Im wanting to buy a car, my first.
Just seen this (http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/classicdd.cfm?Account=AETA69643&VehicleID=AETV481599&Photo=http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/is/remotemanaged/AETA69643/AETV481599_1a.jpg) and Im really tempted. Got the money to buy today and have been quoted Ã,£1000 on insurance.
What you lot think?
nice
I like alfas
The impression I get is once people have driven an Alfa, thats all they buy for the rest of their lives, supposed to be really nice cars.
Ive been through a fair few alfas - they have mostly been 166s - the last being a V6 - it was a nice car to look at, nice to drive, but was horribly put together - bits of trim randomly came off, lights flickered, it started 9 times out of 10 (Thats NOT good) and all the alfa stereotypes shone through - including the dodgy brakes.
The depreciation is also shocking - I got the last 166 for Ã,£5500 and it was only a few years old at like Ã,£26,000 new.
For that class of money and insurance I would definately be looking for something else. Especially if you want it to last more than a short while.
Just this day I bought a 1999 BMW 530d for Ã,£4700. Pix to follow. Thats the sort of thing you can get for that class of money
Shoddy reliability, hope you got a fortune for repairs.
166 3.0 was rather tasty to drive but every time i got in it something new was wrong with it (mates dads car)
Jaimz :rock:
I like it, but like above posts Id worry about reliability
The one thing relatively new Alfas have going for them is their monster depreciation, which brings a later-plate car within economic reach more quickly.
That said, the curve probably doesnt stop, so youd prob lose more of your Ã,£4k over the time you have it than a similarly-priced Golf, for example.
Quote from: BXGTi16VJust this day I bought a 1999 BMW 530d for Ã,£4700. Pix to follow. Thats the sort of thing you can get for that class of money
I have insurance to worry about too.... At Ã,£1100, its pushing it on the Alfa.
So get something a bit less "prestige" and save on buying and insurance costs.
Jaimz :rock:
Just found the same car on Ebay :D
Quote from: JaimzSo get something a bit less "prestige" and save on buying and insurance costs.
Jaimz :rock:
At the same time I want a nice car, dont want anything normal/boring or small.
Do you have a good mechanic? If you do, it might be an option. Its sort of like driving a VW stateside, as normal as they are in the rest of the world, here repairs can rape you at the Euro-auto shops. Fortunately, Ive got Emil, the most honest VW mechanic in the world. :mrgreen: Otherwise, Id stick to Japanse iron.
For that amount of money, and insurance I would get a 944 turbo on classic insurance (If you qualify for it) - youll not get anything faster (Or with the potential to go much faster reliably) for the money.
They certainly arent normal, and running costs are suprisingly low.
Hard to get a good one nowadays though. :/
When I ditch this 530d Im going to go looking for another 944 Turbo - or an early 90s 911 Carerra 2 from somewhere.
Dont buy the Expensive Fiat, they break for fun.
magnetti marelli - i think thats italian for starts 9 times out of 10 or please let it spark this time
Appears they do depreciate fast. :shock:
Id look into getting something 2-3 years old, as buying new is a great way to lose 3K in the few seconds it takes to drive off the lot.
Its always better to buy a car thats clean but a couple of years old, I have seen Ã,£30-40,000 Jeeps for sale for a tenth of their RRP just a few years after production.
i really like alfas, i nearly bought 145 cloverleaf not long ago, it was old enough for the niggles to have been sorted and to not loose much more money and the noise from the 2.0 TS engine made @ 7000rpm was beautifull, the insurance was crazy for me though :(
Hiya,
I like it!
But, yes the depreciation is a put off.
In terms of reliability (sp?), dont forget you can always buy one of warranties for older cars. they are about Ã,£300 per year. I guess they differ, so best to check some reviews out.
All the best
Zak
willy its a 1.6 so it wont go very far.
secondly, alfas are for people rich enough not to give a sh*t about repairs and reliability. buy a good reliable car before this one :)
Went car hunting today, and will again tomorrow. Then test drive this Monday before deciding.....
At the end of the day, you get what you like - thats the best way to do it!
I like everything (except fords and vauxhalls/Opels) myself.
Ok, decided not to go for that.
Going to go for a 1.6l Toyota Corolla, 2003, 12000 miles from local Toyota dealership for Ã,£7300. Ã,£800 insurance too :)
Youre throwing over Ã,£7k at a car and youre going for a Corolla? :shock:
Im no expert but surely there is better than that for the money. Did the stealership have your kilt up over your head and you bent over the counter?
:?:
as long as your happy with it mate. does seem alot of money on a first car though, odds are you will bump into something at some point.
Quote from: Clockd 0NeYoure throwing over Ã,£7k at a car and youre going for a Corolla? :shock:
Checkthe Corolla reliabilty record. You can literally weld the hood shut on them with an oil port and itll not complain for a decade. Smart move, if a little pedestrian. My Daihatsu, which I love to make fun of, is actually a Toyota, under a diffent name, and its 14 years old and has needed only an alternator, one belt, and a single CV boot in all that time. :thumbup:
Quote from: Clockd 0NeYoure throwing over Ã,£7k at a car and youre going for a Corolla? :shock:
Im no expert but surely there is better than that for the money. Did the stealership have your kilt up over your head and you bent over the counter?
Only 3 years old with 12000 miles, from a dealship so will come with warranty, a new one the same would be Ã,£13000 or so. I dont think its a bad deal. But then thats why I ask on here :D
Quote from: DEViANCEas long as your happy with it mate. does seem alot of money on a first car though, odds are you will bump into something at some point.
Why a lot of money for a first car, surely it shouldnt matter how much I pay for a new car????
Is it a written rule that I should get a cheapo little banger? No, of course not.
Quote from: WalrusbonzoQuote from: DEViANCEas long as your happy with it mate. does seem alot of money on a first car though, odds are you will bump into something at some point.
Why a lot of money for a first car, surely it shouldnt matter how much I pay for a new car????
Is it a written rule that I should get a cheapo little banger? No, of course not.
i mean in terms that if you bump into somthing in a cheepo first car it obviously isnt as bad as if you do it in your shiney new car.
Quote from: WalrusbonzoQuote from: Clockd 0NeYoure throwing over Ã,£7k at a car and youre going for a Corolla? :shock:
Im no expert but surely there is better than that for the money. Did the stealership have your kilt up over your head and you bent over the counter?
Only 3 years old with 12000 miles, from a dealship so will come with warranty, a new one the same would be Ã,£13000 or so. I dont think its a bad deal. But then thats why I ask on here :D
Thats fair enough, does sound like a lot to me, I paid Ã,£450 for mine but Im a tightwad, fair play then :lol:
I intend to do no bumping :D
Quote from: WalrusbonzoI intend to do no bumping :D
No one intends to play bumper cars with their first car, s**t happens though :-)
Quote from: Clockd 0NeQuote from: WalrusbonzoQuote from: Clockd 0NeYoure throwing over Ã,£7k at a car and youre going for a Corolla? :shock:
Im no expert but surely there is better than that for the money. Did the stealership have your kilt up over your head and you bent over the counter?
Only 3 years old with 12000 miles, from a dealship so will come with warranty, a new one the same would be Ã,£13000 or so. I dont think its a bad deal. But then thats why I ask on here :D
Thats fair enough, does sound like a lot to me, I paid Ã,£450 for mine but Im a tightwad, fair play then :lol:
Yes, but what the hell did you buy?
Quote from: Clockd 0NeQuote from: WalrusbonzoI intend to do no bumping :D
No one intends to play bumper cars with their first car, s**t happens though :-)
Yeah, but well see :)
Quote from: WalrusbonzoQuote from: DEViANCEas long as your happy with it mate. does seem alot of money on a first car though, odds are you will bump into something at some point.
Why a lot of money for a first car, surely it shouldnt matter how much I pay for a new car????
Is it a written rule that I should get a cheapo little banger? No, of course not.
True but the chances are you are more likely to crash in the first year than at any other time so buying something cheap means that if you wreak it it doesnt matter too much, you can also take advantage of low cost 3rd party insurance.
Quote from: WalrusbonzoYes, but what the hell did you buy?
94 White 1.2 Clio RL Prima. Teeny bit rusty but mechanically sound 8) touch wood.
No, its ok. Ive had too many people say they got a banger for their first car and they wish theyd just payed more and got a newer one to save all the hassle.
So ill take their advice.
Quote from: Clockd 0NeQuote from: WalrusbonzoThats fair enough, does sound like a lot to me, I paid Ã,£450 for mine but Im a tightwad, fair play then :lol:
Yes, but what the hell did you buy?
94 White 1.2 Clio RL Prima. Teeny bit rusty but mechanically sound 8) touch wood.[/quote]
Well, you see, thats why you paid Ã,£450. Even a 3 year old Clio 1.2 these days would be Ã,£5500~
Oh, may be my first car, but I do have a total of about 6 months previous driving experience. Its not like Ive just passed my test and Im getting my first new car straight afterwards.
Ã,£7k might just get you a 16v Integrale I expect :mrgreen: That was the first car I ever owned 8)
I had a 99 Ford Ka for my first car, with engine and body mods.
Didnt hit a thing.
Not hit anything in my Astra Sport either.
Yay, Im going to test drive it in my lunch break tomorrow!
that means u cant come crying to us if you bump it
Bought it!!!
Gonna have it from the 28th!
I take it you drove it then, how was it?
Its his first car, hows he gonna know? :lol:
Quote from: WalrusbonzoNo, its ok. Ive had too many people say they got a banger for their first car and they wish theyd just payed more and got a newer one to save all the hassle.
So ill take their advice.
Yes but I wouldnt go silly on a first car either, you dont have to get a banger, when I think banger I think Nova, Mk1 Golf, Mk 1 Fiesta etc. But really I would look for something that you can relatively cheaply build up your NCB and driving experiance with a first car, so that you can go for more interesing cars later on if you so wish and won;t leave a hole in your wallet.
I guess its a bit late for my 2p, but the 2 main problems with that alfa is the value is going depreciate badly and reliability is typically a big issue. It wont be cheap if something goes wrong.
Niges far is an example of a sensible choice imo, parts are cheap enough, very reliable car and engine unit. Easy and fun to drive, cheap to insure. Ideal first car.
Quote from: WalrusbonzoWell, you see, thats why you paid Ã,£450. Even a 3 year old Clio 1.2 these days would be Ã,£5500~.
You must be joking. Where from? Dealers around here are practically giving away the last generation of the Clio so they can get the new (current) Clio in the showroom. A friend of mine got a fully equipped 1.6 for about Ã,£6000 iirc, she was even offered the 2.0 sport for that price but she couldnt insure it.
Whenever a new generation of car comes out, Golf, Clio, Fiesta, whatever, dealers usually go crazy to get rid of the main stock.
Quote from: Clockd 0NeI take it you drove it then, how was it?
It was more responsive than Im used to(Diahatsu Fourtrak 2.8l Turbo Diesel). But I liked it, smooth once I got the hang of the brakes and accelerator :D Gears werent clunky either like the fourtrak.