One of the best cars to drive but the worst to fix, right? I bought this attractive muscle car at a bargain price. Yes, compared to what I could have bought, it was a real bargain. Nothing looks like that. Sexy curvy car with leather interior and hidden door handles The paint job isn’t the best, but nothing else looks like it. You get air conditioning, power steering, ABS, fuel injection, central locking with a built-in alarm, two airbags, and plenty of power. 2.5-liter, four-chamber, 24-valve Alfa V6 engine that powers 140KW and 190bhp. At 7.2 seconds 0 – 60Mph is fast.
The problem with the car is the service fees you will spend on it. My clear advice to you is to have your cam belt serviced at an Alfa repair shop. It may seem like the guy on the street will save you a penny, but can you really put a price on safety and convenience? Let’s talk about the price of a service. A cam belt service at an Alfa repair shop should cost you around R14,000.00 in South Africa or $ 2400.00 in the United States. But why do you ask? This is the Alfa that saved Alfa Romeo from bankruptcy. From the wheels to the badge, the engine and the seats, everything is made by Alfa for Alfa. The Alfa cam kit costs roughly R9,000.00 and the rest of the money is for labor and stuff. A normal oil filter spark plug service will cost you R3500.00. Better to change the cam strap before it breaks. Replacing 24 bent valves will cost you much more than R20 000.00. In Cape Town, South Africa, there are at least three Alfa dealerships who will do a great job repairing your Alfa. You can also have Bosh or Holandse Motors repair the Alfa. Remember to check the oil and water weekly and replenish it while inspecting the car week after week. Great service will last a long time. After my service, I can get in the car, start it, and drive away.
I will tell you a little more about the V6 engine. Yes, it is an Alfa V6 engine. The 156 came out with 2.5-liter four-cam 24-valve V6 engines that pushed 141Kw to a six-speed manual gearbox to the front wheels. The car has a heavy nose and turning is a problem because the huge engine takes up a lot of space under the hood. I have had my car for just over a year and it is still a pleasure to lift the hood and see that marvel of an engine. The engine was designed in many ways. The Alfa V6 engine can also be found in a 3l 3.2l 3.7le even a 3.8l. The 2.5L engine lacks the starting power found with bigger bores, but the 156 just put that smile on your face. There are really very few mechanical things that can go wrong with these engines, but if something breaks, you have to spend all your money and lend something. The weakest point of the engine is related to the timing parts. The factory water pump had plastic moving parts that could warn under stress and heat from the engine and fuel leaving it without cooling for this huge engine. The cam belt has a less than average life and should not be overlooked if you are considering purchasing one of these classic cars. The problem with my car was a broken or rather broken cam belt tensioner. I was standing on a bridge and heard a great tape sound before my engine died. The cam strap came loose after the tensioner failed and I managed to bend 24 valves. It is good practice to have the timing belt and moving parts inspected at every service and please do not skip a service on this car.
I have taken the because on some family trips and it handles well. The only thing that could have been improved on the car if I could mention this to you is the air conditioning. It is as good as not having it in the car. The rest is well on the money. From the stitching on the door panels to the exhaust system and that powerful engine up front, I can truly agree that this car was built with passion and purpose. If this is what it took to save Alpha from bankruptcy, then it’s good enough for me.
It is well worth the money? I have to say, a big phat yes. This car and its engine were rated Car of the Year and Engine of the Year in 1998. The engine grade of the Alfas V6 engines will leave your friends in awe. The day you drive away and leave the Mercs, VWs, and BMWs behind, you’ll find you’re close to perfection in this classic muscle car. Fuel usage is poor, but it’s not VW. With a 6-speed manual transmission and high RPM engine tone, you’ll smile like a rich man in a poor man’s car. Remember, you are not a gas hobbyist until you have driven an Alfa.
Time to go look at that Mercedes and BMW again and then look back at your Alfa. The service costs a bit more, but what you get is the best Alpha had to give our planet at a time when they had hit rock bottom. What you get is more than a car, it’s a piece of history that tells the story of a time when fuel was cheap and power was plentiful. It tells of a driver who can sign up under the great gasoline heads of all time. This is not just an Alpha; This is the Alpha that all the other Alphas started after him in a race to be more than a car. This Alpha is a legend.
