don't want to open a can of worms, but interesting ad for a car at manheim, with it's features stating "not a selespeed" :)
http://www.manheim.com.au/find_buy/power_search/?unit_key=164309_AU103090598-164309;detail_tab=vinfo;fulltext=alfa;include_salvage=;salvage_only=;state_all=1;model_all=1;rm=view_detail (http://www.manheim.com.au/find_buy/power_search/?unit_key=164309_AU103090598-164309;detail_tab=vinfo;fulltext=alfa;include_salvage=;salvage_only=;state_all=1;model_all=1;rm=view_detail)
They know....
Funny you should raise this.
In researching 147 reviews in CarSales etc, I note that the 2005 model has improved suspension and amongst other things new and there was the option of the new and improved "easy speed" transmission.
Almost tempting but ...
Why would you risk a Selespeed with everything we know about them?
You might get lucky and have no problems what so ever, but even a 'slight' issue with a selespeed will worsen your experience with tha car, let-alone what it might do to you wallet.
I dont come from the school of thought that you need a manual car to feel like you are "really driving it", but to buy a sele is like play russian roulette.
And i would never buy one because i LOVE changing gears, heeling and toeing, blipping the throttle and all that sort of fun, leave the automatics to the Camry owners, BUT talk to Selespeed drivers and they love them and you have to hand it to Alfa for having the courage to try something different, it was always going to have a few issues, most of the bugs have been ironed out or given a good whack on the head, and unlike automatics, they don't use more fuel or are slower, because they don't have a fuel guzzling, power zapping torque convertor, the future trend seems to be going to DSG or Direct Shift Gearbox, but talk to Volkswagon owners about the servicing costs of these, they are fearfull, Colin.