Are Alfa Romeos that unrealiable?

If you own a car you enjoy looking at and driving you tend to forgive it the odd little bit of misbehaviour - That is what I have found anyway.

Fair enough comment, but I have to say I'm surprised that you had no problems with Rovers and MGs.

Why are you so surprised!All the MGs and Rovers were well secondhand.The Montego Turbo had 143,000kms on the clock when I bought it and I ran it for twelve months, with nothing more than a $5 vaccuum hose split.
The Efi Montegos were no problem at all and a darn sight more comfortable than most cars to drive.

Both Rovers, a K series engined and a T series engined, were 100% reliable and the only money we spent was a new rear window in the hood of the Cabriolet.

I bought a two owner MG Metro with 240,000 kms on the clock and as it happens, I know both previous owners.Even when I sold it, the head had never been off and the previous owner had taught both his daughters to drive in it.I think it had had just one replacement clutch.I replaced a clutch cable where the nylon end had aged and gone brittle and fixed the historical problems regarding the exhaust by getting a length of flexible welded into the system.

The last MGB had some rot cut out and as the previous owner probably used unleaded without an additive or leaded fuel, it needed the head replacing.It was rooted!

As had been said on here before, if you drive carefully when the engine is cold, drive with a degree of mechanical sympathy and service properly, you are normally rewarded with reliability.

Well, that depends. If you service and look after your car, then in theory, it shouldn't misbehave. And, yet, some cars just like throwing their toys out of the cot as they please, so I can't forgive.

Im just curious what is jazz's Trade and what is he qualified in!

Yes alfas really are that bad. A few family members have owned them. They were complete buckets of shit. Dont even think about it.

I can imagine a Metro being a reliable car, but I have seen many blown K series engines at very low mileages, that's why I'm a bit suprised that your one was OK.

Of course, I would happily own any car, Jap or Euro, as long as the price is right. However, I simply can't recommend a Euro car to someone who's on a limited budget and who knows nothing about cars. At the same time though, if I do recommend a Jap car, I would insist they get it checked out by a mechanic before handing their money over.

I've owned 26 cars so far (and I'm only 31), and I've always had 3 or 4 cars at one time (I'm down to 2), and from the cars I've owned and the cars I've worked on at the garage, Jap cars tend to be the most reliable (overall), but boring at the same time.

Yeah Ive found that the K series engines wernt the top of the range in the reliable stakes.

I think he's a Banker.
No really!

Edit: Just to reiterate in order to avoid warnings, Jazz has previously said he worked or works as a bank manager.

We have been down this track so many times it isn't funny. Not all K series engines are dogs and not all Jap engines are bullet proof.
Post #62 says it all really. Given the choice (and I stress it is my personal choice) between the boring but reliable, or interesting but maybe a question mark over its reliability, give me the latter every time, as life is far too short to be boring.But there again, either you are interested in cars or just see them as a necessary evil.

A bank manager I read months ago and a share broker for Fiat.

Did you say Banker (with a 'B') !

Given what I know, I'd rather own something interesting over boring too, but, because we are expecting a fourth child, I am only allowed to own "big" 7 seater automatic vehicles. Now, if money was no object, the latest Citroen Picasso diesel would do us just fine. Instead, I'm stuck with two houses and a couple of very boring cars (Honda Odyssey and Hyundai Trajet).

Stuck with two houses!
How about being 'stuck' with one house and you can then have some very exciting cars.

No.He is probably being very sensible.Get the houses paid off and possibly an income earner on the second (we are guessing here.) and later in life, he'll have the means to enjoy his motoring.

Some people seem to think that you can blow your income when you are young, moan forever about the impossibility of ever owning a house and are trapped in rentals until the day they die.

Others really struggle early to get set up, then reap the rewards later.Good on you mugenb20b, if that is your situation.

True, but you can't forget to live along the way.
Having fun at 60 is not so great as having fun at 30

Exactly what we did socram. Gave away the toys and toiled hard while others were spending large. Now aged 41 with two properties cars bikes and enjoying life. Glad I didn't waste too much money along the way.

yeah, i dont believe that for a second

especially about the freelanders. obviously you have never had to work on one either. anyone who does wouldnt ever buy them

So I presume you are calling me a liar then! First Freelander was an ex- demo model, K series engine (again) manual, according to my records, we had one steering rack component replaced and a set of disc pads.As an ex-demo, who knows what abuse it suffered before we bought it!

Second Freelander was a TD4 automatic (bought new) .Ran it for 5 years (with a fair bit of towing the race car and the project car,) and the only faults were two blown headlamp bulbs, so over 5 years, about normal.Traded it in (for a better than my written down book price) on a brand new one (TD4 Freelander 2 again) and as it was a snap decision, I wouldn't have replaced two tyres at 79,000kms the week before we traded it if I had known!

Current Freelander is now two years old and apart from a suspected faulty sensor in the dif (replaced under warranty), zero problems.Runs like a dream and economy is excellent.Working on them!I didn't need to so, it wasn't an issue!

LOL,

In answer to the questions above. Yes I have been a commercial banker, but also:

Pianist
Teacher (Music)
Barman
Graphic Designer
Sales person (Various Jobs)
Boat Builder
Owned a business (computer/audio/automation)
Computer Technician
A/V and Automation Technician
Computer/Automation system designer

I am currently not working as I got really crook a few years ago with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, thats why I spend so much time on here. (mostly when I am tired and too sore to sit up for long periods, so I hang out in bed pestering everyone on here)

I am getting slowly better though so we have bought a cheap Mortgagee house that needs extensive work. I work on that as and when I have "good days" which thankfully are more and more often.

I got my first car at 13 years old (1932 Austin 10/4, restoration project) and I have been restoring/maintaining/driving classics and moderns since. I had four cars (at once) by the time I was 16 and have usually had half a dozen or so on the go for much of the time since.

I am not a professional mechanic (obviously). However I work on cars as a hobby and particularly like the "tricky" jobs. Like just this moment I have just come in for a rest from changing the cambelt/waterpump/tensioners on a 20V Fiat Marea (which is supposed to be an engine out job but can be done by undoing the mounts and moving/jacking the engine). BTW, Fiats are generally easy to work on, the high performance ones like this are the exception.

I also help out now and then at a local garage when the owner needs to get away unexpectedly etc.

So yeah. read that how ever you like I am what I am. From my point of view, no I am no pro and havn't worked on thousands of cars like some on here. However, when I talk about servicing a DSG transmission, or doing a timing belt on modern Audi's, VW's, Fiats, Alfa's etc. I know what I am talking about because I have usually been there and done that.

(BTW, I am curious actually as to how many of our professional mechanics have serviced a DSG, surely some must have done a few by now! There is nothing to it, in and out in 25 minutes. most of which is waiting for the car to warm up)

The interesting difference I notice about myself vs a professional mechanic is I have the time to do the research and find out WHY things fail and the proper way to fix them and prevent subsequent failures. Modern mechanics are time poor in my experience and naturally prefer working on what they see most often and are familiar with. Anything that is new/different is prone to being labeled "oddball" and will be frowned upon until its design is more familiar. usually thats when it becomes mainstream.

I have also found as socram has, with proper maintenance the many many "scary" cars I have owned have pretty much all been amazingly reliable.

In my opinion it makes much more sense to stress people buy well maintained examples of vehicles and service them properly (NOT just oil changes) than to worry too much about the badge on the front.

Also. with cars like the Alfa 156 being discussed here. I find its a lot easier to get an "enthusiast owned" example that has been exceptionally well maintained. That counts for a lot in my opinion.

Tui!

Someone asked me a question. get over it.

It was you who 'engaged' me!

I have a mortgage on both. One is in Upper Hutt, currently rented out (so the tenants are paying the mortgage, technically). The other house is in a small town where I work, in Rangitikei area. I could sell the rental house to fully pay off the other if I wanted to, but that wouldn't be a good move, financially speaking, IMO. So, yeah, my exciting Citroens will have to wait, and I really want my kids to have a head start too, when they grow up.

41! Cool. Only 10 years to go then.