USA alfa enthusiast curious on how reliable the new alfa's are

[jontg428]

Well, I am reading the rumors about alfa coming back to the US next year, and if proven true, may want to buy one. I was wondering if any current owners of new alfa's from europe australia, etc. can tell us what to expect for problems, and if they have improved at all in the last few years. I am really excited to hear that hopefully we will have alfa's back in the USA again. Can all of you who have not had to endure being without a new alfa imagine what we in the USA have been feeling for the last 11 years! Look forward to your feedback,

Jon

[TorW]

When (if?) Alfa comes back to the US, the model lineup will likely consist of cars that are quite new to even the European roads. I don't think anyone knows yet if the 159 (for instance) has any major reliability problems.

But: the 147/156/GT is generally regarded as a very reliable car amongst Alfisti here in Norway, but they tend to eat up the bushings a little fast. I'm not sure whether this is due to the engineering or the driving style you get when you sit behind an Alfa wheel It's not uncommon to replace them after around 30,000 miles / 50,000 km.

There's been no recalls (that I'm aware of) on recent model years.

Also, (on Twinsparks at least) the cam belt is rather unforgiving if you don't take care with regular oil changes, engine oil level checks and watch your mileage. Cam belts should be religiously changed after a set period or mileage - whichever happens first. Around these parts of the world, it's three years or 37,000 miles (60 kkm). Other countries have different recommendations, mostly 3y/80,000 kms. The cam belt issue is not unique for Alfa anyway.

Another thing to watch for is the ball joints. For some reason Alfa decided to make the wishbone arm and ball joint into one single part. When the ball joint is worn out, you must change the entire arm. Unneccessary expenses in my opinion, but probably cheaper to make. Again, this is on 147/156/GT. I don't know what they did on 159 and Brera.

You've probably heard that some purists call the new Alfa engines for "GM engines". This is frankly a load of crap. The only GM thing remaining on a JTS is the engine block itself. Just that big slab of aluminium. Everything else is Alfa. There's not a single bolt in common on - say - an Opel and Alfa 2.2JTS head.

All Alfas are FWD these days, and they can be a little picky with regard to the tyres. There's a lot of torque coming down on the front wheels when you step on it. Grooves in the road (from studded tyres for instance) combined with the sensitive steering and torque means you should hold on to the steering wheel! With some types of rubber this is not an issue, but with others the effect is rather obvious.

I'm very satisfied with my 147. I've driven 20,000 miles without any problems whatsoever. And I don't take it easy when I'm out and about
If you maintain it the way an Alfa deserves, there's no reason to fear owning one.

[Mongoletsi]

Excellent posting Tor, esp. thanks for clearing up the GM gossip!

I'd have agreed about the reliability until last week, but then 3 major incidents on two 147s has convinced me otherwise sorry. All begrudgingly carried out under warranty by two insultingly poor main dealers. Up until now there've been other minor squabbles too. If it weren't for last week though I'd agree with you - maybe we were unlucky.

[Josh1600]

No reliability issues with our 156 but oil is the key. Australians, like Americans, are used to large, lazy, low-compression engines and they don't like to lift the bonnet. As a result there have been some problems down under with engines being destroyed when the oil gets too low.

Apparently there have been some niggling electronic issues with the 147 and I've heard that the dealer network has been less than helpful to a few owners.

I've also heard that there are reliability issues with the Selespeed transmission, but my wife and I are committed manual drivers so we were never going to buy one of those. Apparently most people who do come to wish they'd bought a manual in the end... I've driven the Selespeed and I found the changes to be too slow and also that it took away some of the driving experience. I just enjoy depressing the clutch pedal I guess.

I bought the 156 for my wife because we had a baby and wanted an estate. It's a nice car but it's built to a different philosophy compared to classic Alfas. I'll never warm to front wheel drive. Also it's too soft for my tastes... I just don't think that Alfas should have things like power steering or air conditioning. It was the best option given that we wanted an estate but I just know that I'll never become emotionally attached to it. It's the first car I've ever owned that I've ever felt that way about, and it saddens me that it had to be an Alfa that made me feel that way!

Cheers,
Josh.

[jholiday]

Hi,
Rumors said that Mamma is planning a comeback around 2008 at the US market. In order for this undertaking to be successful, distribution channels are going to be organized together with Mazerati.

Now about the issues that European Alfas have. Since GT you can expect some minor electrical and mechanical problems/malfunctions (variator, some ). I think that the major players at the US market will be the brand new JTS V6 and its 2.2JTS counterpart. Those engines are much more durable. The assembly seems to be very solid at the after BRERA period, my only objection here is the weight, Alfas becoming fat ladies.

[gritsop]

Hi,

Being an owner of an 1991 Alfa 33 IE and a 2001 147 1.6 I can say that both cars have been very reliable so far.

Attention must be paid as said before, to the oil level; Revvy engines as boxer and TS need attention to their oil religiously. No electrical or mechanical failures so far on both cars.

Wishbones on the 147 are prone to wear (always lower ones and sometimes upper ones); this is attributed to the multi-link type of suspension since there are many joints of the setup. Don't worry, it is not an Alfa culprit ... even Audi cars and their "happy" owners have been replacing wishbones one after another!

In addition, TS engines dislike interventions like air filter replacement with aftermarket ones (high performance cone style). Usually TS engines with such modifications burn out AFM and lambda sensors, so stick to stock parts.

Finally regarding the timing variator which fails, it is true. New production variators, redisigned and re-engineered are supposed to last a lot more. It is of the latest news according to my trusted parts dealer in Athens.

Have your Alfa well cared well cared, never neglected and you won't be disappointed.

Regards,

[JagWaugh]

Hi Jon,

My daily drive is a '98 156 2.5. Reliability is great, I've put 160000 km on it and aside from brakes, exhaust, and lower A arms, have only had scheduled maintenance. The car has never let us down, and has held up very well to the strain of two kids, a dog, and a wife who sometimes parks by ear. Performance is great, handling is very good for a front wheel drive (I live near the Alps) most of our driving is alpine, and control in the snow is very good. I've never really pushed the car, but at 180 on the Autobahn it is stable and quiet. The trunk is a bit small (The "2.5" marking on the rear does indicate Litres, but it also means trunkspace, not just displacement), This is solved by a skibox on the roof.

Before buying the 156 new I had a '82 (iirc) GTV 2.5, and two 75's. Although the GTV was only held together by the paint and rustproofing I have never regretted owning Alfas.

Minor complaints about the 156: the headlamp squirter checkvalves sometimes freeze open at about -3 deg C and then the ww fluid siphons out - After I discovered what the problem was I just disconnected the pump for these jets (separate pump from the windshield). The ABS cuts in a bit too early for my liking when I am driving agressively, I've been on closed road sections and tracks a few times and the ABS cuts in a bit too early for really aggressive braking. The A/C always starts with the car, which I personally don't like. Some think that the car should have a low oil warning/ Oil pressure gauge, as you really do need to check the oil every 3rd tank of fuel, and the doorlines/trunklines are such that snow falls into the car in the winter.

Andrew

[Palmer]

180,000 miles from new on a three year old 156. As previously mentioned as long as you keep up with service intervals, belt changes and keep an eye on fluid levels it's every bit as reliable as any other motor car. Only downside is the main dealership network, here in the UK anyway

[Vsix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JagWaugh Hi Jon, . The A/C always starts with the car, which I personally don't like. Some think that the car should have a low oil warning/ Oil pressure gauge, as you really do need to check the oil every 3rd tank of fuel, and the doorlines/trunklines are such that snow falls into the car in the winter. Andrew

[Hans]

My 156 (2001) has done 233,000 kms now. No oil use here either. The last 12 monts the only unexpected costs were a new TDC sensor (€ 86), for the rest only costs were regular maintenance plus two new front tyres.

The Twin Spark engine may use oil and need cambelts every 60,000 kms / 3 years, but the Twin Spark engines are on their way out and won't come to the US.

[Little Italian]

Used to be, when you got a ALFA brochure from a dealers showroom, it would have a picture of the engine, etc. The Alfetta brochures where great because they had the whole drivetrain in cut-away art. If ALFA comes back to the U.S. I think the "REAL" ALFAs will become old cars, and the old Alfisti will never accept the FIAT / GM cars as ALFAs. Are the New engines as cool now as they were in real ALFAs? What do they look like? Now days you only see the top engine plastic shroud in the internet pictures. We never see a new ALFA engine here in the U.S.A. Could someone put up some good pictures of the ALFA Romeo Engine line-up?

[gritsop]

Hi,

As soon as I get home, i'll post some pics from the Twin Spark Engine bay of our 147.

Regards,

[gritsop]

As I had promised ...

[jontg428]

As a modern engine the TS looks good, however I still miss the chrome intake runners of the later (164-on) series cars. I saw the V-6 engine out of the Brera, kind of looks more GM then alfa.

[Hans]

The Busso V6 is extremely beautiful.