Alfa 156 sportwagon
Discussion
As it is the new year we have decided that the shopping saab has to go. On of the cars on the list is a 156 sportwagon (or whatever they are called).
I think we will have about £8k to spend what are we likely to get for the money? Anything we should look out for?
Anyone flogging one for the money?
Tia
D
I think we will have about £8k to spend what are we likely to get for the money? Anything we should look out for?
Anyone flogging one for the money?
Tia
D
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17974&s=242
{edited to add:} its the right money and the right end of the country for you as well!
>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 7th January 12:04
{edited to add:} its the right money and the right end of the country for you as well!
>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 7th January 12:04
pdV6 said:
<a href="http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17974&s=242">www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=17974&s=242</a>
{edited to add:} its the right money and the right end of the country for you as well!
>> Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 7th January 12:04
Any opinion on the different engines? 1.8, 2.0 JTD ?
Does the 1.8 have much less power than the 2.0?
D.
pdV6 said:
From alfaromeo.co.uk:
2.4 JTD........175bhp 385Nm
1.9 JTD 16v..140bhp 305Nm
1.9 JTD........115bhp 275Nm
2.0 TS.........165bhp 206Nm
1.8 TS.........140bhp 163Nm
1.6 TS.........120bhp 146Nm
Please note these are the new range of engines! Cars around the £8,000 mark will be more likely:
4 cylinder Twin Sparks
120bhp 1.6, 140bhp 1.8 and 150bhp 2.0
There are some 144 and 155bhps knocking around too, but it makes little difference.
5 cylinder JTD
2.4 140bhp - went to 150bhp with the minor facelift in Summer of 2002.
V6 2.5
190 bhp.
The 2.0 is a gem. Not very torquey (but none of the petrols are, but a lovely noise and power delivery and smoother up to 7,000 than the 1.6 & 1.8 which don't have the balancer shaft of the 2.0.
V6 is sweet but heavy in weight and fuel consumption.
The JTD is a real diamond, but is also a real heavy lump.
All of them have expensive cambelt services due absolutely NO LATER than 5 years or 72,000 miles, but the usual advice is 3 years or 36,000 miles....
Turismo/Lusso spec suspension is a bit soft, Veloce a bit hard - so any is a compromise based on personal choice.
Whatever the engine, it is probably the most elegant everyday car on the roads.
Thanks people.
I have had a chat with the bank, and now know what the Saab will be worth on a trade in so I have a much better idea of what we might spend.
Current thinking is to leave it until April/May time (we are about to have our house knocked about a bit so some reserve cash is a good idea) then hopefully spend a bit more and get a newer car.
We did look at a march 2001 2.5 V6 with 35k on the clock, it was up for £9995. Red, leather etc, etc. I like it, the wife likes it so now all we have to do is wait and see if we can find the right car at the right price. I do think it will be a 2.0 or a JTD
Cheers
D.
I have had a chat with the bank, and now know what the Saab will be worth on a trade in so I have a much better idea of what we might spend.
Current thinking is to leave it until April/May time (we are about to have our house knocked about a bit so some reserve cash is a good idea) then hopefully spend a bit more and get a newer car.
We did look at a march 2001 2.5 V6 with 35k on the clock, it was up for £9995. Red, leather etc, etc. I like it, the wife likes it so now all we have to do is wait and see if we can find the right car at the right price. I do think it will be a 2.0 or a JTD
Cheers
D.
I've got a 2002 spec 2.4JTD 150bhp Sportwagon Veloce Leather, but I looked at a 2001 spec 140bhp Lusso.
Main difference is the revised dash on the 2002 models, much, much nicer. Lusso' come with Leather as standard and cruise control, maybe heated seats too, not alot more, Bose stereo is OK but I don't think it was an option in 00/01, not really worth busting a gut for when looking for one, standard stereo almost as good.
Worthwhile things to look for are Roof bars, very expensive to add later.
The main difference though, driving wise between them, is the suspension, the Lusso I found to be similar to a bouncy castle and very vague steering, very luxo barge style to drive. The Veloce is much better, has at least some steering feel and corners flatter than you would expect, but definately not too stiff for motorway cruising.
All round good car.
Main difference is the revised dash on the 2002 models, much, much nicer. Lusso' come with Leather as standard and cruise control, maybe heated seats too, not alot more, Bose stereo is OK but I don't think it was an option in 00/01, not really worth busting a gut for when looking for one, standard stereo almost as good.
Worthwhile things to look for are Roof bars, very expensive to add later.
The main difference though, driving wise between them, is the suspension, the Lusso I found to be similar to a bouncy castle and very vague steering, very luxo barge style to drive. The Veloce is much better, has at least some steering feel and corners flatter than you would expect, but definately not too stiff for motorway cruising.
All round good car.
dougal said:
I've got a 2002 spec 2.4JTD 150bhp Sportwagon Veloce Leather, but I looked at a 2001 spec 140bhp Lusso.
Thanks for that
So is that a facelift car then with the new nose?
Can I ask what sort of money it was, how many miles it had done and if it was main dealer or not (tell me to sod off if I'm being nosey).
Thanks
D
Davidd
Sod off
It's the old shape nose, but the new type interior, ie if you go on to the website and look at the piccies of the current one that's what it looks like.
The only difference on the outside (I think) compared to older 156's is the whiskers on the bumpers are body coloured.
Now the nosey bit, the car we picked is silver with black leather, Bose stereo, roof bars, and a few other small bits.
It was the main dealer demonstrator, 2500 miles, spotless, 6 months old, should have been 22k new, we paid 16k, which was slightly less than I could import one for, so we went for it and haven't regretted it.
We have done 24k now and we don't hang around and the average fuel consumption over this time has been 45mpg, had we been a bit more controlled on the right foot 50mpg would be easy.
As I say, the engines started off with 140bhp, then went to 150bhp in 2002 with the revised interior and presently (new nose etc) they are running 175bhp.
The Veloce has nicer wheels (telephone dial) and very small side skirts that make it look a bit better IMO.
>> Edited by dougal on Monday 19th January 17:36
Sod off
It's the old shape nose, but the new type interior, ie if you go on to the website and look at the piccies of the current one that's what it looks like.
The only difference on the outside (I think) compared to older 156's is the whiskers on the bumpers are body coloured.
Now the nosey bit, the car we picked is silver with black leather, Bose stereo, roof bars, and a few other small bits.
It was the main dealer demonstrator, 2500 miles, spotless, 6 months old, should have been 22k new, we paid 16k, which was slightly less than I could import one for, so we went for it and haven't regretted it.
We have done 24k now and we don't hang around and the average fuel consumption over this time has been 45mpg, had we been a bit more controlled on the right foot 50mpg would be easy.
As I say, the engines started off with 140bhp, then went to 150bhp in 2002 with the revised interior and presently (new nose etc) they are running 175bhp.
The Veloce has nicer wheels (telephone dial) and very small side skirts that make it look a bit better IMO.
>> Edited by dougal on Monday 19th January 17:36
The interior changed with the power hike to 150bhp and the body coloured bumper whiskers in summer 2002 I think.
Leather not standard, A/C standard, Bose stereo standard on models with engines bigger than 2ltrs unless the all singing all dancing comms/nav pack has been opted for (another very expensive option), roof bars not standard and very worth looking for on a second hand car.
Don't get the Selespeed, heard lots of bad things.
Any more questions.
>> Edited by dougal on Tuesday 20th January 10:31
Leather not standard, A/C standard, Bose stereo standard on models with engines bigger than 2ltrs unless the all singing all dancing comms/nav pack has been opted for (another very expensive option), roof bars not standard and very worth looking for on a second hand car.
Don't get the Selespeed, heard lots of bad things.
Any more questions.
>> Edited by dougal on Tuesday 20th January 10:31
Roof bars...do you need them ( I know they look nice )?
So I'm really looking for a 2002 model..
Interesting Virgin are offering them with delivery miles for a little over £15k, that is the lusso though, and of course I'm not in the market for one just yet
It does give me a good idea of what I should be paying for a nearly new one though.
In fact I'm tempted with an import, run it for a year then sell it on, what do you reckon I'd lose in a year with about £10k miles...
D.
So I'm really looking for a 2002 model..
Interesting Virgin are offering them with delivery miles for a little over £15k, that is the lusso though, and of course I'm not in the market for one just yet
It does give me a good idea of what I should be paying for a nearly new one though. In fact I'm tempted with an import, run it for a year then sell it on, what do you reckon I'd lose in a year with about £10k miles...
D.
Do yourself a favour and get down to British Car Auctions. Fiat have a "Special Sale" of ex-demos and fleet Fiat and Alfas practically every week.
I needed an MPV and last week I bought a 2003 Ulysse Eleganza with 4,700 miles on the clock for £13k. List price is £22k.
There were no Sportwagons on the day, but plenty of 156s and none of them went for more than £10k.
Edited to add: Fiat are having a special sale of Southern Irish Alfas at Derby on the 29th; should be bargains galore.
>> Edited by Alex on Tuesday 20th January 10:53
I needed an MPV and last week I bought a 2003 Ulysse Eleganza with 4,700 miles on the clock for £13k. List price is £22k.
There were no Sportwagons on the day, but plenty of 156s and none of them went for more than £10k.
Edited to add: Fiat are having a special sale of Southern Irish Alfas at Derby on the 29th; should be bargains galore.
>> Edited by Alex on Tuesday 20th January 10:53
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