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Are Alfas the only brand that....

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1K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  Rockhopper 
#1 ·
..people use a lot of OEM parts to mod their cars?


I mean I am modding my 156 TI. I am putting some mods in like a Q2, CF2 manifolds etc. Mostly OEM. Going with GTA Teledials. Again, OEM.(apart from the wizard exhaust). I have also owned a lot of Hondas and they are always modded with over priced bits from tuners from Japan. There aren't really any performance gains to be had from using OEM Honda parts. This was just a brain fart I had today. Maybe I am wrong.
 
#2 ·
It really depends on availablity of any particular item. Often patent parts can be as good as OEMs, but this also comes down to, to a certain degree, how old your car is and its worth and, to a lesser extent, finances.

As regards performance gains by modding, that'll depend on size of engine. So, for instance, if you want to remap a 1.6 Alfa, the benefits will probably be minimal in comparison to a 3.2 GTA.

Personally speaking, I have no interest in modding, remapping or 'souping up' my 1.8TS. Originality has a distinct charm.
 
#3 ·
People fall into the trap of believing that OEM must be better so they are prepared to pay a premium for it when in reality Alfa buy their parts from numerous manufacturers, stick then in branded boxes and charge the earth. The one possible exception to this rule might be body panels as originals usually fit!
 
#4 ·
Thats very true OEM, original equipment manufacturer, means exactly that, Alfa romeo make virtually nothing, just assemble parts to make a car.

Just a shame they don't part share with other marques, i have a Saab 2.2 tid that is mechanically a Vauxhall vectra, so i can pay either £££££ for Saab OEM parts or pennies for Vauxhall OEM parts and they all come in the same GM packaging!
 
#5 ·
I am going to be blunt here...

I come from Audi/vw modding background. I am on my second GT right now and loving it. I am a confessed serial modder. Yet keeping the originality, look and image of the car. I believe the base product can be improved with quality well engineered mods.

I find the Alfa modding scene bloody hopeless. Its almost a crime to mod your Alfa?? Someone posted the other day on an Alfa page directed at me..."If i needed to mod my GT so much i had bought the wrong car"?

Some Alfa oem components are far far better than the chinese rip of **** quality items out there. A lot of people buy their Alfa's cheap, then proceed to replace parts with cheap **** off ebay. And wonder why they are replacing stuff all the time?

A lot of owners on the dub/audi scene have a different religion when it comes to replacing and modding. Mind you there is so much more choice out there for them.

I know there are guys out there willing to spend their very hard earned, on quality items for their Alfa's and i salute you.

Damien.
 
#9 ·
I think the VAG modifiers pretty much cornered the market in OEM+. As mentioned above, they have more than just Alfa bits to go at using VAG family members and close relations so if you want Audi door handles on your MKII, or a 1.8T engine, or Porsche wheels, or whatever you fancy, it's mostly either available off the shelf using factory bits or someone will have done it before.
 
#10 ·
Lack of choice and availability on off the shelf parts are probably what does it.
There are a few tried and tested things and some specialist that do wonderful things.

But as far as bolt on products go they are pretty sparse vs other brands.
 
#11 ·
Think modding is very subjective, in terms of value against performance.

IMHO, for everyday driving, a Alfa doesn't need modding. If, on the other hand, you want a hybrid track day car or want to melt speed cameras then modding is for you.

In fact, I'm gradually trying to make my car less conspicuous, as the previous owner tried to bling it up and made a right pigs ear of it.

This only my personal view and have no issue with serial modders.
 
#12 ·
Alfa's generally look good out the box. They come usually fully loaded, leather - alloys etc etc so they don't need much in the way of tinkering. Also the styling is pretty smart so again there's not much else to fettle on that.

They are also a bit fragile so just keeping them going can be a task in itself.

There's probably a couple of posts a week about people losing faith in the car and thinking of changing it. Maintenance costs vs the price of the car (mainly as Alfa's are cheap to buy in the first place).
 
#13 ·
There is not much choice for aftermarket parts for Alfas due to the fack they haven`t sold in much quantities as their rivals.

So if a aftermarket quality company wants to produce an item, it will cost very much and nobody will buy it. Problem is that they are not sharing parts very much between the models (as opposite in VAG) and we end up having a model of Alfa that itself has a lot of different parts during the production years.

For example, for JTD you have at least 4 different sets of clutch kits, one for 101 hp, one for 115hp, one for 140/150 and one for 170 hp. 2 different sets for flywheel one for 101 and one for 115/140/150/170. Having this in mind and low quantity of sale you get the result why we have so much expensive parts.
 
#16 ·
So true. In comparative numbers Alfas are small, and this has natural knock-on effects. Many of my local motor parts outlets, such as Halfords or Camberley Auto factors stock virtually nothing for Alfas. You can order certain items but they don't keep them on the shelf. This, again, inputs on what you pay.

Wow, never realised the Mito sold in such low numbers. Mind you, based on those figures, our area must have at least 10%. last week I saw 3 parked in our little High street.
 
#15 ·
Always used OEM when I had my Alfas.

Use OEM now.

As others said, never wanted to cheapen the appearance or performance of the car by buying cheaper but inferior replacements.

That doesn't mean I won't shop around for the best priced OEM parts I can get.

Has worked well/continues to work well for me personally.
 
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