A short introduction

[spiderlover]

Hi all, I've been posting about on the forum for a couple of days and realised I'd not introduced myself. Now, I work in HR and whenever we have a training course all our delegates need to tell me a bit about themselves so here goes:

I'm a bloke who's just come back to the VW fold after 9 years of Alfa Romeo ownership (yes I know you're not a true petrol head until you've owned and Alfa ). I've got a 1975 Alfa Spider Veloce in the garage which I'm keeping as it's the nearest thing I'll get to a Ferrari but I've become seriously disillusioned with modern Alfas having owned a 147, a 156 and latterly a 159.

I owned a Mk3 GTI until 1998 and I've just bought a 2002 GT TDI 150 so I'm having a bit of a nostalgia fest at the moment (and turning into a 38 year old "boy" racer).

I've only got the dealer pics so far but I'll post some lovely arty ones when the light's better - I might even ask the Missus to drape herself over it.....

Anyway, I've been a bit of a prolific poster on various Alfa forums and I don't think you lot should be able to escape me so no doubt I'll be a regular feature, but hopefully not posting bucket loads of complaints like I had to on the Alfa forums.......

[Sam]

Welcome aboard!

Is it true what is said about the new Alfas in that they spend more time off the road than on it? I looked at a 147 when they first came out but I just didn't like the driving position or the dash layout (being a VW man myself)

Prolific posters are what we want, so join in as you see fit.

Here's hoping the VW serves you well

[spiderlover]

You're absolutely right about the Alfas - my 159 was off the road on 19, yes 19! separate occasions with major defects, including:

Leaky diesel injectors
Engine fire
2 Replacement gearboxes, yes they replaced it twice!!!!
Replacement clutch
Collapsed wishbones
Multiple creaks, groans, squeaks and rattles
Disintegrating interior trim
Broken headlamp brackets
Numerous other issues not worth going into.

If you really want a laugh, go to www.alfaowner.co.uk and search for my threads (the username is the same)

I still loved the looks of the car and I firmly beleive its the best looking production saloon ever designed but eventually after only 13000 miles I rejected it under the Sale of Goods act! I think I had the Friday afternoon car as I know lots of people who have the same car with no problems whatsoever.....

[MalcQV]

Spiderlover, that is a shame the 159 is a gorgeous looking car. There was another member on the forum deciding what car to buy. A 159 was an option, of which I said how good they look. I was always lead to believe the dealers in the UK were not so good.

A colleague of mine had a 147, that too had one replacement gearbox.

Gotta love the Italians though