RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6
Discussion
I had a black 156 twin spark with tan leather seats as my 1st company car back in 1999. Had it for 3 years a never had a problem with it....absolutely loved it, so much prettier than anything else on the road back then...they still look great now....
Since then I've had a GTV 3.0 V6 & a 147 GTA...again with no real issues...they just need a bit of TLC thats all!
Now REALLY want a facelift 166 3.2V6...beautiful!!!
Since then I've had a GTV 3.0 V6 & a 147 GTA...again with no real issues...they just need a bit of TLC thats all!
Now REALLY want a facelift 166 3.2V6...beautiful!!!
I just sold mine, and then in SOTW see another Pistonheader talking about it. Glad she is treating you well Jon, never gave me anything but smiles 
Yep - these cars are very reliable, and such performance bargains. I replaced mine with an RX7 FD3S, and I miss the V6.
Makes me laugh, that chap on hear talking about 36k belt intervals, and V6's drinking oil... back to the pub gossip to learn more about cars I reckon
I owned the both Alfa twincam and V6 at the same time for 4 years (up until last month), I do all the mechanical work myself, and drive a tuned rotary right now, so I feel confident in this arena.
And yes - supercar engines are prettier then euro-saloon car engines
Yep - these cars are very reliable, and such performance bargains. I replaced mine with an RX7 FD3S, and I miss the V6.
Makes me laugh, that chap on hear talking about 36k belt intervals, and V6's drinking oil... back to the pub gossip to learn more about cars I reckon
I owned the both Alfa twincam and V6 at the same time for 4 years (up until last month), I do all the mechanical work myself, and drive a tuned rotary right now, so I feel confident in this arena.
And yes - supercar engines are prettier then euro-saloon car engines
I can't believe some of the misinformed dross being posted about the Alfa V6? When this engine came out in the Seventies it was miles a head of the game, light alloy construction, well designed heads that breathed well, a rubber cambelt that actually lasted! Compare this to a Ford's heavy and gutless Colgne V6, it was miles ahead.
Alfa have had issues with engines but it was the four pots that gave them trouble not the sixes. For an affordable mass produced V6 the Busso is a great achievement in all its forms, the shiny pipes are a side issue.
Alfa have had issues with engines but it was the four pots that gave them trouble not the sixes. For an affordable mass produced V6 the Busso is a great achievement in all its forms, the shiny pipes are a side issue.
Dave_ST220 said:
exgtt said:
I agree with you on the noise/intake runner thing to a certain extent, although compaire the v6 to the vauxhall/ford/audi V6's of the same era and it's clear to see why people were excited about those chrome runners at the time, the oppositions engines were soo dull looking.
Because looking at the engine really affects the enjoyment of the car 
The noise & the way it drives matters, to that extent I see no reason to get excited, even the Ford V6 sounds as good.
ExPat2B said:
The infamous problems are :
Top ends failing due to cambelt snapping. And what is Alfa's response ? Change it at 36,000 miles. This is a crap response, and shows how they refuse to stand by their products. When Rover had a problem with the Headgasket in the K series they redesigned it 3 times, and made the parts ( metal dowels, gasket and thermosat ) available to the public. Alfa just say change it more frequently.
Engines failing due to Oil starvation/bearing failure. I have heard a number of excuses from the fanboys about why this is so, ranging from blaming the owners ( I love that reponse, blame your customer ) but the facts are that there seem to be more Alfa out there with replacement engines than any other cars, and I have personally viewed Alfa with replacement engines, and seen Alfa in the scrappy with failed engines, so have some first hand knowledge of the issues.
Some survey results for Alfa :
FIAT/Alfa joint worst for breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. 9th from Bottom of 100 models for reliability in Auto Express 2002 survey. 18th from Bottom in 144 car 2002 JD Power / What Car? Customer Satisfaction Survey of V and W reg cars. Alfa Romeo had joint highest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index Joint fourth bottom in 2002 Which reliability survey of cars up to 2 years old; 74 cars surveyed. Alfa Romeo 2nd least reliable of 31 makes of car in 2002 'Which?' reliability survey cars 2000 - 2002; 3rd least reliable cars 1997 - 1999. Only 87% breakdown free in 2003 Which survey. Alfa Romeo had fourth highest warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 155.10 v/s lowest 31.93). 98-2000 average for breakdowns and faults and poor for problems; 2001-2003 average for breakdowns and poor for problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. 7th from bottom out of 137 models in 2003 Top Gear survey. 156 8th bottom model and Alfa Romeo bottom marque in 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. Alfa Romeo 5th bottom of Reliability Index for 2004 combining average cost of repair of £392.88 with high 39.55 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies. Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk Came 16th from bottom in 2005 JD Power/What Car Survey of 23,000 cars reg Sep 2002 to Aug 2003 with satisfaction score of 74.7%
But don't worry about all that. Just keep fapping to those shiny pipes.
Aww bless, someone was shown how to 'copy & paste' today Top ends failing due to cambelt snapping. And what is Alfa's response ? Change it at 36,000 miles. This is a crap response, and shows how they refuse to stand by their products. When Rover had a problem with the Headgasket in the K series they redesigned it 3 times, and made the parts ( metal dowels, gasket and thermosat ) available to the public. Alfa just say change it more frequently.
Engines failing due to Oil starvation/bearing failure. I have heard a number of excuses from the fanboys about why this is so, ranging from blaming the owners ( I love that reponse, blame your customer ) but the facts are that there seem to be more Alfa out there with replacement engines than any other cars, and I have personally viewed Alfa with replacement engines, and seen Alfa in the scrappy with failed engines, so have some first hand knowledge of the issues.
Some survey results for Alfa :
FIAT/Alfa joint worst for breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. 9th from Bottom of 100 models for reliability in Auto Express 2002 survey. 18th from Bottom in 144 car 2002 JD Power / What Car? Customer Satisfaction Survey of V and W reg cars. Alfa Romeo had joint highest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index Joint fourth bottom in 2002 Which reliability survey of cars up to 2 years old; 74 cars surveyed. Alfa Romeo 2nd least reliable of 31 makes of car in 2002 'Which?' reliability survey cars 2000 - 2002; 3rd least reliable cars 1997 - 1999. Only 87% breakdown free in 2003 Which survey. Alfa Romeo had fourth highest warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 155.10 v/s lowest 31.93). 98-2000 average for breakdowns and faults and poor for problems; 2001-2003 average for breakdowns and poor for problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. 7th from bottom out of 137 models in 2003 Top Gear survey. 156 8th bottom model and Alfa Romeo bottom marque in 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. Alfa Romeo 5th bottom of Reliability Index for 2004 combining average cost of repair of £392.88 with high 39.55 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies. Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk Came 16th from bottom in 2005 JD Power/What Car Survey of 23,000 cars reg Sep 2002 to Aug 2003 with satisfaction score of 74.7%
But don't worry about all that. Just keep fapping to those shiny pipes.
Good for you!
ZeeTacoe said:
Dave_ST220 said:
exgtt said:
I agree with you on the noise/intake runner thing to a certain extent, although compaire the v6 to the vauxhall/ford/audi V6's of the same era and it's clear to see why people were excited about those chrome runners at the time, the oppositions engines were soo dull looking.
Because looking at the engine really affects the enjoyment of the car The noise & the way it drives matters, to that extent I see no reason to get excited, even the Ford V6 sounds as good.Dave_ST220 said:
exgtt said:
I agree with you on the noise/intake runner thing to a certain extent, although compaire the v6 to the vauxhall/ford/audi V6's of the same era and it's clear to see why people were excited about those chrome runners at the time, the oppositions engines were soo dull looking.
Because looking at the engine really affects the enjoyment of the car The noise & the way it drives matters, to that extent I see no reason to get excited, even the Ford V6 sounds as good.Don't get me wrong, I like the Contour V6, it's a solid engine. But the Alfa's V6 does have it licked for driver involvement/noise/fun in general.
Miss my 156 V6 badly, the steering, the interior, the looks, the noise. Only sold it because I bottled it when the air-flow meter went. Bought a unit off ebay, fixed the car and sold it on because I told myself it'd end up ruining me. I bet it never would have.
ST200 has certainly been a more dependable motor overall though, ie it's needed less attention and wrapping in cotton wool. And I'll get flamed for it, but the seats in the ST200 piss all over the Alfa's. But then the Alfa's dash is so much cooler....but missus wants the Mondeo over an Alfa, so I'm out of the running for it!
Is it worrying that I nearly need two hands to count the number of SOTW's that I've owned so far?
AX GT
Xantia Activa
Mondeo ST200
Alfa 156 V6
MR2
Edited by Kitchski on Saturday 17th July 00:27
Edited by Kitchski on Saturday 17th July 00:28
My missus has the V6. I bottled it recently after a problem with the electrics. Put it in classifieds before telling her. She was not happy and rightly made me remove it. The car up until then has been superb and totally reliable. Got the electrics sorted for £200 and now we have a great car again and there isn't anything close for the money. 
I've got one of these, exactly the same, save red leather instead of black. It broke my heart to find out my car is a shed. But the reputation is unfounded. Dodgy electrics? Not with mine. Leaks? Never heard of this either. Engines are brilliant but impossible to work on, hence the high cost. But the engine noise on a good A road, the knowing looks you get from other drivers, and just loads of cool car factor.
Stand out from the crowd, impress your mates, have a cuore sportivo.
Stand out from the crowd, impress your mates, have a cuore sportivo.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff