Website design By BotEap.comOne of the best cars to drive but the worst to fix, right? I bought this handsome muscle car for a bargain. Yes, compared to what I could have bought it was a real bargain. Nothing looks like that. A car with sexy curves with a leather interior and hidden door handles. The paint job isn’t the best, but nothing else comes close. You get air conditioning, power steering, ABS, fuel injection, central locking with a built-in alarm, two airbags, and plenty of muscle. Alfa 2.5 liter V6 quad cam 24 valve engine generating 140KW and 190bhp. In 7.2 seconds 0 – 60Mph is fast.

Website design By BotEap.comThe problem with the car is the service fees that you will spend on it. My clear advice to you is to have your timing belt serviced at an Alfa repair shop. It may seem like the guy down the street will save you a dime, but can you really put a price on safety and comfort? Let’s talk about the price of a service. A timing belt service at an Alfa repair shop should set you back around R14,000.00 in South Africa or $2,400.00 in the US. But why do you ask? This is the Alfa that saved Alfa Romeo from bankruptcy. From the wheels to the emblem, the engine and the seats, everything has been made by Alfa for Alfa. The Alpha camera kit is about R9 000.00 and the rest of the money is for labor and stuff. A normal oil filter spark plug service will cost you R3500.00. It is best that you change the timing belt before the belt breaks. Replacing 24 bent valves will cost you much more than R20,000.00. In Cape Town, South Africa, there are at least three Alfa dealers who will do a great job repairing your Alfa. You can also have the Alfa serviced by Bosch or Hollande Motors. Remember to keep the oils and waters checked weekly and top up as you inspect the car week after week. Great service will last a long time. After my service, I can get in the car, start it up and go.

Website design By BotEap.comI will tell you a little more about the V6 engine. Yes, it is an Alfa V6 engine. The 156 came out with the 2.5-litre 24-valve four-cam V6 engines pushing 141 Kw into a six-speed manual gearbox at the front wheels. The car is front-heavy and turning is a problem because the huge engine takes up a lot of space under the hood. I’ve had my car for a little over a year and it’s still a pleasure to lift the hood and see that wonderful engine. The engine was oversized in many ways. The Alfa V6 engine can also be found in a 3l 3.2l 3.7le even in a 3.8l. The 2.5L lacks the cranking power found in larger cylinders, but the 156 just puts that smile on your face. There are really very few mechanical things that can go wrong with these motors, but if something breaks, you have to spend all your money and lend something. The weakest point of the engine is related to the distribution parts. The factory water pump had plastic moving parts that could warn under the stress and heat of the engine and fuel, leaving no cooling for this huge engine. The timing belt has a less than average lifespan and should not be overlooked if you are thinking of buying one of these classic cars. The problem with my car was a broken or rather torn timing belt tensioner. I was standing on a bridge and I heard a great recording sound before my engine died. The timing belt came loose after the tensioner failed and I managed to double 24 valves. It is good practice to have the timing belt and moving parts inspected at every service and please do not skip a service on this car.

Website design By BotEap.comI have taken the car on a few family trips and it drives well. The only thing that could have been improved in the car if I could mention this to you, is the air conditioning. It’s as good as not having it in the car. The rest is fine on the money. From the stitching on the door panels to the exhaust system and that powerful engine up front, I can truly agree that this car was made with passion and purpose. If this is what it took to save Alpha from bankruptcy, then it’s enough for me.

Website design By BotEap.comIt is well worth the money? I have to say, a Big Phat. Yes. This car and its engine were rated Car of the Year and Engine of the Year in 1998. The Alfas V6 Engines engine note will blow your friends away. The day you pull up and leave the Mercedes, the VWs, and the BMWs behind you, you’ll realize you’re close to perfection in this classic muscle car. Fuel usage is poor, but it’s not VW. With a 6-speed manual transmission and high-revving engine tone, you’ll be smiling like a rich man in a poor man’s car. Remember, you’re not a gas fanatic until you’ve driven an Alfa.

Website design By BotEap.comTime to look back at that Mercedes and BMW and then look back at your Alfa. The service costs a little more, but what you get is the best that Alpha had to offer our planet at a time when they had hit rock bottom. What you get is more than a car, it’s a piece of history that tells the story of a time when fuel was cheap and power was plentiful. He talks about a pilot who can enroll among the great oil tankers of all time. This is not just an Alpha; this is the Alfa that started all other Alfas after it in a race to be more than just a car. This Alpha is a legend.