The Alfa Itch - Who Has Scratched It ?
Discussion
Starting to look at getting a new car...
Lots of nice 156s coming up in my price range... From W/X 2.5 V6 models down to 2004 facelift 2.0s. Nice looking cars, nice inside and in 2.5 V6 form must have a cracking soundtrack as well...
How reliable are they ?
I know from on here they are sensitive to oil levels and a full history with belts being done is a must.
Chap in work had a 2001 or 2002 2.0 and he ran it for 3 years with little issue other than consumables...
Lots of nice 156s coming up in my price range... From W/X 2.5 V6 models down to 2004 facelift 2.0s. Nice looking cars, nice inside and in 2.5 V6 form must have a cracking soundtrack as well...
How reliable are they ?
I know from on here they are sensitive to oil levels and a full history with belts being done is a must.
Chap in work had a 2001 or 2002 2.0 and he ran it for 3 years with little issue other than consumables...
The 2.5v6 156 is a great car, deceptivly fast. I drove my brothers quite a bit, and it was very easy to be the wrong side of 140Mph without trying too hard. The V6 is glorious, and hardly sounds like it is revving, I kept finding myself hitting the rev limiter, it is very torquey and dispatches gears very quickly! Brakes are awful for a car that quick, right on the limit IMHO, and my brother cooked a few sets just on the road. Handling was great for a FWD car, very pointy into corners, nice quick steering, and gripped very well.
Running costs were expensive, it did about 40 miles to £10 of fuel, and that was back in 2005! Cambelt and variator cost him £700 from a good independant specialist. He sold it after he had that done, great car but wallet intensive.
I would get the best one you can, with all the work done, it will work out cheaper in the long run. Don't bother with any of the smaller engines, or the selespeed, all are slow and too expensive to run to justify thier performance IMHO. Get a cracking V6 Manual, and you will have a great time!
Running costs were expensive, it did about 40 miles to £10 of fuel, and that was back in 2005! Cambelt and variator cost him £700 from a good independant specialist. He sold it after he had that done, great car but wallet intensive.
I would get the best one you can, with all the work done, it will work out cheaper in the long run. Don't bother with any of the smaller engines, or the selespeed, all are slow and too expensive to run to justify thier performance IMHO. Get a cracking V6 Manual, and you will have a great time!
Had a 2000 156 v6 and loved it. Just make sure the one you look at has had clutch-waterpump-upper suspension arms-radiator-cambelt reciepts if done over 80k, I got stung and was nearly £2k worth of work (other bits aswel but those above were the major bits) but I thrashed it mercilessley for 2 years after and the Alfa lapped it up.
Oh part of the above £2k was the exhaust front pipes, check for leaks from the flexi joint at the front of the car, if you need a new one the below like seems to be the only place to get em bar the Alfa dealers. Expensive and cant be bodged. mine didnt realy blow as such, just sounded raspy at high rpm.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/156_Exhausts.s...
Definatly worth considering a good 2.0 twin spark. A good un pulls well, sounds good and handles better than the v6.
The 2.4 jtd are monsters when mapped, will leave a v6, sound a bit like an Audi quattro and do high 30's mpg! Turbos and dmf & clutches are £££ though! Could be the pick of the bunch but could also be a money pit, mapped 2.4 159's can put out 400lb torque. Don't see why the 156 can't get close to that figure. Mad.
Oh part of the above £2k was the exhaust front pipes, check for leaks from the flexi joint at the front of the car, if you need a new one the below like seems to be the only place to get em bar the Alfa dealers. Expensive and cant be bodged. mine didnt realy blow as such, just sounded raspy at high rpm.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/156_Exhausts.s...
Definatly worth considering a good 2.0 twin spark. A good un pulls well, sounds good and handles better than the v6.
The 2.4 jtd are monsters when mapped, will leave a v6, sound a bit like an Audi quattro and do high 30's mpg! Turbos and dmf & clutches are £££ though! Could be the pick of the bunch but could also be a money pit, mapped 2.4 159's can put out 400lb torque. Don't see why the 156 can't get close to that figure. Mad.
Edited by exgtt on Sunday 2nd January 15:51
Edited by exgtt on Sunday 2nd January 16:11
From my own Alfa ownership experience; Mechanically they're sound; - as above, avoid the selespeed, check the cambelt & tensioners have been done. (Bosch or not),dodgy electrics still abound and the 147s, 156s & GTVs eat bushes for fun. These factors taken into consideration there's not a great deal to worry about.
MondeoMan1981 said:
Starting to look at getting a new car...
Lots of nice 156s coming up in my price range... From W/X 2.5 V6 models down to 2004 facelift 2.0s. Nice looking cars, nice inside and in 2.5 V6 form must have a cracking soundtrack as well...
How reliable are they ?
I know from on here they are sensitive to oil levels and a full history with belts being done is a must.
Chap in work had a 2001 or 2002 2.0 and he ran it for 3 years with little issue other than consumables...
On my second 156 and fourth Alfa overall. Love the things, big fan of the 156. I think you have hit the nail on the head, full history, ideally documented and as few owners as possible. Look out for corrosion on the floor of the 156, arches on GTA's overwise the bodywork is sound. Look out for electrical gremlins, airbag warning lights, injector warning light, rear electric window failure and a temperamental climate control panel on facelift cars.Lots of nice 156s coming up in my price range... From W/X 2.5 V6 models down to 2004 facelift 2.0s. Nice looking cars, nice inside and in 2.5 V6 form must have a cracking soundtrack as well...
How reliable are they ?
I know from on here they are sensitive to oil levels and a full history with belts being done is a must.
Chap in work had a 2001 or 2002 2.0 and he ran it for 3 years with little issue other than consumables...
t - but sounded superb, had a great engine and had character by the bucket load I don't particularly see the appeal of modern mainstream Alfas. They may be a bit prettier than average (although I'm not even sure about that with the latest generation), but otherwise they're just rather normal, boring saloons and hatchbacks.
I'd certainly consider one if I was after a hack, but wouldn't automatically view it as being somehow "special".
I'd certainly consider one if I was after a hack, but wouldn't automatically view it as being somehow "special".
Edited by kambites on Sunday 2nd January 16:33
my 166 V6 is MORE reliable than the Lexus GS300 it replaced, make of that what you will. As long as its been serviced, and the belts are up to date, you wont even think twice about reliability, electrics are fine too. May be worth considering a 166? ok its more expensive to run, and slower than a 156, but the build quality is superb and there is rarity value.
love mine to bits.
love mine to bits.
Edited by philoldsmobile on Sunday 2nd January 16:33
i had a 156 twin spark for a while, as a winter car to run alongside the tvr.
thoroughly enjoyed the car ,had no issues with her ,also found my local dealer very helpful with service,always ready to give help and info. sadly sold her when the winter was over about 2yrs ago.
i would love to try a gt coupe or brera or money no object a 105 series gtv coupe,
thoroughly enjoyed the car ,had no issues with her ,also found my local dealer very helpful with service,always ready to give help and info. sadly sold her when the winter was over about 2yrs ago.
i would love to try a gt coupe or brera or money no object a 105 series gtv coupe,
kambites said:
I don't particularly see the appeal of modern mainstream Alfas. They may be a bit prettier than average (although I'm not even sure about that with the latest generation), but otherwise they're just rather normal, boring saloons and hatchbacks.
I'd certainly consider one if I was after a hack, but wouldn't automatically view it as being somehow "special".
Understand this totally, there not special as such. I'd certainly consider one if I was after a hack, but wouldn't automatically view it as being somehow "special".
Edited by kambites on Sunday 2nd January 16:33
I think the best way to view the 156 is to compair it with the fwd competition. I drove a mondeo v6 & a vectra v6 of similer vintage. The Ford had better handling, but the 156 excited when being driven at 7/10ths. Quick 2 turns lock to lock steering, revvy v6 that comes alive after 4k, fabulous gearchange, great throttle response & brakes that were weak but offered good initial bite & feel. The Mondeo was a good car, but its power delivery was boring & gear change horrid (i suspect there was an issue with car i drove mind)
Wont even mention the Vectra, the dashboard was lit up like a christmas tree.
Had this 156 v6 Veloce. Great car, sore on fuel. 22mpg.
So bought this 147 Ti JTD. Fitted with AutoDelta Coilovers
Had a facelifted 156 1.8 Veloce there a couple of years ago. Good car too.
All decent cars. Bought when Alfas were reasonably cheap. I love the 159 Ti, but i would struggle to reconcile giving the money for one. Heres the cheapest sensible miled diesel one....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
So bought this 147 Ti JTD. Fitted with AutoDelta Coilovers
Had a facelifted 156 1.8 Veloce there a couple of years ago. Good car too.
All decent cars. Bought when Alfas were reasonably cheap. I love the 159 Ti, but i would struggle to reconcile giving the money for one. Heres the cheapest sensible miled diesel one....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd January 16:54
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