I'm looking into buying an alfa 147 JTD, it has around 18,000 on the clock and was just wandering what to look out for with the JTD engines, and also when the cambelt change is due?

happy bday by the way.

IIRC the JTD is a pretty solid engine so shouldnt really have a problem there. Also a tunable engine by angel tuning IIRC

You will probs get a better answer tomorrow than this

cheers for the quick reply! yes it is my bday (well technically yesterday) been nusing a hangover all day

I'm having a dilema, you see I've always wanted an Alfa (for as long as I can remember!) and the 147 JTD seems the best (higher insurance than my Punto but better mpg), although I'm also tempted to go for a Skoda Fabia VRS. I'm mainly concerned about general reliability 'issues' that I've heard about with Alfas, although Fiat seem to suffer with the same reputation too, but all of mine have been great reliability wise.

well the best people to advise you on the VRS are wolfracepunto and chrisuk who both have red ones.

I think they have suffered in the past alfa, but like fiat have improved. There have been a few fiat-alfa converts recently.

Higher insurance? the 1.6 is group 11 so good knows what the JTD is

JTD is 11 too, I'm getting a quote tomorrow but I'm expecting it to be rather expensive! VRS is lower insurance. hmm, this might take some serious thinking, although knowing me I'll decide to keep the Sporting for a few more months

The Alfa's are fine with regards to reliability and are a different class to the vRS Fabia. £ for £ you will get a bigger and more solid car with more toys and credibility with the Alfa, but the vRS is an absolute scream!

We average 8 Fabia vRS alone per month and they are a hoot, but they are exensive and getting one 2nd hand is not a lot cheaper than buying one new. The Alfa's are cheaper (8v) and slower but the 16v if you can afford one is superb, better than the vRS.

My choice would be...

£8,000 - £10,000 2nd hand vRS
£10,000 - £12,000 New vRS or used 16v

Just be wary of the trim wear on the vRS and keeping the light coloured seat clean looks a nightmare! No eating chocolate!!

Thanks for the info, I don't want to spend over £8000 if I can possibly help it. I doubt I could afford the insurance on a JTD 16v, I've just got a quote for the 115 JTD (£1100) which isn't bad for my age but it's expensive enough! I know the Alfa would have less power but I would have thought a re-map would bring it on a par with the VRS in terms of power. It all really comes down to insurance, I'll phone a few insurance companies when I get back from work tonight.

The Stilo JTD is Group 5 insurance

I don't want a Stilo Nothing wrong with them but I want an Alfa *runs and hides from Stilo owners*

hehehe fair doos! Good luck in your car hunt!