RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6

RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6

Friday 16th July 2010

SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6

Everyone loves a pretty Italian, including Shed, but watch out because she could be high maintenance (the Italian, not Shed)



Today's SOTW is definitely one for the gamblers out there. In the Pantheon of Shed, there are few cars - let alone family saloons - that are as stunningly gorgeous as an Alfa Romeo 156. But beauty always has its price and, in the case of an old Alfa 156, the purchase could just be the start of your costs.

The Alfa 156 has a bit of a reputation, you see. Scarlett Johanssen covered in honey and holding a Faberge egg might not quite compare to its looks, but the 156 can be hard work. Distinctly patchy electrics, water leaks and blown head gaskets are the headline problems, but the engines can go pop in more spectacular fashion, too (just check out the number of 156s in the classifieds in need of a replacement engine and you'll see what we mean).


But just on the off chance that you get a good one the rewards could be well worth the risk. It looks good inside and out for starters; the sumptuous leather interior and 60s-inspired dash is a far more interesting prospect than the dull designs served up by its Germanic contemporaries.

The chassis also received critical praise for its athletic prowess and, with just 2.2 turns lock to lock, the hyperactive steering added to the 156's B-road enthusiasm. A T Spark model even beat the usually all-conquering BMW 3-series in an Autocar twin test back in 1998 - quite a feat, even if it was against the soon-to-be-obsolete E36 model.


Then there's the engine. The 2.5-litre double overhead cam V6 was good for 187bhp, whichmeant 0-62mph in 7.2secs and a top speed norrth of 140mph. But if ever an engine in an ordinary saloon transcended its role as a device for creating motive power this is it. Because the 24-valve V6 (now sadly long dead) is art rather than engineering.

A brief look under the bonnet at the gorgeous chromed manifold is enough to convince you that there's something out of the ordinary going on, but it's the sound that is truly out of this world.


If Bach had been around during the era of the internal combustion engine he might well have written his Toccata and Fugue for this engine rather than the pipe organ. It's that musical.

So it's a pretty big risk to take, sure, but this particular car looks tidy enough and even has some MOT left on it. And the 156 is a very pretty car with a fine voice. Go on, you know you want to...

Join SOTW on Facebook

 

   


   

Advert is reproduced below:

Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6 (1999)
104,000 miles £950

1999 T reg, 104,000 mls, 4 new tyres 2 weeks ago, 6 x airbags, immobiliser, ABS, aircon, elec mirrors, 4 x elec windows, power steering, remote central locking, front fogs, 6 disc cd changer, 17 inch alloys, imaculate interior with full black leather with stiched Alfa logos, spare wheel and complete origional Alfa tool kit. I am having to sell the car due to current personal cercumstances, it does drive superb and the engine is fantastic. The car will be sold as seen, any questions or inspections are more than welcome. It will have MOT till October but will need tax but i feel i have reflected this in the price compared to others of the same type.

Author
Discussion

Johnspex

Original Poster:

4,332 posts

183 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
If I only had the nerve......

Carfiend

3,186 posts

208 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
I would budget in the £600 odd quit for a cambelt and waterpump change to be on the safe side if anyone has taken their brave pills today.

KenBlocksPants

5,951 posts

183 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Carfiend said:
I would budget in the £600 odd quit for a cambelt and waterpump change to be on the safe side if anyone has taken their brave pills today.
True, although worth the risk for a shed?


Great Pretender

26,140 posts

213 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
That is very smart yes

>wallet twitches<

TomJS

973 posts

195 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Sexy shed.

Jonny_693

5,113 posts

175 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Oof. Always fancied one of these, such a good looking car. Good shed!

FWDRacer

3,564 posts

223 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Nnnghhhh.

Must.

Resist.

Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Never heard what this engine sounds like, yet everyone seems to rave about it. Can anyone show me any youtube videos or whatever, that accurately portray how it sounds? biggrin

GH80

35 posts

167 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
I used to do independant service inspection in various dealerships around the time these were under warranty. Fiat and Alfa garages always had the ramps chocked full of engine and gearbox warranty work, impossible to find a "service".

I would never go near an Alfa or Fiat for this reason alone, I hear they are better now but after seeing this compared to visiting most other dealerships the image has stuck with me.

Edited by GH80 on Friday 16th July 10:15

Oilchange

8,421 posts

259 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
I bought a 156 V6 with 83k for a grand.
In my profile, it had the cambelt done recently but needed an exhaust downpipe, £240, a clutch slave, £70 and some new front tyres.
I have no electrical problems, it sounds great and is very comfortable. Plus the black leather is really posh for poor money. Starts every time, sounds glorious and looks great.
It gets looks all the time and although it returns 'only' 31 mpg on a long run I can live with that, It was only a grand after all.
I am struggling to think of a car that makes me feel as good that I've owned before...

Edited by Oilchange on Friday 16th July 10:17

S3_Graham

12,830 posts

198 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
KenBlocksPants said:
Carfiend said:
I would budget in the £600 odd quit for a cambelt and waterpump change to be on the safe side if anyone has taken their brave pills today.
True, although worth the risk for a shed?
its always a tough call. I had the same dilema with my VR6. It cost £1000 and had a slight chain rattle. However it was £800 to change the chain so i never bothered!

rallyman77

138 posts

166 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Good looking/sounding shed for a bargain price...

Maintenance on Alfas can be dear tho ¬.¬

I've driven the 147 1.6L 120bhp back in 2001 (probably as close as it gets to this shed) and I was pretty impressed to say the least.

MarJay

2,173 posts

174 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
That is a lot of car for the money. Even if you spent £1000 on an engine change it'd still be OK value I reckon.

XJR500bhp

1,191 posts

209 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Put a straight through exhaust on it, and hey presto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32RdirfrsJ4

Andrew[MG]

3,322 posts

197 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
The back end looks ok but that front could not be described as pretty. I'm sure the V6 sounds nice and the interior is very smart...

Oilchange

8,421 posts

259 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Cambelt service, all inclusive (plus £80.50 for a metal water pump) £480.50.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_timing_be...




Carfiend said:
I would budget in the £600 odd quit for a cambelt and waterpump change to be on the safe side if anyone has taken their brave pills today.

8400rpm

1,777 posts

166 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Sometimes I wish I was a bit more brave than I am.

bracken78

983 posts

205 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
I'm soon to need a second car, why show this to me, must resist...

Richard-G

1,669 posts

174 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
good shed, wonder if a stripped out and caged 156 would make a good track day weapon? stiff chassis apparantly?

plus you could probably make £250 selling the interior


Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Friday 16th July 2010
quotequote all
Howard- said:
Never heard what this engine sounds like, yet everyone seems to rave about it. Can anyone show me any youtube videos or whatever, that accurately portray how it sounds? biggrin
Erm, check youtube.