Alfa 164

[usatrade]

Further to the XJ12 I hade back in Europe quite of few XJS and never had any problems whatsoever beside poor road handling at high speed (over 100 MPH). The XJ12 (sedan) was much better (I also had a few).
Claude

[oz3litre]

Quote:

Originally Posted by usatrade Further to the XJ12 I hade back in Europe quite of few XJS and never had any problems whatsoever beside poor road handling at high speed (over 100 MPH). The XJ12 (sedan) was much better (I also had a few). Claude

[Alfissimo Int.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by usatrade Further to the XJ12 I hade back in Europe quite of few XJS and never had any problems whatsoever beside poor road handling at high speed (over 100 MPH). The XJ12 (sedan) was much better (I also had a few). Claude

[Pat Braden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfissimo Int. I love old jags but they always had trouble until lately. Man we had a few including a XJS and XKE. They are far from totally reliable. I don't know? I saw more of those towed into the shop than alfa's! The lucas electricals where far more unreliable than the Alfa V6 timing belt. Jason

[usatrade]

Jaguars are a bit like Alfa Romeos. their "bad" reputation came only from the bad so called mechanics who worked on them.
As I said, I was a dealer, on the East Coast, for ,any brand names and we had FAR more problems with the BMW than we ever had with the Jags.
But again, here we are in the USA, and the smallest "thing" with a jaguar turns out into a nightmare when a blown V12 BM because of overheting (chronic problem) is only a minor problem !
I know I am going to generate again full of angry, nasty, remarks about this but it is again the truth. Do not tell mùe that BMW's do not have problems with water pumps, distribution systems, raer axle problems, and many more.
And again, I should not compare the "problems" in the USA vs those in Europe

Can somùeone (or many of you) cvan tell me when I look at Craigslist, Ebay or local newspaper adverts so many cars (regardless of brand name or origin) do advertise " "rebuilt transmission" "rebuilt engine" on cars less than 100 K miles ? Specially when cars here are NEVER driver really hard, regardless of what you say. accelerating from 0 to 60 at trafic lights or hitting (sometimes) 95 MPH on a freeway does not but a car that fast.
Claude
(Expecting againg sevaral firing squads here :-))

[oz3litre]

Quote:

Originally Posted by usatrade Jaguars are a bit like Alfa Romeos. their "bad" reputation came only from the bad so called mechanics who worked on them. :-))

[usatrade]

Yes OZ the V12 is a plumber's nightmare, but that does not make it an unreliable engine.
Nor was it an old fashion one. Ask BMW V12 5 litre owners (who drive their cars - when they can) what they honnestly think of their V12.
I have owned 5 different Jag V12's and rarely drove them less 110 120 MPH minimum, on long distances and NEVER VEVER had any problems of any kind.
Again we are in a USA VS Europe situation here where cars have a different image and people only live by those image.
You will never hear in Europe that US cars are not dependable or lemons, on the contrary drive a Chevy, a Buick, a Chrysler or a Ford (US models) and people will tell you how lucky you are to have such a nice automobile. You NEVER hear of a problem with a US made car.
The jag V12 got its bad reputation here only due to the fact that it takes hours to replace the spark plugs and it is very difficult to work on them but it is not at all an unreliable engine.
Have a nice week-end
Claude

[Alfissimo Int.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by usatrade Jaguars are a bit like Alfa Romeos. their "bad" reputation came only from the bad so called mechanics who worked on them. As I said, I was a dealer, on the East Coast, for ,any brand names and we had FAR more problems with the BMW than we ever had with the Jags. But again, here we are in the USA, and the smallest "thing" with a jaguar turns out into a nightmare when a blown V12 BM because of overheting (chronic problem) is only a minor problem ! I know I am going to generate again full of angry, nasty, remarks about this but it is again the truth. Do not tell mùe that BMW's do not have problems with water pumps, distribution systems, raer axle problems, and many more. And again, I should not compare the "problems" in the USA vs those in Europe Can somùeone (or many of you) cvan tell me when I look at Craigslist, Ebay or local newspaper adverts so many cars (regardless of brand name or origin) do advertise " "rebuilt transmission" "rebuilt engine" on cars less than 100 K miles ? Specially when cars here are NEVER driver really hard, regardless of what you say. accelerating from 0 to 60 at trafic lights or hitting (sometimes) 95 MPH on a freeway does not but a car that fast. Claude (Expecting againg sevaral firing squads here :-))

[usatrade]

Hi there Jason
For me the best mechanics are those who truly love cars and put their hands (and heads) in the grease.
it is also true today you have to be more an electronician than a pure mechanic.

Last month we had an Alfa outing in the Joshua Tree desert here in California and we had a good strong record braking heat wave as well.
On the return trip, on Sunday morning, not far from Palm Springs, on the freeway my spider overheated (first trip out with this 1979 132Kmiles +) since I owned if a a few month ago.
I had to get out of the freeway. I tried another thermostat, I tried no thermostat, noway it was overheating badly (the road temperature was far over 120°) so we put the car on a trailer and brought it back home. I went to a highly praised Alfa mechanic to have him replace the water pump. problem remained the same. Diagnosis : head gasket and plugged radiator. of course it is an Alfa so IT IS a blown headgasket ! Bolony, Alfa's do not blow head gaskets more than any other cars and far less than cars with aluminum heads on cast iron blocks. But that myth is another story.
I REFUSED the blown head gasket bit 200 %; just in case I flushed the radiator but it was perfectly cleaned...all this to find out that some grease monkey (I do not know when) had mounted the radiator fan backward (and my local -good and knowledgeable - Alfa mechanic did the same when installing the new water pump - I agree it is not an obvious thnig to spot).
Only hands in the grease an head in the engine is experience. But this does not stop having bad cars or bad engines right from the start.
I still will say that our good old 4 bangers twincams are reliable for a life time, just do not run out of oil and watch your oil pressure gauge mainly. :-)
We are going on the AROSC wine tour this week-end
Any one on this thred going ?

Claude

[alfa75 88]

Yes, the Italians like their Italian cars and the French like their French cars. I've spent a lot of time in both countries and for example, you see Fiat Seicentos and Lancia Ypsilons everywhere in Italy and rarely in France. In France, you see Renault Twingos and Renault Clios everywhere and they're not a common sight in Italy.

Seeing as this is nowhere near the original topic, I'll just say this- a damn good car is the first generation Fiat Panda. The FIRE engine is dead reliable if maintained right and the last one of the old style Pandas (2003) were simple, old fashioned cars in a time when most car manufacturers were trying to cram as many electronics into their cars as they could.

Corvairs.. I almost bought one but I ended up buying a '62 Bug instead. Sold almost a year ago and sorely missed.

Aaaand since we're listing fleets..
1966 Alfa GTV
1969 Renault 4
1974 Renault 4
1978 Citroen 2CV
1978 Lancia Beta
1983 Citroen GSA
1988 Alfa Milano
1997 Fiat Brava.

[alfa75 88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfissimo Int. I think that regardless if a good mechanic or not, some cars are just a pile.

[AlfaTango1]

A wine tour would be nice today but us San Diego AROC are doing the Campo train museum and ride. We leave here at 10:00, meet in Dulzura at 11:00 for lunch, then to Campo for the tour and train ride. Should be nice, a sixty to ninety minute train ride for $12, get to see a bunch of old steam engines and cars in different states of restoration. A custom Pullman car I believe too. I'll post pics this week.

[alfamale44]

Quote:

Originally Posted by usatrade Sorry if I am not a true Californian, sorry if I am from Europe. If I a; not mistaking probably more than half American originated from Europe, no ? And maybe Alfamale44 wants me out of the state ! Just for the records my 4 kids (now parents themselves are American citizen, born in America, all four of them, because I did NOT want them to be born anywhere in Europe !!! Non Californian Claude

[dave_fonz_164]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfamale44 OK Claude you're forgivven, no harm intended I'm just a little testy about my 164L. If you look at the 4 door sedans in the early to late 90's from Japan and elsewhere they all took their styling ques from the 164. Welcome!