Alfa 147 1.6 Service costs
 

Hi

I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs) for its
36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price £355
+VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will likely face
a £500 bill.

This is just the thought of thing that will put me off buying my next Alfa
which is a shame as I really like the car. I also have a Hyundai which comes
with a 5 year warranty and 3 years servicing thrown in. It also has no
faults whereas the 147 has several including a repeat problem with the cam
variator.

Anyone else feel put off by high servicing costs, crap service and cars with
too many faults? For me it taints the joy of owning an Alfa.

Jonathan

> I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs) for its
> 36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price £355
> +VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will likely face
> a £500 bill.

Hi, mines getting mightly close to its 36k. ouch! did the £355 +VAT
include a cambelt change, as I understand that this is now 'policy'
for TS engines at 36k rather than 72k?

(PS I just have to site behind those cowled dials to remind myself
it's worth it!!)

PhilipS

"Jonathan Day" > wrote in message >...
> Hi
>
> I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs) for its
> 36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price £355
> +VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will likely face
> a £500 bill.
>
> This is just the thought of thing that will put me off buying my next Alfa
> which is a shame as I really like the car. I also have a Hyundai which comes
> with a 5 year warranty and 3 years servicing thrown in. It also has no
> faults whereas the 147 has several including a repeat problem with the cam
> variator.
>
> Anyone else feel put off by high servicing costs, crap service and cars with
> too many faults? For me it taints the joy of owning an Alfa.
>
> Jonathan


What did they do/replace?

The cam/variator should simply be replaced under warranty along with
the timing belt when it's done.

Wait till you get a V6 and the timing belt/tensioners need doing ;-)

On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 23:41:22 GMT, "Jonathan Day" >
wrote:

=>Hi
=>
=>I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs)
for its
=>36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price
£355
=>+VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will
likely face
=>a £500 bill.
=>
=>This is just the thought of thing that will put me off buying my
next Alfa
=>which is a shame as I really like the car. I also have a Hyundai
which comes
=>with a 5 year warranty and 3 years servicing thrown in. It also has
no
=>faults whereas the 147 has several including a repeat problem with
the cam
=>variator.
=>
=>Anyone else feel put off by high servicing costs, crap service and
cars with
=>too many faults? For me it taints the joy of owning an Alfa.
=>
=>Jonathan
=>

for me:

221 Euro at 20.000 km
243 Euro at 40.000 km
330 Euro at 60.000 km
290 Euro at 80.000 km

Do the math, I smell a rath :-)

A faulty variator is changed under warranty. Outside warranty it can
be solved most of the times by a 2€ spare part replacement.
And Hyundai don't make cars, in my opinion. ;-)
Neuropean

"Jonathan Day" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs) for its
> 36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price £355
> +VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will likely
face
> a £500 bill.
>
> This is just the thought of thing that will put me off buying my next Alfa
> which is a shame as I really like the car. I also have a Hyundai which
comes
> with a 5 year warranty and 3 years servicing thrown in. It also has no
> faults whereas the 147 has several including a repeat problem with the cam
> variator.
>
> Anyone else feel put off by high servicing costs, crap service and cars
with
> too many faults? For me it taints the joy of owning an Alfa.
>
> Jonathan
>
>

Time to learn some DIY. Things that aren't covered in the price of the
scheduled service (brakes, exhausts etc) can be done by yourself or an
independent for much cheaper (you still keep your FASH). Dealer quoted me
£60 for one rear brake disc (not including fitting) for the 156 V6. I paid
£30 for 2 Delphi Lockheed discs and 15 quid for the DL pads, including
postage. The whole axle done for less than the price of one dealer disc
(which probably isn't as good as the Delphis anyway). Leave the brake fluid
for the scheduled service. http://www.buypartsby.co.uk

Rgds

Stuart

Neuropean > wrote in message >. ..
> On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 23:41:22 GMT, "Jonathan Day" >
> wrote:
>
> =>Hi
> =>
> =>I recently booked my 147 1.6 Lusso into Caledonia Preston (lancs)
> for its
> =>36K service and need fell off my chair when they gave me the price
> £355
> =>+VAT. Along with the brakes that will probably need doing I will
> likely face
> =>a £500 bill.
> =>
> =>This is just the thought of thing that will put me off buying my
> next Alfa
> =>which is a shame as I really like the car. I also have a Hyundai
> which comes
> =>with a 5 year warranty and 3 years servicing thrown in. It also has
> no
> =>faults whereas the 147 has several including a repeat problem with
> the cam
> =>variator.
> =>
> =>Anyone else feel put off by high servicing costs, crap service and
> cars with
> =>too many faults? For me it taints the joy of owning an Alfa.
> =>
> =>Jonathan
> =>
>
> for me:
>
> 221 Euro at 20.000 km
> 243 Euro at 40.000 km
> 330 Euro at 60.000 km
> 290 Euro at 80.000 km
>
> Do the math, I smell a rath :-)
>
> A faulty variator is changed under warranty. Outside warranty it can
> be solved most of the times by a 2€ spare part replacement.
> And Hyundai don't make cars, in my opinion. ;-)
> Neuropean

And just wait till he wants to sell his Hyundai on. He can come back
and talk about it to us then. When he can't get the price he wants, or
a buyer willing to take it on. Then is it worth paying for a few parts
for the 147. Plus, am I not right in saying that Alfa Romeo a few
months ago were selling cars with a 5 year warranty at the dealers. I
stand to be corrected if I'm wrong. John, UK.

On 9 Jul 2004 15:08:38 -0700, wrote:


>
>And just wait till he wants to sell his Hyundai on. He can come back
>and talk about it to us then. When he can't get the price he wants, or
>a buyer willing to take it on. Then is it worth paying for a few parts
>for the 147.

I depends. Do you want a reasonably priced car that goes for ever,
never breaks down, is cheap to service but has no kudos or resale
value, or an Alfa?
The Alfa of course has kudos, but loses on every other front,
including the resale value.

--
ColonelTupperware
spouting ******** on Usenet since 1997
Usenet FAQ at
http://www.its.caltech.edu/its/servi...ws/news2.shtml
UPCE FAQ at http://upce.org.uk/
UKRM FAQ at http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Colonel Tupperware wrote:

> On 9 Jul 2004 15:08:38 -0700, wrote:
>
>
>>
>>And just wait till he wants to sell his Hyundai on. He can come back
>>and talk about it to us then. When he can't get the price he wants, or
>>a buyer willing to take it on. Then is it worth paying for a few parts
>>for the 147.
>
> I depends. Do you want a reasonably priced car that goes for ever,
> never breaks down, is cheap to service but has no kudos or resale
> value, or an Alfa?

*some* alfas rarely break down as well.
> The Alfa of course has kudos, but loses on every other front,
> including the resale value.
>
Plus Alfas above a 'certain age' cease to lose value. Just like every
other car. In fact, this could be seen as a benefit specific to Alfas,
since it happens sooner in the life cycle ;)

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

"Colonel Tupperware" > schreef in bericht
...
> On 9 Jul 2004 15:08:38 -0700, wrote:
> The Alfa of course has kudos, but loses on every other front,
> including the resale value.

What's new??
Why do all those people drive Alfa's?
They should be mad!
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 13:40:34 +0200, "Alfistagj"
> wrote:

>
>"Colonel Tupperware" > schreef in bericht
.. .
>> On 9 Jul 2004 15:08:38 -0700, wrote:
>> The Alfa of course has kudos, but loses on every other front,
>> including the resale value.
>
>What's new??
>Why do all those people drive Alfa's?
Because they like them.

>They should be mad!
They probably are.

--
ColonelTupperware
spouting ******** on Usenet since 1997
Usenet FAQ at
http://www.its.caltech.edu/its/servi...ws/news2.shtml
UPCE FAQ at http://upce.org.uk/
UKRM FAQ at http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Colonel Tupperware wrote:

> On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 13:40:34 +0200, "Alfistagj"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Colonel Tupperware" > schreef in bericht
. ..
>>> On 9 Jul 2004 15:08:38 -0700, wrote:
>>> The Alfa of course has kudos, but loses on every other front,
>>> including the resale value.
>>
>>What's new??
>>Why do all those people drive Alfa's?
> Because they like them.
>
>>They should be mad!
> They probably are.
>
Well I certainly am :)
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

> wrote in message >
And just wait till he wants to sell his Hyundai on. He can come back
> and talk about it to us then. When he can't get the price he wants, or
> a buyer willing to take it on. Then is it worth paying for a few parts
> for the 147. Plus, am I not right in saying that Alfa Romeo a few
> months ago were selling cars with a 5 year warranty at the dealers. I
> stand to be corrected if I'm wrong. John, UK.

My Hyundai Getz cost me £6K brand new so its not going to lose me too much!
As for selling it on, after three years I can pass on a car with 2 years
warranty that even covers the exhaust! It will cost next to nothing to run
as it uses no petrol and all the servicing is paid for! Its even got
airbags, ABS, electric windows, Sony CD player, central locking and almost
an engine! Its not got a single fault and is 100% reliable.

Don't get me wrong the little Hyundai is nowhere near as stylish,
comfortable or as involving to drive as my Alfa 147. However, after several
dents on the doors in car parks (no rubbing strips), numerous trips to the
dealer to fix niggling faults, monstrous servicing costs, fuel bills and
high insurance suddenly the Hyundai seems quite attractive and fantastic
value!

I love my Alfa and still feel very proud of it. Its still great to have
people comment on what a great car I have! However since I got the Hyundai
I am beginning to see why people buy them! I got mine for the wife to learn
to drive in.

Above all if they could get the Alfa dealers right it would make such a
difference and I would be able to enjoy my 147 without that feeling that I
am paying dearly for that kudos of driving an Alfa!

Jonathan Day

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 00:50:30 GMT, "Jonathan Day" >,
wrote:

>My Hyundai Getz cost me £6K brand new so its not going to lose me too much!
>As for selling it on, after three years I can pass on a car with 2 years
>warranty that even covers the exhaust! It will cost next to nothing to run
>as it uses no petrol and all the servicing is paid for! Its even got
>airbags, ABS, electric windows, Sony CD player, central locking and almost
>an engine! Its not got a single fault and is 100% reliable.

Exactly what I was thinking. It G E T Z you from A2B. Where's the problem?
Horses for courses. Alfa for hearts. Ferrari for race days.
Hyundai have been quietly doing what Skoda and Seat have done, and
improving hand over hand. None of them are designing Alfa Romeo's but they
are building cars. Unlike Rover - who are importing them from India <LOL>

Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)

In article >, iowna156
@alfa.com says...
> Hyundai have been quietly doing what Skoda and Seat have done, and
> improving hand over hand. None of them are designing Alfa Romeo's but the=
y
> are building cars. Unlike Rover - who are importing them from India <LOL>
>=20
>=20

Agreed.

I saw a back to back review or the latest Hyundai V6 Coupe, and the=20
Lexus LS430. On all things, the Hyundai was a better car (ride,=20
handling, performance, equipment spec, and dealer warrenties etc) except=20
the materials were wood and leather in the Lexus instead of plastic and=20
half leather in the Hyundai, and a folding metal roof on the Lexus. Even=20
with the name, I don't think it was worth the =A320k+ difference in the=20
prices of the two cars. both cars will depreciate, but the Hyundai V6=20
coupes tend to be keeping their prices better than a lot of other brands
--=20
The poster formerly known as Skodapilot.
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

"Jonathan Day" > wrote in message >...
> > wrote in message >
> And just wait till he wants to sell his Hyundai on. He can come back
> > and talk about it to us then. When he can't get the price he wants, or
> > a buyer willing to take it on. Then is it worth paying for a few parts
> > for the 147. Plus, am I not right in saying that Alfa Romeo a few
> > months ago were selling cars with a 5 year warranty at the dealers. I
> > stand to be corrected if I'm wrong. John, UK.
>
> My Hyundai Getz cost me £6K brand new so its not going to lose me too much!
> As for selling it on, after three years I can pass on a car with 2 years
> warranty that even covers the exhaust! It will cost next to nothing to run
> as it uses no petrol and all the servicing is paid for! Its even got
> airbags, ABS, electric windows, Sony CD player, central locking and almost
> an engine! Its not got a single fault and is 100% reliable.
>
> Don't get me wrong the little Hyundai is nowhere near as stylish,
> comfortable or as involving to drive as my Alfa 147. However, after several
> dents on the doors in car parks (no rubbing strips), numerous trips to the
> dealer to fix niggling faults, monstrous servicing costs, fuel bills and
> high insurance suddenly the Hyundai seems quite attractive and fantastic
> value!
>
> I love my Alfa and still feel very proud of it. Its still great to have
> people comment on what a great car I have! However since I got the Hyundai
> I am beginning to see why people buy them! I got mine for the wife to learn
> to drive in.
>
> Above all if they could get the Alfa dealers right it would make such a
> difference and I would be able to enjoy my 147 without that feeling that I
> am paying dearly for that kudos of driving an Alfa!
>
> Jonathan Day

Hi Jonathan,
All jokes aside, if your Hyundai does the job thats fine. After all if
all cars were the same what a dreary world it would be. Could you
imagine what it would be like if everybody had a Volvo and smoked a
pipe.
Good luck, John, UK.

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 09:29:11 +0100, Colonel Tupperware
> wrote:

=>I depends. Do you want a reasonably priced car that goes for ever,
got one

=>never breaks down,
Got one

=> is cheap to service
Got one

=>but has no kudos
Mine has

=>or resale value,
I buy to drive safely and get immense pleasure in doing that, I
couldn't care less about resale value. It's like buying a painting and
hide it in a safe. A boring life has its price. Oh, and I never lost a
penny when buying a new car.

or an Alfa?
Well between an Alfa and an Alfa, I chose an Alfa.

Neuropean