I always wanted an Alfa, and I though the Alfa Romeo 33 looked the business, at least it looked the best anywhere near my budget. Finally a few years ago it depreciated into my price range (which is budget rust bucket territory, and Alfas depreciate very nicely for people like me).
I do know my way around a car and I really couldn't recommend getting an Alfa Romeo 33 of this age if you don't. I'm really under the bonnet of it most weekends, and some weeknight, with this or that. It's mostly electrical stuff, as well as paintwork problems. I think it's got a small oil leak somewhere but I'm not sure where.
Point is though it's just a pleasure to drive. I mean it's an Alfa Romeo and they don't get a reputation for driving pleasure for nothing. I don't really like the look of the newer ones, I think the 33 is part of the last generation of real Alfas, really feel the car beneath your feet. That might be because it's so rusted there isn't much between you and the engine lol..
Insurance is a bit much for the Alfa Romeo 33, and I've got stacks of no claims. It might be a hit with boy racers, who knows, I spose they're now in that bracket of affordable and easy to soup up. I know the parts are quite a bit cheaper these days which is how I've kept it running for this long.
There are things going wrong with it now which might mean I have to sell it. The CV joints are starting to whine a bit, and I think the gearbox (second gearbox) might be on its way out. If I don't sell it then it'll die on me. Not too worried about that though, it's been good.
Depreciation, good for buyers, bad for sellers. I was a buyer haha, worked in my interests. Nice cheap decently kitted out Alfa Romeo 33 for half the list price, at about two years old. Course that was about 12 years ago and it's probably worth nothing at all now. I sold up when it was about ten years old. The repairs were just getting a bit much. I think the gearbox was about to go as well.
The main repair I kept having to do myself was paintwork. It chips pretty easily, and we all know that leads to rust unless you sort it. Don't be fooled by garages though you can do it yourself, just buy a rust proofing kit.
It had loads of little faults over the years, but I spose that's the sort of thing you have to weigh up when you choose either an Audi (pricier, less depreciation) or an Alfa that might have things go wrong but costs half as much up front. Having said that, the Alfa Romeo 33 might have been the last to be shaky, I've heard better things about the more recent ones.
Other problem to bear in mind, which never bothered me that much cos I'm quite short, is the silly driving position. The offset pedals will annoy a lot of people, and the low headroom and generally poor dimensions inside can be a challenge.
Point is though, like the others in the range, the Alfa Romeo 33 is just a big fat laugh. It's loads of fun to drive, you can chuck it all around and it's got lots of poke and control, handles well, fun on the motorways and round the lanes. I don't regret it at all.