RE: Fix vs decommission

["Sedon, Doug (OD/ORS)" <sedond@domain.elided>]

hi howard,

while a milano w/26k miles sounds nice, be sure that it has been exercised
REGULARLY!!!  nothing worse for a car than for it to sit.  and while it's nice
to get a lo-mileage milano, $4.5k still seems like a lot for a gold.  i'd weigh
this against what you'd get if you spent this amount on the car you presently
have.  your current car's abs can always be conwerted, for example...

good luck,

doug

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Howard and Pat Warren [SMTP:warrenwood@domain.elided]
	Sent:	Thursday, October 21, 1999 1:01 PM
	To:	'Alfa Digest'
	Subject:	Fix vs decommission


	I want to thank everybody who responded to my dilema about fixing my
Milano 
	versus looking for another Alfa.  I spoke to my dealer (also a mechanic)

	and his mechanic today.  Both men are very honest, have decades of Alfa 
	knowledge... and have different opinions! <g>  The mechanic is wondering

	how bad some of the problems are, the dealer thinks it's time to stop 
	putting money into the Milano.

	Now coincidentally, the dealer is selling his wife's Milano Gold.  Like 
	mine, it is an automatic (great for commute traffic!) a 1988 model as
well, 
	but with a LOT fewer miles... only 26k miles total.  I've driven the car

	before, and it's nice.  There is one area of bad paint (sun exposure)
but 
	the car has been maintained well (no surprise, eh?)

	An advantage of the Gold is that the brakes are "normal".  No ABS pump
to 
	die.  And the price is fairly reasonable: $4500.  Silvery-beige
exterior, 
	tan cloth interior.

	What I've decided to do is invest in a couple of hours of shop time for 
	both men to drive my car, listen to the engine, tranny, check the
steering 
	rack.  Then I'll take their reports and make a decision.  Even though
the 
	dealer wants to sell me a car <g> I've known him for a number of years
and 
	can trust him for an honest opinion.

	Thanks again, folks!  (And if you're going to Eureka Springs this
weekend, 
	have a safe trip and I'll see you there!)

	Howard K. Warren, Little Rock, AR
	1984 GTV-6, "Falconi", 132k miles
	1991 164L, "Peregrine", 63k miles
	1988 Milano Platinum, "SnowHawk", 164k miles

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