mixit Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi Gang. Not been around much due to my foolishness and being seduced by an Italian Beauty The pictures tell the story between November 07 and just last week when I became the proud owner of the Candy White with DSG and Recaro's. Not much to tell really apart from the fact the 159 cost me an awfull lot of money in 3 months. Why, Why, Why.... let this be a warning, don't go near an Alfa Dealer if you like the look of the product. I went out to buy a jumper one Wednesday and came home having done the dirty deed. I missed my GTi soooo much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I love the looks of the 159. And people keep telling me they're much better cars than they used to be in terms of build and reliability. But I fear Alfa dealers are just as bad as ever - this from a friend who was, for a year or so until he gave up in disgust, an Alfa dealer sales manager! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have to say the dealer ( Desira at Bury St Edmonds ) was faultless. The car had a couple of niggles within the first few days and they collected the car and sorted them quickly, leaving me a car to use. I was completely smitten by the looks of the 159Ti and really didn't think it through. In February I started to worry about the residual value after a year ( I'd already decided I wanted my GTi back ) and decided to cut my losses there and then and not wait. Also due to a re-occurring back injury the Alfa was proving difficult to get in and out of. Ho Hum... Big losses but I'm happy now..... I blame bloody Clarkson and his "Nobody is a true petrolhead until they've owned an Alfa." comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I had a Spider as a hire car while my .:R was in the bodyshop and I absolutely loathed the car. Ignoring the stunning front end I disliked everything else about it. Not least the oil pump which failed when the car had a mere 1400 miles on the clock. Good call on colour of the GTI. I'm not usually a fan of white cars, but the GTI in white is a fantastic combination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ92 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Ho Hum... Big losses but I'm happy now..... I blame bloody Clarkson and his "Nobody is a true petrolhead until they've owned an Alfa." comment. [/ QUOTE ].....Glad your happy again your GTi looks the Dogs Nuts.. I tend to take 'Jezza&co'with a pinch of salt these days.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 ....Great to hear you're happy with your ride, Mixit! JC is the reason I test drove a GTI and that was enough for me to look no further! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Robin I remember you and I getting our red GTi's almost in the same week back in 05. Its great to be back in a DSG I'm also looking at your post count, you dirty post whore .... 20k ......And you joined 4 months after me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 [ QUOTE ] (edit)...I had a Spider as a hire car while my .:R was in the bodyshop and I absolutely loathed the car. [/ QUOTE ] A chap at work had one for 5 days on a trial basis and having owned a face-lift 3.2 GTV, was keen to try out the new one. Summary? Bloody awful in every respect; the looks are fantastic but that's where it ends. The Spider's brakes were woefully poor, handling was very uninvolving and build quality wasn't a touch on German built motors. I was seduced by the GTV's looks and V6 engine note back in March 2006, but lost £7k in 11 months. Ok, I could have sold it privately for an extra £1400 or so compared to what the VW dealer offered me (£7k, but I got him up to £7600 due to the "GTV" personalised plate), but hardly anyone wants one and I was desparate to get my hands on my current car. Never looked back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 [ QUOTE ] And people keep telling me they're much better cars than they used to be in terms of build and reliability. [/ QUOTE ] A mate of mine is an alfa nut and has worked for them for many years now, he is currently PDIing them and actually owns over 35 fiat & alfas at this point in time. They span from the 70s to present day and so i have a fair idea of when alfas build and engineering quality peaked as i have worked on just about everyone he has ever owned including his current collection of 35, or I have at least inspected them on my workshop ramps and its not the present day ones that are the best built or engineered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] And people keep telling me they're much better cars than they used to be in terms of build and reliability. [/ QUOTE ] A mate of mine is an alfa nut and has worked for them for many years now, he is currently PDIing them and actually owns over 35 fiat & alfas at this point in time. They span from the 70s to present day and so i have a fair idea of when alfas build and engineering quality peaked as i have worked on just about everyone he has ever owned including his current collection of 35, or I have at least inspected them on my workshop ramps and its not the present day ones that are the best built or engineered. [/ QUOTE ] I doubt that many of the present day models from most manufacturers are the best built or engineered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Hi Gang. Not been around much due to my foolishness and being seduced by an Italian Beauty The pictures tell the story between November 07 and just last week when I became the proud owner of the Candy White with DSG and Recaro's. Not much to tell really apart from the fact the 159 cost me an awfull lot of money in 3 months. Why, Why, Why.... let this be a warning, don't go near an Alfa Dealer if you like the look of the product. I went out to buy a jumper one Wednesday and came home having done the dirty deed. I missed my GTi soooo much. [/ QUOTE ] Great pics! Your white GTI looks great. At least every week I wonder if I should have gone for a white GTI....perhaps I shoud have....? I see you have xenons on this new one too - are the recaro's easy to get in and out of with your back problems? Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Hi Gang. Not been around much due to my foolishness and being seduced by an Italian Beauty The pictures tell the story between November 07 and just last week when I became the proud owner of the Candy White with DSG and Recaro's. Not much to tell really apart from the fact the 159 cost me an awfull lot of money in 3 months. Why, Why, Why.... let this be a warning, don't go near an Alfa Dealer if you like the look of the product. I went out to buy a jumper one Wednesday and came home having done the dirty deed. I missed my GTi soooo much. [/ QUOTE ] Great pics! Your white GTI looks great. At least every week I wonder if I should have gone for a white GTI....perhaps I shoud have....? I see you have xenons on this new one too - are the recaro's easy to get in and out of with your back problems? Enjoy [/ QUOTE ] The car was advertised at a Non Franchise dealer so when I saw "Recaro's" in the ad I just assumed that it was the salesman just refering to the std seats as "to him" they may have looked like Recaro's. When I first saw the car and opened the door I was pleasantly surprised to see them but also a little concerned as I do have a bit of trouble getting up and out of a seat without cranking my neck ( which agravates my back ) However, with the seat dropped right down I use my hand on the sill as a lever and its not an issue. The biggest problem with the Alfa was the door apature not being big enough. When my back problem returned I found it very hard getting out ( I'm 6'2" ). The seats are fantastic and really hold you in so much better than the std seats. Which means I just have to corner harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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