Help out a Wannabe Alfa Owner

I am considering getting an alfa but I am under some financial constraints. I preface my question by telling you that I am in college and my better judgement knows that I probably should wait a few years before getting an alfa. Additionally, my research on the cars is very limited and it wouldn't be if/when I buy one.

What I am wondering about today is how much my insurance would be on such a car. Here is my situation: I have a perfectly clean driving record. I am a 20-year-old male college student graduating in 2009. I have good grades, nearly a 3.7. I live outside of Washington, D.C. and I'd be interested in a late 60's-mid 80's car. My everyday car now is a Saab 9-2x and I am unsure if I would keep it or not. I understand that insurance costs for a male individual my age can be quite hefty, especially if the insurance company deems the car a sports car. I also believe that once I turn 21 in a few months my insurance will go down. Does anyone have any experience with insurance for someone in my situation.

Also, what kind of gas mileage should I expect for such a car and what updates/modifications can be made to improve it.

You guys over the pond pay about 2 cents a gallon, so buy a big V6 .

Regarding insurance costs, I'm not so sure. Over here we have insurance comparison websites, you just tap in all your details and it gives you the best quote from a range of companies. You can change the car as many times as you want for each quote. I should imagine there's similar sites for the States.

I'm not sure how popular Alfas are in the States, but whatever you do make sure you find a good Alfa mechanic and not some bod who's used to working on your regular wheel'd boats you call automobiles.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

For a car in the age range you are proposing you'd be looking at a " classic " Alfa, probably not too many around over there and perhaps not an ideal first Alfa. Why not come into the 90's, gives you a much greater choice and would probably be more reliable.

If you really want to stick to an older car my choice would be the GTV 2.5, a stunning looking coupe with a 2.5 V6 on board, give you about 25 - 30 mpg I would think. They were prone to horrendous rot and at one point had problems with cylinder heads, I think a good one would be hard to find. Of course in the same age range some lovely Spiders, but, again, difficult to find nice ones for reasonable money.

I lived in Seattle a little while ago and seem to remember that insurance costs were pretty much the same as they are here. However as I'm in a slightly older age bracket than yourself wouldn't like to try and estimate costs for you. Perhaps some younger members on here will be able to tell you what they pay here in the UK to perhaps give you an idea.

Get a good Alfa, you'll love it, buy a lemon and you'll be crying in your beer, once you're old enough to drink !!!

Good luck.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

The purpose of this particular thread was more the insurance/gas costs of owning an alfa but since you brought it up, here were my thoughts on what models to consider.

I am most interested in a spider.

I am pretty sure I want an older model. For one, I think they may be more available over here. Most of my searching is on craigslist where there are always 1-3 cars in the quoted age range available in my region. It is very rare to see a later model alfa on the site. For this reason, I am less familiar with those models and don't know if I like them or not. It may be a good idea to get a newer car if I can get one that I like.

Now the next idea I have may go against everything alot the members on this site believe in but I am more intersted in car that is not in pristine condition. I know that if I get a shiny, new looking car I'll always be worried sick about it and I'll go crazy when something happens to it. I am not that interested in a car thats been fully restored for this reason and the fact that these probably cost more.

Another point that you all may think I'm crazy or stupid for is that I plan on doing the maintenance myself. That's why I might keep the other car. The reason this might be crazy or stupid is that I have very limited automotive experience but plan to learn on the car. Because it might not be my primary car, it will be ok if it won't run while I am learning how to fix something. I do have a close friend that is a mechanic but he goes to school some distance away and is only around during time off.

As excited as I am about driving an alfa romeo, I am not going to rush into this nor buy the first one I see. Thanks again and more advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

P.S. again my better judgement is telling me the topic of this thread will become reasons not to buy an alfa right now.

I think I'm most interested in a spider.

Spider? How much fuel can a 2.0 four cylinder in a smallish car use? I wouldn't think it'll be your biggest worry, especially at 5c a gallon.
I don't know what the climate's like in Washington but Spiders rusted, as did GTV6s. Milanos (75s) weren't as bad, 164s (1990s cars) hardly rust and then that was it for Alfa Romeo in America. Until they re-launch there, next week I think according to their plans.

Hi again. You seem to be happy to not have a " pristine " or fully restored ans accept all that goes with that scenario, including a lot of oil behind the fingernails ! If that's the case then carry on, you'll have fun ! When I lived in Seattle saw very few Alfas around, and believe me I was looking, think the only one I saw was an old Spider which looked very nice.

If you can pick one up and have the time and resources to take care of it I think you'll have a great deal of enjoyment, open air motoring in a classy and distinctive car !

To look at some more modern Alfas there is a Thread on here, something like " Show us your Alfas " I'll post a link if I can find it.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by alfahopeful

I think I'm most interested in a spider.

Who knows, you may meet Mrs. Robinson afterwards...

Welcome to AO, BTW.

Originally Posted by Ant

Who knows, you may meet Mrs. Robinson afterwards...

Welcome to AO, BTW.

Worth the hassle for that alone, what a great graduation present to look forward to !