I am thinking of saving for a 1996 Alfa Romeo 164 with the Busso V6, they have only just turned 20 so they have become eligible for classic insurance.
The one I am looking at has spent about 8 weeks at an Alfa Romeo specialist having a complete overhau. Would this be a good choice of car? Or would I be looking at more than £2K annual insurance on a classic policy?
But seriously, I actually wouldn’t know. A classic car is always a temptation… the gift that keeps on taking, so to speak.
Yeah it’s a risk buying a classic, especially an Alfa Romeo, I know I could afford to buy one but insuring it even with 5,000 miles a year on a classic policy is another ball game, I’ll probably be paying the same as my Leon for insurance
Based on my experience, I’ll never take an historic car again.
Unless you have space where to keep it and money to throw up to. I didn’t had any of the two and I ended with delusions only.
Hm I already have a project car (Vauxhall Cavalier Turbo) which is going to be a money pit already, but then again I would like something I could drive straight away that isn’t going to absorb my money. An Alfa is a risk but as I’m passionate about them I am willing to take the risk, maybe there are better Alfa’s out there (155, 145, 146 etc.)
Even on my 2CV on a classic policy at 3000 miles a year, I pay (relative to older 2CV owners) daft insurance and I’ve been driving for a few years now. You’ll also struggle to find anyone other than Lancaster that will give you a classic policy if you’re under 25, the others that do are extortionate.
Lancaster haven’t been great for me, I had a lot of bother with them at renewal time and I lost a lot of the benefits (show cover, free breakdown cover etc) this year, but if it’s just cheapness you want it’ll probably be your only option.
If it’s just going to be a second car then don’t worry about the reliability too much so long as it is a decent price. You still have the Leon as a reliable daily right?
Yeah the Leon is going strong thankfully
It will be a second car but I may not get anything until I get past my first year, I will be running both the Leon and possibly the Alfa (if I get it) on an apprenticeship pay but I live at home so I haven’t got things like rent to worry about yet, again I won’t buy another car until I am a garunteed a good long lasting job
mate if you are passionate about alfa’s save your penny’s and drop the cavalier nothing goods can come from GM (they are evil evil people) and I guarantee the first time you drive it in the sun it will be worth it…and then it will pop a heater hose or something ridiculous as they do
I wish I could drop the Cav but it will hurt my dad a bit because he gave it to me for my 8th birthday (it has been sitting for 8 years now so maybe I could offload it back to him because of the rust thats probably take over)
Oh thats the fun of owning an Alfa though 
I am definately getting an Alfa but I am still conflicted on what Alfa to get now
The 164 is a bit too big for my tastes. 1st Alfa I really noticed as a kid was the 33, I’d love one of those, but then I’d really love an Alfetta GTV, or a 156 or… The list is endless and my budget is not (far from it)
No second car for me for now, still the Giulietta is fun though
Well the 164 draws me in because of the Busso V6 and the smart looks but then again the 145 is more in my insurance budget but I also like the 155 and the 33 also, the 164 was kind of a love at first site ordeal (although it cannot compare to a Junior or classic Giulietta or Spider Duetto)
In fairness, the Cavalier is a rare car, back from a period when Vauxhall made interesting stuff. That itself would be equally worth saving I’d have said.
I do like the Cavalier and I know there are less than 70 Cav Turbos on the road now, mine has the nice blue colour, I might keep it as a long term project as a lot needs doing, I’m thinking of doing a video update series on it for people who want some 90’s nostalgia 