1992 Alfa Romeo 33 1.7 16v review from UK and Ireland

Engine expired.

Rear door lock didn't work with central locking.

After listening to all the reports about old Alfas (33s in particular), I still went ahead and bought this one.

Boy did I regret it!

You'd think the fact it'd had only 2 owners and not done starship Enterprise miles that it would've been o.k, but oh no.

I thought at first that after it kept not starting the battery might be faulty, as putting a boost box on it seemed to get it going, but one morning it just wouldn't go.

A friend who used to service these told me that the spark plugs are near the ground due to the engine design, and as they get damp the engine won't fire.

We tried and tried starting it, and ended up towing it with a 4x4 to try and get it going, it wasn't having any of it!

Then it went into a local garage, who tried starting it, they got a bit worried when the engine caught fire!!

Time to give up and scrap it I thought.

Luckily it was only a 3rd car and intended as a bit of fun, so didn't affect me that much.

From when I actually did drive it, I can say that performance is great for a 1.7, handling was alright-not as good as I expected (and awful in the wet), despite new tyres, the driving position would suit an ape, and the engine sounded good, but I'm sure you'd be reaching for the painkillers after a journey.

All in all, one of my worst ever buys (and there've been a lot), not a very good car even when working, and as bad as all the rumours about reliability suggested.