used alfa romeo » Club Alfa Sport

2006 Alfa Romeo Spider

Alfa Romeo brought renowned automotive style salon Pininfarina to makeover the GTV Spider in 1998, thankfully. At the time the $60,000 price tag was a lot to ask for what seemed to be an underpowered and ungainly car, but, as with all cars, a used Alfa Romeo Spider has depreciated, becoming a much more reasonable priced ride.

As with all used cars, you can not just dive in head first and hope you have bought the right car. There are many things to keep in mind when shopping for a used Alfa Romeo. First, if you opt for a pre-2000 convertible, the tops were known to have an issue with the teeth. Check for smooth action as the top is opened and closed.

The next item to check for is the maintenance record. If the seller doesn’t have one on hand, do not buy the car. Alfa’s are finicky cars and if they are not properly maintained, they will fail. As you look over the maintenance record be sure that the oil was changed every 5,000 miles. The manufacturer recommended every 10K, but the cars use too much oil for that interval. Semi-synthetic oil should have been used each time. Listen for a rattle that sounds like a diesel engine when the car is started. It may clear up after a couple of moments, but it means that the hydraulic variator is bad. That means a new engine.

Other items to look for are: cambelts should have been changed every 35,000 miles, rotors and brakes, the high pressure air conditioning line frequently leaks near the evaporator, and a squeak in the rear suspension means a dry bushing. The bushing is integrated into the control arm, meaning a fairly expensive repair.

After checking any used Alfa Romeo over in person, pay for a vehicle history report. No need to be surprised by crash or weather damage that has been covered up. If you take care, you can enjoy your used Alfa Romeo Spider for years to come without spending a fortune in repairs.

Alfa Romeo 159

Buying a used car can have its pitfalls. Buying a used Alfa Romeo 159 can have a few very expensive pitfalls. Below are a few general tips when buying a used car and a few that are more specific to a used Alfa Romeo 159.

When approaching any used car, take a wide walk around it. Look for an fluid drips underneath, tires with low pressure, and any spots of rust. Open the hood and look at fluid levels and the condition of the belts and hoses. If you are able, crawl under the car and look for pitting or weak spots from rust. Look for weak or broken springs as well. Look at the inside portion of the tires for uneven wear. No one wants to replace the tires and pay for an alignment right away.

When looking at a used Alfa Romeo 159, check the clutch repeatedly. The vehicle is known to have a clutch that can be very soft and prone to an expensive failure even in low mileage vehicles. Leave the radio off and listen carefully for a whomp-whomp-whomp sound. This can be an indication of a problem with the o/s drive shaft intermediate universal joint. This issue is nearly impossible to get rid of and can drive some people nearly insane. Also, any strange noises as you turn could indicate an issue in the power steering system. If you hear a noise coming from the power steering, immediately return the car from whence it came and forget about it. If you are buying the car from a dealership, request a cambelt and water pump change before you agree to buy the vehicle. No reason to take a chance with such common repairs.

Buying a used Alfa Romeo 159 can be a great experience. Part of the fun is in the chase, looking for the right vehicle. Along the way you are bound to find a few stinkers that someone is trying to unload on some gullible fool. Use all of your senses while shopping and you should avoid being that fool.

1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B

New Alfa Romeos are set to hit the North American market some time during the 2012 physical year. In the mean time, a used Alfa Romeo is a viable option for a variety of budgets. Whether you are looking at buying an executive car or a sporty model to cover asphalt in the shortest time possible there are four tips to keep in mind.

Start with a visual check of the car. Walk around looking for fluid leaks, uneven tire wear, or damage. Pop the hood and check vital fluid levels. Low levels could indicate leaks that the seller is trying to hide. Look at the color and condition of the oil. Look for moisture inside the oil filler cap, which could be a sign of a head or head gasket problem. When possible, have the car inspected by an authorized mechanic prior to purchase.

The key to buying a used Alfa Romeo is maintenance. Ask the seller for all maintenance records. If there are any gaps in the service records, ask for an explanation. Another important aspect, is to verify that the person who performed the maintenance is capable of truly understanding the intricacies of an Alfa. Where possible, the maintenance should have been performed at an authorized dealership at all times.

Several used Alfa Romeo models have been subject to recalls. Some vehicles built between 1999 and Spring of 2001 were recalled for power steering issues. A very few produced in 2004 faced fuel leak issues. Do some research on the model you are interested in, then verify that any recall work has been completed on that particular car. The seller should have a repair sheet if the work has been done.

Alfa Romeo 159

Before buying a used Alfa Romeo, be sure that you have access to a qualified mechanic. In some areas, a dealership may not be handy, but you can still find the right repairman. You do not want to be shocked to find there is no one to repair your car after you have spent tens of thousands buying it.

The internet is your best tool when buying a used Alfa Romeo. Spending as little as fifteen minutes on your computer could help you avoid wasting a few hundred thousand on a lemon.

Club Alfa Sport

What To Check Before Buying A Used Alfa Romeo Spider

Tips For Buying A Used Alfa Romeo 159

Four Tips For Buying A Used Alfa Romeo

Pages

Archives

Categories

Recent Entries

Blogroll

Meta