Christina and I are keen drive from Queensland to Mornington Peninsula for next year's Alfesta, but Christina has drawn the line at making the trip in our '84 Giulietta. No aircon and 35 year old seats are the deal breaker. So I'm doing my homework on the best Alfa for the 4000km round trip. The budget is less than $10k. I'm currently thinking 166 - plenty of space, big comfy seats, nice busso exhaust note.
Thoughts, suggestions, tips, personal experiences? How would a V6 156 stack up against the 166?
Cheers,
Brent
I have never driven a 166 (though I love the look), but I only have good things to say about a well maintained 6sp Busso 156 - as long as you don't need the back seats for anyone taller than 4ft.
If you can actually find a manual, you should get an absolute cracker for under $8k. Looks are always subjective, but I have always preferred the pre-facelift model. And it absolutely must have the lowered suspension and teledials.
The Q-auto V6 156 is a great cruiser, and good for a 4sp slushie, but you really notice how much slower off the mark it is compared with the manual.
Quote from: hammer on April 30, 2018, 08:28:46 PM
Thoughts, suggestions, tips, personal experiences? How would a V6 156 stack up against the 166?
Cheers,
Brent
For cruising, 166 has got to be the way to go, and with a budget of $10,000 you can pick up a VERY nice condition 166 that would last you years. The problem is finding a good example that someone is willing to part with. 8)
A couple of examples on Gumtree, just to give you an idea what you can get.
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/turramurra/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo-166-v6-3-0-24v-auto/1180859515 (https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/turramurra/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo-166-v6-3-0-24v-auto/1180859515)
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/somersby/cars-vans-utes/2000-alfa-romeo-166-sedan/1156509225 (https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/somersby/cars-vans-utes/2000-alfa-romeo-166-sedan/1156509225)
Those looks really nice, Bazzbazz. That makes me wish I was in the market for one, honestly. You won't regret it if you go for a 166, Hammer.
There is bound to be a cheap Giulietta QV in that price range, no doubt with galactic mileage, but a far superior car (in reliability) than a 166/156 which is two generations previous.
Aircon will work brilliantly
Seats in the QV are supportive
It's quicker
Stereo has bluetooth/ phone integration for a long drive listening to each others Spotify mixes
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Alfa-Romeo-Giulietta-2012/OAG-AD-15918494/?Cr=6
or a pretty stunning Derv with TCT .. that will map nicely !
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Alfa-Romeo-Giulietta-2013/OAG-AD-15374179/?Cr=5
Hammer, this facelifted manual V6 156 is even in Brisbane. (I still think the pre-facelift models look better, I'm not a fan of the girly face of the later models :))
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brisbane-city/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo/1178562662 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brisbane-city/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo/1178562662)
Thanks for the tips guys. Definitely food for thought. I better get out there and drive a few. We had a 156 ti, which was awesome to throw around the windy roads near our home on the Sunshine Coast, but those seats were rock hard on a long trip. I drove to Tamworth and back twice in the ti and my back was so sore. Seeing as Alfesta isn't until next Easter, I might see how the Giulietta prices go over the next six months. Thanks again.
Hi,
How about you fly your wife to Melbourne and drive your 84 down. Or convince her to drive and make it a scenic trip and drop off at some beautiful spots on the way. I don't think you will need air con in April.
I am planning to drive my 83 Sud Ti QV down from Brisbane for Alfesta. My wife has agreed but if she can put up with me for 25 years then a drive to Melbourne will be easy! My friends think she is a Saint.
Plus, with the money you save from not buying another car you can get your seats repacked and upholstered to make the trip more comfortable!
If you do buy a car - why not spend a little bit more on a 156 GTA - there are about 8 on carsales? They would be a lot of fun. The cheapest is about $11.5k
Regards David
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Triple thumbs up for the GTA suggestion. Most bang for your buck interstate bullet you can buy.
A friend up here is selling is 156 gta if you want his number Brent?Bazzbazz has just done all the belts etc and can vouch that its a good specimen-there was an ad in the for sale section here-worth the read and laugh?
Quote from: hammer on April 30, 2018, 08:28:46 PM...No aircon and 35 year old seats are the deal breaker.
Not going to cost $10K to rectify those issues in an enduring manner that enhances the pleasure of driving/owning the '84.
Fly to Melbourne.
Offer $7250 for this:
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Alfa-Romeo-166-2007/SSE-AD-4507364/?Cr=4
Drive home.
You really think he'll drop over $7000 off the price? :o
How about a 159 2.4 JTD? , if you are okay with oil burners.
You should be able to find a good one within 10K.
or a 3.2/2.2 JTS, if you don't want diesels.
Air-conditioning for the Giulietta. And some decent seats.
Failing that,
I'd second the 159 suggestion over the 166. If it was a decent highway might go the other way but 159 suspension is vastly superior if it's a potholed goat track..
Also, the 159 has ridiculous levels of rigidity and will be newer. So better chance of finding one without rattles and squeaks.
But if you want to make an offer well under your budget on the 166... Which has newish bilsteins and stiffer but not lowered springs (cos stiffer and decent damping == less crashing to stops driving to the shops)... feel free...
159 not for sale (well not for your budget).
Thanks Darryl. I read some of your older posts about your 166. I think was was romanticising about those big comfy seats at a bargain basement price. I'll drive a couple of 159s but at the moment I'm leaning toward spending some money on the old Giulietta. I'll see how things pan out over the next six months.
Cheers,
Brent
Here's a 159 bargain in the making -
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/carindale/cars-vans-utes/2009-alpha-romeo-159-/1182756741 (https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/carindale/cars-vans-utes/2009-alpha-romeo-159-/1182756741)
If you want something with a bit more character how about a 75? You could get an excellent example for that sort of money and they are very comfortable (provided the suspension hasn't been messed with too much), frugal (if you get a TS) and has creature comforts like AC. They are also a great handler and RWD. I drove mine half way around the world and its still going strong!
The are slowly starting to become an appreciating classic and whilst not worth much yet I believe they will start to see a steady rise in the next few years so you could also convince the wife it is an 'investment'...
Finally, you can actually leave it outside over winter and it won't be reduced to rust by the end of it.
GTVeloce,
I agree on the 75s. Just a matter of finding a good one for reasonable money. Everyone seems to think they're worth a fortune now. I had a 3 litre back in the 90s and a twinnie through the 2000s. Drove the twinspark as a road car then raced it for a few years before buying Jim Nielsen's old Giulietta race car. I'll keep my eye on the market over the next 6 months and see what pops up. There's a lovely 3 litre for sale up here at the moment, but the owner is asking $14,500. Thanks for the input.
Cheers,
Brent
Quote from: bazzbazz on May 02, 2018, 11:32:08 PM
You really think he'll drop over $7000 off the price? :o
Baz, that'd be the difference between the seller's price and a reasonable, realistic offer -- the latter is what really matters, and is reflected by one of the world's most massively depreciated cars setting a similar record for weeks advertised.
Of course if you really don't want to sell your 166 but need to appease a significant other or another party, then it's the way to go!
I'm actually interested in this car, but I know what
my Alfa is really worth too.
Purely for the sake of discussion - why not try and pick up a decent 90 (if you can find one)? Surely a beautiful big Alfa cruiser?
PS - the briefcase set into the dash has to be the coolest "executive accessory" ever fitted to a car. Beats the umbrellas set in the doors of a new Roller every day of the week. ;D
Briefcase? Looks like a forensics kit! :p
Well, it was 1987...
Quote from: bazzbazz on May 02, 2018, 11:32:08 PM
You really think he'll drop over $7000 off the price? :o
Just bought it for $9,500 after watching for over 12 months. Drove from Sydney to Melbourne last weekend & she did not skip a beat.
Stunning on the highway, and really started to come alive at around 120kph, by which time of course had to sadly hit the anchors :(
Falling harder for those stunning lines (and tight panel gaps) a little more each day. And dreaming of a nice stretch of Autostrada......
Quote from: alfonzogonzini on October 17, 2018, 10:40:12 PM
Quote from: bazzbazz on May 02, 2018, 11:32:08 PM
You really think he'll drop over $7000 off the price? :o
Just bought it for $9,500 after watching for over 12 months. Drove from Sydney to Melbourne last weekend & she did not skip a beat.
Stunning on the highway, and really started to come alive at around 120kph, by which time of course had to sadly hit the anchors :(
Falling harder for those stunning lines (and tight panel gaps) a little more each day. And dreaming of a nice stretch of Autostrada......
Couple more pics....
With apologies to Raf Vallone: "Pretty Car, heh heh... "
Awfully similar looks to the Pug 607. Not sure which I would choose.