i have been a fool

[skitts7]

i have just bought my first alfa after crashing my porsche 944 last month (not my fault)
i have a 2003 2.0 jts GTV with 70000 on the clock in alfa red
but i am begining to worry a bit as i did not pay enough attention when i looked over it for the first time
it was rather grubby for a 7 year old car but i thought it drove ok and the interior could be cleaned up ok also the bonnet and front bumper had gone a darker pink colour along with the wing mirrors
i have been quoted £400 to paint these so not too bad
anyway we did a deal for £2800 and i picked it up last friday and drove it 80 miles home and it seemed ok
next day i went out for a drive and heard a tapping noise from the engine which gets faster on acceleration,when i press the clutch it stops
when i got back home i lifted the bonnet and found no oil on the dipstick, i completely forgot to check this when i first looked at the car as i know alfas use a bit of oil
i topped it up with 2 litres to get it between the two markers and i think the last owner drove it around since the last service (9000 miles ago) without checking the oil
although the engine is a little rattly it pulls smooth and is very quick
i am no mechanic but i reckon i am in for a new clutch due to the tapping noise
the car was bought by me from the original owner with all the keys and service history from new every 12000 miles
would the cam belt have been changed in that time or is that another thing to add to the list
after the service next week
i must admit for the first couple of days after getting the car i was not happy and i hated it what with the small windscreen poor rear visability and strange driving position and worrying it was going to blow up on me
but i am starting to come around and i really enjoy it now with it being different to so many run of the mill cars everywhere
i bought a set of mats for it and i am after a new gear lever as the old one is dirty
by the way the interior cleaned up a treat and the paint goes on next week
i hope this works out for me and does not become a money pit
i will keep you posted
many thanks
spence
p.s. i am a 40 year old grandad and i should know better

[mokicat]

Not a fool - you just fell for a Bella...Happy motoring

[In_The_Pass]

Would it be worth getting it to an Alfa independent and get them to give you the full picture on the car before starting? Just a thought.

Many here recommend Day and Whites at Brands Hatch, with Buzz Alfa being their sales side.

Did your grand kid(s) fit in the back of the 944?

[Franko]

get it too a specialist and dont worry yet, alfas are no too expensive to fix

[In_The_Pass]

The recommended cambelt intervals for yours are 36,000 so it's due its second one presuming it was done before at 30 odd thousand.

You should be able to get some indicative costs by searching through this forum. Jamie Porter seems to be strongly recommended but he's the other side of London to you.

[Stu GTV]

Hello and welcome to AO......hope this has a happy ending for you and the GTV.....

[nigelread]

Hello and Welcome

Hope you get the GTV sorted ok

[In_The_Pass]

If you search around a forum an Alfa expert has just left a main dealer and set up on his own in Maidstone.

[dpat]

welcome to AO - hope you get it sorted out soon

[cas]

Evening, Spence Welcome to AO.

Whereabouts are you in Kent?

[n13roy]

Good Morning.......and Welcome to the A.O. Forum, I'm sure you will enjoy it here.......

[skitts7]

thanks for all the friendly replies i am off to day and white in brands hatch tomorrow to get them to check the car out
cant wait to meet them seem very friendly
i am based on the isle of sheppey in kent and i cant see any other gtv's here yet

[fleg156]

Hi and welcome. And you're right - you have been a fool but now you are an Alfa owner
Hope you get your GTV sorted soon. Owning an Alfa can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster - but it's never boring.......

[skitts7]

right lads
i went to day and whites this morning and my worst fears were confirmed
new clutch and cam belt change with all the bits
a lot of money but i have to confess the guys and Anna there are absulotely fantastic
i have never been to a garage where the people are so helpful and customer orientated
i sat in reception with a nice cuppa and awaited the verdict while they put the car on the ramp and spent a good 25 minutes checking it all over
when i say a lot of money the price was very reasonable compared to main dealers and i think they were very fair
but i have no doubts whatsoever they they know what thet are doing
it will take me a couple of weeks to scrape the money together but i will not go anywhere else
at the moment i can only reccomend them on first impressions which shocked me as they made me feel at ease straight away
i will of course keep you informed about the finished work
the only fault i can find is that i think they need a bit more advertising for a company this good
i'm off down the docks to sell my **** so i can pay for it
wish me luck