Which One Would You Go For - Alfa or Merc ?

[stek]

Which One Would You Go For - Alfa or Merc ?

Again, poorly informed assguru; the GT and 147 were actually true alfa's, based on the 156 chassis which was widely regarded as being exceptional. It also used the best alfa engines in the Twin Spark and 3.2 V6, the latter being probably one of the best engines ever built.

Right about the Julie, wrong about the GT. It's the only Alfa I have considered in recent years, the GT. Nice car, and thunderous with the 3.2 and 4x4...

Come on OH the last true Alfa was the 75! The 164 was the first fake Alfa - decent car actually but still a Fiat Chroma with knobs on!

[shelby68]

If you've got deep enough pockets to support the servicing then get the Merc, running mine was like the maintenance payments to an ex-wife.

[kaiser78]

If you've got deep enough pockets to support the servicing then get the Merc, running mine was like the maintenance payments to an ex-wife.

I'll get it serviced by local Merc specialist like I do with current one - agree saves a fortune...

[stek]

I have an inkling to buy a wreck 70's or 80's iconic car, fit it with modern stuff, like proper injection, satnav, ICE etc, keep the shape but all-new-under-the-hood, hmm, plan B anyone (plan D for me, B and C ongoing...)

I love the shape of the cheap to buy seccy hand Ferrari 412, I'd gut it, fit a modern drive chain, new interior, sympatetic to the original but with toys, or, more likely based on my track record, buy it, gut it, leave on my drive for 10 years and give it away for scrap...

Anyway, the 412, imagine that shape and nice to drive - LPG as well, hmmm

[Old Hack]

Come on OH the last true Alfa was the 75! The 164 was the first fake Alfa - decent car actually but still a Fiat Chroma with knobs on!

It was actually a combined effort with Saab, on platform sharing with Fiat group (Saab 9000/Lancia thema/Fiat Croma/Alfa 164) The 75 was a cracking car, itself based on an older Alfa, but was flawed (I had a 3.6 75 btw). The 156 was the first of the last, admittedly, for me, but was still a true alfa, with it's own chassis; it was not a shadow fiat, which was what I was replying to. IMO, the 164 wasn't a bad car, not a bit.

[DimPrawn]

If you've got deep enough pockets to support the servicing then get the Merc, running mine was like the maintenance payments to an ex-wife.

I believe the customer service of Alfa is the worst there is, so it's all relative I suppose. Plus if the car is like 5 years old you'd get it serviced at a specialist rather than main dealer.

[Old Hack]

I believe the customer service of Alfa is the worst there is, so it's all relative I suppose. Plus if the car is like 5 years old you'd get it serviced at a specialist rather than main dealer.

Specialists all the way even if it is 1 year old; Alfa service centres are proper tulipe. Genuinely bad.

[gingerjedi]

Would anyone buy a SAAB now?

I notice that the other GM (Vauxhall & Chevrolet) dealers are advertising SAAB servicing.

Quite like the look of the last 9-5 Estate:

[stek]

It was actually a combined effort with Saab, on platform sharing with Fiat group (Saab 9000/Lancia thema/Fiat Croma/Alfa 164) The 75 was a cracking car, itself based on an older Alfa, but was flawed (I had a 3.6 75 btw). The 156 was the first of the last, admittedly, for me, but was still a true alfa, with it's own chassis; it was not a shadow fiat, which was what I was replying to. IMO, the 164 wasn't a bad car, not a bit.

Agree! I liked the 164 Lusso I had, and the 166 after it, the 75 based on the Alfa 90 or Alfa 6? Can't remember. I had the 3.0 75, was the 3.6 a bored out 3.0? Had a 75 2.0 at the same time and preferred that, was unslidable on normal rural roads in Scotland as I was at the time, best car to drive I ever had.

There was a 166 3.2 24 valve facelift - had a go in one but it lacked the oomph, I still say that 24 valve was a bit too top endy, lacked the low end oomph of the 12 valve.

Only had one bad Alfa, a 1985 33, shiiiite....

[Old Hack]

Would anyone buy a SAAB now?

I notice that the other GM (Vauxhall & Chevrolet) dealers are advertising SAAB servicing.

Quite like the look of the last 9-5 Estate:

Yes, and yes thrice more. Very good value for money at the moment. They still ave parts manufactured, they can still be serviced. Cheap as chips now, relatively.