Keep One, Sell One: 325e or Alfa Milano

[Petebee]

Okay R3V I have decided that I might be selling one of my cars. Carrying both on insurance, another headed for college in Fall, trying to pay off some debt...makes me question "do I really need two cars?". So I am presenting both to you and ask for your thoughts and opinions.

Up first: 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold

This is a cool, yet very funky car that I picked up somewhat impulsively around Xmas (I blame my friend Adam and his GTV6).

Highlights:
Fairly low mileage car (100K) with very good service history
Original paint in good condition
Extremely clean interior
Awesome 80s styling
Alfa Busso V6
De-dion setup for nice balance (transaxle in rear)

Opportunities:
Awesome 80s styling
Bit of rust in tailgate where reflector strip captures moisture
Leaking steering rack (just recently blew the seals...ugh)
Funky Alfa electronics
OE stance is kinda high, especially in rear

Gallery:








Second round: 1985 BMW 325e

I rescued this car from my BMW hoarding friend...it had sat neglected and interior stripped for almost a decade. Put too many $$$ into it, but I am very happy that Burgy is back on the road.

Highlights:
Hey E30!
Most mechanicals sorted, including brakes and suspension
Burgundrot
SSSquid chip and 3.25LSD
Rust removed (battery, spare well, a bit of passenger floor)
Fairly nice interior with almost crack free dash
Euro bumps

Opportunities
Yucky Burgundrot paint
High mileage eta, but still runs very strong
Leaky oil from many places (front engine seals, front edge of head...the normal places a high mileage eta would leak)
Cracked windshield
No A/C

Gallery:




I have a sunburn







I have the Alfa posted on AlfaBB for sale at $5000 OBO (consensus is that might be a stretch, but they are hard to find). I'd probably price the E30 at $3900 OBO with nice weaves and new 14-in. tires. I'll probably keep the Hartges.

So...what say ye R3V?

[TimeMachinE30]

That alfa is ugly.

[BobombETA]

e30

[Petebee]

Now now...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It would look less ugly lowered, which is what I'd do if it is the keeper. But yes more of a driving experience than a looking at experience for sure.

[rturbo 930]

E30. Not only is that Alfa ugly, it's an Alfa, and if what I've heard about Alfas is true, it probably runs, but only sometimes.

[steve68]

dump that I'talian piece of shit!

[Stanley Rockafella]

dump that I'talian piece of shit!

+1

The e30 is FAR nicer. I came into this thread thinking "sell 'em both and buy a 325is" but that burganrot is pretty sweet (OP sucks for not noticing how rare and nice that color is).

The Alfa will never appreciate regardless of how clean or rare it is.
The Volvo 262C Bertone is another very rare car but you don't hear of it becoming more valuable with age!

[word is bond]

I know this is an E30 site, but keep the Milano! I really see them in good shape, and they're just awesomely weird plus that Busso V6 sounds pretty damn cool.

That being said - nice Eta! I love Burgundrot, and I think it could be a really nice car with some fresh paint and maintenance.

Still, I vote Milano...

[flyboyx]

+1



The Alfa will never appreciate regardless of how clean or rare it is.
The Volvo 262C Bertone is another very rare car but you don't hear of it becoming more valuable with age!

this is actually very much not true. just look at the 40 or so alfa's for sale on eBay. anything before the spider is actually very valuable indeed. the only cars on the road that sound better are ferraris and other alfa's with dual overhead cams. with that said, i am not a fan of the 164 or milano body styles. seems like they tried to copy volvo and maybe in some ways a little bit of saab. i also despise the interiors of these two body styles. they seem really cheap and the seats feel like marshmallows.

however, a 24v 164 engine with a milano oil pan shoehorned in a gtv would be another story. i really love the gtv. this is actually a project i have been thinking about for some time now.

your eta with the hartge's looks fantastic from the side. the bmw is relatively much less of a pain in the ass to work on too. you can actually find used parts for an e30. if it were me, i personally would sell the alfa and use the money to fix up your bmw. i think you underestimate the attractiveness of the burgundy color. one of my neighbors had an 84 318 sedan in this color. they kept it up and i loved the color.

[MPLFoster]

Keep the E30.


/thread.

[Stanley Rockafella]

this is actually very much not true. just look at the 40 or so alfa's for sale on eBay. anything before the spider is actually very valuable indeed. the only cars on the road that sound better are ferraris and other alfa's with dual overhead cams. with that said, i am not a fan of the 164 or milano body styles. seems like they tried to copy volvo and maybe in some ways a little bit of saab. i also despise the interiors of these two body styles. they seem really cheap and the seats feel like marshmallows.

however, a 24v 164 engine with a milano oil pan shoehorned in a gtv would be another story. i really love the gtv. this is actually a project i have been thinking about for some time now.

your eta with the hartge's looks fantastic from the side. the bmw is relatively much less of a pain in the ass to work on too. you can actually find used parts for an e30. if it were me, i personally would sell the alfa and use the money to fix up your bmw. i think you underestimate the attractiveness of the burgundy color. one of my neighbors had an 84 318 sedan in this color. they kept it up and i loved the color.

irregardless, Alfa is a homely ripoff of nicer 80's euro cars and his e30's beauty is what this thread is all about

[shameson]

Sell the Alfa. The e30 looks and drives better along with more reliability and a larger following especially when it comes to parts/performance upgrades.

Besides, the only Alfa I could justify owning is a 155 GTA

[Petebee]

This is exactly the debate I was hoping for, although the Alfa is not quite as ugly as I think everyone is saying (but certainly entitled to opinions). Milanos have a bit of a following of their own. The V6 sound is simply amazing.

I love my E30 but it has its drawbacks, primarily condition of paint and body. Don't misunderstand I love burgundrot, just not burgundrot with 3 extra coatings of cheap respray that is peeling all over.

In the end I will probably just keep both and keep dumping $$$ into them ☺

[N2MYE30]

Are you taking the one of these to school? Id do the e30 no matter what if there was only no choice of storing one.

Ive did 2 cars while in college and it was a hassle. Between going school, job, studying, and chasing girls, id didn't have much time to mess with cars. Focus on school and get your toys later.

[M-technik-3]

Keep both, store one at your parents. Honestly love the sound of the Alfa at full howl. The lemons series has numerous Milano's with 164 engines and they sound uber.

The e well it's an e, keep it for savings. What is more reliable? neither get a honda and sell both for college. Think about in 4 years what is going to be available though.