My coupe has nearly had every job done to it now except the clutch, and tonight, it began slipping in 3rd gear

I went to take my brother to buy an Alfa 156 2.4JTD 10v 150 version in the coupe today, as on the way back i discovered the clutch slip.

He paid £850 for a 52 plate, needs a new bonnet due to rust, but despite that, its gorgeous. He let me drive it tonight, and it was stunning, comfy, quick enough, and best of all cheap to run!

I've had one before (hence why i talked my brother into one) and loved it, due to the mileage i was doing, but i found myself craving a coupe, so ended up with a coupe again.

Now, if my clutch hadn't decided to slip on the coupe, i'm not sure i'd be thinking like this...

Can someone please talk me into why i should spend the money on the coupe and not getting another car please...

I know i'll regret selling or swapping the coupe, but the diesel cheapness is tempting!

Yeah as nothing ever goes wrong with other cars

For the sake of c£600 get JBT to fit a paddle clutch and all the jobs are done. Where else will you get satisfaction like the coop gives you for £600? No brainer to me, although i appreciate i'm not especially logical when it comes to my car

The Coop is a beautiful looking, special sounding, head turning, make every journey different, rare, fast, proper Italian exotic.....it has a certain je ne sais quoi.

Without knowing their history, I'd wager the Alfa is just as susceptible to issues as your Coupe.

You're probably feeling this way because he's just bought it. If he took you in his Alfa to buy a Coupe, he'd feel the same way, and be going on about the power delivery, noise, dashboard etc.

maybe it's because the coupe isn't running 100% due to the clutch that im feeling this way too.

I will probably need advice on a new clutch too, what is different with a paddle clutch?

the reason the Alfa tempts me is its more comfortable than the coupe, drives like a petrol car despite being diesel and the running costs.

Paddle clutch = greater longevity, handles more power better, good value

downside = slight judder in 1st gear, more expensive than standard

Do it, it makes sense and you know it!!

I have one of JBT's paddle clutches as well; will handle at least 300lb/ft torque, and the judder is only a slight nuisance when stuck in a traffic jam. Once again, Proccy is right !

I don't like judder, i like things to be smooth

I'm only running a 360 bearing + staggered seals upgrade to the original turbo, a decat and a fleamap that was done before those upgrades (probably needs mapping again) so i'm sure a standard clutch will be fine??

Can you get uprated clutches that are still smooth?

I'm still looking at Alfa 2.4JTD's

Yes Helix organic is creamy smooth and tough

But rather expensive.....

Our 5 and 6 paddle clutches are good, worth considering as they're a lot cheaper then Helix.

Barbz does an uprated organic clutch. Cheaper than the Helix. Nice and smooth- light pedal aswell. I've got one.

What are the prices like for these (paddle) clutches like. I'll be looking for a clutch soon but don't know which one to go for.

You've done this a good 10 times Dan! Dont drive the coupe for a couple days if you can! Take you Dad's Volvo to work. Then fix and drive the coupe and you'll realise you miss the coupe more than you thought!

Trust me, i've done it myself!

I know matt. it's just the mileage costs getting to me again and now the clutch plus mot and tax after Christmas, along with a few other bits.

im tempted with the Alfa but I'd probably keep the coupe off the road...

I have one of JBT's paddle clutches and I'm well impressed.

Havent you just gone to work in Grantham? No big pay rise incentive? Think yourself lucky! As you know I cant even get my car to Birmingham city centre, insurance wont touch me! Dad is having it and can you imagine my Dad in my car? LOL

Got one on my 20vt. Really wouldn't want to use it on a daily drive. Perfect for the abuse mine gets on track and the occasional spirited weekend drive. But stuck in traffic, you'll get RSI in your ankle quickly!

+1

I've had to make a really difficult decision today

I bought a really lovely alfa 156 2.4 JTD on an 03 plate for a good price sub 1k which needs a few bits doing on it to be perfect.

Ideally i wanted to do this at the same time as fixing up the Coupe and keep the coupe as a weekend car, but i know its not going to be as easy as it sounds, and i'm worried the Coupe will end up sitting there rotting away, as i just don't think i have the funds to run both.
The main reason for getting the Alfa diesel was for its low fuel consumption, and practicality, plus being cheaper to insure etc.

My daily drive to work involves barely going above 50mph, along a road with average speed cameras, for 50 miles a day. This just isn't using the Coupe how i would like to use it and just seems pointless when i can get be getting 50mpg in the Alfa, having just as much fun doing 50mph

So, the Coupe is for sale

Well, as long as you're sure you won't regret selling the Coupe!

Having the Coupe as a 2nd car is great if you can afford it.

Not sure what you saving, in terms of not driving a coupe?
Are you really going to save so much?
I 'punished' myself for a few years, then realised I could be sat in traffic with a nice car around me than than the albatross.

the Alfa is really nice and I wouldnt mind being sat in traffic in it as its a nice place to be. ill be saving £100 plus on fuel a month minimum. every penny helps at the moment.

I'd love the coupe as a second car so it could be appreciated more but I dont think it would get any use in the end. I'd rather sell it to someone who can use it and appreciate it.

Just a thought.... get it insured dirty cheap with Neil Willis and only have it on say 5k miles a year. Drive it at weekends. Problem solved.

Otherwise i give you 6 months I know you to well! Once summer comes that'll be it!

You're in the same position as me.

Alfa 156 as a daily driver, Coupe as an appreciating and desirable classic.

The Alfa is quiet, comfortable and reliable. It looks great from some angles too, but it is boring in comparison with the Coupe. Maybe they tried too hard to make it drive like the contemporary Fords/ Audis etc?

This is the reason I've resisted getting a 156 diesel - i just KNOW I'd end up using it all the time and the Coupe would become an expensive and pointless luxury

THEN I'd start questioning why I need the Coupe, THEN I'd sell it, and then I'd really regret it

Nigel, thats exactly why im selling :-)

1. The Coupe isn't expensive.
2. Most luxury items are pointless.

Finding another good one would be really difficult, and also using it through the winter will kill the body, so I don't really see another option to long-term ownership.

Bravo 150 turbo diesel for the daily driver and the coupe for the weekends... sorted.

Running the bravo is five tanks at sixty quid a month versus seven tanks at sixty-five quid in the 20vt; that saves me a hundred and fifty quid a month, plus the tenner or so from the cheaper road tax.

A no brainer, given that I have the 16 on the drive.

You have to cost in more than just petrol though, having two cars to tax, insure, maintain. If its done on a purely numbers basis no one would run a coupe! let alone a coupe and another car!