel or V6 but whatever Alfa currently recomend s,you do so ...To ignore service recomendations on an Afa Romeo is just asking for trouble.

ie on a 4 cylinder TS/JTS ,every 3 year or when the car has done 36,00O miles whichever is soonest you need to replace all the belts and tensioners and the Variator....

and the TS/JTS 4 cylinders can be drinkers of oil...so need to be checked weekly because if oil gets low, then you can loose oil pressure and bugger the big end.

Many thanks Gents (I presume)
Alot of helpful advice for me there, looking at the links too, only drawing me closer to doing the deed, was always inevitable really! Costs don't seem as bad as I would expect, have an Alfa service agent, Monza sport in Ashington is near enough for me. Insurance next to nothing more for a Lusso too So hopefully will join the club by xmas, will keep you posted....

My thanks again.

Dan.

PS Bit ironic the bloke that owned 4 Rover SD1's in the 80s & early 90's is worrying about reliability!!!!!