Junior Joiner

[Mic]

Hi all,

With a slight lack of experience (none), I'm hoping I can tune in here for a bit of advice and the occasional inspiration or idea.
Currently, I'm 16 years young and loving life (mum is not) on my Loony Learners.

With about 7-ish months to go before I move into the big world, I've decided to actually start saving for that car rather than just drooling onto my keyboard over GTV's on carsales. Incase that's not a enough of a giveaway, I kinda really want an Alfa.
No matter what else I see, there's just something about them that makes me gawp in envy as one drives by. Can't be another Commodore kid.

With a bit of money saved, and hopefully more coming from selling a car we no longer use, I set my sights on either an early model 156 twinspark or a 99' or newer GTV v6. With my parents both driving auto's, it really needs to be a manual - a problem in the 156 with so many opting for selespeeds when new.

Anyway, before I turn this into a wanted ad, I just wanted to introduce myself and maybe pick at your brains for a few answers about things I want to know. Looking forward to being a part of the Alfa world

Cheers,
Mic

[Brad M]

Welcome Mic there are many Alfisti on here who can help with exactly what you are looking for. 

[ProvaRacing]

Welcome and good on you so eager at 16+. May I suggest you start with ringing around getting insurance quotes if you are considering GTV V6 (or any 2 door coupe)...once you recover (smelling salts helps) that should narrow down your range of Alfa choices.
Good luck.

[wankski]

hi mick,

welcome... i don't wanna be the bad guy here, but i suggest you really look into it and talk to alfa specialists about the cost of maintaining these cars...

I think the number 1 mistake most 'non-alfisti' make when considering these cars is, they look at the purchase price of a 11yo car and think they can afford it... when they can't...  one of the reasons why these cars depreciate so bad is that the service bills can be ridiculous and they have a bad general rap for reliability as i'm sure you know...most of us here are on decent full time wages and the bills still sting...

that said u mentioned a preference for manual, and in those models and years that is definitely the way to go. I would also suggest a TS gtv over the 156.

Still, there is a lot to consider as far as potential costs at that age... clutch, coils, cambelt/waterpump/variator major service each of which are well over $1k bills...

if the price looks cheap, well, as they say, there is a reason for everything.

buy in all cases, subject to an alfa specialist inspection. best money u will ever spend on your second hand purchase...

ok, lecture over....

welcome, hope u get that dream car whatever it is!!

[shane wescott]

Hi Mick

I bought my first Alfa while on learners :-) I was lucky to have a father in law who taught me about maintenance and mechanical repairs so most work was done by us.

The guys are right in that the modern alfas can cost a bag to service. My advice, get an old one with a good (as rust free as possible) body, maybe an Alfetta, Guilietta, 75 etc.

Learn about cars, come on some track days and learn to drive in a drivers machine :-)

Good luck and you will be most welcome at any event.

CAtch ya

Shane

[dehne]

first thing is welcome, second being a young guy i would go with shanes idea and head to a 75/gtv6/ but definatly a 90 idea, just happens that i have one for sale to, but anyway i think you would have more fun/appeal to the ladies in one of these and they all go like the clappers to. they are also easy to fix, parts are readly available and cheapish to and with the knowledge of them one here you cannot go wrong for if no one knows on here then the issue is non existant, do some more reaserch on the earlier /80/90's stuff and then at least you have all the info also check out the 33's as for a new driver these sure can pack a punch to
lastly where about are you from

[Mic]

Thanks for the info guys,
I realise insurance is going to be through the roof for a Gtv, it has become a consideration as has part replacement and  purchasing costs for either car.
I'm currently situated in Townsville, however the plan is to move to NSW in about a year and a half to start uni. There is an Alfa dealer here but it's only small (partnered with the Audi/Fiat place) and I keep meaning to pop in and enquire about their prices. Problem is living in a reasonably secluded area, there are hardly and options available sales-wise. In the almost 18 months I've been here I've seen 2 156's, a Spider and as of yesterday a bright red Gtv that made me slightly jealous. A lot.

What are the prices like for an older bodied machine? Would it be hard to track down parts up here without paying more than the car itself?
Any help is welcome

Thanks guys

[spieret]

If i can just give some figures for a 98 GTV it may help. Servicing is quite average, like any other car.

However, recently I have had to replace the gearbox and diff, as a common fault through the amount of torque going through the front standard diff is throw a tooth through the bell housing of the gearbox. Kiss $3500 goodbye.

Had a small nose to tale, mini-me distracted me during traffic, luckily i had insurance, new bonnet, front bumper, radiator and a few other things $10800. All it cost me was the $400 excess.

So while I love the car and would recommend it to anyone, I wouldn't to younger person, cause if something bad goes wrong, it hurts the hip pocket big time.

I would definately recommend an older car.

Cheers

Tony

[wankski]

servicing is not average... it is unreasonable to expect a P plater to cough up around $1200 every three years. there are a myriad of cheaper more reliable cars that do not have belt costs or the risk of blowing the engine..

also most cars don't pop their g/b for no reason... and that is just the costs with a 'cheap to maintain' gtv... jts selespeed and the like is another story...


to wage earners $3,500 is painful... to the average 16-17yo that occurrence is scrap the car and everything put into it time... for those that rely on their car to earn what little income they make it compounds their problems..

many 'high maintenance' alfas are bought as weekend cars by professionals for good reason.. bit of fun, not to be relied upon.. can take time with repairs, parts from o/s etc...

[spieret]

my regular services are around $200-300 dollars at an Alfa specialisy, considering that is roughly the same if not less than my 4wd, i would consider that average. Yes you also have to factor in the belts, but hey 10 bucks a week for 3 years and it's covered, make a belt jar.

The reason the gearbox pops is because the amount of torque and power going through it, most cars don't have that power. Alfa should have put the Q2 into all v6 models to handle the power.

$3500 being painful for anyone is the point i was making and why i said, I wouldn't recommend it to a young driver.

[wankski]

oh yeah, i am agreeing with you in regards to servicing, just clarifying the cost aspects.

don't agree with the gearbox tho... its a well reported issue with v6s, but not just 6s... (diffs yes, g/b as a whole no...) plenty of 4 bangers have lunched their boxes too...

disagree with the power claim too.., the 3.0 is only chucking out around 160kw.. if its lucky... but even moreso, only around 270nm...

that is not alot ... there are a lot of totally mundane cars that make that power or more that were considerably cheaper when new, with much better gearbox reputations...

maybe its just me, but i don't think it's reasonable to expect to buy a new gearbox after 10 years or so... of course many have gone a lot sooner than that...