B4 Vs. Legacy GT Vs. Alfa 156 Vs. Altezza

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B4 Vs. Legacy GT Vs. Alfa 156 Vs. Altezza

Postby blindnz » Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:27 am

Another what should I buy thread.

Just want to know if anyone has any experience with these.

Looking at a 4door manual for a daily. I currently have a Torneo Sir-T which has been good but I'm looking for something year 2000ish, around 150kms.

Are the early 2000's Subaru's rubbish? thinking B4, legacy Gt or WRX. just something tidy.

Alfa 156, I love alfa's and love the interior.

Altezza, ok, but a bit boring.


Thoughts?
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Postby solitaire » Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:37 am

A colleague of mine has a 156gta and it is beatifull in every regard... It's on my midlife crisis list - and its a bit different. :D

It's an alfa though - so maybe make sure you have a backup car :lol:
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Postby blindnz » Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:51 am

This is my issue I thing they're a very nice car, but I don't drive much. I usually bus to work and only drive around town on weekends/on holiday trips.

Hence 4 door. and reliable would be nice.
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Postby Distrb » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:15 pm

You should not change your current car for any of the options you list.

but it appears you have some affinity with the alfa, so go with that.
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Postby FST4RD » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:32 pm

Alfas are nice cars but not a good rep for reliability.
As far as the Subarus go... I have a 95 twin turbo bg wagon all factory. Coming up 195k and the motor is still good, turbos spool well, no smoke etc. The late 90s early 2000s haven't got a good rep. My mates one with no mods, regular servicing and less k's just blew up. If you have the money spend a little more and get the bp legacy, the single turbo model.
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Postby solitaire » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:46 pm

If I can make another suggestion:

I love my ls400, as a daily I wouldn't drive anything else. Insurance is cheap, they are comparitively good on gas (between 11 & 12.5k/100kms I am getting) and it has been very reliable and very easy to drive - but its not a manual!
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Re: B4 Vs. Legacy GT Vs. Alfa 156 Vs. Altezza

Postby dnalunchie » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:17 pm

blindnz wrote:Another what should I buy thread.

Just want to know if anyone has any experience with these.

Looking at a 4door manual for a daily. I currently have a Torneo Sir-T which has been good but I'm looking for something year 2000ish, around 150kms.

Are the early 2000's Subaru's rubbish? thinking B4, legacy Gt or WRX. just something tidy.

Alfa 156, I love alfa's and love the interior.

Altezza, ok, but a bit boring.


Thoughts?


You can get a version 7 wrx 2000 model (non sti) for around 8-10k

They are very reliable and fun to drive
EX:89 RS and GT Legacys, 90 EF9 Civic, 95 Integra R, 95 AE101, 90 ST185, 88 Accord, 87 3rdoor and 5door Swift hatch, 91 Pontiac Lemans, 80 Liftback Celica, 95 Hornet 250
Current: 90 3sfe Corona
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Postby iamawesome » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:45 pm

My flat mate has a b4, nice to drive and nice inside but twin turbo is rather ghey, double lag isn't cool.
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Postby tsoob » Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:07 pm

id try find a nice 03/04 wrx wagon, my wagon was such a good car..

Do miss it, but hey im taking a holiday to las vegas in 7 weeks so meh
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Postby dnalunchie » Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:49 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 082406.htm

here is the good single turbo legacy

these ones are MUCH better than the Twin turbo

good price too.
EX:89 RS and GT Legacys, 90 EF9 Civic, 95 Integra R, 95 AE101, 90 ST185, 88 Accord, 87 3rdoor and 5door Swift hatch, 91 Pontiac Lemans, 80 Liftback Celica, 95 Hornet 250
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Postby dnalunchie » Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:53 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 475290.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 190228.htm

v8 WRX hatches, good kms, good colour, manual

10k

Here is a few more, some sedans, some hatch backs, even a V7sti hatch if you can stretch a tiny bit.

These are all the GD shape which are STREETS ahead of the 90's shape for reliability and build quality. Also ALL impreza's from the v7 onwards have at least a 4/5 star Euro NCAP crash test rating.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 206365.htm

(even found a V8 hatch wrx for less than 10k)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 358412.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 877406.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 830647.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 952581.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 256680.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 373927.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 918469.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 110760.htm
EX:89 RS and GT Legacys, 90 EF9 Civic, 95 Integra R, 95 AE101, 90 ST185, 88 Accord, 87 3rdoor and 5door Swift hatch, 91 Pontiac Lemans, 80 Liftback Celica, 95 Hornet 250
Current: 90 3sfe Corona
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Postby FST4RD » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:16 pm

iamawesome wrote:My flat mate has a b4, nice to drive and nice inside but twin turbo is rather ghey, double lag isn't cool.


Mine is the shape before the b4. If you keep it in the right rpm range you don't have any issues with turbo lag. Infact on a private road doing 40 in 4th, put my foot down and it went off the clock quite fast. Because it has a smaller turbo that kicks in first there is stuff all lag, very slight drop off between turbos, but the low down kick that you get more then makes up for that.
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Postby duddley » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:18 pm

What about a 3 litre legacy so no turbo to worry about?
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Postby iamawesome » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:41 pm

FST4RD wrote:
iamawesome wrote:My flat mate has a b4, nice to drive and nice inside but twin turbo is rather ghey, double lag isn't cool.


Mine is the shape before the b4. If you keep it in the right rpm range you don't have any issues with turbo lag. Infact on a private road doing 40 in 4th, put my foot down and it went off the clock quite fast. Because it has a smaller turbo that kicks in first there is stuff all lag, very slight drop off between turbos, but the low down kick that you get more then makes up for that.


I found it very slack until the second turbo kicks in, my stock supra that only has a front mount done to it was faster according to our on-ramp lights drag race, but at speed the b4 is faster. But each to their own
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Postby FST4RD » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:54 pm

iamawesome wrote:
FST4RD wrote:
iamawesome wrote:My flat mate has a b4, nice to drive and nice inside but twin turbo is rather ghey, double lag isn't cool.


Mine is the shape before the b4. If you keep it in the right rpm range you don't have any issues with turbo lag. Infact on a private road doing 40 in 4th, put my foot down and it went off the clock quite fast. Because it has a smaller turbo that kicks in first there is stuff all lag, very slight drop off between turbos, but the low down kick that you get more then makes up for that.


I found it very slack until the second turbo kicks in, my stock supra that only has a front mount done to it was faster according to our on-ramp lights drag race, but at speed the b4 is faster. But each to their own


Yeah once your out of first gear they can fly. They're a relatively heavy car to get moving as well.
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Postby blindnz » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:13 pm

Yeah its seems the subaru's are coming out winners, that is v7 and v8 wrx.

I don't want to spend heaps and have it depreciate like a rock.
So they probably fall in a good price range. Good bang for buck.
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Postby iOnic » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:03 pm

Upgrade from Sir-T to 2000+ Euro-R?
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Postby KwS » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:28 pm

Going from my vast experience

B4s are good, reasonably quick, comfortable, handle well. Only really had normal maintenance to do on mine, but it had been rebuilt (odo was only at 140,000ks). Reliable if looked after, but who knows the history of most that are forsale?

My Alfa 156 2.5 V6 manual was an awesome car to drive, the V6 and 6 speed manual are FANTASTIC, exhaust note is sublime. handled well on some king lows. In the couple of months i owned it i spent well over a grand just keeping it running (Airflow meter, spark plugs, suspension arms etc). Mine also suffered pretty bad rust in the floor pans and AC gave up. Interior is great, comfy seats but dash is cheap materials. I would stay away.

My altezza was high ks, so most of the issues i had would be related to that (leaking adjusties, noisy crunchy gearbox, and had a lot of engine work done not long after i sold it, BHG etc). Otherwise comfortable, easy to drive, reasonably powerful. Boot space was a bit average IMO, and the car is far too heavy for the peaky revvy engine. A low ks, well maintained one would be good as a daily.

I would vote for a Euro-R if you like your Sir-T but want more power. Fast, comfortable, awesome recaros, great economy, handle like theyre on rails.
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Postby Al » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:52 pm

The one day, where you have fixed everything, and your Alfa Romeo works 100% as it should, will be one of your best days motoring in your life. The next day another issue will crop up. 8)

I'd buy another one.
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Postby iOnic » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:55 pm

Al wrote:The one day, where you have fixed everything, and your Alfa Romeo works 100% as it should, will be one of your best days motoring in your life. The next day another issue will crop up. 8)

I'd buy another one.


Sounds like MR2 turbo ownership. Except on that one day, you're called a fag. By everyone.

:(
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