Perhaps against my better judgement, I am in the market for a daily driver again. Most everyone on here knows I have kind of strange taste in cars, with a particular affliction for obscure European stuff. With this in mind, on Sunday I'm gonna go look at a low-mileage 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano.

Anybody know anything about these things? I've found some information that makes the car, if nothing else, an interesting car...

- RWD, 5 speed, 2.5L V6
- Rear-mounted trans a la Porsche 944 == perfect weight distribution
- Classed in G Stock
- Bosch electronic fuel injection (no more weirdo Spica mechanical stuff)
- "Interesting" interior layout and ergonmics
- Rear brakes are mounted inboard...way inboard

That's the extent of what I've found. The few people on the Internet who have them seem to really like them. Anyone got experience with these things? Should I just run and hide? It's got 87K miles on it and I can get it for under $3K...

 

Would you consider yourself big in size? A very friendly personality? Do you have a beard?

If you replied YES to at least 2 of the above questions, then you're destined to be an Alfa owner

 

Karl,

Don't do it.

Do NOT do it.

Scott, who says you said "daily driver", by which I assume you mean something dependable...Don't fuggin do it...don't....seriously.

* Scott grew up in an Alfa dealership, is friends with the local Alfa underground, and who's Sales Manager REALLY regrets buying his son a Milano Verde as a first car. I can understand kinda wanting one, but there's no excuse for actually buying one.

 

You crack me up. Shouldn't you get rid of the busted MG before tackling another old European car?

 

Also, the QV w/ 3L had more go-power.

And only the Platinum trim had the LSD.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You crack me up. Shouldn't you get rid of the busted MG before tackling another old European car?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think he pawned that sieve off on Whitney for a case of PBR....

While this car seems like an interesting proposition, I dont think I'd do it. I will admit, that every time I see a Milano on the road i say "oohh... hmm... well thats neat... I wonder if... nah". They look and sound fantastic, but the availabilty of parts/service/knowledge base and my general unfamiliarity with them would never get me close enough to one with a 'For Sale' sign on it.

 

There's a Verde, supposedly restored, for sale in Tampa (listed on Autotrader). Listed at $8000 or so if memory serves (I just looked 2 minutes ago, would have thought I'd remember).

 

Quit teetering on the edge of vehicular stoopidity and just leap.

1984 Renault Fuego.
Go for it man. You know you want to.

That or a Fiero. The V6 with all the crazy plastic body panels.
Yeah, thats the ticket.

Scott, who will start the "office" pool after Karl buys his next car. The goal will be to guess how many days (yes, days) it takes Karl to declare that he *hates* the car. I think the CRX came in at about 30 days, just to give a reference.

 

Fuego? Please. He needs one of these!

 

What I know about Alfa Romeos is...that I have fun seeing how many times I can lap each one in a 25min. track session...

My record is three.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Perhaps against my better judgement, I am in the market for a daily driver again. Most everyone on here knows I have kind of strange taste in cars, with a particular affliction for obscure European stuff. With this in mind, on Sunday I'm gonna go look at a low-mileage 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano.

Anybody know anything about these things? I've found some information that makes the car, if nothing else, an interesting car...

- RWD, 5 speed, 2.5L V6
- Rear-mounted trans a la Porsche 944 == perfect weight distribution
- Classed in G Stock
- Bosch electronic fuel injection (no more weirdo Spica mechanical stuff)
- "Interesting" interior layout and ergonmics
- Rear brakes are mounted inboard...way inboard

That's the extent of what I've found. The few people on the Internet who have them seem to really like them. Anyone got experience with these things? Should I just run and hide? It's got 87K miles on it and I can get it for under $3K...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually bought a Milano new in 1987. I drove it four three years putting over 60k on the odo, then traded it in for a VW Corrado.

I, like you, am attracted to more obscure cars (I plan to own a Maserati Quattroporte and Lancia Scorpion at some point in my life). Why spend a lot of money on something you will see all over the place. With a Milano, you will be unique for sure!

I loved the car. Power was very good with a nice engine note. Mine was lowered etc with rims and tires and handled great.

I had no major problems with it in the short period of time I had it. The problems I did have were annoyances that one would have to deal with in an Italian car of that vintage.

I remember the interior passenger door handle breaking off when someone tried to close the door. And the hood release cable broke at least three times. Back then I didn't work on my own car, so little things like this would take at least two days to fix at the dealer. Parts were never in stock.

I had the Silver edition which was the lowest model in the line-up. I think I paid $14,500 at the time so the 3k price to me seems a bit on the high side. But if in perfect shape it might be worth it.

Go for it...I think you will love it!

 

Shultz, I think you are tempting fate.
If both Left Coast and Dirty South Scotts agree this is a bad idea... I'm thinking they're onto something. Cool and unique yes, but for dependable daily transportation I think something that will get you to work and not worry about it blowing up might be worth the piece of mind for ya. I mean, if you're having a case of the Mondays at Initech, having your car engage full-on fiasco mode on the drive home won't make your day any better.

-Chris, who just found out "fiasco" is derived from Italian and thinks it may be appropriate given the circumstances

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Perhaps against my better judgement, .....</TD></TR></TABLE>


End of story. Follow your better judgement and walk....no, RUN away!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anybody know anything about these things? </TD></TR></TABLE>
A pal who works at a Jaguar restoration shop called me one day to "announce" that he had decided to become an Alfa guy. I asked him why. "Because", he said, "they've got all the disadvantages of a Ferrari with virtually none of the advantages."

 

Alfas aren't that bad, and the V6 is real nice.

I say go for it.

 

The one I'm going to look at is a "Silver" edition, the base car.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do NOT do it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This seems to be the prevailing advice.

See there's this guy in THSCC who tracks one regularly, and I have never seen it break. Not once. Same guy drove one daily for years without a problem. And the local Italian car shop told me that actually, they're pretty good cars.

If (when?) it breaks, I've still got the truck to drive, right?

Crap. All I need is more money...or to sell the truck that I'm no longer towing anything with

 

Karl just buy my E36 and get it over with

 

I've owned an Alfa Romeo of some sort over the last twenty years and never found reliablility to be a problem with them. Cars were two Alfettas and two 164s. The only time they let me down is if I skipped some maintenance item, ignored a problem too long or the dealership denied there being a problem...until said problem left me stranded.

The only issue I have heard about with the Milano is the lack of interior/exterior parts and with the Verde the insanely expensive ABS master cylinder. The V6 has been around long enough that the issues with this engine have been corrected. Head gaskets, water pump and belt detensioner. The manual gearbox is rough on second gear due to the synchro design and this is something to look out for. Automatic. No way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And the local Italian car shop told me that actually, they're pretty good cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Smart guy...he's strengthening his backlog of broken cars to fix! Job security .

 

OK, I dumped pretty hard - but I do have love for Alfas. I've had a couple myself.

And speaking of such a thing (love) - note that Karl is looking for a car that he can have a meaningful and satisfying relationship with. And that's beautiful. A breath of fresh air on this forum normally so rife with contention about racing, and winning, and doing it cheaply - without any mention of the simple love of motoring and hardware that underpins the whole thing.

THANKS KARL.

Oh, and Karl - Don't Do It.

Scott, who found "perfect love" with his ITR...you know, they say there's somebody for everybody, but they only made so many ITR's - which just makes me feel that much more special...

 

And how many busted Italian cars were in his parking lot??

Of all the bad ideas you've had, this is one. Perhaps you'll get lucky and it'll catch fire one day.

 

I grew up with my father owning 4 Alfa Romeo's. Those things are more unreliable than Volkswagons. Parts are expensive and hard to get. Unless you like how your car looks on jack stands.. buy something else.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rice_classic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I grew up with my father owning 4 Alfa Romeo's. Those things are more unreliable than Volkswagons. Parts are expensive and hard to get. Unless you like how your car looks on jack stands.. buy something else.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My ITR is amongst the most reliable thrashing machines ever created....

And it looks fuggin AWESOME on jackstands!

Scott, who admits to the possibility that I've simply gotten used to seeing it that way...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And it looks fuggin AWESOME on jackstands!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It'd look even better with a wing.

Karl,
I have nothing meaningful to add other than I drove a students Alfa once at BMP and didn't care for it at all. It smelled funny, made wierd clunking noises, had waaaay too much body roll, the clutch was soft, and the brakes sucked.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who admits to the possibility that I've simply gotten used to seeing it that way...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Colin, who thinks that refering to himself in the 3rd person is silly.