New member.... Thinking on buying a 2000 156 Selespeed? Advice? Help?

[Yande]

Hello All.

So as the title states, I helped a friend of mine who doesn't speak very much English buy a new(ish) car, and considering they offered $500 on trade in for his 156, he asked me to help him sell it privately.  In the mean time, he stated, "why don't you use it until you sell it!" 

So, every chance I get, I take it for a run.  My last and first Alfa I owned was a 76 Alfetta 1.8, back in around 1982.  I loved it, cared for it, but alas, it was full of rust, and after the thrust bearing stuffed up, I virtually gave it away.

Since then, it's been Ford and Commodore Station Wagons.  I still need my Commodore Station Wagon for business, but my wife needs a run around, and that is a great excuse to buy me, I mean her,  a nice little (fun) car!  You get the idea.

So, the 156 has some problems.  The usual surge in First and Reverse gear, which I have read about, and then a little crunch in the 2nd Gear change, after it warms up.  Apart from that, everything seems good on this vehicle that over it's 195,000 k's, has been serviced at every 10,000 k junction.

Body is good, no rust, and the leather is surprisingly beautiful.

My friend is asking $3500, though I reckon he would sell it for $2500, and I could get it for $2000, with 10 months rego, presently.  These figures are very rough assumptions.  Under a pressure test, I'm sure they will go South, rather than North.

So, what do you (experts) think?  As the Used car Salesman who (I must say politely) offered the $500, stated, a bucket of trouble?  Or is it fixable, with a reasonable budget, and worth buying.

I'm in country NSW, Batemans Bay, so not a lot of Alfa Specialists around here.

I loved my first one, and have never forgotten that Alfa feel!

Any comments, advice etc would be highly appreciated.  i'm 56 btw.

Regards

mark

[Mick A]

Gday Mark,

Sounds like a generally good little car. From what you've described it may need a clutch solenoid or indeed a complete clutch.

The clutch solenoid is an easy job labor wise it shouldn't cost you more than an hours labour for an Alfa Specialist to replace it, however the part itself quite expensive.

The clutch is an expensive job mainly due to the amount of labour involved. Approx 8 hours labour.

The selespeeds can be a bit troublesome, the three main components that fail are the pump, accumulator, and previously mentioned clutch solenoid.

My personal opinion is to buy a 156 twin spark with a manual gearbox, you'll find one in your price range no worries.

-Mick

[Yande]

Thanks Mick,
and the Private Messages I received..

Good sound advice, all of it.

I'll be doing my best to sell the 156 for my friend.

This story has a great silver lining.

The co-incidence of being lent the 156, has re-ignited a long forgotten love of driving an Alfa.  Now I know what car I will be aiming at, and to be honest, I don't want to buy one that is documented to have so many shortcomings, let alone already having problems.  I'm a bit passed that.  So, slowly slowly, I'll seek out something to suit both my sporty desires, and yet, a comparative easy drive for my wife.

On an aside...I've been more into watches than cars this past decade, and I realised today that the Italian designed, Swiss Made watch I was wearing was worth more than twice the 156..

I've been looking for a Thread, "What watch(s) do Alfa Romeo drivers wear?"

As a new member, I'm hesitant to make such a strong entry, when I don't even own an Alfa, yet.

I'm looking forward to it, though..

Thanks Guys..