what is this actually worth (88 milano verde)

[ToonRboy]

Oh, I dunno. My very first Alfa - a Milano Verde, had 150k on it and it ran like a bear! -And was almost mint. Funny thing about the 116/119 cars is that you really have to keep after them if you drive it every day. I wouldn't disspell a 3.0 just because it has 225k. You really have to get a driving impression from it. Just to get there, you KNOW it's gone through timing belts, water pumps, 3k oil changes it's whole life, alternator, starter, maybe a rack-n-pinion, giubos, rear calipers, clutch, & most likely valve guides (after around 150k). The bottom-ends have excellent longevity. I suppose the rear main might need attention - If you care about leaking on the driveway. So, it could very well be that the the interior is the worst thing he's looking at. Maybe A/C, and ABS. You just never know. I prefer to make a good looking car run better, but making an ugly, good running car look better is a PITA IMO. ...Depends on whether you're more mechanically inclined or body-work inclined I reckon.

[Travis_k]

The problem with that car is the current owner has not maintained it at all, it has just sat in his garage for years. For the cost of the repairs it would need, you could buy that milano verde that has been for sale for $3200, and probably another base model one as well.

[thesameguy]

But, on the upside, you'd have a lot of new parts and recent work, and could expect a decent lifetime from them. There is something to be said for buying a car that you know needs work and doing that work yourself. You'll sleep better at night knowing the timing belt/head gasket/valve guides/whatever are done, instead of worrying about when they'll finally go and leave you stranded.

It's been literally a decade since I've purchased a "good runner." I buy a car that needs work, throw $2000 into it, and drive it for years and years before it needs anything other than oil changes.

I'm not saying that's the right approach for you, only that there is some value in it.

[Travis_k]

Honestly, if I was going to buy a car that needed that much work, it rather buy a $500 base model milano and save it from being scrapped, rather than a more expnesive car thats nicer but still needs just as much work.