RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon
Discussion
Oilchange said:
Fair one but you're missing out. 
I once drove a 166. It was about 4 years old. It was nice to drive, although the clutch was slipping (not specific to Alfa), then the electric window switch broke off(hmmm) and the (admittedly non-OEM)LPG system failed.
The owner struggled to sell it and ended up giving it for shed money
I recently bought a 156 2.4 JTD saloon for shed money off ebay. 142k miles, reasonable history. Not perfect but ok condition. Full leather interior is very nice except drivers seat not that comfy. Handles really well, lots of fun. Engine pulls well, sounds great for a diesel and returns 40mpg+. All in all this is my first Alfa and I was anxious but I now realise that it all comes down to good maintenance, both yourself and the previous owners. I do need to replace wishbones at front, get a new drivers seat and some small areas of welding but nothing too serious. Feels very special to drive and looks great. A lot of car for the money in my opinion.
MC Bodge said:
Good to hear that they have been good. I'm not the pub expert at all.
If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
Live a little, very rewarding cars that make you feel special. Depends on how.much of a petrolhead you are as for a lot of people they are as near to a Ferrari as they will get as they do have some of that Italian character albeit in a more mass produced form.If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
MC Bodge said:
Good to hear that they have been good. I'm not the pub expert at all.
If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
Live a little, very rewarding cars that make you feel special. Depends on how much of a petrolhead you are as for a lot of people they are as near to a Ferrari as they will get as they do have some of that Italian character albeit in a more mass produced form.If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
I currently have a 2000 year 166 3.0 V6 had it for a year now. It came with fat folder of history and a years MOT. It cost me £800, it was bought as a stop gap.
The body work is excellent the engine is great it's done just over 100K now. Last week it passed it's MOT just needing new wipers. I have only changed the oil in that time. Cam belt needs doing next year or 20,000 miles which ever comes sooner.
It's a pleasure to drive and look at. Always get admiring glances and people asking about it. Take the registration of it you would never know it's a £800 shed. Other than the fuel it's cheap motoring.
Let the doom mongers continue knocking them so bargains like this continue.
The body work is excellent the engine is great it's done just over 100K now. Last week it passed it's MOT just needing new wipers. I have only changed the oil in that time. Cam belt needs doing next year or 20,000 miles which ever comes sooner.
It's a pleasure to drive and look at. Always get admiring glances and people asking about it. Take the registration of it you would never know it's a £800 shed. Other than the fuel it's cheap motoring.
Let the doom mongers continue knocking them so bargains like this continue.
I'll be brief
lovely looking estate
but no leather and the wrong engine.
They are cheap to buy so get the v6 ,you will get poor economy but they just pull so well and sound so good.
Removing the centre box does nothing at all for the sound but does look better!
Mine will probably be for sale after LM this year, but what could replace it?
lovely looking estate
but no leather and the wrong engine.
They are cheap to buy so get the v6 ,you will get poor economy but they just pull so well and sound so good.
Removing the centre box does nothing at all for the sound but does look better!
Mine will probably be for sale after LM this year, but what could replace it?
MC Bodge said:
Good to hear that they have been good. I'm not the pub expert at all.
If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
Fair enough, but you're missing out. If you want a reliable car you're on the wrong website, I think a Yaris or a Sunny would do.If I was after a cheap car I'd inspect the available cars based on condition and give consideration to the likelihood of uneconomical failure.
People are free to take a punt on an old Alfa, but I wouldn't.
Live a little, for this money, you haven't got much to lose.
Fantastic SOTW, if only the OH let me buy a 156, I like the styling better than on the 159, but she doesn't :'(.
ZesPak said:
Fantastic SOTW, if only the OH let me buy a 156, I like the styling better than on the 159, but she doesn't :'(.
The 159 is comparatively a massive barge compared with the 156 - even a MkII Focus is bigger than a 156, despite the 156 coming from the class above it at launch.I'm really getting tired listening to people bang (a pun? if so excuse) about 156's.......my mates car never gave a bother..........I've done 200k and it only required servicing.........the wife's one was brilliant etc,etc. Let's get real here. 156's gave trouble, full stop and some major trouble at that, overall build quality was crap too. One could say they are a Fiat in drag, nothing much more.
Having said all of the above, I've enjoyed driving a few bar the 1.6, the 2.0 seemed ideal as a good looking four door saloon with 'sporting pretensions' adorned with fabulous looking badge that's steeped in history.
SOTW at such little money has to be worth a punt provided the potential owner goes in with their eyes wide open. Me, I wouldn't bother looking at it when there's dozens of 2.0 vtec Honda Accords out there........
Having said all of the above, I've enjoyed driving a few bar the 1.6, the 2.0 seemed ideal as a good looking four door saloon with 'sporting pretensions' adorned with fabulous looking badge that's steeped in history.
SOTW at such little money has to be worth a punt provided the potential owner goes in with their eyes wide open. Me, I wouldn't bother looking at it when there's dozens of 2.0 vtec Honda Accords out there........
Edited by Johnboy Mac on Friday 27th May 23:10
Johnboy Mac said:
I'm really get tired listening to people bang (a pun? if so excuse) about 156's.......my mates car never gave a bother..........I've done 200k and it only required servicing.........the wife's one was brilliant etc,etc. Let's get real here. 156's gave trouble, full stop and some major trouble at that, overall build quality was crap too. One could say they are a Fiat in drag, nothing much more.
And one could say you haven't got a bloody clue. Which would be more accurate than the tosh you posted.
Great shed. Thanks to all the naysaters for driving down the price of the best cars so i can enjoy them without having to have a load of credit on a chunk of metal depreciating on the drive. so far:
Alfa 33 sportwagon. £800. 25k and no probs
Alfa 145 1.7. £1200. 40k and a new gearbox but I should have known better (lowered, 17inch alloys, bodykit, 'no it's not been thrashed sir')
Alfa 33 again. £200. whiney gearbox. sold for a profit.
Alfa 145 1.6 Junior. £2.5k. 50k and no probs
Fiat Coupe. £2.9k. 20k and a brake pipe. Sold for a profit
Alfa 166. £2.6. 30k and no probs.
156 2.4jtd wagon. £1700. 30k and some family battering. No probs
Stopgap mondeos and almeras until I realised... if the 'risky' cars I'd had so far were anything to go by i should start taking more risks so now...
Jag xj8 sport. £2k and 1,500 miles so far. A very special car! Guess what? no probs.
Whoever buys this 156 - don't come back and tell us that it works fine. The secret is much better kept!
Alfa 33 sportwagon. £800. 25k and no probs
Alfa 145 1.7. £1200. 40k and a new gearbox but I should have known better (lowered, 17inch alloys, bodykit, 'no it's not been thrashed sir')
Alfa 33 again. £200. whiney gearbox. sold for a profit.
Alfa 145 1.6 Junior. £2.5k. 50k and no probs
Fiat Coupe. £2.9k. 20k and a brake pipe. Sold for a profit
Alfa 166. £2.6. 30k and no probs.
156 2.4jtd wagon. £1700. 30k and some family battering. No probs
Stopgap mondeos and almeras until I realised... if the 'risky' cars I'd had so far were anything to go by i should start taking more risks so now...
Jag xj8 sport. £2k and 1,500 miles so far. A very special car! Guess what? no probs.
Whoever buys this 156 - don't come back and tell us that it works fine. The secret is much better kept!
boybiskit said:
Great shed. Thanks to all the naysaters for driving down the price of the best cars so i can enjoy them without having to have a load of credit on a chunk of metal depreciating on the drive. so far:
Alfa 33 sportwagon. £800. 25k and no probs
Alfa 145 1.7. £1200. 40k and a new gearbox but I should have known better (lowered, 17inch alloys, bodykit, 'no it's not been thrashed sir')
Alfa 33 again. £200. whiney gearbox. sold for a profit.
Alfa 145 1.6 Junior. £2.5k. 50k and no probs
Fiat Coupe. £2.9k. 20k and a brake pipe. Sold for a profit
Alfa 166. £2.6. 30k and no probs.
156 2.4jtd wagon. £1700. 30k and some family battering. No probs
Stopgap mondeos and almeras until I realised... if the 'risky' cars I'd had so far were anything to go by i should start taking more risks so now...
Jag xj8 sport. £2k and 1,500 miles so far. A very special car! Guess what? no probs.
Whoever buys this 156 - don't come back and tell us that it works fine. The secret is much better kept!
Alfa 33 sportwagon. £800. 25k and no probs
Alfa 145 1.7. £1200. 40k and a new gearbox but I should have known better (lowered, 17inch alloys, bodykit, 'no it's not been thrashed sir')
Alfa 33 again. £200. whiney gearbox. sold for a profit.
Alfa 145 1.6 Junior. £2.5k. 50k and no probs
Fiat Coupe. £2.9k. 20k and a brake pipe. Sold for a profit
Alfa 166. £2.6. 30k and no probs.
156 2.4jtd wagon. £1700. 30k and some family battering. No probs
Stopgap mondeos and almeras until I realised... if the 'risky' cars I'd had so far were anything to go by i should start taking more risks so now...
Jag xj8 sport. £2k and 1,500 miles so far. A very special car! Guess what? no probs.
Whoever buys this 156 - don't come back and tell us that it works fine. The secret is much better kept!
Had my v6 over 2 years and havent had to do anything except oil change,better than the bmw 330d that i had before it.............
And as long as they are being slagged off they stay nice and cheap
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