Alfa 145/146 estate?

[Shad]

Does such a thing exist?

[staffsMike]

Not that I ever heard of, there is a 156 estate which apparently has such a awkward boot that it was actually smaller than the saloon's lol

[Lowe]

Only the 156 afaik, and yeah - it's smaller than the saloons boot, but access is better.

[Zak33]

Shad....do you need a newer, more exciting Estate car, by any chance?

May I suggest the Mitsu Sigma?

[Zak33]

strike that...there aren't any for sale

[Shad]

Not so much more exciting mate, just more economical!!

One half of me says, 156 Sportwagon for cheap money could be good, because it's an Alfa and, well.... it's an Alfa. But I know first hand how they build them so did ponder about a slightly earlier model, which for some reason I seem to think might hold up a little better.

I'm really really struggling to find something as good as my 850 for around £1500

[staffsMike]

I suppose an older ford focus estate would fall into that price bracket.. never driven the estate but the hatchback was entertaining enough.

Doesn't quite have the appeal as the alfa I'm sure but there are probably all sorts of small petrol or oil burner options.

[Betty_Swallocks]

Not so much more exciting mate, just more economical!!

One half of me says, 156 Sportwagon for cheap money could be good, because it's an Alfa and, well.... it's an Alfa. But I know first hand how they build them so did ponder about a slightly earlier model, which for some reason I seem to think might hold up a little better.

I'm really really struggling to find something as good as my 850 for around £1500

Whatever you do don't buy a £1500 Alfa. Even the most devoted Alfa fan will tell you that the older ones are rather less reliable than a Labour government.

I was looking for a car for my wife and considered a 146. I even almost convinced the wife, but after lurking on the Alfa owners club forums for a couple of weeks and chatting to some people there I was advised that unless I had about 5 grand to spend I could expect an "interesting" experience.

As one of them said, you don't buy an Alfa for reliability, you buy it for the passion.

Well passion won't get us to work in the morning and it won't keep the contents of my bank account where it's supposed to be.

Don't get me wrong. I love Alfas and I will own one some day, but it will be when I can afford to have it as a luxury, not as a necessity.

[hitman67]

I suppose an older ford focus estate would fall into that price bracket.. never driven the estate but the hatchback was entertaining enough.

Doesn't quite have the appeal as the alfa I'm sure but there are probably all sorts of small petrol or oil burner options.

Seconded, something like a 1.6 Zetec or a 1.8 TDDi would be a cracking motor and dirt cheap too!

[Zak33]

406 Estate? 1.9 and 2.0HDi are great, and the old 2.1 Diesel isn't bad either.

[Shad]

I'm not convinced by the diesel theory at the moment. It seems to be what, 20p a litre more expensive, and if I spent an extra 20p per litre on extra petrol I think I'd get much the same mileage - without sounding like a tractor and having a tiny teeny weeny power band

[Moby-Dick]

Shad....do you need a newer, more exciting Estate car, by any chance?

May I suggest the Mitsu Sigma?

could have had my old one , although it wasn't newer... although it was quite exciting

Legnum VR4 is a cracker though

[kalniel]

Not so much more exciting mate, just more economical!!

One half of me says, 156 Sportwagon for cheap money could be good, because it's an Alfa and, well.... it's an Alfa. But I know first hand how they build them so did ponder about a slightly earlier model, which for some reason I seem to think might hold up a little better.

I'm really really struggling to find something as good as my 850 for around £1500

Ex-police T5?

[Vimeous]

Legnum VR4 is a cracker though

My first thought followed by the economy figures lol

For older Alfa estates you're talking the 33.
That should also be enough to scare you away

Friend got a tidy non-turbo Impreza Estate Sport (T-plate) for £1k recently.
No idea if the non-turbo can be classed as exciting though or if the interior is much better than the Civic TBH.

E30 Touring?
Tiny boot, old-school styling, RWD.

[joshwa]

Alfa Romeo 156 Sport Wagens seem very good value for money:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=019