On Fri, 21 May 2004 14:00:17 +0100, MeatballTurbo
>, wrote:

>Problem I have is that both me and the missus have conpletly different
>tastes in cars.
>
>I like them to be long(ish) (Saab 9000, 900, Skyline/Supra/GT3k) she
>likes nice dumpy round mini hatch types (PT cruiser, most superminis, Nu
>Beetles). just about the only cars we have agreed to liking are the 147
>and the 156.
>
>Much as I would like to go out and buy either of them, the budget won't
>stretch.
>
>So I've been looking at some of the older ones. I'm looking for
>something a little small (in exterior length) than the '84 Saab 900 T16S
>that I currently drive, and something a little more town drivable than
>the Saabs's "Nowt, Nowt, Oh **** new underwear please" lag/boost
>scenario. But I want something that I can have fun buzzing arround in
>too.
>
>After asking other italian car drivers/former owners I have aquaintance
>with, they suggested either 164 (bargain basement, not to bad rust wise,
>nice cam chain engine (I like that)), or 155 (again camchain on the
>narrow bodies, some bargains).
>
>now looking at them, and others I've looked at, I like the look of the
>145, although I have been advised against it, becuase it's too heavy for
>the boxer engines, and the TS models are too pricey still, adn they are
>the belt rather than chain twinsparks.
>I realise buying an alfa, I'm getting out of my <£500 car bracket that
>I've stuck to until now, but I fancy something a little better under the
>hood, on the outside, and in the cockpit (I can have any 2 from 3 in my
>budget category).
>
>So, would a 145 cloverleaf be a good first Alfa, am I going to lose
>loads on it in a couple of years. How big compared to another car is it?
>
>Is the 155 (2.0 again probably) a large car, compared to say a Saab
>9000? I think the 164 would be too big in this case, as I want to reduce
>the size of car, plus I really don't like the starship enterprise dash
>panel in the centre console.
>
>Which is the bigger of the two? The 145, or the 155?
>
>I won't be carrying passengers very often, so it isn't really a problem
>if back seat space is a little down.
>
>I appreciate that with the 145 I'm going to be suffering the dealer a
>lot more for belt changes (although probably on one during my ownership,
>I tend to change cars, if now marques regularly, and only do a couple of
>hundred miles a week). Is there a list of independant specialists
>throughout the UK anywhere online?
>
>How are basic jobs like filters oil and plugs like on the 145 and 155?
>I don't want a hulking beast this time, buit equally, I don't want a
>supermini either.
>
>TIA
Why not just spend an hour walking around a car park with a
notepad and pen. Make a list of all the cars you like, and a list
of all the cars you don't like. Then go and buy another yourself a
local car advertisement paper and see how many you can actually
afford. If your budget is 500 quid, you aught to worry about finding any
car in working order not running an Alfa Romeo :-)

Pete
======remove the rust to reply======
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)