I May Trade in my Alfa for a Fab vRS

[BlueRobin]

Afternoon all - another 1st-timer. I'm comtemplating a trade-in for a diesel without loss of performance compared to my current motor, a 2.0 156. Now this according to my Alfisti heart is a somewhat crazy thing to do.

Anyway the proof is in the eating. I popped into Brooklands Rugby Tuesday for a go in their demo on the off-chance. However due to staff holiday and Q3 end, they were busy so will arrange a lunchtime blast sometime next week.

I did though have a sit in one. Nice to see superminis have become wider over the years and there's more legroom for us chaps. The black interior was not as bad I had imagined though some of the dial switches look a bit tacky (that V-dub stuff eh!)

I just road-tested a 1.9 JTD 156, a 2.4 JTD 156 (best so far), a 147 2.0TS (nice handling) and a Mini Cooper (jarring seats, coarse engine, go-kart turn-in). The competition is on...

[kenny]

hi and welcome, make sure you let us know what you go for

[lozgti]

Welcome

Love Alfas,especially the interiors.Stunning.Skoda will be very boring in comparison!

Only ever heard bad reports about Alfas though.Electrics,people on third engines etc probably v. unfair as they look and sound great.

Fabia is a real fun car though.Enjoy the test drive

[andy2407]

My last company car was an Alfa 156 Sportwagon 1.6 T-Spark Lusso.
Ok - near to the bottom of the Alfa range (I think the 1.6 engine has now been dropped), but I replaced it with an Octavia vRS. Also managed to get a few extras on the vRS for the same monthly payment, so here is my comparison (ignoring things that are the same on both).....

Alfa advantages
Looks: Alfa - Sexy *** Skoda - Less sexy
Seats: Alfa - All leather ***Skoda - Part leather

Skoda advantages
Electric windows: Alfa - Front only *** Skoda - Front and back
Cruise: Alfa - No *** Skoda - Yes
Boot space: Alfa - Pathetic *** Skoda - Massive
CD: Alfa - Single *** Skoda - Six
Parking sensors: Alfa - No *** Skoda - Yes
BHP: Alfa - 120 *** Skoda - 180
0 - 62: Alfa - 10.5 *** Skoda - 8.0
Heated seats: Alfa -No *** Skoda - Yes
Enthusiast web-site: Alfa - Probably but didn’t bother *** Skoda - Briskoda
Discount at Shifty’s chippy: Alfa - No *** Skoda - Yes
New gearbox at 8 months: Alfa - Yes (5 weeks off the road) *** Skoda - Hope not
Cam-belt failure at 44k: Alfa - Yes *** Skoda - Hope not

In summary the Alfa wins on looks (and prestige I suppose). For the same monthly payment, my Octy vRS wins on space, power/speed and toys/gadgets.
Reliability to be decided, but I suspect the Skoda will win that one as well after my Alfa experience.
Have you looked at the Octy - or is the Fabia big enough for your requirements?

[mdk1]

Hi welcome, try an Oct'y 2.0 Tdi.

[Andy vRS]

I think Alfa's are very cool, and i would stick to them myself.

http://www.italiancar.com.au/images/..._Mk3_01_lg.jpg

mmmmmm

[WW_VRS]

Was just gonna say - also consider the Octi II for space reasons alone. From the diesel ones you've mentioned, the 1.9 JTD appeared very, VERY smoky and rather slow, whereas the 2.x one probably flies

[BlueRobin]

Andy, you tempt me back frm the brink with that photo - gorgeous isn't it? I tested a 156 2.4 that looked exactly like that, same colour too.

Average occupancy is one so I all I need is the chuckability of a Spitfire (flying) with enough leggie for a 6 footer. I'd happily drive a single-seater, e.g. Formula Ford if it were road-legal and came with a heater!

My Alfa has been super-reliable. However forking £450 for a cambelt change at 40k miles on top of 30mpg starts to make less sense next to the latest breed of oily hot hatches. Plus she's getting a bit old and is starting to creak more. Let us not mention the recent upshift in deprecative residuals

[andy2407]

Originally Posted by BlueRobin

However forking £450 for a cambelt change at 40k miles on top of 30mpg starts to make less sense

Is 40k when they recommend cambelt change now. Mine was a Y reg, and that wasn't due til 72k.
When it went (at about 45k) I was speaking to the Service Manager at the dealers, and asked if he had others go so early. He told me that they were getting about one a month, and Alfa just kept paying them to fix them under warranty.
Looks like they may have learnt now!

[carefree]

Alfa - hideous build quality, cheap tacky plastics

Skoda - great build quality, nice quality plastics

And yes, I have owned and driven Alfa's so my opinion is based on experience.

[Andy vRS]

Skoda's are boring compared to Alfa's though, and those 2.4 5 pot motors are from Volvo and they are reliable.............

[BlueRobin]

What model, age & spec Alfa was that?

This is the big drawback Andy. The "boring" factor. Will it be enough to scupper the change?

That 2.4JTD does have a big "gaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" factor when the turbo kicks in

[logiclee]

I used to have a 156 Selespeed Veloce.


It's Cosmos blue but looks nearly black.

You will miss the noise of the twin spark and the handling if your Alfa is a Veloce or had the sports pack.

What you wont miss is the dodgy build and crap dealers.

A tdi is the opposite of the twin spark. The twin spark has very little torque low down but screams to the redline. You have to adjust your brain so you drive around at 2000rpm instaed of 4500rpm.

I don't think you will regret it. Have you had any offers for your car? Mine was less than two years old with a list price with options of nearly £20k and I got £7500 for it.

Cheers
Lee

[BlueRobin]

Well guys it's all academic. Whilst driving home from work on a main road, someone pulled out in front of me from a side junction far too late. Dived for the fresh air on the oher side of the road to save myself but the other car ended up pushing my back end out and I ended up doing a 180 in a ditch.

So now the Fab is in the running for a replacement...

P.S. I got my 156 for £9k 18 months old and the dep. is about £1k a year, which is not too bad when you look at some other "good residual" motors

[lfc958]

about the alfa, you didnt say if you have you had the opportunity to test driver the Furby ?

[JMK2]

All I will say of the Alfa is I had a very bad experience with a brand new 156.

Take a furby VRS for a test drive. Your pocket will be heavier if you buy. It's also loads more fun than the Alfa to drive (even if the diesel is noisier).

[BlueRobin]

Originally Posted by lfc958

about the alfa, you didnt say if you have you had the opportunity to test driver the Furby ?

Er, I've been a bit lax and should have phoned sooner. Last time the demo was away and today it's been sold. There will be no Fab vRS at Brooklyn Rugby for a few days.

Small indy up the road is getting a used Oct vRS (estate though) soon. Not sure if I could live with a petrol turbo

[JMK2]

Originally Posted by BlueRobin

Er, I've been a bit lax and should have phoned sooner. Last time the demo was away and today it's been sold. There will be no Fab vRS at Brooklyn Rugby for a few days.

Can you get to Peterborough. Give Justin at Wings a call (01733 296969) A call. He drives a Fabia VRS as his own, so should be able to give you a test drive.

Also would give you a chance to visit uncle Jabba (Jabbasport) for tuning advice.

[BlueRobin]

Bit far though I see some cheaper slightly older ones are out that way with Adams & Sons.

I'll go look at either Farmers Leicester or at Suburu Nuneaton and stop off to look at an Ibeefa FR en-route.

[BlueRobin]

People of Briskoda, lend me your ears. Your Robin most Blue has put down a deposit on a Fab vRS. Overall a good car just a touch let down by the rubbishy switch gear and short legs but in a small car class and for money, I can live with that. Good deal was had at Prestige in Coventry.

Next question! Can the rubbishy radio be replaced with my lovely Pioneer unit and are the factory speakers any good?

[JMK2]

Originally Posted by BlueRobin

People of Briskoda, lend me your ears. Your Robin most Blue has put down a deposit on a Fab vRS. Overall a good car just a touch let down by the rubbishy switch gear and short legs but in a small car class and for money, I can live with that. Good deal was had at Prestige in Coventry.

Next question! Can the rubbishy radio be replaced with my lovely Pioneer unit and are the factory speakers any good?

The Radio isn't bad - looks cheap but isn't. But if you want your pioneer fitted the dealer can supply you with a fitting plate.

The switch gear IS better than the Alfa. Trust me in a few months you'll wonder how you put up with the Alfa.

And short legs?

Enjoy

[Andy vRS]

Originally Posted by BlueRobin

People of Briskoda, lend me your ears. Your Robin most Blue has put down a deposit on a Fab vRS. Overall a good car just a touch let down by the rubbishy switch gear and short legs but in a small car class and for money, I can live with that. Good deal was had at Prestige in Coventry.

Next question! Can the rubbishy radio be replaced with my lovely Pioneer unit and are the factory speakers any good?

Can't believe you didn't go for the new alfa ah well, you should enjoy your Fabia

[JMK2]

Originally Posted by Andy vRS

Can't believe you didn't go for the new alfa ah well, you should enjoy your Fabia

Andy, I have had the (mis)fortune of owning a new 156 for a year. I definitely wouldn't say that if buying new unless 1. You have an endless pot of cash. I lost 50% in 12 months on the car and 2. You are on first name terms with your Alfa dealer. I spent more time in a Fiat Punto/Stilo/Alfa147 than my 156.

just my 2 pence worth