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Yearly cost of having an Alfa

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cost yearly
2K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  airwave88 
#1 ·
Hello peeps,
I am after some advice, evidence that will persuade SWMBO that getting a 147 isn't as costly as she thinks.
I'm planning to spend under 3k on one. It's only going to be used for commuting and the occasional longer journey. It'll have to be petrol.
Engine size isn't an issue for her, is for me but as she keeps saying "size isn't everything" :lol:
and while I don't want to to turn this into a MPG thread, what roughly can I expect for the different engines?

The basic questiions are what kind of cash should I be budgeting for maintainance yearly, apart from tyres and wiper blades? Reading through the threads replacing MAF's seems to almost a service item as do suspension parts!
Anything I should be looking for when I start my search? While I think I'm savvy enough to spot dodgy cars out there there will always be something but any info will make it easier?
Thanks in advance:thumbs:
 
#2 ·
SWMBO?

I guess that means the gf/wife/mrs/other half/significant other/life partner/'er indoors/dragon

2.0 sele round town 24mpg, mrs P car has cost more than the 145 and 166 combined in a year, wiper motor, sele pump, ARB links, top arm, exhaust, and uses the upper end of spec on oil

so, can be costly, get a 166 V6 :D, and the insurance is less too :D :D
 
#4 ·
By contrast I've driven well over 200,000 miles in the last 9 years in Alfas (156 1.8TS, 20.TS Sele, GT Sele) and the only regular cost has been tyres. Oh and fuel :lol:.
From memory in that time I've replaced 1xMAF, 1xStarter, 3x wishbones, 1xARB.
None of the cars have been anything like new either.
The thing you MUST budget for is getting the belts changed at the correct interval though.
Joe
 
#7 ·
Yearly costs of general running are higher than any car I have owned before; Plus only 31mpg combined on my sele is not idea with 200+ miles per week clocking up. Hence the reason for my sale :(

Nothing else will put a smile on your face like it does though :thumbs:
 
#9 ·
For servicing and maintenance, I put away £100 per month, but in reality, in 2 years, the 156 has so far (touch wood) been really good. Passed 2 MOT's no trouble, 2 services including a cam belt service and 3 tyres, I have spent £1300. £55 per month.
 
#11 ·
I would not recommend a woman to drive a selespeed though
what century is this? :cheese:


Running costs on my 2.4 JTD 156 over 4 years and 150k km (bought it at 100k, took it to 250)

Oil change and service every 20,000km - 2-300 Euros (dep on brake pads etc)
Belt every 100,000km - costs vary, last time I got the timer, the distributer and the water pump for 600 Euros all in
Suspension arms when they need it (rec'd check every 100k iirc) mine went at 165k - 1,000 Euros for a full front set (tops and bottoms) but that was done by alfa. rears still going afaik. is the 147 suspension the same system? not sure on that but thought it wasn't
Tyres - well it uses tyres like any other car
Clutch. mine went a little early (about 180k iirc)
Gearbox - wasn't expecting that, went a week after the new clutch went in :wow:
MAF went once (120 Euros)
Starter motor solenoid went (100 Euros)
Glow plugs tarted to go at 250k. I'd had an uninsured prang in it by then so I sold her for bits and got a shiny new(ish) V6:cool:

electrics generally held together well, except alfa must have shares in Phillips, I blew a main beam bulb on average every 6 months I guess.

the belt is not worth skimping on, mate at work's 147 JTD belt went ... >2k to fix. ofc this is a possibility on any car with a timing belt rather than chain and Alfa certainly aren't alone in that. also worth having done at the same time is the waterpump. cheap fix but if it goes can take the timing belt with it afaik
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the replies. I've made good progress on other half, and am now starting the look in earnest. Got plenty of time as not due to replace the company car for 8-10 weeks.
It will be petrol, manual, I'd like a decent spec with leather as it's easier to clean with a 3yr old and a new one on the way. I'll be looking for a decent service history, as full as poss, with no obvious visible outlay for 6 months.
Luckily we've got a Indy specialist that gets good write ups nearby so the search starts in earnest today.
 
#16 ·
Got my 147 just over a year ago for the same sort of budget you are talking about - 1.6 TSpark Lusso with red leather (easy wipe clean for the kids!) and 16" sport alloys. Despite overall good condition and low mileage (57000 at the time) I still spent about £1800 in the first few months of ownership!! Full service, cambelt + tensioner, water pump, sump(!), spark plugs, 1 tyre, wiper motor/linkage + new arms and aero blades, exhaust mountings, battery........!!
Having said all that I love it and it drives really well - this year it passed its MOT with no problems at all and I just gave it a lubrication service for its interim service.
Can't truthfully say in my experience it is cheap to look after - but that is only based on my first year's ownership. Good luck with finding the right one! :)
 
#13 ·
Mc Donalds burger.... 99p
the cost of owning an alfa......... Priceless!!!!!

Sorry couldn't resist a mastercard advert mash up!!
 
#14 ·
It depnds on the car.

I have owned two Alfa's. My 156 was fine with running costs no more than any other car. Owned it for 5 years and loved it.

Had a nearly new GT for last 11 months and would estimate it has had over £3000 worth of warranty work, and it still only has 20,000 miles on the clock. Others with GT's have few problems.

Inspect the car properly, take someone who knows about cars. If you have doubts about it, walk away.

Would I buy another Alfa.... no, but there are probably just as many who would. Make your choice and take your chance.
 
#15 ·
We've just bought a 147 via Alfie at Heath Road garage.

ANY secondhand car (and many new ones) can be a gamble. Ours may not be the most immaculate one out there, nor was it the lowest mileage, but it has the top spec and I'm happy to trust Alfie with not having sold us a dud.

There's a LOT to be said for someone who gets mentioned and praised by name on a forum like this - that sort of reputation is hard to make and easy to lose.

I guess the cost of ownership all comes down to whether you want a eurobox that does 60mpg and costs nothing to tax, because it runs on fresh air and rose petals, or you want a CAR that eats oil, petrol and suspension items but does so with a bit of style...... LOL
 
G
#17 · (Edited)
Bought my 156 2.4 20v in August last year. Since then, I've spent about 4k euros on it - it does hurt.

- front wishbones
- rear suspension arms
- dual-mass flywheel
- clutch bearing
- one xenon balast (gone since I bought the car)
- one xenon bulb (same as above, but the other headlight)
- tensioner and idlers for auxiliary belt
- cambelt, water pump (normal wear and tear, not complaining, did it for peace of mind)
- winter tires, 15" wheels (normal expense)
- three of the four parking sensors
- reverse switch
- battery (normal wear and tear)
- handbrake cables
- servo pump (fluid leak)
- gaskets for EGR, clutch (or DMF?), oil heater (? - also due to oil leak)
- oil + filter (twice), all the other filters (once) - normal expense
- plenty of labor costs (mind most repairs bar one were done by an independent, not a dealer)

Next on the list - rear suspension is creaking again, turbo has an abnormal noise when decelerating (dealer says it should be replaced - still running OK after four months).

Wondering what will break next... I like the car, but it sort of costs dearly to maintain it. However, a lot of these expenses are supposed to be one-off jobs (every few years at most - tensioners, cambelt, water pump, suspension etc) and are more design faults than poor quality.
Wish I had bought the 2.4 10v Lancia Thesis I was looking at before...
 
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