Where are all the 156s?
Discussion
Time to change a car again, not because I need to but because I can. And I've never owned an Alfa, however I did test drive a 156 when they first came out but saw sense and bought a TVR Chimeara. But it is time to tick that box as they still look great, both in original and face-lifted form and appear to be a great compact sports saloon.
So I've started looking for a Veloce spec 156 of either petrol or 2.4 JTD, ideally with leather. Even the Sportwagon is a great looking car so not too fussed about saloon or estate.
However having looked at a few, they were dreadful traffic scarred rusty dogs. There must be some good ones around but where are they? If anyone has any pointers, either of cars or trusted dealers, please do tell as I don't want to keep traveling the whole of the UK only to be disappointed at the journey's end.
Thanks in advance.
So I've started looking for a Veloce spec 156 of either petrol or 2.4 JTD, ideally with leather. Even the Sportwagon is a great looking car so not too fussed about saloon or estate.
However having looked at a few, they were dreadful traffic scarred rusty dogs. There must be some good ones around but where are they? If anyone has any pointers, either of cars or trusted dealers, please do tell as I don't want to keep traveling the whole of the UK only to be disappointed at the journey's end.
Thanks in advance.
For my money the Sportwagon is far better looking than the saloon. Think of it more as large hatch than small estate, or even as the HPE of the late nineties-mid noughties. Mine is a V6 Veloce, silver with tan Momo interior. Not for sale, sorry! They do turn up now and again, and V6s are cheaper than Twin Sparks because people worry about MPG and front suspension chewage. Try to get one that had the cam belts done recently, as that job is a time consuming and so expensive pain.
my colleague has a met green 156 2.4 sport wagon for sale.2003, 64k on the clock, cambelt/water pump done, clutch done, remapped, really nice condition.Best of all he works for a large Alfa specialist as a tech so its well looked after and all work done properly 
he wants £1,200 ONO, contact me on 07794209023 and ill pass on the details. In the beds area.
he wants £1,200 ONO, contact me on 07794209023 and ill pass on the details. In the beds area.
Aw man I wish I'd known that was on 
As values are generally lowish on used 156s they get bought by people who don't bother looking after them much... so lots of crappy ones out there and the good ones aren't - generally - for sale! The one above sounds like arm-biting-off territory if it's in nice nick though £1200 is a pretty strong price.
As values are generally lowish on used 156s they get bought by people who don't bother looking after them much... so lots of crappy ones out there and the good ones aren't - generally - for sale! The one above sounds like arm-biting-off territory if it's in nice nick though £1200 is a pretty strong price.
I don't think decent 156s turn up very often.
They are worth so little that there is no sense in selling a good one. You just end up keeping them.
I have a blue 156 V6 with 60k on the clock. It is pretty damn mint, but worth less than a grand.
I haven't used it for eighteen months, and just keep it on a trickle charger in my Mum's garage.
My daily driver is a 156 2.4 JTD. I've also owned a Twin Spark 147 and a 3.2 GTV, but the 156 2.5 V6 is the nicest drive by a clear margin. In fact, I enjoy driving my old 156 more than the F328, Esprit or Griffith that I used to have.
If pushed, I would say that it is my favourite of all the cars that I've owned.
It isn't the fastest, it's not the best built. It certainly doesn't handle or stop particularly well. But it has the nicest motor (nicer than that Ferrari V8) and is just a pleasure to drive. How it can only be worth a few hundred quid is beyond me.
They are worth so little that there is no sense in selling a good one. You just end up keeping them.
I have a blue 156 V6 with 60k on the clock. It is pretty damn mint, but worth less than a grand.
I haven't used it for eighteen months, and just keep it on a trickle charger in my Mum's garage.
My daily driver is a 156 2.4 JTD. I've also owned a Twin Spark 147 and a 3.2 GTV, but the 156 2.5 V6 is the nicest drive by a clear margin. In fact, I enjoy driving my old 156 more than the F328, Esprit or Griffith that I used to have.
If pushed, I would say that it is my favourite of all the cars that I've owned.
It isn't the fastest, it's not the best built. It certainly doesn't handle or stop particularly well. But it has the nicest motor (nicer than that Ferrari V8) and is just a pleasure to drive. How it can only be worth a few hundred quid is beyond me.
That is a fantastic car in that blue, especially with the v6 engine. Ideally I'm looking for something similar as I have a Tour de France blue F355 GTS and want something to match it. Sad, I know but blue cars are where it's at. They look so good in a way that the more modern 159s etc do not. They still retain the Alfa-ness that newer cars have lost a little.
Although the 156 is sadly afflicted by ECUs, computers and other hateful modern nonsense, it is a 1990s design, so it still has relatively slender A pillars, doesn't weigh 87 tons, and doesn't have wheels wider than the Channel. In other words, it's still actually a car. Also, that V6 is a Busso V6, not some GM POS.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Took me 5 months to find mine and even then it was a drunken/hungover impulse buy!
Great car though
Took me 5 months to find mine and even then it was a drunken/hungover impulse buy!
Great car though
I would echo previous replies.
I have a 2005 156 JTDM 150 Veloce, had a year 2000 Twin Spark 1.8 156 Lusso before that.
I have never driven a V6, although a pal has a good one, in fact it must be one of the very early 2.5V6 cars.
When I wanted to change my silver 2000 1.8 TS, it was more for fuel economy, so I eventually found a 150 JTDM, as this was by most accounts, the best diesel engine for a combination of performance/economy.
There are decent 156s around, you just have to be patient !
My diesel was local to me, had just come in to the dealer, and the price was about right. It had 65,000 miles, so I bought it straight away; they are rare cars at that 'low' mileage.
I immediately had the cambelt/tensioner/water pump/auxillary belts done, and the 'essential' 4 wheel alignment; this is important if you want a 156 to handle as it should !
I then had it remapped to about 185BHP, which is nice !
I have done 2 track days ( Croft ), and the car was amazing. Perhaps the soundtrack is not as good as my 1.8 Twinspark with a Cybox stainless exhaust, but the torque is addictive !
I sold the TS for £600 in 2012 and really should have kept it ! It used quite a lot of oil ( they all do apparently, and it is essential to keep the level up to the top ).
I recall driving the TS up to the Scottish Borders one summer, arrived at my pal's house where he keeps a Boxster S ( outside in ALL weathers !). He asked me to take the Porsche out for a wee run before tea, so after a mild protest (!) I did so. Despite the great driving roads around there, I came back slightly disappointed : I can honestly say that I preferred my 120,000 mile 156 1.8TS to the 3.2 Boxster S !!
In comparison, the JTD has not consumed ANY oil in over 30,000 miles (!!).... Before anyone comments, I have changed the oil twice in that time !
I would suggest that you be patient, in your quest for a 156, as the wait will be well worth it !
I have a 2005 156 JTDM 150 Veloce, had a year 2000 Twin Spark 1.8 156 Lusso before that.
I have never driven a V6, although a pal has a good one, in fact it must be one of the very early 2.5V6 cars.
When I wanted to change my silver 2000 1.8 TS, it was more for fuel economy, so I eventually found a 150 JTDM, as this was by most accounts, the best diesel engine for a combination of performance/economy.
There are decent 156s around, you just have to be patient !
My diesel was local to me, had just come in to the dealer, and the price was about right. It had 65,000 miles, so I bought it straight away; they are rare cars at that 'low' mileage.
I immediately had the cambelt/tensioner/water pump/auxillary belts done, and the 'essential' 4 wheel alignment; this is important if you want a 156 to handle as it should !
I then had it remapped to about 185BHP, which is nice !
I have done 2 track days ( Croft ), and the car was amazing. Perhaps the soundtrack is not as good as my 1.8 Twinspark with a Cybox stainless exhaust, but the torque is addictive !
I sold the TS for £600 in 2012 and really should have kept it ! It used quite a lot of oil ( they all do apparently, and it is essential to keep the level up to the top ).
I recall driving the TS up to the Scottish Borders one summer, arrived at my pal's house where he keeps a Boxster S ( outside in ALL weathers !). He asked me to take the Porsche out for a wee run before tea, so after a mild protest (!) I did so. Despite the great driving roads around there, I came back slightly disappointed : I can honestly say that I preferred my 120,000 mile 156 1.8TS to the 3.2 Boxster S !!
In comparison, the JTD has not consumed ANY oil in over 30,000 miles (!!).... Before anyone comments, I have changed the oil twice in that time !
I would suggest that you be patient, in your quest for a 156, as the wait will be well worth it !
Breadvan72 said:
Although the 156 is sadly afflicted by ECUs, computers and other hateful modern nonsense, it is a 1990s design, so it still has relatively slender A pillars, doesn't weigh 87 tons, and doesn't have wheels wider than the Channel. In other words, it's still actually a car. Also, that V6 is a Busso V6, not some GM POS.
What that man says ^^^.My 156V6 was probably one of the most satisfying cars I have ever owned. Bought it on a whim 5 years ago for just over £1,000 and sold it a month ago for £900! Now that's depreciation!
Being a bit of an anorak I did actually work out that it cost me about 50p mile to run (including depreciation, fuel, servicing, VED and insurance) over those 5 years. By comparison my S4 has cost me nearly £1 per mile in depreciation alone.
Anyway, there's a young man in Southampton who hopefully is now enjoying the delights of that Busso V6 after driving around in a Seat Ibiza diesel eurobox!
I'm still not sure it was the right decision to sell.......
Musical 5 pot diesel aside, I found my 2.4 JTD far to heavy at the front to ever enjoy a corner. And in stiff Veloce guise the ride was just plain crashy and did little to improve the handling. Go for a cheap-as-chips petrol 2.0 T.Spark, the whole package is far sweeter, and you'll get no diesel headaches too.
Can't comment on the V6, always wanted to but never tried one. They sound blissful though.
Can't comment on the V6, always wanted to but never tried one. They sound blissful though.
ajb85 said:
Musical 5 pot diesel aside, I found my 2.4 JTD far to heavy at the front to ever enjoy a corner. And in stiff Veloce guise the ride was just plain crashy and did little to improve the handling.
Can't comment on the V6, always wanted to but never tried one. They sound blissful though.
Yep.Can't comment on the V6, always wanted to but never tried one. They sound blissful though.
I ran a 2.5 V6, then bought a 2.4 JTD when I started to do lots of miles.
My JTD is a Lusso and it is pretty hopeless unless it is pointing in a straight line. The ride is pants, too.
My 2.5 V6 is a Veloce and is far nicer to chuck about.
And whilst the 2.4 JTD sounds good for an oil burner, it remains desperately dull compared to the V6.
But here's the catch. The 2.4 20v JTD is a bomber. When mapped to 220bhp, the midrange grunt is astonishing. It is miles faster than a 2.5 V6 and will keep up with a 3.2 GT in a straight line.
And, if you drive it gently, you can crack 40mpg.
As a daily driver, the diesel ticks all the boxes. If you use the motorway much, then it has to be the default choice.
But if you want an Alfa to grab by the scruff of the neck, then you really need a petrol engined one.
They are all in the garage, getting new drive shafts.
Well the 20V's are :-/
Lovely thing the 20V engine, likes to rev right out and you get a nice burble at part throttle even when cruising (and it sounds menacing around town hehe).
Mine does early 40's to the gallon and I don't drive economically (this is on a relatively short commute on country lanes / b-roads - on the motorway they are brilliant though!).
What is the going rate on a good 20V? i.e. drive shafts good, no clutch / dmf issues and no rust?
Well the 20V's are :-/
Lovely thing the 20V engine, likes to rev right out and you get a nice burble at part throttle even when cruising (and it sounds menacing around town hehe).
Mine does early 40's to the gallon and I don't drive economically (this is on a relatively short commute on country lanes / b-roads - on the motorway they are brilliant though!).
What is the going rate on a good 20V? i.e. drive shafts good, no clutch / dmf issues and no rust?
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