Well after 8wks searching there's been something wrong with every Alfa estate I've considered... makes me realise how folks are killing them by doing bodge (or no) repairs rather than properly sorting issues. I guess it's what you might expect in the older end of the market but frustrating as I really wanted to find one worth running for a couple of years.
My current 156 came from the perfect private seller who'd never skimped on significant maintenance leaving me just servicing and routine consumables to do over the time of my ownership. Realise now I got lucky.
So as per a thread recently I considered other cars including E39 series 525D BMWs. We decided the 5 series was large enough over the 156 to consider saloons too which increased the choice... teen daughter said if I bought a saloon I was only a set of blacked windows and chromed alloys away from a low rent drug dealer... fair enough because pretty well every saloon I phoned about seemed to already be in the hands of such folk.
Last night though I put a deposit on a mint 2002 525D estate with leather and that nice burr walnut trim. Only 2 owners and seller a guy who'd had it 5yrs. Mileage well under average for the model and full history. I collect tomorrow... from 200mls away. Have I seen it... no just online images. Mad... we'll see.
Quite looking forward to a no indicators and flashing headlamps thrusting return down the A1! That will be a long enough shakedown to decide keep or move on... keep I hope as it will suit all the Uni running about we have to do over the next couple of years.
Of course next week it'll get an assessment service then I'll really know what's what. Seller declared it's about ready for 4 tyres. Factored that into price so I can choose what I want.. all weathers possibly if I ever want to get up the slope out of our cul-de-sac next winter!!
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