Faults:

The drivers door mirror adjustment mechanism (wires) broke, leaving the glass unpositionable.

Windscreen cracked for no reason.

Rear screen heater occasionally blew fuses.

The inner edges of the front tyres wore very fast, although the suspension had been lowered.

General Comments:

I loved my Alfa 33 1.7ie - I bought it for a song through a very well known internet auction co expecting to find a 'slightly rough' car.

I was rewarded with a good car that had had 2 owners, the most recent of which has lavished love and money on the car for the last 3 years.

He had lowered the suspension with specialist springs and dampers, replaced belts, fluids, bought alloys and new windscreens. A top bloke who missed his alfa as much as I did when I sold it, 12000 miles later.

The handling was fabulous, the acceleration was great, the braking average.

The car was rust free (garaged and cosseted from new) and had been dealer serviced for the first 6 years, only synthetic oil used, genuine Alfa parts used and generally loved loads.

The lowered suspension sharpened up the handling to fabulous levels - this car was FUN to drive, but purgatory on a long run, but I can't blame Alfa for that, can I?

The cabin was unremarkable if a little cramped, (I'm 1m82 tall, 100kg!) but my wife & kids never complained about the car. It didn't have a sunroof, but that's usually good if you're tall!

Loved it, but sold it for a change and Bought a Lancia Dedra instead.

My Lancia is back on the market and I'm looking for another 33, but this time a 16v - can't wait to return to the fold!

Faults:

Where to start!?

New clutch (twice)

New brake pads every 4000 miles.

New water pump.

Thermostat blew apart at 40000 miles.

Petrol tank split and leaked onto exhaust pipe.

New wheel bearings after 10000 miles.

Door handle fell off.

Speedo/mileometer faulty, stopped recording miles at 80k, except when you were sitting in traffic where it would wind up to 180mph and spin on many miles.

Boot rusted.

General Comments:

Get it lowered and stick on some alloys that won't corrode so much as the standards!

I put a stainless steel straight thru exhaust on mine, added an extra 5-7bhp.

Get it rolling road tuned and invest wisely in spark plugs! I had 140mph out of mine after this...

Upgrade the brake discs, pads wear out V quickly on the model I had, probably due to having drums on the back!

Basically this car was my pride and joy, I saved up to buy it and then it bankrupted me by being in the garage every month!

Faults:

Looking at the service history:

Worn cams.

Leaking rear shocks.

Suspension Bushes.

Under my ownership:

Distributer cap.

Gear lever snapped at plastic bush.

General Comments:

Great car.

Spectacular performance for a 1.7, corners like it's on rails.

Sensitive to tyres (don't use GoodYear NCT3s if you want to stop in the wet!).

Galvanised so won't rust.

Dealer service incredibly poor. Find a good specialist.

Faults:

Rear wheel bearing and front brake pads. Clutch will need replacing soon but the car is 9 years old.

In reality, nothing but service items.

General Comments:

Little LHD car I bought while working abroad. Cheap to buy and run, and goes very well for a 1.3. Manages to give 39mpg on the motorway at 80~90, although it only manages about 25mpg around town.

Unlike UK models of this age, it has no power steering and is fitted with carbs.