Alfa meets Ducati

I am seriously considering an Alfa but not new. Depreciation is not funny and can't see a couple of stripes and wheels will slow that down much.
As you say difficult to tell what it looks like...all part of the mystery to make you go and see it!:)
 
Is the JTD diesel engine used by Alfa and Fiat not made by Ducati? I know that in the past they made diesel engines that were used by Rover.
Interestingly, I know Iain has an Alfa, Stewart says he's thinking about one and I've also been thinking about one for my next car.
 
Derek said:
Is the JTD diesel engine used by Alfa and Fiat not made by Ducati? I know that in the past they made diesel engines that were used by Rover.
Interestingly, I know Iain has an Alfa, Stewart says he's thinking about one and I've also been thinking about one for my next car.
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Think it's the same engine in the Vauxhall. Could be wrong ( not for the first time or the last!) but don't know who actually makes it. The diesel comes in 8V and 16V guise and is easily chipped to boost it again.
I know the 1.7 Ford Puma engine a few years ago was given to Yamaha to breathe on it and then shipped back to Ford to stick in the car.
The diesel is the one my head says to buy but the noise of the petrol stirs the soul!!:)
 
I've liked Alfa's since the old Alfasud days, the new Brera's are a work of art and but for the fact they're way out of my price bracket, i'd have one ;)
 
Most of Yamaha four cylinder engines (and the Japanese car manufacturers for that matter) are designed by a Consulting Engineering company in Essex called Ricardo Engineering, if I'm not mistaken. They have had a big hand in the development of Triumph motorcycles also and are an extremely well respected world engine design consultancy. I am plugging British Engineering cos' it's still, by far, the best in the world (don't believe anything you read in the papers); just ask Ducati. Even that new fancy French bridge was designed by British Engineers and not the Architect Richard Rogers as everyone would have you believe.
 
Looked at the 159 when it was launched and build quality is way up on models of before.
Mate has just bought a Brera after trading in his GT.
Biggest problem until now has been residuals. If they could address that they would sell many more new ones. (sort of contradiction in terms.:) ) Noticed that distinct lack of 159 appearing in auctions so perhaps it is improving.
Would buy a nearly new at the moment and let someone else take the initial hit.
 
239desmo said:
Looked at the 159 when it was launched and build quality is way up on models of before.
Mate has just bought a Brera after trading in his GT.
Biggest problem until now has been residuals. If they could address that they would sell many more new ones. (sort of contradiction in terms.:) ) Noticed that distinct lack of 159 appearing in auctions so perhaps it is improving.
Would buy a nearly new at the moment and let someone else take the initial hit.
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Regarding residuals - I think it would be fair to say that, regardless of what you buy nowadays you can expect a square kick in the nuts at trade in time.

Having owned german motors for a few years now, I had experienced fair to good trade in values at the beginning of this experience. Currently, I am looking after the renewal of one of my business partners nice spec, 2 year old, low mileage german coupe. I am aghast that it's lost over a third of it's original value.

And recently, my experience of german build quality has also taken a dissapointing downturn.

The squareheads are certainly not all they're cracked up to be :mad:

Having removed the build quality issues, and concerns over residuals - I'd be happy to stick a 159ti in my garage :thumbs:
 
an alfa might go down over 40 -50% in 2 years though Scott :( I really want a new Brera, been to look at it a couple of times now but its out of my price range although I did spot that second hand ones are now starting to come onto the market. Think I'll be hanging on before buying anything at the mo though, sings are that car and bike market is slowing rapidly and values will fall as more deals come up on new cars, Alfa are already doing this with various GT special models which is lowering S/H GT prices.
 
Gizmo said:
an alfa might go down over 40 -50% in 2 years though Scott :(
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I'd rather take a hit on a car that is genuinely attractive and holds some emotional interest, than a product of the squareheads that continually disappoints me though.

In addition, if you read one of the weekly motoring papers, the displayed resale of modern Alfa's would not appear to be as bad as you might think.

If resale is your biggest concern, then do as Stewart suggest, buy nearly new - let someone else take the fisting :thumbs:
 
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Scottch said:
I'd rather take a hit on a car that is genuinely attractive and holds some emotional interest, than a product of the squareheads that continually disappoints me though.

In addition, if you read one of the weekly motoring papers, the displayed resale of modern Alfa's would not appear to be as bad as you might think.

If resale is your biggest concern, then do as Stewart suggest, buy nearly new - let someone else take the fisting :thimbs:
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Think the residuals on Alfa depend on who you talk to.
Looking at a second car at the mo and one on the short list is the "new" Mini.
Talking to salesman (How do you know when a car salesman is lying?......his lips move!) and he said he had taken in a 18 month old GT JTD and had paid less than 50% of new price for it against a Mini. When I asked him about the Alfa (colour/miles etc) he suddenly became all vague.:confused:
On subject of Geman cars I object to paying good money for a car then "having" to buy upgrades or else "no-one will want your car when you trade it in". With Mini you MUST have a Chili or Pepper pack, air con etc. Suddenly your £13k new car becomes £17k. Now I like the Mini but at £17k there are a lot of serious bits of kit available new and secondhand.
Had same experience looking at a Boxster. Must have leather, must have wheels etc suddenly there is £7k of must haves. I know all amnufacturers look for the upgrades but somehow it seems the German car makers are the worst.
Next car WILL be Italian, just a matter of what. As Scott says life is too short and despite reliability tales (where have we heard them before?) I have to have something that excites me,
 
Stewart,

Don't forget to spec air con (:confused:) on any potential boxster - it's a must have. Despite the fact it's a convertible you must have the aircon as well.

I fell for that one hook, line and sinker :mad:
 
Swings and roundabouts with residuals, lets impoverished vultures like me get a car I'd never otherwise have a chance of owning. I don't think I'll ever be buying a new car manufactured west of Taiwan:(

Had a courtesy 159 for a month and it compared pretty well to a friend's new 5 series BMW in terms of build quality and toys, and has already been said more would have come standard with the former.

If it comes to lottery winning, the Brera does look great but the reviews seem to suggest the performance is a little underwhelming. It would be great if Ducati breathed a little Corse magic on it or the GT. I don't think BMW makes a huge profit on the Ms, but I bet it's priceless in terms of image for the saloon buyers.
 
Had a couple of ///M cars.

The last one needed 4 wheels and 4 brake discs replaced when it was less than a year old, all under warranty.

When it came out of the factory, it was poorly painted and had several flaws - this was subject to ongoing debate right up until I sold it.

The previous ///M car I owned was recovered twice due to electrical failure, had 4 batteries, sat nav replaced and lost a third of its value in 2 years.

Can an alfa really be any worse?

I'm lucky enough to have formed a long relationship with my preferred ///M car dealer, and as a result have managed substantial discounts in the past - I think that they have a fair margin in those cars.
 
Spent a large portion of last weekend wandering through garages looking at cars.:(
The saleslady in glasgow looked really happy to see a couple of idiots perusing cars late afternoon in a blizzard! She was more than happy to rush out to greet us with her fixed cheery smile!
However afer making our way through Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness (not in that order) and speaking to dyed in the wool Alfa buffs, it is interesting to note a severe lack of 159's on the market. Even perusing Arnold Clark website throws up precious few. ( I visited the website not the forecourt and that's my story ok?)
Tale I have is Alfa has pulled most of the dealerships in the country and is moving upmarket.(2 left in Scotland I'm told) They want to split from Fiat sites and their labour rate is now £80+ per hour for servicing etc.
They are carefully controlling prices and supply of cars to try and address residual problems.
Asking the people with knowledge has uncovered a few potential Alfa gems waiting to be discovered and I am now smurfing hidden corners of internetland to see what I can find.
It will be quick, it will make a lovely noise, and it won't cost a fortune!:)
Chances are it will involve a bl@@dy long drive to find them though.:(
 
saw one these the other day, it said JTD and then a red digit afterward, obviously a diesel but must have been a higher spec one? sounded awesome for a diesel :cool:

Alfa_159_sportwagon.jpg
 
239desmo said:
Spent a large portion of last weekend wandering through garages looking at cars.:(
The saleslady in glasgow looked really happy to see a couple of idiots perusing cars late afternoon in a blizzard! She was more than happy to rush out to greet us with her fixed cheery smile!
However afer making our way through Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness (not in that order) and speaking to dyed in the wool Alfa buffs, it is interesting to note a severe lack of 159's on the market. Even perusing Arnold Clark website throws up precious few. ( I visited the website not the forecourt and that's my story ok?)
Tale I have is Alfa has pulled most of the dealerships in the country and is moving upmarket.(2 left in Scotland I'm told) They want to split from Fiat sites and their labour rate is now £80+ per hour for servicing etc.
They are carefully controlling prices and supply of cars to try and address residual problems.
Asking the people with knowledge has uncovered a few potential Alfa gems waiting to be discovered and I am now smurfing hidden corners of internetland to see what I can find.
It will be quick, it will make a lovely noise, and it won't cost a fortune!:)
Chances are it will involve a bl@@dy long drive to find them though.:(
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Theres an Alfa dealer just down the road from me.....at Craiglockart.....did you try there?


http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
 
Davieravie said:
Theres an Alfa dealer just down the road from me.....at Craiglockart.....did you try there?


http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
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Our mini tour of Ecosse didn't quite make Embra!
Is that Western or another dealer? (Edinburgh is a bit of a mystery to me.....used to navigate by Meadowbank and a couple of garages..streets and areas mean little.:o )
Arnold Clark had a first class Alfa salesman in Perth but I understand although they can still service vehicles they cannot sell new now.
 
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