Im wanting to buy a car, my first.

Just seen this 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

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

Just found the same car on Ebay

Quote from: JaimzSo get something a bit less "prestige" and save on buying and insurance costs.

Jaimz

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