RE: You Know You Want To: Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
Discussion
johnpeat said:
GTiFrank said:
Why when the 147 GTA and GTV6 can be had for less?
Because the 156 is one of the best looking saloons EVER made - wheras the 147 is hideous and the GTV laughable in many, many ways...
Agree completely. Always wanted one of these but unfortunately I dont fit (too tall...).
Still one of the best looking saloon cars every made IMO. Don't even care that it's not that fast or great to drive.
Johnboy Mac said:
I wish I could be convinced by the 156 as it's my type of car but I'm not. The crap build quality and cheap interior switch gear alone are enough to put a blind man off. There always seems to be plenty of praise for the diesel versions and I'm sure they're good but honestly, an Alfa with a diesel engine, pass thanks. Easy to understand why the 3 series still rules. Must try harder Alfa both with the product and the dealer network.
True for the lesser models but not for the GTA, which was throughly re-worked and bespoke. (Think BMW M3 vs 318i). Like all great cars Alfa lost money on every car sold.A 156 GTA is one of only two used cars that I have not bought after going to view. I truly intended to buy it and had driven a fair old distance to see it, but in a funny way it was just too honest! It was a city car and had reams of invoices in the service history. It appeared to have spent an unhealthy proportion of its life to date in the workshop being repaired. Every service invoice seemed to include extra jobs, that you just wouldn't expect. There were so many invoices that I just couldn't risk it. Maybe if the owner had filtered a few out I would have bought it!
And so, despite the test drive I walked away and ended up buying a cheaper Impreza, which never went wrong.
I did notice a mint very low miles GTA Sportwagon shortly afterwards, but that was out of my price range and already had a deposit taken. I would imagine that could have been a more sensible purchase and hope that its new owner looked after it.
And so, despite the test drive I walked away and ended up buying a cheaper Impreza, which never went wrong.
I did notice a mint very low miles GTA Sportwagon shortly afterwards, but that was out of my price range and already had a deposit taken. I would imagine that could have been a more sensible purchase and hope that its new owner looked after it.
LotusOmega375D said:
A 156 GTA is one of only two used cars that I have not bought after going to view. ...........And so, despite the test drive I walked away and ended up buying a cheaper Impreza, which never went wrong.
Maybe that Top Gear article was spot on then in its choice of competitors! 
I wish I hadn't seen this, my 156 was written off last year by a careless lorry driver. Although a lowly 2.0 TS it had the slightly lowered SP2 suspension and the 17" GTA wheels of the red car in the article. Silver over a red MOMO leather interior :
It had it's issues but was the best car I have owned, (although not hard, I have owned some dogs). The comments and appreciative glances from blokes and the odd wink and a smile from members of the fairer sex were worth putting up with Alfa-ness 
Still look fresh today IMHO
I really miss that car.
It had it's issues but was the best car I have owned, (although not hard, I have owned some dogs). The comments and appreciative glances from blokes and the odd wink and a smile from members of the fairer sex were worth putting up with Alfa-ness Still look fresh today IMHO
I really miss that car.
Great cars but obviously expensive to run these days. Hence why so many (mostly saloons) appeared in the PH classifieds over the last couple of years. Glad I owned one for a while though, trouble was I was mostly lugging gear around so couldn't unleash it's full potential most of the time. I miss that noise.
village idiot said:
i test drove a bright blue gta sportwagen back in the day... it tried to spit me sideways off the road when i put my foot down.. absolutely hilarious car!
You must have fists made of ham.It can be bonkers prior to a diff upgrade, but spit you sideways off the road?!
I drove a friend's 156 JTD 2.3. 175bhp, lots of torque, red sports leather seats, 18 inch wheels. I had a whale of a time. Delivered him (drunk) to his house in about 19 minutes and made the return trip back in a frantic 15 minutes on amazing twisting roads in the North West of Ireland. One of my favourite drives ever.
i have owned my 156 gta for 2 and a bit years it has 108k on the clock (30k that i have done)and it is a great car, i love driving it and have never found the car to drive badly at all.
the build quality is good on these cars and it is a really comfortable place to be.
the car is really great on the motorway.
you cant compare this to a 156 2.5v6!
yes these cars are expensive to run, 30mpg on a motorway at normal speeds and 24 average everywhere else, but the engine note is simpley superb.
These cars are quick and handle very well for a front heavy car although they are vastly improved with a few mods.
i will never sell mine it is a truely brilliant car
the build quality is good on these cars and it is a really comfortable place to be.
the car is really great on the motorway.
you cant compare this to a 156 2.5v6!
yes these cars are expensive to run, 30mpg on a motorway at normal speeds and 24 average everywhere else, but the engine note is simpley superb.
These cars are quick and handle very well for a front heavy car although they are vastly improved with a few mods.
i will never sell mine it is a truely brilliant car
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff