Alfa Romeo Forum banner

Buying your Alfa Romeo

4K views 26 replies 23 participants last post by  shug 
#1 ·
Hi Everyone,

I'm conducting some research about Alfa Romeo in Scotland with a view to opening a small business selling used Alfa and Fiat.

Everyone I know who has an Alfa (5 people) have had to travel to buy it. The average so far is 249 miles from a small sample size.

Can everyone (who can be arsed) let me know how far you travelled to buy yours and why you travelled that far ie price, condition, model, spec etc.

It will be a small concern if I get it up and running turning 10 cars per month but I'm hoping to increase the volume of available Alfa's in Scotland.

Thanks in advance.
 
#5 ·
156 V6 was from Cowfold, so 422 mile round trip, done twice. Mainly because I wanted silver, sunroof, V6 and teledials.


Spider was from Black and White, so 306 round trip, done twice. Wanted a spider, didn't want silver or red and looking for something low mileage. That was the one.



GTA was 172 round trip, also twice. Wanted a GTA SW, end of.


I tend to decide on the specific things I want and if it turns up half way across the country then you gotta travel.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Orkney to Gloucester via Bristol for my 159, so basically the full length of the country! It was scruffy and needing some work, but had the engine I wanted (2.2 jts) in a colour I liked (red with beige leather and gold dash trim) and had been for sale long enough to have had the price reduced twice so was pretty cheap by the time I took the plunge.
Driving that distance with an engine management light and a sticky brake (there were several other, less serious faults as well!) was a bit of a worry, but made for a decent road trip for me and my better half as we came up via the A82 rather than the usual boring section of the A9!
Would have preferred to have found one closer to home, but have no regrets (except letting an immaculate 156 in Dundee to go some other lucky so-and-so!)
Just checked and it works out to roughly 690 miles from our house to where we collected the car.... obviously we still had to get back home....
 
#9 ·
My 1st Alfa (Mito) was a 90 mile round trip (excellent main dealer), 2nd Alfa (Giulietta) was a 120 mile round trip (Model i wanted at the right price-car supermarket and my 3rd and current Alfa (Giulietta Veloce tct) was a 25 mile round trip although it was only 50 yards from where i work (Low mileage model)

Richard
 
#11 ·
Hi Preston916, would be great to see more Alfa specialists around. I'm originally from Campbeltown so would have a big trip for anything! Based in Glasgow now. Bought my first car, a Mito from Arnold Shark in Greenock and replaced it with my current Brera S which I bought from Love Alfa in Birmingham - close to a 600 mile round trip.

My biggest issue has been finding somewhere I have confidence and trust in for servicing. With the Mito I used C&M in East Kilbride which had a good reputation, although I wasn't blown away (two major jobs required remedial work) and they caused damage to my Mito on one visit. Since they've closed I tried an Alfa specialist in the south of Glasgow which is very local to me but again was disappointed - they didn't replace the oil cap after a service which made quite the mess and could've caused extensive engine damage. Aside from that, general manners and customer service skills were sorely lacking.

The only other place I'm aware of is close to Edin and it seems to have a great reputation but not convenient for me at all.
 
#13 ·
I managed to get my Guilietta from a branch of Arnie C in Aberdeen (30 miles). Luckily it popped up and was perfect spec (Executive 170 ma in Red) for me. My Spider, and a previous GTV came from a private sales in Forfar( 20miles) These were all lucky spots, the Spider particulaly, as generally the choice is limited up here. I would go further for the right car. Best of luck if you give it a shot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#19 ·
Hi, c1200 round trip, Inverness to Wembley then back to ness for my Brera, low miles in the colour I wanted and Inverness to ballymena NI and back for my 147 GTA, neither were absolutely as described in the ads but close enough, been in the motor trade for 32 years so knew (within reason) what I was getting into, took the Brera to the local Alfa dealer for an oil service, nearly £300 for oil and filter! ?
 
#22 ·
Highlands to romford and for a 147. - 590 miles each way. Was on eBay and was the engine I was looking for and spec. Spoke to the seller who was really genuine!

Highlands to Glasgow for a 159. 200 miles each way. Was again the engine and spec. Been for sale for a while and needed work so got it cheap even after I did the work to fix it.

Good luck with the business!
 
#23 ·
Yup I wish you all the best and keep the community posted. We have Alfa Scozia ramping up (sorry.....) for the mechanical side of things soon, but we could do with a good sales indy here TBH
 
#27 ·
Methil in Fife to Kings Lynn for my Brera, this was about 6 years ago, there was only 1 for sale in Scotland at the time but miles to high and red, all my Alfa’s have been black.
Drove my 156 down, traded it in and brought the Brera back.
Around 750 miles round trip.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top