another 156 cambelt thread...

All,
I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private cars
on Tuesday next week:
1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service at
60000. (£4.5k)
2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)

I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
(2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be getting
it done ?
I am no used car pro, and this will be my first Alfa. As a result, the
AA will be doing an advanced check o nthe one I like most.

Hi,

You should be looking at getting the Cambelt done NOW! and you will be
looking at around £300 maybe more, I had a V6 Veloce and a service and
Cambelt change from an independant Alfa Specialist came in at £500.

Paul
Ex 156 V6 SIII Veloce Owner
Now a Happy for now 3L V6 S-Type Jag Owner

"NC" > wrote in message
...
> All,
> I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private cars
> on Tuesday next week:
> 1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service at
> 60000. (£4.5k)
> 2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
> outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)
>
> I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
> closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
> planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
> (2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be getting
> it done ?
> I am no used car pro, and this will be my first Alfa. As a result, the
> AA will be doing an advanced check o nthe one I like most.

Paul wrote:

> Hi,
>
> You should be looking at getting the Cambelt done NOW! and you will be
> looking at around £300 maybe more, I had a V6 Veloce and a service and
> Cambelt change from an independant Alfa Specialist came in at £500.
>
> Paul
> Ex 156 V6 SIII Veloce Owner
> Now a Happy for now 3L V6 S-Type Jag Owner
>
> "NC" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>All,
>>I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private cars
>>on Tuesday next week:
>>1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service at
>>60000. (£4.5k)
>>2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
>>outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)
>>
>>I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
>>closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
>>planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
>>(2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be getting
>>it done ?
>>I am no used car pro, and this will be my first Alfa. As a result, the
>>AA will be doing an advanced check o nthe one I like most.
>
>
>

Thanks - I can maybe use that to knock at least £200/£300 off the price,
helps with the haggle !

Are you really still happy with the Jag?
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)


"Paul" > schreef in bericht
...
> Hi,
>
> You should be looking at getting the Cambelt done NOW! and you will be
> looking at around £300 maybe more, I had a V6 Veloce and a service and
> Cambelt change from an independant Alfa Specialist came in at £500.
>
> Paul
> Ex 156 V6 SIII Veloce Owner
> Now a Happy for now 3L V6 S-Type Jag Owner
>
> "NC" > wrote in message
> ...
> > All,
> > I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private cars
> > on Tuesday next week:
> > 1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service at
> > 60000. (£4.5k)
> > 2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
> > outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)
> >
> > I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
> > closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
> > planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
> > (2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be getting
> > it done ?
> > I am no used car pro, and this will be my first Alfa. As a result, the
> > AA will be doing an advanced check o nthe one I like most.
>
>

Dare I say Yes,

Its a heavier than the Alfa but its fitted with the CATS adaptive sport
suspension and when the Box is in sport mode its a bit of a handfull so much
so the Traction and stability control sometime does not keep up.

So next time you pull upt against an S-Type in the hope of a drag race from
the lights dont get a shock if your left looking at Jags Rear.

But Seriously on a sensible note its a pleasure to drive even when being
sensible and concidering its a £35000 car when it was new I have alot of car
for the money I paid.

I will see how the Alfa GT fairs you never know I may return, I still like
the Alfa allot I think once they get in your Blood they never really leave,
its just a shame the dealerships are crap and the residuals are poor.

Paul
"Alfistagj" > wrote in message
news:6K2yc.2480$9n5.649@amstwist00...
> Are you really still happy with the Jag?
> --
> Ciao from Holland
> AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
> Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
> Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)
>
>
> "Paul" > schreef in bericht
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > You should be looking at getting the Cambelt done NOW! and you will be
> > looking at around £300 maybe more, I had a V6 Veloce and a service and
> > Cambelt change from an independant Alfa Specialist came in at £500.
> >
> > Paul
> > Ex 156 V6 SIII Veloce Owner
> > Now a Happy for now 3L V6 S-Type Jag Owner
> >
> > "NC" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > All,
> > > I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private
cars
> > > on Tuesday next week:
> > > 1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service
at
> > > 60000. (£4.5k)
> > > 2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
> > > outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)
> > >
> > > I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
> > > closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
> > > planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
> > > (2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be
getting
> > > it done ?
> > > I am no used car pro, and this will be my first Alfa. As a result, the
> > > AA will be doing an advanced check o nthe one I like most.
> >
> >
>
>

Paul > wrote in message
...

> "Alfistagj" > wrote in message
> news:6K2yc.2480$9n5.649@amstwist00...
> > Are you really still happy with the Jag?

> Dare I say Yes,

I thought this might have been directed at me, from a week or so ago. It is
interesting to see that someone else also has been looking at a Jag/Alfa
trade off.

> I will see how the Alfa GT fairs you never know I may return, I still like
> the Alfa allot I think once they get in your Blood they never really
leave,
> its just a shame the dealerships are crap and the residuals are poor.

This is what has finally put me off an Alfa I am afraid. As good as the car
was to drive, the comments here about cam belts, specialty oils and dealer
service, coupled with comments from a friend with a 147, have meant that the
Jags won the day. Shame really, but I need a car that is going to be
reliable as well as fun to drive.


--
PyroJames
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.

"PyroJames" > schreef in bericht
...

> Shame really, but I need a car that is going to be
> reliable as well as fun to drive.
>

I drive Alfa since 1972
Only three times an Alfa left me standing.
1. My 1980 Guilletta 1.8 with a dead battery at 01:00 on 26 December 1981
(left my lights on)
2. My 1993 155 1.8 with a totalled engine at the "age" of 1 months and 3500
km's (broken valve hat jammed cam shaft etc)
3. My 1973 Montreal broke the Spica fuel pump in October 2003 (did not
change the fuel filter on time)
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

"Paul" > schreef in bericht
...
>
> I will see how the Alfa GT fairs you never know I may return, I still like
> the Alfa allot I think once they get in your Blood they never really
leave,
> its just a shame the dealerships are crap and the residuals are poor.
>
> Paul

From what I hear the Alfa orginazation in the UK is now managed by a guy who
has a very good track record in SERVICE.
Let's hope he gets the UK dealers on the road again.
See you back then!!
In Holland we had the same problem, but in my opinion the dealers are not
the primary source of the problem, but the Alfa importer (Fiat). They have
put crazy and unrealistic sales targets on them so in the end they never met
the goals so no end year bonusses etc. Then the dealers start slipping!

The situation overhere is better than 3-4 years ago. Dealers are supported
better by Fiat/Alfa and recently a rumor came up that Fiat would stop
importing Alfa themselves in 2005.
They are to be "giving" that to the present Ferrari/Maserati importer!!!!
I just traded my 156SW in on a new GT 2.0JTS
In August 2000 I paid Dfl 55000 (now euro 24.950) and have a trade in at 1
October, the delivery date of the GT, of euro 12.000; a deperciation in 50
months of euro 12.950 or slightly under 51%
Not bad from new!
I have seen friends with BMW/Audi/VW/Merc with worse %-ages; not to talk
about the actual euro's (depreciation end interest!!) they lost with their
(much) higher prices when they bought the cars.
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

"NC" > wrote in message
...
> All,
> I am looking at buying a used 156 1,8. I am booked to see 2 private cars
> on Tuesday next week:
> 1) 1999(v) Veloce, 69000 miles, cambelt done as part of main service at
> 60000. (£4.5k)
> 2) 1999(T) Veloce, 50000miles. Owner has done "nothing" to the car
> outside of things like brake pads and wiper blades. (£4.7k)
>
> I am more interested in (2), mainly due to the lesser miles, its much
> closer, and the wife prefers the colour (I know.. I know..). I am
> planning on trying to use the Cambelt change as a bargaining tool in
> (2). So, how much can I expect it to cost, and when should I be getting
> it done ?

£500 max and it needs it NOW!!
--
David C
156 Selespeed sp3 + Brembo conversion

I'd phone your nearest dealer.
ask the cost of the 48K service plus cambelt change and then haggle that
amount and no less off the guy selling it.

SS