IT'S one thing to look at UsedCarExpert.co.uk and conclude that you can buy an Alfa Romeo for £2,000.
It is quite another to buy a reliable one.
I found three to visit within 20 miles that looked clean and tidy in their picture.
A call to the dealers gave me the impression that service histories were sufficiently complete and the dealers seemed open and helpful.
One even gave me the number of the garage stamped in the service book so I could call them and learn about its history.
So, armed with a download of five pages of advice covering the fault checks, price and average mileage guide, I set off for the proverbial Lion’s Used Car Den. I felt hugely confident that by the end of the day I would be the proud owner of a bargain Alfa Romeo. That confidence lasted right up until I got to the first dealer’s forecourt.
Alfa Romeo 156 No.1
The car’s bodywork , far from immaculate had actually had the 10 scrapes and scuffs badly touched up. Looked good in low-res website photos, but was a bit of a state when I was standing next to it. The cambelt hadn’t been changed on schedule – and the engine will be badly damaged if it snaps. The battery was so flat it had to be started with a booster pack and the final straw was the engine management light that didn’t go out. The dealer tried to tell me it was probably just a sensor that had been knocked when they valeted the car. Which would be unlikely even if it were true. But the car clearly hadn’t been valeted.
Car spec: 1.8 Lusso (2002)
Colour: Red
Mileage: 45,000
Price: £1,700
Alfa Romeo 156 No.2
This dealer didn’t even leave his desk, such was his interest in me buying his car. So I inspected the car myself to find the bodywork was really quite good, the interior likewise (only spoilt by crayon marks on the ceiling) and that it started first time without any throttle despite temperatures close to freezing. It was only when I opened the bonnet that it started to go wrong. There was no water in the tank. When I asked the dealer, he had his ‘mechanic’ take a look. Who, despite knowing the forecast was for snow filled it up from the kettle without adding any anti-freeze. That engine may be OK today but he’s just reduced it’s odds of being OK next week. So I had to move once again.
Car spec: 2.0 TS(2002)
Colour: Silver
Mileage: 66,000
Price: £1,900
Alfa Romeo 156 No.3
Despite being four years older than the other two, this one had a genuine full service history, boasting one lady owner and in the pictures online, it looked to be in far better condition. The interior – where it is harder to mask problems – was particularly good. Sadly, the gargage that took it in as a part exchange wanted to get rid of it quickly as their nomal stock is about 20 times the price. So the price dropped from £1,250 on Saturday to £990 on Tuesday and by Wednesday when I rang to make an appointment, it had already gone. So its back to the classifieds for me.
Car spec: 2.0 TS(1998)
Colour: Red
Mileage: 52,000
Price: £990