Recent Posts

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940 Series (Giulietta, Mito and 4C) / Re: Giulietta 1.4 first car

« Last post by poohbah on March 20, 2023, 11:47:24 PM »

Cheers Bazz, appreciate the information.

Diesel wouldn't be my first choice,  I also doubt my daughter (being more eco-minded than me) would choose an oil burner over petrol if both were available, but seems sensible to have as many options available. And being fairly practical, she may actually find the lower fuel consumption of more appeal given her skinnier finances.

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940 Series (Giulietta, Mito and 4C) / Re: Giulietta 1.4 first car

« Last post by bazzbazz on March 20, 2023, 11:01:44 PM »

Timing belt - I recommend 4 yr/100,000 km for both (They always time out long before the mileage)

The diesels are fine, same horsepower with an extra 100nm of torque, and they'll go from Brisbane to Sydney on a single tank of fuel.
However, they are still a diesel, with the usual diesel NVH.

No additional problems to speak of over the 1.4MA, as the EGR valves in these are water cooled and much less problematic.

Servicing, can't give you a cost figure as not familiar with prices in your neck of the woods. Interval, no more than 10,000 km/12months.
Changing the 1.4MA oil & filter every 6 months can only be beneficial if the finances allow.

 

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Photos & Videos / Lygon St in the 80's...ahh the memories!

« Last post by Anth73 on March 20, 2023, 09:00:29 PM »

Immaculate GTV around 30 seconds in. Perms, mullets, permed mullets and high waist jeans were the norm on a lazy Sunday arvo on Lygon

https://fb.watch/jnVSTcSIsk/?mibextid=i76BS0

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Buy/Swap/Sell [Announce ONLY] / Wanted - 2010 Mito - Black Front Bumper

« Last post by bazzbazz on March 20, 2023, 07:50:01 PM »

As the title says, I'm after a Black Front Bumper for a 2010 Mito.

If anyone has one, knows where I can get one please contact me, my details are in my signature below.

Baz

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940 Series (Giulietta, Mito and 4C) / Re: Giulietta 1.4 first car

« Last post by poohbah on March 20, 2023, 07:05:16 PM »

Cheers Bazz, good advice as always. I am pretty certain I can find another good one if I wait, and time is not a problem in this instance.

I know all about CVTs (onto our 3rd Subaru Forester, and the trans is the one thing I dislike most, really not very pleasant), so the TCT isn't that off-putting. I wasn't aware of the 150tkm wear threshold so thanks for that.

Also, what's the timing belt interval on these cars? And what's the usual ballpark cost of a normal service (and is it 6 or 12 months)?

Finally, what do you think of the diesels? (I've never owned one, so no idea).

To be honest, I fear I will be the only one enthusing about a Giulietta. Still, I can only provide a range of good options for consideration .

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940 Series (Giulietta, Mito and 4C) / Re: Giulietta 1.4 first car

« Last post by bazzbazz on March 20, 2023, 05:27:19 PM »

As you have already mentioned the Drivers Side Engine Mount & Tail Hatch Wiring loom issues, the only other things I can think of to watch for are -

1/ On the 1.4MA, just make sure the oil changes are no more than 12 month/10,000 km at the most and that the MultiAir Micro Filter has been changed at least when the cambelt has been done.

2/ Make sure the correct AGM battery is installed, and the battery is not more than 2-3 years old, otherwise you'll be changing it.

3/ The TCT Transmissions are a lot more reliable than people think, you have to remember that you only ever hear about them when there is a problem, you never hear about the large number of trouble free ones out there. 

Many of the alternatives that you have mentioned have CVT transmissions, go Google and see the number of issues people have with those!

4/ Do try and get one with as low a mileage as possible, remembering that the TCT clutches start to get normal wear & tear issues from around 150,000 kms onwards

5/ Be patient & keep your nerve, even if you miss a perfect bargain, just remember, there is always an even better one just a week or two away.

And then there is the MOST important reason to buy an Alfa. When she is at work/Uni and pulls up in the car park, and all her friends are gathered around talking about their cars, "I've got a Hyundai, I've got a Mazda, I've got a ect ect ect" she can elegantly step up with her Prada handbag and proclaim "Well I've got an Alfa Romeo!", turn and snap her pony tail with an air of superiority and walk off in her Italian high heels leaving them wondering "How do I get one?" 

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116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) / Re: Alfetta rear giubos

« Last post by poohbah on March 20, 2023, 04:42:16 PM »

Not that I have much experience with 3d printed parts - other than recently receiving 3-d printed side-skirt jacking point covers for my GTA - are you confident the 3D flexi seal will be robust enough to last? Seems a high-wear item.

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940 Series (Giulietta, Mito and 4C) / Giulietta 1.4 first car

« Last post by poohbah on March 20, 2023, 01:57:57 PM »

Folks,

Just looking for some general opinions.

My 22yo daughter is finally starting on getting her licence and we'll be helping her purchase her first car. We're not in a rush - she's still in early stage of getting licence.

We're also not crazy - looking for something with max safety features, good reliability, good fuel economy and an auto trans, that fits within budget up to a maximum $10k.

Preferably it also needs to be bigger than a micro car (so looking at mid size hatches/sedans, potentially small SUV).

Now I have til now been focused on the usual suspects from Japan and SK like Corollas, i30s, Ceratos, Rios and even Imprezas (na only). Will not bother with anything from Ford, GM, Germany, or similar.

But I've already discovered there is not much for <$10k with a Japanese badge that is newer than late noughties or hasn't been flogged. And while there are a few circa 2012-14 Kias and Hyundais, it has struck me that a similar age Giulietta with the 1.4 or diesel may be a realistic alternative that has superior standard safety features for the money.

Just missed out on even looking at a beautifully cared-for 2014 Giulietta diesel for $9k that was snapped up in about two days. But it did at least indicate these do pop up from time to time.

So I'm really just interested to hear owners views on whether a 1.4 or diesel G would be a crazy choice for a first car.  If I managed to overcome the missus' anti-Alfa attitude, I would 'guide' my daughter on care/maintenance, and make sure it was serviced at the same place I've been taking my Alfas for the last 11 years.

And aside from usual stuff like needing full service history etc, what should I look out for?

I recall from my own prior brief consideration of a QV for me (I ended up replacing my '99 156 with a '02 156 GTA instead  ...) that the rear wiring looms can be problematic, that drivers' side mirror vibrating at idle is a sign of engine mount needing replacement, and selespeed /TCT trans can be problematic (this would probably be my major concern), and usual checking for signs of excessive oil consumption/leaking especially in relation to turbo wear.

Cheers

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116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) / Re: Alfetta rear giubos

« Last post by festy on March 19, 2023, 07:47:47 PM »

I should have known this would happen...
After a week of head scratching and staring blankly at my pile of parts, I gave up and asked the forum.
Then straight after posting I walked back out to the garage and came up with what I think is a pretty good solution.
I took a 12x22mm plain spherical bearing, and bored out its ID to 14mm. I added a 3D printed flexible seal to keep the grease in and the dirt out.

I think it should do the job just fine.

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116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) / Alfetta rear giubos

« Last post by festy on March 19, 2023, 04:53:44 PM »

My '79 GTV has an early '76 style tailshaft, and I've been slowly collecting the parts needed to fit the correct type.
I thought I had everything I needed - larger clutch input shaft flange, three new giubos, new center support bearing and spherical bush, and the tailshaft itself.
While fitting the new rear giubo to the shaft I found that the old one that came fitted to the new (to me) shaft had a captive spherical bearing, but the new giubo has a 22mm diameter hole, expecting the spherical bearing to be attached to the back of the tailshaft.
And these two giubos have the same part number on them 

From what I can tell, in ~82 the tailshaft was revised a bit and instead of a 14mm pin on the rear, it had a 12mm pin with a 12 ID / 22 OD spherical bearing pressed on - which would make sense in the context of the redesigned rear giubo's center bore.

So it looks like I have the wrong rear giubo. I can't return it, I've had it for years while I collected the other parts.
The correct rear giubos are considerably more expensive, and a little hard to come by, so I was wondering if its possible to use the later style so started looking for options.
1) Use a 14mm spherical bearing - I can't find one in any catalog. Standard sizing is 12 or 15mm.
2) Stick the rear half of the tailshaft in a lathe and turn the pin down to 12mm - pretty sure my lathe is way too small for that
3) Fit a 14x22 needle roller bearing - bad things would happen if alignment wasn't perfect
4) Machine up a 22mm bronze ball, press onto the shaft and see how long it lasts
5) just assemble without any rear locating bearing #yolo 
6) Find somewhere that has stock of the correct giubo, hand over ~$350 and hope I'm sent the correct type

While researching all this, I came across this post where LukeC mentions that the later style giubos can be used for earlier cars so that sounds promising, but was wondering what's actually involved?