Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Sportwagon
Discussion
Read a huge amount of these Readers Cars threads and I do enjoy them, so thought I should contribute. It is a great way to keep things in one place as well.
I have just started a thread on a VW Beetle I have just bought to do up, and whilst I am in the swing of doing this, thought I should start one for my Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon, which I have owned since 2009.
RE02 EJL was purchased on a bit of a whim, having been a passenger in a 156 2.4 diesel and loving how it looked and felt inside. I came across the GTA by accident and after hearing her fire up and a short drive I bought it, as a replacement for a deathly dull BMW 328se Touring.
It had 5 owners in quick succession and came with all the history (an alarming amount of invoices for a 6-year-old 60k mile car!). My heart certainly ruled my head. I paid from memory £7.5k for it and frankly, I think the owner was glad to say goodbye.
This was one of the first 156 GTA's sold in the UK and with the "RE" registration meant that it was registered to the Alfa UK headquarters in Slough, so it was possibly a demonstrator or press car.
I used it as my daily drive for many years. It was extremely reliable, although I didn't scrimp on the maintenance and Alfa Aid in Maidenhead managed to relieve me of many thousands of £ in order to keep her in good order. When I bought it, it was totally standard, but the handling needed improving so on went the Koni FSD shocks, Eibach lowering springs, a Q2 diff, Eibach anti roll bars and a gentle remap. This absolutely transformed the handling and ride. On my favourite roads it was epic.
As well as being my daily drive, I did a few track days, trips abroad, all over the UK in all weathers and not once did she let me down. And I had an absolute blast in it. She was used and abused (but always maintained!)
In about 2014 I took it off the road. I had a bad back and the Volvo XC90 was a far better place for me to sit. About 2 years later I dusted her off and stripped it down for some much needed TLC. She was on about 120,000 miles at this point and the bodywork had taken a bit of a hammering and there were many issues that needed attention. So she went for a paint touch up, new front wings, Wizard exhaust and manifolds (to keep the heat down in the engine bay to protect the head gasket and ECU). I fell back in love!
|https://thumbsnap.com/Zv9hLbV2[/url]
SInce then she has been to Le Mans twice (and due to go again in June), did a 1500 mile round trip of Ireland in 3 days, been on the front cover of Auto Italia for a GTA feature at Llandow, been around Wales in 3 days and always in the company of some fairly serious and far more exotic machinery. But she always keeps up and never lets me down.
Mileage is now 136,000 and she is in at NJS for a new clutch and service to get her ready for Le Mans in June.
It is one of those cars, which really gets under your skin. It isn't perfect, but if it was, it wouldn't have been in my life for 15 years. I have considered selling her many times, but could never quite do it. I really cannot see it going now!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/joUZ4383.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/tNo8BXwf" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/tNo8BXwf.jpg)
Thank you for reading. I'll keep this up to date from now on with future trips and work!
I have just started a thread on a VW Beetle I have just bought to do up, and whilst I am in the swing of doing this, thought I should start one for my Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon, which I have owned since 2009.
RE02 EJL was purchased on a bit of a whim, having been a passenger in a 156 2.4 diesel and loving how it looked and felt inside. I came across the GTA by accident and after hearing her fire up and a short drive I bought it, as a replacement for a deathly dull BMW 328se Touring.
It had 5 owners in quick succession and came with all the history (an alarming amount of invoices for a 6-year-old 60k mile car!). My heart certainly ruled my head. I paid from memory £7.5k for it and frankly, I think the owner was glad to say goodbye.
This was one of the first 156 GTA's sold in the UK and with the "RE" registration meant that it was registered to the Alfa UK headquarters in Slough, so it was possibly a demonstrator or press car.
I used it as my daily drive for many years. It was extremely reliable, although I didn't scrimp on the maintenance and Alfa Aid in Maidenhead managed to relieve me of many thousands of £ in order to keep her in good order. When I bought it, it was totally standard, but the handling needed improving so on went the Koni FSD shocks, Eibach lowering springs, a Q2 diff, Eibach anti roll bars and a gentle remap. This absolutely transformed the handling and ride. On my favourite roads it was epic.
As well as being my daily drive, I did a few track days, trips abroad, all over the UK in all weathers and not once did she let me down. And I had an absolute blast in it. She was used and abused (but always maintained!)
In about 2014 I took it off the road. I had a bad back and the Volvo XC90 was a far better place for me to sit. About 2 years later I dusted her off and stripped it down for some much needed TLC. She was on about 120,000 miles at this point and the bodywork had taken a bit of a hammering and there were many issues that needed attention. So she went for a paint touch up, new front wings, Wizard exhaust and manifolds (to keep the heat down in the engine bay to protect the head gasket and ECU). I fell back in love!
|https://thumbsnap.com/Zv9hLbV2[/url]SInce then she has been to Le Mans twice (and due to go again in June), did a 1500 mile round trip of Ireland in 3 days, been on the front cover of Auto Italia for a GTA feature at Llandow, been around Wales in 3 days and always in the company of some fairly serious and far more exotic machinery. But she always keeps up and never lets me down.
Mileage is now 136,000 and she is in at NJS for a new clutch and service to get her ready for Le Mans in June.
It is one of those cars, which really gets under your skin. It isn't perfect, but if it was, it wouldn't have been in my life for 15 years. I have considered selling her many times, but could never quite do it. I really cannot see it going now!
Thank you for reading. I'll keep this up to date from now on with future trips and work!
Edited by alfabeat on Thursday 6th April 17:26
Edited by alfabeat on Thursday 6th April 17:29
Yes, as mentioned above, it's 250bhp through the front wheels. It is all about the torque for me though. She is perfectly happy in 6th gear at 30mph and pulls and pulls to the 7500rpm red line. A very easy car to drive. No vices. Typical fwd really. I'm no driving god but I know her so well that it always feels safe.
With the age of the engine no doubt it's lost a bit of power and to be honest I treat it reasonably carefully, but the engine is a very reliable lump and when you want it, the power is certainly there. It's enough for sure.
Years ago a few GTA's were enlarged to 3.7 litres and some were even supercharged and I was considering it, but on reflection, it just doesn't need it. The standard power is more than ample.
I read the reviews in magazines etc and they all talk about rampant torque steer and unruly handling, but to be honest, I just don't recognise this. It's a joy to drive sensibly. I have a lot of mechanical sympathy which probably relates to this.
The interior also feels special. The fact that the dashboard info screen spells October "Oktober" is one of the little things I still smile at 15 years later. The Italians couldn't give a f
k 🤣
With the age of the engine no doubt it's lost a bit of power and to be honest I treat it reasonably carefully, but the engine is a very reliable lump and when you want it, the power is certainly there. It's enough for sure.
Years ago a few GTA's were enlarged to 3.7 litres and some were even supercharged and I was considering it, but on reflection, it just doesn't need it. The standard power is more than ample.
I read the reviews in magazines etc and they all talk about rampant torque steer and unruly handling, but to be honest, I just don't recognise this. It's a joy to drive sensibly. I have a lot of mechanical sympathy which probably relates to this.
The interior also feels special. The fact that the dashboard info screen spells October "Oktober" is one of the little things I still smile at 15 years later. The Italians couldn't give a f
k 🤣jimmyt1202 said:
Lovely! I have to ask though are those the original wheels? Thought the GTA all came with circular spoke wheels
There were 3 options for wheels. The infamous Teledials, the spokes wheels on this one and some other spoked wheels which only fit the 305mm front discs. This car actually came with 305mm disc brakes as standard, but I changed them to the 330s and consequently had to change the wheels. I actually prefer these spoked wheels to the Teledials (which I know is against the norm).CoolHands said:
So use my ignorance how is it different from a 159? Size?
They are totally different cars in size and character. When the 159 came out I looked at changing to a 159 3.2 v6. It was dull in comparison. Too quiet, too comfortable, too sensible, too large. I got back in the 156 after a long test drive of the 159 and there was no question in my mind that the 156 was the better car. alfabeat said:
CoolHands said:
So use my ignorance how is it different from a 159? Size?
They are totally different cars in size and character. When the 159 came out I looked at changing to a 159 3.2 v6. It was dull in comparison. Too quiet, too comfortable, too sensible, too large. I got back in the 156 after a long test drive of the 159 and there was no question in my mind that the 156 was the better car. carinaman said:
alfabeat said:
CoolHands said:
So use my ignorance how is it different from a 159? Size?
They are totally different cars in size and character. When the 159 came out I looked at changing to a 159 3.2 v6. It was dull in comparison. Too quiet, too comfortable, too sensible, too large. I got back in the 156 after a long test drive of the 159 and there was no question in my mind that the 156 was the better car. Great to read about a v6 Alfa being used properly.
Also that it’s taking the miles and being looked after.
My Gtv v6 is on 164k and been on many track days but only in the UK. Having a sport wagon would and being in emissions category 3 would have meant only ever needing the 1 car.
Enjoy many more miles and thanks for sharing
Also that it’s taking the miles and being looked after.
My Gtv v6 is on 164k and been on many track days but only in the UK. Having a sport wagon would and being in emissions category 3 would have meant only ever needing the 1 car.
Enjoy many more miles and thanks for sharing
So, freshly back from NJS Pershore, following a service and a new clutch, rear brake caliper, pads and a new set of front tyres, we set off to Le Mans last week (in company with an AM DBS Superlegerra, Jag XJR and F Type). Basically, I end up being the support vehicle as I can fit stuff in the Sportwagon! So it was fully loaded with tents, event shelters, fridge, BBQ, a healthy supply of tools and other stuff needed for a lads trip away.
We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth down to Caen, and then spent Friday morning taking the back roads down to Le Mans. Fantastic driving roads, in convoy, all walkie talkie'd up.
We stopped at a supermarche on the way and loaded up the Alfa with food and beer (and 3 baguettes). She wasn't happy about this and was pretty much on her bump stops :-( so it was a slow final bit of the journey.
There was a lot of weight in there, but I think the rear Koni FSD dampers/Eibach springs are past their best (90,000 miles on them now), and I shall look to change them all this year. I thought I had actually snapped a spring it was so low, but when the weight was removed it sort of returned to normal.
A bit of heavy braking, saw the 3 baguettes make a bid for freedom. One hit the dashboard, one hit the back of my head and the final one hit the wing mirror adjustment knob on the center console and snapped it clean off
The 3 days at Le Mans were superb. Camping in the Village Curves is a great experience and a brilliant setup. We hire bikes and cycle everywhere, so we can get to all parts of the course easy enough. The race was really good and a close finish.
On the return journey, I loaded all the heavy stuff as far forward as possible, in the passenger seat/footwell and the remainder just behind the front seats (I had removed the rear seats before setting off), and without the beer/food/baguettes, the rear suspension coped just about fine.
The journey up the motorways to Calais was brilliant, with so many cars from Le Mans (911's in their thousands, Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jags etc). Great fun, especially the drag races from the toll gates :-).
I didn't see another GTA.
In total, about 750 miles, average mpg 24.5 and a lot of laughter.
Gave her a good clean, removed the Le Mans stickers, put the seats back in and will order and fit a new mirror adjustment knob!
We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth down to Caen, and then spent Friday morning taking the back roads down to Le Mans. Fantastic driving roads, in convoy, all walkie talkie'd up.
We stopped at a supermarche on the way and loaded up the Alfa with food and beer (and 3 baguettes). She wasn't happy about this and was pretty much on her bump stops :-( so it was a slow final bit of the journey.
There was a lot of weight in there, but I think the rear Koni FSD dampers/Eibach springs are past their best (90,000 miles on them now), and I shall look to change them all this year. I thought I had actually snapped a spring it was so low, but when the weight was removed it sort of returned to normal.
A bit of heavy braking, saw the 3 baguettes make a bid for freedom. One hit the dashboard, one hit the back of my head and the final one hit the wing mirror adjustment knob on the center console and snapped it clean off
The 3 days at Le Mans were superb. Camping in the Village Curves is a great experience and a brilliant setup. We hire bikes and cycle everywhere, so we can get to all parts of the course easy enough. The race was really good and a close finish.
On the return journey, I loaded all the heavy stuff as far forward as possible, in the passenger seat/footwell and the remainder just behind the front seats (I had removed the rear seats before setting off), and without the beer/food/baguettes, the rear suspension coped just about fine.
The journey up the motorways to Calais was brilliant, with so many cars from Le Mans (911's in their thousands, Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jags etc). Great fun, especially the drag races from the toll gates :-).
I didn't see another GTA.
In total, about 750 miles, average mpg 24.5 and a lot of laughter.
Gave her a good clean, removed the Le Mans stickers, put the seats back in and will order and fit a new mirror adjustment knob!
alfabeat said:
S100HP said:
Im sure I recognise that one from my Alfa Owner forum days. I had the Bogey green 156. Selling it is still to this day my biggest car regret. It was 11 years ago FFS.
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