Just when you think you have it all figured out
Discussion
Life, or in this case Auto Trader, sends you a curve ball. Having pretty much set my mind on a Toyota Celica I was doing my usual browsing through Auto Trader and spotted something that has really caught my fancy. It's not a Celica, it's more than I want to spend (although still doable) and is probably all wrong but dare I scratch this itch?
Opinions grately appreciated, and if you've ever or do own one yourself info re how much it likes to drink and what it's like to live with are very welcome
Opinions grately appreciated, and if you've ever or do own one yourself info re how much it likes to drink and what it's like to live with are very welcome
My old 147 Twin Spark did about 31mpg. It was a great engine too, very revvy and sounded fabulous for a 4 cylinder. They do love a bit of oil though, and the revs need to be kept high if you want to achieve the best out of it. You need to go for the V6 in the 156 though, you won't regret it. The noise is just out of this world, as is the power delivery, flexibility, low down grunt, revviness...
I had a 1.6 156 a few years ago and it was a brilliant car, well made (well mine was), never had any problems with it and a really great interior considering mine was an entry level spec car.
The only downside was the front suspension was really under damped so the car would bottom out any time I went up or down an incline, it was particularly bad with a few people in the car. Don't know if a larger engine would help as I assume they're make the front suspension a bit more robust to cope with the extra weight of the engine.
The only downside was the front suspension was really under damped so the car would bottom out any time I went up or down an incline, it was particularly bad with a few people in the car. Don't know if a larger engine would help as I assume they're make the front suspension a bit more robust to cope with the extra weight of the engine.
Great cars, but if you were going to buy a Celica, the 1.8 will feel underpowered. Go for the 2.0.
The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
Groober said:
Lovely car, but if your taking a gamble and want that itch scratched I suggest you get the V6 version. Alfa V6's make a noise like no other, and IIRC the V6 is more reliable aswell.
In short buy an Alfa you (hopefully) won't regret it.
Hmmm I have spotted a V6 on Trader for about £100 more, mileage at 111000, which by the looks of the pictures at least looks pretty clean. Only real downside is it does have a mobile disco halfords stereo installed (I seem to have an ingrained hatred of non standard fit stereos, crazy I know). So I guess that could be worth consideration.In short buy an Alfa you (hopefully) won't regret it.
Anybody know what the Diesel units are like on these? Just thinking of ammo should the other half do the whole but it's not very economical arguement. (Although any question like this will of course be greeted by the catalogue response of, my money, my car, my choice.)
Twincam16 said:
Great cars, but if you were going to buy a Celica, the 1.8 will feel underpowered. Go for the 2.0.
The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
But it still isn't an Alfa V6. I don't get the nagging feeling about mine being a non-GTA either, its a fabulous car in its own right. I can see your point though.The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
How exactly did you go from looking at a sports coupe to a family saloon? Surely if you want like for like then a Alfa GTV? Eg a 2/0 Twin spark for around £1k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
DAVE
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
DAVE
robsco said:
Twincam16 said:
Great cars, but if you were going to buy a Celica, the 1.8 will feel underpowered. Go for the 2.0.
The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
But it still isn't an Alfa V6. I don't get the nagging feeling about mine being a non-GTA either, its a fabulous car in its own right. I can see your point though.The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
Twincam16 said:
robsco said:
Twincam16 said:
Great cars, but if you were going to buy a Celica, the 1.8 will feel underpowered. Go for the 2.0.
The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
But it still isn't an Alfa V6. I don't get the nagging feeling about mine being a non-GTA either, its a fabulous car in its own right. I can see your point though.The V6 is a fantastic beast, but it's thirsty (17mpg urban) and there's always that nagging notion with the 2.5 that it isn't the GTA (granted the GTA costs a lot more), but with the two-litre you know you've got the best of the four-cylinders and a race-winner to boot.
aka_kerrly said:
How exactly did you go from looking at a sports coupe to a family saloon? Surely if you want like for like then a Alfa GTV? Eg a 2/0 Twin spark for around £1k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
DAVE
Dave, my biggest problem is at 6'4 when I tried sitting in a GTV I found it difficult to get comfortable. Hence the slight rethink, plus I've always liked the 156 but never gave it any real thought until doing my "Anything under 2k" snoop on Auto Trader and spotted that one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
DAVE
Largely unsubstantiated pub expertise making people wary of them for no real reason, hence driving the price down.
Mr E said:
We went from 4 Toyota Celicas (in various guises) to a 156.
They have very little in common to be honest. Were your requirements "a car"?
In many ways yes, practicality isn't a huge consideration as we're a two car household, the other half with his A-Class (which I despise) so whatever I want I can pretty much have. They have very little in common to be honest. Were your requirements "a car"?
The biggest concerns for me are a nice place to sit in (I'm not exactly a short arse and am very broad so it's always nice to not feel hemmed in), has character, a nice engine note to it, will make me smile each time I drive it, is a little less common than say a MX-5 (I know the MX-5 comment will get backs up, but round were I'm living at the moment it seems everybody and their dog are driving MX-5's) and perhaps most crucially comes in ideally at a grand to £1500(I refuse to buy on finance, I want the car to be mine and mine alone + the other halfs car is on finance so why have two agreements onging on something that will depreciate in value from day one?). I know the 156 is far removed from the Celica, as is the Rover 75 that I was musing at one point, but I'm a true beliver in having a car that not only appeals to the head but also tugs at the heart and has something about it that makes you think, you know what, I NEED that in my life.
Edited by farrendahl on Thursday 20th January 14:13
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