Alfa 156 GTA (+ Car History)

[herbialfa]

I've posted a topic on there to ask if there are any problems.

Will report back when I have had a response!

[43034]

Top man!

Let me know if you have any luck.

[herbialfa]

Okay I've been told the site was hit by spammers a few days ago so they have suspended registering at the moment.

Just keep trying!

[43034]

Well update time..

I'm currently average 14 to the gallon and it's worth every penny. So much fun, although I think my trip computer is broken as I can't get it below 11mpg no matter how hard I try.

I'm off to France at the end of the month so have ordered new oil and a filter. Decided to go for Castrol Edge 10w60 after much reading on AlfaOwner. Selenia Racing 10w60 was struck off the list early on as it's apparently ste.

4 new tyres are needed and I think i'm going for Avon ZV5s. Anyone have any experience of them? Usually have Contis but I am feeling a change.

Airbag light is on, I am hoping it's just dodgy connection under the seat but it's booked in to be looked at. Not worth the risk with such things IMO.

Brakes need looking at as well. For 330mm discs with new pads they aren't that good.

New bulbs needed also!

That being said, every time I start it up all those problems pale in to insignificance. That noise is just so fking good.

So far, 10/10.

[jezb]

You must be spanking it to get that MPG!

Motorway runs 30-35 and low to mid 20s the rest of the time for me.

I do see the mega low ones when I'm booting it but over a whole tank full never below 20s, maybe I should try harder!

[43034]

I still only have to put £25-30 a week with that MPG so i'm not overly bothered (should tell you how little mileage I do!).

I stuck the cruise on at 70mph the other day when I had a rare trip on the motorway, trip was showing around 30-32 which I was happy with.

Planning on £200-£250 for fuel on the 700mile round trip to France.

[43034]

Forgot to add, I went out with a mate in his Clio the other day.

Alfa was quicker (& louder!) but Clio is a capable car

[43034]

Third(!) post in a row from me...

I changed the grill over this morning. The one it had on wasn't standard, from a 166 I believe. The Alfa badge didn't sit in properly like it was supposed to on the GTA.

A quick few photos too illustrate what I mean:

The larger one





The proper one

[carinaman]

I don't think it's a 166 Scudetto. They look an entirely different shape to me. I think if they were interchangeable someone would have done it before to personalise their 156.

[43034]

After googling you're quite right! Dunno where I got the 166 idea from...!!

[carinaman]

I couldn't figure out which Alfa it's from though. I am not sure if it's just the perspective, but that Clio appears bigger than the 156.

[Paul S4]

If my 156 JTDM150 is anything to go by, the Alfa mileage computer is way optimistic...by about 10 mpg most of the time !
I always work it out with pen & paper as I use the car to commute and always brim the tank.

Very envious of your GTA though...I would probably get one if it weren't for the MPG !!

[strangehighways]

Awesome car. You will forgive it for everything with that busso v6 under the bonnet..Here's my busso..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNneQDo9SA

[43034]

strangehighways said:

Awesome car. You will forgive it for everything with that busso v6 under the bonnet..Here's my busso..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNneQDo9SA

That sounds bloody good!

As I said earlier, the car is off to France at the end of the month so there's some prep to be done!

It's having an oil and filter change done this weekend:


(There's another 4L bottle out of shot).

I've also got 4 new tyres. I usually go for Conti Contact Sports and have been very happy with them, but these Avon ZV5s were too good of a price to pass up.



The airbag light has turned itself off but it's still going in to the garage to have the brakes looked at!

Oh, and have another video too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpKlvLrq5jg

[MarkwG]

The airbag light is probably the passenger seat wiring: if the seat is adjusted whilst the ignition is live it wobbles it - no buggy, if you find a whole load of cable ties down there, someone has had a go at fixing it already!

[43034]

Just a little photo update.


I fking love this car!

[griffin dai]

Lovely Scott. I'll try and sort an RR day out on UKS when mines at stage 5 and the clutch is sorted, probably around August if you want to bring it for a run?

[KarlMac]

I really want an Alfa. That video and these pics aren't helping!

Great car OP, what sort of power does the busso run as standard? Are they easy to eek a bit more from?

[43034]

Grand Dai. Keep me in the loop please as id love to come a long!

How is the 2.8? Still wishing you got an Auto?

[43034]

Sorry missed the other post!

250 as standard which is nice, dont want to sound like a diesel bellend but theres a good amount of torque. Down to the size of that engine. .

Can change the manifolds to CF2 ones which have no cats and a decent exhaust could get another 10-15bhp.
For the big power gains you have to go to a 3.7/3.8 from Autolusso or AutoDelta. Thats about £5k.

The 250 is really enough though through the fronts. I have an uprated Diff but torque steer is still a problem.

Go out it one and you wont regret it. The 3.2 busso block is fking insane, absolutely fking insane.