Alfa 156

[CS Chua]

My hands are itchy again. Am thinking of changing the Camry and have been looking at the Alfa 156. Do any forumers own or has owned this model? Just want some feedback.

Another option is a beemer but I am not sure what is the costs of ownership. I had Mercedes and Volvo before and it was acceptable but what about the beemer?

[Fabe18]

What's the budget and year of manufacture are you looking at???
U can go to www.italiaauto.net for the forum.
and www.bmwclubmalaysia.com.

[BMW9700]

My hands are itchy again. Am thinking of changing the Camry and have been looking at the Alfa 156. Do any forumers own or has owned this model? Just want some feedback.

Another option is a beemer but I am not sure what is the costs of ownership. I had Mercedes and Volvo before and it was acceptable but what about the beemer?

The BMW is a good car to drive. Good feel, handling, smooth responsive engines etc. Try to buy a fairly current model. The older models have heavy maintenance issues. This can work out to be very expensive. The 3, 5 and X5 series are the ones to consider.

As with all BMW's maintenance schedules are extremely important. All maintenance works to be carried out as outlines in the service manuals.

A new BMW would be best and comes with the 3 year maintenance and warranty. If you are buying used, look for one with a service record from an authorised dealer. Once you have located the car go to this site and check the chassis number here http://bmwfans.info/vin/ for some history about the car.

If buying an imported model insist on a certified copy of the AP. If no AP, just walk away.

Hope the above helps..

Regards

[CS Chua]

Thanks. I read reviews from everywhere about the 156 and apparently, it is quite a high maintenance car. Not sure why the Italians cannot make quality parts, but it is also a joy to drive when it is not in the workshop. I guess you cannot have the cake and eat it too.

Was earlier reading up about the 3 series. The new models are really nice.

[bslee]

Thanks. I read reviews from everywhere about the 156 and apparently, it is quite a high maintenance car. Not sure why the Italians cannot make quality parts, but it is also a joy to drive when it is not in the workshop. I guess you cannot have the cake and eat it too.

Hahaha..perhaps the Italians are only good for performance and speed devils that last 100 laps at Monaco or Brands Hatch and thats it. After that..your ploblem..loads of it. BMW?...Big Money Waster?? (as far as owing one in this land is concerned) ONLY if you can really really afford it or someone else paying the upkeep bills. Only the other day in the media, the local distri suggested someone's Bimmer to overhaul engine at 60,000 km just because they found sludging problems, what oil were they using all the while?...Minyak Cap Buruh? How about current Audi models? I seem to gather this make quite popular in UK now.
My 1 half sen comments.

[Fabe18]

Hahaha..perhaps the Italians are only good for performance and speed devils that last 100 laps at Monaco or Brands Hatch and thats it. After that..your ploblem..loads of it. BMW?...Big Money Waster?? (as far as owing one in this land is concerned) ONLY if you can really really afford it or someone else paying the upkeep bills. Only the other day in the media, the local distri suggested someone's Bimmer to overhaul engine at 60,000 km just because they found sludging problems, what oil were they using all the while?...Minyak Cap Buruh? How about current Audi models? I seem to gather this make quite popular in UK now.
My 1 half sen comments.

This sludging problem is pretty common now with the N42 engine used in the post 2001 318i (2.0) and the E90 320i and 120i.

It's further compounded by the service advisory to stick to 25,000km oil service interval... And if u surf the bmwclub forum, this long service interval has been hotly debated since the local distributor announced it.. The more experienced motorheads will change oil midway thru (12,000 - 13,000km). Those who followed the 25,000km oil service intervals are the ones suffering the oil sludge problem...

our tropical climate couple with dusty environment will cause the oil to become dirty faster... the engine oil is made to clean and at the same time lubricate... but if the amount of contaminants in the oil is too much, it'll start to form sludge...

[Fabe18]

The 156 is very much lower in the list of mainstream cars. The lower volume means parts would be more expensive, be it new or used... It needs lots of TLC and so if the previous owner didn't maintain well, the new owner would have to spend time and $$$ to 'nurse' it back to health...

[CS Chua]

Ok, I have been doing some thinking on this matter and let me share what I deduced and no offense to any marque's owners. Take BMW for example. It is called the Ultimate Driving Machine - UDM, but yet it hasso many maintenance issues. It spends so much time in the workshop. In fact, in the BMW forum, one of the rules not to be messed with is: service and change your UDM's parts according to the manufacturer's recommendation, otherwise...

So, here we have it. The UDM, but if you do not service it regularly, it breaks down. Now, look at the boring Japanese cars. It is not the UDM, but hey! it keeps going and going, even when you do not service it regularly or change the parts according to the manufacturer's recommendation. It remains faithful to the owners even with much neglect.

So, who builds the better cars? If you have a health master who boasts of excellent health, but go to see the doctor frequently, how can he be a health master? Like wise, how can they call it the UDM when so many parts break down so often and these parts cost a bomb. In my book, poorly made cars break down often just like any other products.

So, I suspect that it is all about advertising. Say it long enough, enough people will believe you.

So between the UDM and the Lexus (same price level), give me the Lexus anytime. Between the new camry (ACV 40) and the 3 series, I will take the ACV 40.

[bslee]

To me, a Bimmer is only UDV for a while (as long as you're very happy with it) moreover can OBEY and AFFORD what the service people recommend, then there's almost no issue at all. UDV is pure marketing hype for anyone guillable to believe it all. Malaysia is probably among the worst place to own such cars if COST (anything that can happen and going to involve digging deep into your pocket) is going to crop up as an issue anytime. I think most Malaysians may insist on a pragmatic approach to car ownership for many obvious reasons. Its not having the whole cake and eating it all by yourself. Thats that as far as Malaysian motorists are concerned. Any car above RM100k (or any obscene amount) is luxury expenditure in reality here and something this regime INSIST ON MAKING MONEY OUT OF YOU SUCKERS succumbing to it all.

[jimmyay]

To me, a Bimmer is only UDV for a while (as long as you're very happy with it) AND can OBEY and AFFORD what the service people recommend, then there's almost no issue at all. UDV is pure marketing hype for anyone guillable to believe it all. Malaysia is probably the worst place to own such cars if COST (anything that can happen and going to involve digging deep into your pocket) is going to crop up as an issue. I think most Malaysians insist on a pragmatic approach to car ownership. Its not having the whole cake and eating it all by yourself. Thats that as far as Malaysian motorists are concerned. Any car above RM100k is luxury expenditure in reality here and something this regime INSIST ONE MAKING MONEY OUT OF YOU SUCKERS falling for it all.

Some people earn it, and they too know govt are taking them for a ride. Still, it's a matter of choice & everyone deserves a toy.

[CS Chua]

I guess as long as one is living within his means, he has the right to do what he wants with his money. However, I suspect that many are either driving company's car or have ill-gotten gain. RM200K or RM300K is a lot of money. In Australia or USA, you do not find the average Joe spending that kind of money on cars. The average will be about US$25K and that can get you the MPVs or Camry.

[bslee]

Living within means.. hahah..that can include Pasar Malam VCD sellers (amongst other shady ones) at one point of time.. till they eventually got busted. That distributor was rumored to reach monthly or annual sales target because of these flers... how convenient. Malaysia Boleh!
Oh well.. chocolates make the world go round.
Average Joe over there?.. can I guess what are we all then? "Kena-kena betul" Joe's? probably not.
May I reiterate a Myvi only costs UKPound 8,000+ (don't convert).

[jimmyay]

I guess as long as one is living within his means, he has the right to do what he wants with his money. However, I suspect that many are either driving company's car or have ill-gotten gain. RM200K or RM300K is a lot of money. In Australia or USA, you do not find the average Joe spending that kind of money on cars. The average will be about US$25K and that can get you the MPVs or Camry.

Not all rich guys are bad, and not all bad guys are rich either. There are some decent one out there.

Msian getting poorer cos putting their moneys into car. I am not talking about those above RM100K. Just think about someone that earn RM3k and spend on a car around RM50,000. He would be paying one-third of his pay for an asset-cum-liability that is depreciating 10% yearly. This is sad.

Come back to this topic. Alfa always sound sporty for me. As long you gonna be happy owning, that would be cool. Driving Euro car always sound classy too. A japanese car just sound practical.

[CS Chua]

I used to tell my son that to buy a new Camry in Malaysia, he has to work from 10-20 years before he has the kind of income and savings to do so. But in Australia, he can buy a new Camry after 2 years of working only. In Malaysia the ACV40 will costs around RM160K but in Australia, a new Camry is less than A$30K. To be fair, there is the matter of the conversion rate so rightfully, the Camry should costs less than RM100K here. I assume the extra RM60K goes into the government's pocket.

[jimmyay]

Minimum wages a graduate in Australia around AUD30k. Camry cost AUD30K. 1 to 1.

In Msia, average wages of graduate around RM24k. Camry RM150k. Stop dreaming!!