RE: You Know You Want To: Alfa Romeo 156 GTA

[s m]

OperationAlfa said:

s m said:

0-100 in 15 seconds seems pretty quick to me!

The 147 GTA does it in 14.0

Yes, I know - I'd class both of them as pretty quick cars.

Thing is, people get carried away on here and come out with blurb like..."car X is pretty slow really...." without telling us their reference point is a new 911 Turbo.

Truth be told, I'd say the majority of members here will drive something no faster

[OperationAlfa]

s m said:

Yes, I know - I'd class both of them as pretty quick cars.

Thing is, people get carried away on here and come out with blurb like..."car X is pretty slow really...." without telling us their reference point is a new 911 Turbo.

Truth be told, I'd say the majority of members here will drive something no faster

Possibly.. I'm not complaining

[Alfafan]

You could buy a 156 GTA 5 years ago for £5k, I know because I bought one, sold it quick after 8 months, it was ok but the 17mpg average was not that appealing. Sure are quite quick cars and handle ok but not that special.

[S10 GTA]

Alfafan said:

You could buy a 156 GTA 5 years ago for £5k, I know because I bought one, sold it quick after 8 months, it was ok but the 17mpg average was not that appealing. Sure are quite quick cars and handle ok but not that special.

Jesus, another one. You must drive round with your foot nailed to the floor. 17mpg?!

[Kitchski]

I know Si (S10 GTA) had his GTA at the same time I had a Mondeo ST200, and the GTA was not only 5-10mpg more frugal on average but it'd rip the arse off the Mondy and sounded better to boot.

Mind you, the Mondeo cost a quarter of the price

[Simon866]

I have the 147GTA variety and would never part with it, if space allowed would love to own a 156 as well, there is no practical reason (I tried to justify it when I had twins as the "sensible family car" but I didn't get away with it!)but is undeniably beautiful. I would keep it standard though as my 147 has gone way past that now and it would be good to have a variant of the GTA family as a future stock standard classic.

[Chimune]

Couple of things to add to the thread.

1. Mine is for sale on this very site.
2. Why is the author complaining about the chassis, when its really the stock dampers which make the ride poor when pressing on on a/b roads.
3. Mine does a steady 27mpg combined. If i am utterly raking it, it may go down to 18. 8mpg - did you try 2nd or 3rd gear at all ??
4. They really are special cars. Engine, brakes, steering, comfort, looks are all spot on. If you want M3ish levels of a/b road nailability, fit aftermarket suspension and a q2 for an extra £1500 - still a bargain if you want that sort of upgrade. I never really found the need. However, IMHO it sounds and looks better than an M3, and is a hell of a lot rarer.

[GhostyDog]

s m said:

Truth be told, I'd say the majority of members here will drive something no faster

Truth accepted...makes me laugh when you see some keyboard warrior on here having a pop and you to have a look at their car in their profile and its something like a 1.0 Polo and you realise said keyboard warrior isnt even shaving yet and is just regurgitating something they read elsewhere...

[fathomfive]

I'd have one purely to lift the bonnet and stare at that engine.

[Dave Hedgehog]

not for me

[-Pete-]

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... ...Must try harder Alfa both with the product and the dealer network.

I had fewer problems with my 156 2.5 V6 than either the Volvo S40 before or the Audi A6 afterwards. Oh the noise.... and unlike some Alfa's, the 156 (& 166) switchgear was as good as the Germans. Although the aircon and audio weren't.

[Kitchski]

-Pete- said:

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... ...Must try harder Alfa both with the product and the dealer network.

I had fewer problems with my 156 2.5 V6 than either the Volvo S40 before or the Audi A6 afterwards. Oh the noise.... and unlike some Alfa's, the 156 (& 166) switchgear was as good as the Germans. Although the aircon and audio weren't.

This. My '99 V6 was as well-built as anything German from the same era that I've sampled. Heater was a bit ste, as was visibility.

Granted, the dealers are cack! But the indy specialists are pretty good.

[johnpeat]

GhostyDog said:

Truth accepted...makes me laugh when you see some keyboard warrior on here having a pop and you to have a look at their car in their profile and its something like a 1.0 Polo and you realise said keyboard warrior isnt even shaving yet and is just regurgitating something they read elsewhere...

There's definately someone on here who's not shaving yet and you don't need to look at their profile.

There should be an "internet rule" about how you don't have to "go further" to have an opinion. You don't have to make a blockbuster film before you can call another film st and so on.

Another rule - specific to this place - would be "If you think that checking someone's profile will make you more right than they are - please kill yourself before you reproduce".

[TallbutBuxomly]

GTiFrank said:

Why when the 147 GTA and GTV6 can be had for less?

From my perspective i cant get on with the 147 dash which is imo a sea of cheap silver plastic whereas the 156 dash is really nicely laid out. At some point i will own a 156 sportwagon. Of all its the pic of the bunch i think looks and rarity wise. IIrc something like 140 rhd drive versions were sold in the uk.