excellent choice
the 2.0 twinspark is an excellent engine but there are many things to be aware of.
1. timing belt service
on the 2.0 twinspark the timing belt change interval is 36k. on the 2.0 you have the balance shaft so the timing belt job must include the following:
Cam belt, cam belt tensioner, idler, balancer shaft belt, balancer shaft tensioner. that usually costs £300 however the variator and water pump should be changed at the second timing belt change (72k). that will add to the cost. if the engine sound slike a diesel it is usualy due to the variator.
2. maintaining temperature
this it is often a problem on the twinsparks, both overheating and overcooling. the temp gauge should stay at 70 most of the time, rising to 90 in heavy traffic. if it is still less than 70 after 15mins it means the thermostat is stuck open, usually the gauge sits at 50 for a long time when this happens. the other issue is a rotten radiator which causes overheating, and a faulty fan which is very common and must be checked prior to purchase.
3. oil consumption
all twinsparks use oil, but how much will vary. any owner who does not know how much oil his twinspark uses is not a good person to buy the car from. engine failure is common on twinsparks due to oil starvation. by the time the oil warning light comes on it is to late. people who do not keep theor oil topped up are likely to suffer engine failure. this is why you see so many twinspark engine replacements on all models that use them.
4. electrics
as with all italian cars the electrics are a pain in the arse. check everything works and check all the warning lights on the dash switch off as expected (also check they come on when ignition is switched on, some people chop wires to hide faults)
5. keys
there are only 2 keys. check both work and that the remotes work. replacements can be expensive (£120+)
6. knocking bottom end
the bearings on the crank can fail as early as 70k, by 100k they are commonly knocking. listen for this carefully. it isnt very expensive to fix but it is a good way to get money taken off the price.
7. MAF (air flow meter)
the MAF is a very very very common problem. it shoud be cleaned using contact cleaner at every service. few people bother, leading to major powerloss. if the car lacks power, especially above 3000rpm, this is probably the cause.
