Alfa 156 Sportwagen . Pleasure or pain?
Discussion
I've been racking my brain for a few weeks now trying to figure out what best suits my needs for my next car purchase and have started to get myself hot n' bothered about the 156 sportwagen 2.0 TS Veloce.
Basically I need something with a reasonable amount of poke to keep life interesting, but do have to stay practical so I can lug kids
and other cumbersome articles around from time to time 
and was pleased to have come up with this distinct possibility.
I've spent most of today doing web research into what my options might be and have found very many favourable reports about them. BUT.. I've also seen a fair few "owners reports" complaining about what I would consider to be significant niggles (electrics shutting down inexplicably, paintwork issues , cambelt worries etc. Whats more the radio reception is supposed to be lousy)
So I thought I'd see if the good people of this forum had 10 cents to throw in on this one?
I will now be away from the computer for a couple of days but would be interested in what those more in the know than I, had to say when I return. Yay! or Nay! ?
Basically I need something with a reasonable amount of poke to keep life interesting, but do have to stay practical so I can lug kids
and other cumbersome articles around from time to time and was pleased to have come up with this distinct possibility. I've spent most of today doing web research into what my options might be and have found very many favourable reports about them. BUT.. I've also seen a fair few "owners reports" complaining about what I would consider to be significant niggles (electrics shutting down inexplicably, paintwork issues , cambelt worries etc. Whats more the radio reception is supposed to be lousy)
So I thought I'd see if the good people of this forum had 10 cents to throw in on this one?
I will now be away from the computer for a couple of days but would be interested in what those more in the know than I, had to say when I return. Yay! or Nay! ?
Hmmm.... well thanks for that chaps 
. This does of course re-inforce exactly what I was saying about split views with the Alfa. Some people can't get enough of them and others throw their arms up in the air at the mere mention !
Putting the reliability issue aside for a moment, whats selling this car to me is a combination of styling,very respectable performance and the fact that whilst I know it's not got a massive loadspace for the genre, I'm happy to consider it as a "spacious hatch", which should be adequate for my needs. (Saloons are too restrictive for me in general).
Cons : I'll have to investigate deeper about the reliability obviously and I know the depriciation is a shocker. And isn't there a new model (157?) in the pipeline which could furthur hurt the 156 prices?
I could afford a brand spanker, but am not prepared to take that sort of a hit if I sell on after a couple of years. I'm looking (if I'm looking at all!)at something pretty recent with a substantial chunk already hacked off - maybe in the 10k -11k region...
Finally anyone know when the 165bhp replaced the 150bhp on the 2.0l ?
Thanks again folks
. This does of course re-inforce exactly what I was saying about split views with the Alfa. Some people can't get enough of them and others throw their arms up in the air at the mere mention ! Putting the reliability issue aside for a moment, whats selling this car to me is a combination of styling,very respectable performance and the fact that whilst I know it's not got a massive loadspace for the genre, I'm happy to consider it as a "spacious hatch", which should be adequate for my needs. (Saloons are too restrictive for me in general).
Cons : I'll have to investigate deeper about the reliability obviously and I know the depriciation is a shocker. And isn't there a new model (157?) in the pipeline which could furthur hurt the 156 prices?
I could afford a brand spanker, but am not prepared to take that sort of a hit if I sell on after a couple of years. I'm looking (if I'm looking at all!)at something pretty recent with a substantial chunk already hacked off - maybe in the 10k -11k region...
Finally anyone know when the 165bhp replaced the 150bhp on the 2.0l ?
Thanks again folks
Well, the deed is done... Over the weekend I slapped down a deposit on Sportwagen 2.0 JTS Veloce demonstrater in brilliant blue. It was about 2K over my original budget, but just looked sooo sexy stood there and I have to tell you there aren't a lot of nearly new ones out there...with the spec I wanted anyway... The cash just had to be splashed!
I pick it up on Friday and am looking forward to some serious
. I've been used to fairly mundane family cars over the past 10 years or so, so this should be a major shot in the arm in the thrills stakes!
Thanks for your input and advice chaps
>> Edited by DinkyToy-boy on Monday 1st March 16:57
, but just looked sooo sexy stood there and I have to tell you there aren't a lot of nearly new ones out there...with the spec I wanted anyway... The cash just had to be splashed! I pick it up on Friday and am looking forward to some serious
. I've been used to fairly mundane family cars over the past 10 years or so, so this should be a major shot in the arm in the thrills stakes! Thanks for your input and advice chaps
>> Edited by DinkyToy-boy on Monday 1st March 16:57
wombat rick said:
WhoooHooo! Nice one! 
Another 5-door coupe driver.
Yes indeedy, welcome to the club. My particular poison ended up being the Sportwagen (2.0JTS Veloce),which I still find a thrill to get in and drive.
It's now a couple of thousand miles off needing it's 10K service and am thinking I want to take it to a specialist Alfa place, but the real specialists seem to be all in the south from what I can see. Do we know of one in the north west? Is it worth bothering being too fussy for a 10K service, or will my local Alfa dealer be able change oil and check brakes etc adequately
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