147 Selespeed on A Current Affair

[wankski]

colin, did you watch it? many of the issues are unrelated to the trans... suspension, knocking engine etc.. from BRAND NEW...

not acceptable...

even if they were exclusively sele issues, the phrase, "merchantable quality" and "implied warranties" come to mind...

[tony8028]

touch wood, my 147 is bullet proof. I drive it all day every day including many country and interstate trips etc. Unlike a lot of 147s, it doesnt use a lot of oil....its a gem. Ironically the most unreliable Alfa I owned was my 164 - ironic given this was their rolls royce at the time. My 33s have also been great.

I think a dealer that sells a Selespeed to someone who looks like just a regular soccer mum is being a little irresposible if they do not stress that this isnt a set and forget car.

The dealer in that clip does look like a bit of a shark to me.

My ex girlfriend had a Honda HRV which developed a shudder in the auto-trans....long story short, was a 8K job to replace. Without question, Honda came to the party and said even though the car is out of warrantee, it shouldnt need the trans replaced given the low milage of the car, so they replaced it with a brand new trans free of charge, no dramas.

I think Alfa need to be more accountable for the Selespeed issues that they have created.

[wankski]

My ex girlfriend had a Honda HRV which developed a shudder in the auto-trans....long story short, was a 8K job to replace. Without question, Honda came to the party and said even though the car is out of warrantee, it shouldnt need the trans replaced given the low milage of the car, so they replaced it with a brand new trans free of charge, no dramas.

I think Alfa need to be more accountable for the Selespeed issues that they have created.

yeppo - and it's not just a goodwill issue. this is where the implied warranties in the ACL and former FTA come in... just b/c the manufacturer gives a 2 or 3yr warranty, doesn't mean their obligations are over... it has to be of merchantable quality. i.e. if you pay 40k for a car u don't expect it to die 3 mo out of warranty, or to have a diff or trans life of 30k kms... etc...

ALFA are lucky a great lawyer hasn't stuck it to them on an early failure. that said, the worst that can happen is being ordered to replace - so in most cases they are happy to frustrate and sit it out....

nice.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

She should have done her homework, Selespeeds have known issues, although a 2009 should be better, should have tried another dealer and contacted Ateco, we Alfa people know about these cars, but some think because they are expensive, they are bullet proof, [they are not],  a better choice, would have been a automatic Corrolla, as for a Current Affair, i never watch it, but was told about it at work, "all Alfa Romeo's are lemons", it was on ACA last night, Colin.

Sorry Uncle Col, but I gotta disagree with you here.  Even by 2009, Alfa had had 10 years to sort out their shit, it's inexcusable that it's still a problem.  Anyone off the street should be able to walk into an Alfa dealer and be able to buy a car that won't give them any issues during the warranty period (assuming normal service intervals are respected).

As others have said, there were myriad problems anyway, not merely selespeed.

I think it is highly dismissive of you to say that she should have got an automatic Corolla,  because she's not one of "our Alfa people".  What you're basically saying is that 'we Alfa people' (your words) know that the selespeed is shit, so we'll buy the manuals, anyone that buys a selespeed deserves what they get, because they're idiots who didn't know any better.  This is not the way to enhance a brands image, or reputation.

[colcol]

The later Selespeeds were improved over the earlier versions, they were more simpler, with less things to go wrong, personally, i would steer clear of them, but Selespeeds are sold as Automatics, which they are not, they are a manual with an Auto clutch, but if my 147 had that many problems, wouldn't you just go to another dealer, and contact Ateco, about such lousy service, no i didn't see the report on A Current Affair, nor do i wish to, i am sure it was a million miles away from being factual, bloke at work told me Alfa was going to send their TOP mechanic down to look at it, should have done it 3 years ago, hope Chrysler do a better job, Colin.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

but if my 147 had that many problems, wouldn't you just go to another dealer, and contact Ateco, about such lousy service

Some people don't know as much about the car industry as you Colin, and I don't think they should be penalised for that.  They should be looked after if they buy a shit, brand new car, which has multiple problems in the warranty period.

no i didn't see the report on A Current Affair, nor do i wish to, i am sure it was a million miles away from being factual, bloke at work told me Alfa was going to send their TOP mechanic down to look at it, should have done it 3 years ago, hope Chrysler do a better job, Colin.

So you won't watch the report to judge for yourself, but it's okay to rely on what some bloke from work tells you about it?  And then it's okay to opinionate on here based on what some bloke from work tells you about a report which you say is sure from a million miles away from being factual?  Give me a break Col, something to do with Pots and Kettles springs to mind.

[Paul Newby]

I'm not about to enter this debate as I haven't seen the ACA report.

But in a previous occupation back in the 90's I was able to review a number of cases of a solicitors firm in Sydney who looked after the legal affairs of a number of motor vehicle importers.

There was Hyundai (lots of Excel manual gearbox problems) and Audi (no problems, but I did get to see their Super Touring Motorsport agreement with BJR ) and then there was Alfa Romeo.

This was the old Alfa Romeo Australia and what I recall vividly was the owner of a 33 16 Valve whose car self- immolated and burnt to the ground only days after it was purchased! I don't recall the final details but I believe the owner was adequately compensated, and no, I don't think he was given a replacement 33...

[colcol]

Its like a 5 year old at Kindergarten yells that they don't like your Alfa 147, so you get all upset about, watching A Current Affair telling you how hopeless Alfa Romeo's, and you getting all upset about it, no i am not going to watch it, because A Current Affair is Rubbish, has been for 20 years, the lady may have been hard done by, she should have gone to consumer affairs, not A Current Affair so that they can reinforce, that all Car Salesman are crooks, then they will cross promote the Block and then do their nightly T&A report, and people take this seriously, Colin.

[VeeSix]

Thats it, i am not buying a Selespeed 147 till there value drops down to $500................next year!!!!!               And that will only be for its mags...............to put on the 90!!!!! 

Then again the front seats could make some nice office chairs.................to use while reading this forum!!!!!

[trippytipo]

I remember looking at a few selespeeds while I was hunting for my first Alfa.

It appeared that all the car salesmen I spoke to were in denial of its high failure rate and unreliability, often using tactics such as 'but the Volkswagen gearboxes are worse, we haven't had any reports on the selespeed gearboxes' and 'people often complain when things fail, but never when they work correctly'. When I asked for extended warranty on the gearbox, it wouldn't cover the selespeed system - only the mechanical gear itself (i.e. lubricated part).

Given the situation, I would believe that anyone who has not done their homework with the selespeeds would be in for a bit of an eventual letdown. The resultant issue with this is that the uninitiated see 'Alfa Romeo' and 'Selespeed' as one entity, I know I did before I knew better.

If I may be so bold as to say - I don't think Alfa Romeo is a marque meant to be owned by the uninitiated, it demands involvement and appreciation. Sometimes I think we would be better off as a boutique car brand - much like Lotus.

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

[tony8028]

If I may be so bold as to say - I don't think Alfa Romeo is a marque meant to be owned by the uninitiated, it demands involvement and appreciation. Sometimes I think we would be better off as a boutique car brand - much like Lotus.

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

The thing i love about alfas is that i could go an buy a 33 for $3000 and have a ball driving it.....not sure that extends to too many other boutique brands....

The problems start when people like the one in the current affair story buy them as an A to B run around...

Given the age of her 147, the final irony might be that the timing belt is about to fail.

[colcol]

And when the cam belt fails it will be Alfa Romeo's fault for not making them last 10 years like they do on Toyota's, or the engine will seize, because the owner ran it out of oil, because its a modern car, and you shouldn't have to check the oil, and the Alfa Romeo reputation will suffer, because they are not looked after like they should be, $3,000 for a 33?, thats a really good one with a roadworthy, mines worth about $100, and i still like driving it, Colin.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

If I may be so bold as to say - I don't think Alfa Romeo is a marque meant to be owned by the uninitiated, it demands involvement and appreciation. Sometimes I think we would be better off as a boutique car brand - much like Lotus.

The problems start when people like the one in the current affair story buy them as an A to B run around...

Meanwhile, back in the real world.......  Presently, Alfa produce two vehicles.  The MiTo, a FWD supermini designed to compete in the 'Mini class' (for want of a better description), and the Giulietta, a FWD small family car designed to compete in the 'Golf class' (for want etc...).  Both cars are built on FIAT-made platforms that are also used for other vehicles (or will be in the case of the Giulietta).  Both cars are designed for markets that demand an 'A to B run around', and that it will be reliable, yet stylish.  These cars are designed for people that do not do grease their kingpins on a Saturday morning. 

And when the cam belt fails it will be Alfa Romeo's fault for not making them last 10 years like they do on Toyota's

It's all very well to make fun of Toyota, and they do make some pretty bland cars for people that don't care about driving.  But it's interesting to note that they have just released a nice-looking compact sports coupe with a 200bhp boxer engine, with RWD to an LSD via a 6-speed.  And all for the same price as the cheapest MiTo.  Ah well, at least the Alfa is more fuel-efficient.

[Paul Gulliver]

It's all very well to make fun of Toyota, and they do make some pretty bland cars for people that don't care about driving.  But it's interesting to note that they have just released a nice-looking compact sports coupe with a 200bhp boxer engine, with RWD to an LSD via a 6-speed.  And all for the same price as the cheapest MiTo.  Ah well, at least the Alfa is more fuel-efficient.

Sheldon , Probably agree with most of what you said. Made me go and goggle the link to the new FT 86.

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/30000-toyota-sports-car-for-2012-20110302-1be0b.html

One of the comments posted made me laugh & ithought it  might have come from Uncle Col,   I quote " Nice car... shame it'll be ruined by the inevitable massive wing, 5" fart cannons, neons and doof doof from the demography it appeals to"

Gully

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Here's a more recent link, with confirmed pricing at $29,990. http://www.caradvice.com.au/175446/toyota-86-pricing-and-specifications-revealed/

"The 86 is meant to be enjoyed by as many driving enthusiasts as possible, and our pricing will extend its appeal to people who never imagined they could afford such a fun car," says Toyota Australia marketing manager Matthew Callachor.

Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada added: "We developed an authentic sportscar so that ordinary people can experience the joy of exciting driving."

This car is far more interesting than anything Alfa makes at the moment, and it's made by Toyota.  This is the sort of car that Alfa should be making. 

I'm not even going to mention BMWs M3 and M5 etc.