0 useful votes
Review Alfa Romeo 33 1.7ie Manual 1993
Submitted by chelseaboy
Key strengths: Decent engine
Areas for improvement: Electrics
The Alfa 33 is the successor of the Alfa Sud. The 33 has a bad reputation with the general public, inherited from this rusty Sud. And that is why this car is so cheap to buy secondhand. Hurray! (bought mine for 1000 euro's)
I think this car is very good looking. My car is of the 'sportwagon' type. It looks never bores me. Considering the paint is getting old and rust is showing. This means the car itself is pretty?
The engine is the best bit of the car. It sounds like a proper race engine. How it changes its tune climbing the rev-band is addicting. With full throttle at low revs it grumbles deep. (In which the 1.7ie engine sounds different from the 1.7 16v type engine). At high revs it sings like a Ferrari (I suppose). A pity the fun stops at 6300rpm.
It has plenty power for this sub 1000kg car; 107hp . It seems to accelerate to 100kmh in slightly less than ten seconds. Unfortunately you will have to change to third gear just before arriving the 100kmh benchmark.
In city traffic it has enough power down under to stay in third gear almost all the time. Only just before a halt it is recommended to change down to second. Third gear reaches to a sufficient 130-140 kph if required. If forgotten to change down at trafficlights it is possible to drive away in third.
On the motorway the boxer engine is rather quit. Above 150 kph it begins to spin like a happy cat. Very cozy and assuring. And it does so at his top speed of 190 kmh (200 on the counter).
Well, what else to say.
I have some praise about the big boot and general space in the cabin.
Dashboard looks nice. Seats are o.k. Heating is sufficient. It comes standard with central locking, electric windows and power steering. Essentials most affordable Germans of that age do not posses.
In general this car is mechanically reliable. 1.7ie engine is capable of 300.000km without overhaul. Gearbox is not though. Brakes are o.k.
Then there are some drawbacks too. Build quality is poor. Electrics are rarely completely reliable. It rusts a little (not as bad as the 33's used to do in the eighty's). Paintwork is poor. Gearbox is fine, but its second gear wears out quickly. With me behind the throttle it uses 10L/100km of fuel. And worse in the city. It seems to dislike cheap fuel, and likes the high octane stuff (only on his birthday). It does not accept cheap lubricants.
Though I'm still very happy with it, I will make some adjustments to the car in the coming year. I do that myself, can't afford professionals. Next up is an 1.7 16v engine (132hp) and fresh gearbox. Then some slight lowering and suspension mods. Body and paintwork should be done too. Parts are cheap (only buy second hand), very cheap.
I would recommend this car to nobody except me and other petrol-heads or italofiels. When you have more money to spend look elsewhere.
Hey, did I forgot to mention it corners good too?
Electrical malfunction of the right indicator.
Electrical malfunction of the interior lights.
Malfunctioning right window. (electrical problem aswel)
Second gear is wearing.
Engine went dead om motorway caused by bad electrical connections.
Cat replaced.
Dashboard is falling apart. (glove compartment)
A bit of rust here and there.
Red paint gets pink or purple. And the blank paint is getting off here and there.
Usual wear.
The running costs for Alfa Romeo 33 1.7ie Manual are normal
Areas for improvement: Electrics
The Alfa 33 is the successor of the Alfa Sud. The 33 has a bad reputation with the general public, inherited from this rusty Sud. And that is why this car is so cheap to buy secondhand. Hurray! (bought mine for 1000 euro's)
I think this car is very good looking. My car is of the 'sportwagon' type. It looks never bores me. Considering the paint is getting old and rust is showing. This means the car itself is pretty?
The engine is the best bit of the car. It sounds like a proper race engine. How it changes its tune climbing the rev-band is addicting. With full throttle at low revs it grumbles deep. (In which the 1.7ie engine sounds different from the 1.7 16v type engine). At high revs it sings like a Ferrari (I suppose). A pity the fun stops at 6300rpm.
It has plenty power for this sub 1000kg car; 107hp . It seems to accelerate to 100kmh in slightly less than ten seconds. Unfortunately you will have to change to third gear just before arriving the 100kmh benchmark.
In city traffic it has enough power down under to stay in third gear almost all the time. Only just before a halt it is recommended to change down to second. Third gear reaches to a sufficient 130-140 kph if required. If forgotten to change down at trafficlights it is possible to drive away in third.
On the motorway the boxer engine is rather quit. Above 150 kph it begins to spin like a happy cat. Very cozy and assuring. And it does so at his top speed of 190 kmh (200 on the counter).
Well, what else to say.
I have some praise about the big boot and general space in the cabin.
Dashboard looks nice. Seats are o.k. Heating is sufficient. It comes standard with central locking, electric windows and power steering. Essentials most affordable Germans of that age do not posses.
In general this car is mechanically reliable. 1.7ie engine is capable of 300.000km without overhaul. Gearbox is not though. Brakes are o.k.
Then there are some drawbacks too. Build quality is poor. Electrics are rarely completely reliable. It rusts a little (not as bad as the 33's used to do in the eighty's). Paintwork is poor. Gearbox is fine, but its second gear wears out quickly. With me behind the throttle it uses 10L/100km of fuel. And worse in the city. It seems to dislike cheap fuel, and likes the high octane stuff (only on his birthday). It does not accept cheap lubricants.
Though I'm still very happy with it, I will make some adjustments to the car in the coming year. I do that myself, can't afford professionals. Next up is an 1.7 16v engine (132hp) and fresh gearbox. Then some slight lowering and suspension mods. Body and paintwork should be done too. Parts are cheap (only buy second hand), very cheap.
I would recommend this car to nobody except me and other petrol-heads or italofiels. When you have more money to spend look elsewhere.
Hey, did I forgot to mention it corners good too?
Electrical malfunction of the right indicator.
Electrical malfunction of the interior lights.
Malfunctioning right window. (electrical problem aswel)
Second gear is wearing.
Engine went dead om motorway caused by bad electrical connections.
Cat replaced.
Dashboard is falling apart. (glove compartment)
A bit of rust here and there.
Red paint gets pink or purple. And the blank paint is getting off here and there.
Usual wear.
The running costs for Alfa Romeo 33 1.7ie Manual are normal
Safety: 61
Reliability: 60
Equipment: 68
Comfort: 56
Design: 67
Driving: 57
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