OK, so buying the Rover 820 Vitesse Coupe may of been a mistake, considering how dissapointed I am with it. The car in general has been fine, I just don't like how harsh the ride is or the fact that I've had so much bad luck with it (and please don't just say, well it's a Rover what do you expect, because the problems could of been on any car!;) )....

Anyway I've been looking around for something I like the look of, is cheap and will be comfortable to drive to and from work on a daily basis (40 mile round trip). I've decided I can afford to run a 2.0l so upto that will be fine, but I've had trouble to find something that I actually like the look of. I don't just want a mode of transport I want something that looks good. Well I've been looking at the Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark saloon (circa '99 to 2001 ish).

 

Anyone had any experiance with these cars? Things I should look for etc? Any help appreciated. I've joined the owners club to gain any tips I can, but would love advise from people who arn't in the club, if you see what I mean (bias and all that).

My son has an Alfa romeo 1.8 Tspark 2001 and its a really good car all around ,he's had it for about 6 to 7 months and hasnt had any problems at all ( i serviced the car when he got it tho ). Imo its a pretty good daily driver and is very good on mpg not to mention the interiors in general are mint, very comfortable aswell. the prices on them are excellent too , he got his for about £1500. if it was me looking for a cheapish daily driver id really think about getting one.

I got my wife a 99 156 2.0 T.Spark and we owned it for about 9 months.

 

They look good, they go and handle well. Steering is very responsive with good feel. Ride is what you would expect from a Sports saloon.

 

...but everything you heard about them in terms of reliablity is true! They really do have the worst reputation for just about any manufacturer currently in existance.

 

The classifieds are littered with them for sale with dead engines and gearboxes.

 

Ours started to rust badly along the bottom of the doors and the top of the windscreen, very common apparantly. Wipers stopped working, suspension squeeks, constant problems with the Light electrics, a stalling and poor idle problem and then the Variator went which causes loss of power and makes it sound like a diesel. All quite typical issues and we had them all occur in the time we owned it.

 

Plus when I got my Bmw it just made all the good things about the Alfa seem inferior, and it felt very cheap and plasticky in comparison.

 

In the end, I just got fed up of it and weighed it in at the scrapyard.

Edited June 22, 201015 yr by Yowser

If you go for the Alfa you must must must must ensure the Cambelt has been

done at the required interval. or negotiate hard to allow for it cos it aint cheap.

If you go for the Alfa you must must must must ensure the Cambelt has been

done at the required interval. or negotiate hard to allow for it cos it aint cheap.

 

*before the required interval. Apparantly Alfa ****ed up with the reccomended Interval as they were failing early.

I'd say get a Nissan 300zx. They are quite nice :).

 

Peter

i drive a volvo v70 as my daily car/work horse can't fault it never let me down and although it's a 2.5ltr car and i do 200 miles a week it costs me a staggering £20 per week for that milage, as it's a bi fuel model (currently lpg is around 64ppl) comfortable to drive and all the creature comforts, but cambelt service is 90,000 miles so if you look at one around that make sure it has been done cost me £375 from indipendant garage from volvo i was quoted £845 plus vat

haha, as soon as I saw you wanted a 2.0 I was going to suggest a 156 lol... I swear by mine and I love it. :thumbup:

Thanks guys :bow: Yep good point on the cam belt and the electrics I was aware of. Sorry to hear that you had problems with yours David.

pbryant_knight :rofl: why would I want a 300ZX? ;)

Black-zed, been looking at the S40 as well. Had the benifit of a V70 last year for a month, loved it :D

Baz, I'm surprised you hadn't said anything else regarding my Rover ;) lol

I could do ya a 98 406 3.0 V6 SE Coupe for £700 just needs a rear wheel bearing

Drives lovely.

:w00t:

I'm sure it does, but the 3.0 bit is the problem ;)

I'm sure it does, but the 3.0 bit is the problem ;)

 

:whistling::whistling::whistling:

I've done 17k in my alfa, a '99 2.0 TS... I got the cambelt changed when it got to 79k (bit late LOL) but other than that its had a front pipe and a bulb. THATS IT. mega reliable. maybe I got a one-off?!

Thanks for that Baz appreciate it bud, I am seriously considering one of these... in fact I may be going to see one at the weekend ;)

you got a one off baz. if you think the rover is bad then the alfa is a definate no-no

 

my bosses mate has one, it needs a major service every year, it was 2 year old and had to have all the rear subframe and suspension changed under warranty due to corrosion

 

they are shite

Buy this Dave. Very nice example and fun to drive with plenty of punch and average around 35~40 mpg

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=138643&highlight=Gsi

 

Or is it to young for you :whistling: :tt2::tt2: :wink:

My father-in-law got one new as company car. I remember the Gearbox packed in and he had it replaced under warrantly. Then at 40k miles the cambelt snapped and he had a repalcement engine too.

 

Im not usually one to listen to horror stories about reliabltiy (I have a Z afterall), but discovered the truth when we got ours.

 

I had a 155 V6 before that...which felt better put together and felt more of a drivers car..although quite dated.

 

My Money would go on something german. Bmw 3series, Bmw 5series, Audi A4, Audi A3, Golf Mk4 ..etc

I had an Alfa GT, lovely looker and a great drive too. Had a few blasts in a 156 and all seemed ok to me. The reputation is bad and it probably is justified to a certain degree but anything mechanical will break at somepoint. I had a BMW 3 series and that was a nightmare.

 

And as a certain Mr Clarkson has said, you aint a petrolhead till you've owned an Alfa LOL.

 

Go for the Alfa mate I reckon

I had an Alfa GT, lovely looker and a great drive too. Had a few blasts in a 156 and all seemed ok to me. The reputation is bad and it probably is justified to a certain degree but anything mechanical will break at somepoint. I had a BMW 3 series and that was a nightmare.

 

And as a certain Mr Clarkson has said, you aint a petrolhead till you've owned an Alfa LOL.

 

Go for the Alfa mate I reckon

 

 

 

mr clarkson can afford to repair them and im sure he wouldent own a ten year old one anyway, ive had both a 328i and a 156 2.0 t-spark, beemer had a few niggles i.e. rear bushes top and bottom, and an oil leak, but nothing that completely failed and let me down altogether, The Alfa on the other hand well, wheel bearings, abs problems, rust problems (on a X plate), gearbox synchro going, air-flowmeter packed up, headgasket finally went on it and it was pissing water straight through the exhaust.

 

This was a tatty 110,000 miles car which i bought for 450 quid, so i assume it had never been looked after properly anyway, but ive had higher milage and rougher looking this last a hell of a lot longer. (beemer was on 156,000. sold it at 170,000 and was still going strong) theres tons of beemers with that sort of mileage, dont see many alfas with high mileage do you??

Edited June 22, 201015 yr by Mid-wales-zx

I'd say go have a look Dave, I actually bought the first one I looked at, seems I may have got lucky? I'd recommend them to anyine following my own experiences, and I'd definately have another. They are very well spec'd and if stuff does go wrong theres loads of breakers around.

you got a one off baz. if you think the rover is bad then the alfa is a definate no-no

 

my bosses mate has one, it needs a major service every year, it was 2 year old and had to have all the rear subframe and suspension changed under warranty due to corrosion

 

they are shite

 

Correct on both counts.:yes:

get it bought. lovely car. ;)

get it bought. lovely car. ;)

 

are you selling him yours lol

Its about time I got a new car, I've had the alfa for over a year now lol :shock:

 

It cost me £1100 which was slightly more than average for a T reg but it was low mileage and good condition, so I didnt mind paying the extra.

 

I have considered changing it - but I can't part with it as its done nothing wrong to me and I respect it for that lol :lol:

 

Smart cars they are, despite their age they still look modern on today's roads.

 

Wow there cheap :shock:

Its about time I got a new car, I've had the alfa for over a year now lol :shock:

 

It cost me £1100 which was slightly more than average for a T reg but it was low mileage and good condition, so I didnt mind paying the extra.

 

I have considered changing it - but I can't part with it as its done nothing wrong to me and I respect it for that lol :lol:

 

Smart cars they are, despite their age they still look modern on today's roads.

 

 

That's nice :cool2: even with the pram handle on the back ;) actually I'm undecided as to whether I like the spoiler or not. Defo like them in black though