Alpha 156 2.5 V6 opinions?

[big_treacle]

Hi all,
I'm looking at ditching my shed mondeo & I've seen a potentially nice looking 156 V6 to replace it with. Its a 6spd manual on a 'W' plate with 32k for about 5.5k. Sounds good to me, but I'm not that familiar with Alpha prices.
Any of you guys got something similar? How are they for general driving about & motorway commuting? Whats the story on servicing costs and any major potential problems to look out for?
I have a Cerbera for lunatic driving about. This car would be for general driving with a kind of sporting edge.
Cheers

[tankerman24]

Hi there, I bought an S plate 2.5 V6 about a year ago, Its a superb drive, comfortable fast, sounds lovely the only problems have been electrical the odd fuse blowing for no reason and a couple of bulbs blown on the dash. the best place to go for advice is www.ardc.co.uk . had one bad thing happen, while my car was parked on my drive someone stole the side skirts and damaged the boot trying to get the wing off.

[Fittster]

Alpha? I think you mean an Alfa.

[Alfahorn]

£5,500!!!!!!

That should get you a 51 or 02 plate car, v-six or not.

Personally I favour the 2.0TS, it is better balanced and you don't need an oil tanker running alongside you in case you run out of petrol.

[big_treacle]

Fittster said:

Alpha? I think you mean an Alfa.

haha yeah i think you're right

[big_treacle]

Alfahorn said:

£5,500!!!!!!

That should get you a 51 or 02 plate car, v-six or not.

Personally I favour the 2.0TS, it is better balanced and you don't need an oil tanker running alongside you in case you run out of petrol.

hmmmm having looked around that is quite high but I guess low mileage which is one of the things that has attracted me. Most I've seen at that age are 80k+

[big_treacle]

tankerman24 said:

Hi there, I bought an S plate 2.5 V6 about a year ago, Its a superb drive, comfortable fast, sounds lovely the only problems have been electrical the odd fuse blowing for no reason and a couple of bulbs blown on the dash. the best place to go for advice is www.ardc.co.uk . had one bad thing happen, while my car was parked on my drive someone stole the side skirts and damaged the boot trying to get the wing off.

Cheers. I'm heading to that website now...

[bint]

I bought an X reg wagon last October for £3300 with all the trimmings - top class cars and I love her to bits.
Rare as rocking horse poo the wagons though, the saloons seem to hold their value a little better.

[jwyatt]

I ran a 2.5 SP3 saloon for 80k miles from 99-02 (and have a GTA sportwagon now).

I loved my 2.5. It was very reliable and felt well made, and it was a great mix of performance, refinement, looks and sportiness in what is essentially a pretty sensible car. Only the steering lock when parking and ground clearance on terrible roads/speed bumps annoyed. The 2.5 is even freeer revving than the 3.2 and the gearchange and ratios are a delight.

Quickish too - 18.6 to 100 is around the same as the 159 and Brera 3.2's

I'd say - go for it! That money should buy a later car, get one with the facelift interior (summer 2002 and on, I think). In terms of servicing costs the main dealer services were really cheap until 60k then started to costm use a specialist. Essentially its a low maintenance and solid engine, the bushes might need doing but they are cheap.

I found even the sport pack suspension very decent on the motorway, they are very nice motorway cruisers and mpg in that environment is fine.

Edited by jwyatt on Friday 16th February 14:02

[sb-1]

I had a 156 2.5V6 for about 2 years.Was a great car,no real problems at all.

I still miss it now(sold it in 2002)and would buy another.
In fact i am looking at buying another 156 shortly,not sure whether it will be a 2.5V6 or a TS.

Cheers

Steve

Edited by sb-1 on Friday 16th February 16:16

[Alfahorn]

big_treacle said:

Alfahorn said:

£5,500!!!!!!

That should get you a 51 or 02 plate car, v-six or not.

Personally I favour the 2.0TS, it is better balanced and you don't need an oil tanker running alongside you in case you run out of petrol.

hmmmm having looked around that is quite high but I guess low mileage which is one of the things that has attracted me. Most I've seen at that age are 80k+

Be patient. I waited 6 months then found a 32,000 mile R-plate car for £2,300.

[stuartalfa]

I also loved my S reg 2.5 V6, great all round car, sold her with about 105K on the clock last May & i still see her from time to time.
Now i have a 156 GTA, the Alfa V6 is very addictive.
Good luck
Stu

[xyyman]

I had one of the first V6's on an 'R' plate and covered 60k trouble free miles. I found it quite economical on longer runs easily acheiving 30mpg. Even with spirited driving acheived the low twenties. Now drive a 3.2 Spider and as Stuart says the V6's are addictive. Just do it!

Phil

[Alfahorn]

stuartalfa said:

I also loved my S reg 2.5 V6, great all round car, sold her with about 105K on the clock last May & i still see her from time to time.
Now i have a 156 GTA, the Alfa V6 is very addictive.
Good luck
Stu

It was a fine car, however the GTA you have now is SEX on wheels.

[sumplug]

156 has fly by wire and the throttle switch [bosch] is fixed to the throttle pedal, and these give trouble. A new one costs £320 from Alfa and are rare secondhand because of this common problem. Electric window motors give trouble, and the V6 must have its cam belt done by 40k or they have a tendncy to snap, and a V6 will cost a lot to fix [lots of valves!!]. They ride low like the JTD model and so can get damaged sumps leading to siezed engines. Front suspension, and tyres tend to wear quickly due to the engine weight, but otherwise, they are a great car. I would pay for a W reg, around £3000-£3500. Best tip i could give, is go to auction and bag yourself a face lifted model for little money!!

Andy.

[stuartalfa]

From Alfa about cam belts



Cheers Alan, here is a pic

Stu

[Alfahorn]

Stu, have you ever posted your car in the 'Readers Car' forum?

It would put them B*W boys in their place.