Anything wrong with this car?

[benwynn]

Thats a Long Version of my First Post..

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Naki @ Apr 9 2008, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yep ...high mileage European = $$$ in repairs and unreliable - would never touch one again after having two nightmare Europeans with a lot lower mileage than the 406 you have linked.

Whats wrong with Jap cars (and some Korean cars arent bad now too) anyway? Just read a comparison test with the new Nissan GTR beating the Porsche 911 Turbo (and its half the price) - other comparos from my massive collecion of car magazines (comparos from Wheels, Car etc):

Accord Euro is heaps better an Audi A4 2.4 (twice the price of an Accord),
350Z pulvarises the Alfa GT
Legacy 3.0R equals a BMW 330 but is nearly half the price
A Mazda 6 is better than any equivalent sized Saab or Jaguar
WRX STI thrashes the VW Golf R32 & Audi S3

Yea there is some nice Euros out there but I think you really need to buy new if you buy European as reliabilty can be a problem if they are S/H - possible exceptions are VWs & newer Skodas (basically VWs underneath) but I woudn't touch any of the more expensive German brands and anything from Italy or France.

There is some excellent Jap cars out there particularly from Mazda, Honda and Subaru.

The 350Z pulverised the Alfa GT because they're completely different cars..
Legacy equaling a BMW 330? DOubt it. We test drove a newish Legacy when buying dad's Merc, and the Mer4c (Bear in mind a 2.2 tonne SUV) Handled better than the Subaru.
MAzda 6 is nowhere near as good as a new Saab 9-3.
WRX STi is a through and through performance car, Audi and VW are more comfortable 'cruisers'.

[Naki]

Oh well - I am only repeating what is said in Autocar (NZ & UK), Car (UK), Wheels (Australia) & Motor (Australia) - I'll show you the articles if I could (don't have a scanner).

350Z competes with Alfa GT both coupes both V6s. I have driven the Legacy 3.0R - its one of the best handling cars I have driven but I guess it depends on priorities. ... and the R32 & S3 are performance cars!

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Can't be bothered continuing this

I guess everyone likes different things, I like European cars for that 'flair' that Japs just don't have, and also if I went around in a Honda Prelude or something, I'm instantly classed as a boy racer, which I don't really want as I'm not.

[Alfashark]

Says it all really... Although in reality Alfa have resurrected themselves in terms of Dealer service and general fit and finish (and they dont come with factory installed rust anymore )
AND for the first time in their 100+ year history, they're finally in the black - financially speaking.

For the Motor-minded, check out Sniff Petrol, dedicated to taking the #### out of all things automotive
Make sure your Ad-Blocking is turned off or you wont be able to see their "not advertisement" section... even the Holden Monaro takes a beating lol

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Apr 10 2008, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Says it all really... Although in reality Alfa have resurrected themselves in terms of Dealer service and general fit and finish (and they dont come with factory installed rust anymore )
AND for the first time in their 100+ year history, they're finally in the black - financially speaking.

For the Motor-minded, check out Sniff Petrol, dedicated to taking the #### out of all things automotive
Make sure your Ad-Blocking is turned off or you wont be able to see their "not advertisement" section... even the Holden Monaro takes a beating lol

I do love those Alfa 159's! Perfect example of why I like Euro cars over Jappas. I guess the equivalent to this would be the Honda Legend? This just has so much more flair..

Mum's really wanted one of these for ages, but for the 2.4 JTD Sportwagon it's about $80 grand, so just a tad out of her price range

[Alfashark]

Yep, pricey as all hell... but, short of purchasing either one of Stuttgart's finest (Porsche) or Maranello's highly strung horses (Ferrari) where else are you going to get that individual character along with true racing pedigree?
Just as a side note, Enzo Ferrari actually drove for the Alfa works teams during the 20's and the first Ferraris were Alfas that Enzo had tweaked with in terms of power and suspension.

Lamborghini made tractors for a crust originally and bought one of the first pure Ferraris. Soon he got sick of the dodgy shift mechanism in the gearbox and replaced it with tractor parts and a few ideas of his own. Other owners got him to modify theirs, and the rest is history

Just for the record, im actually a Porsche fan... Ferrari's are like thoroughbred race horses - if the horse breaks its leg, it usually gets the bullet. 10000km service for a Ferrari, you shoot yourself. no change from $10k...