Looking for Alfa 156 owners
Discussion
Morning all, like the post says, I’m looking to speak to members who own an Alfa 156.
I owned an X plate 156 saloon 1.8 Veloce in silver with pepper pot alloys and a cloth interior a good many years ago. To say the least, I had a ‘colourful’ ownership experience. I loved the car for how it drove and how I felt at the wheel, but to say I had challenges with it would be putting it mildly.
The radiator gave up on me, the head gasket gave me grief but the crowning glory was when I shut the driver’s door and had the steering wheel air bag go off in my face. Nearly broke my nose, nearly ruined my pants.
I’m writing a series of articles about cars I’ve owned and what I’m looking to do is meet a willing owner with a car as close to the spec of mine as possible, talk about their experience of owning a 156 today versus mine c.2003/2004 and take some photos of the car, to use with the owner’s permission, for the article. The article is not for commercial purposes, I’m not commissioned - it is for a personal website.
Clearly I’d get the coffees and pay for any fuel expenses.
I’m keen to have some discussions and see if anyone can help once the unfortunate situation we’re all in now resolves.
Cheers
I owned an X plate 156 saloon 1.8 Veloce in silver with pepper pot alloys and a cloth interior a good many years ago. To say the least, I had a ‘colourful’ ownership experience. I loved the car for how it drove and how I felt at the wheel, but to say I had challenges with it would be putting it mildly.
The radiator gave up on me, the head gasket gave me grief but the crowning glory was when I shut the driver’s door and had the steering wheel air bag go off in my face. Nearly broke my nose, nearly ruined my pants.
I’m writing a series of articles about cars I’ve owned and what I’m looking to do is meet a willing owner with a car as close to the spec of mine as possible, talk about their experience of owning a 156 today versus mine c.2003/2004 and take some photos of the car, to use with the owner’s permission, for the article. The article is not for commercial purposes, I’m not commissioned - it is for a personal website.
Clearly I’d get the coffees and pay for any fuel expenses.
I’m keen to have some discussions and see if anyone can help once the unfortunate situation we’re all in now resolves.
Cheers
Hi BB,
I am the owner of a 2000 ,156 sportwagen 2.0 TS Veloce.
Sounds like I have been lucky so far with my car!
Only owned it for about 10 months,and touch wood its been pretty good(and its done 242K Miles!)
When I got it it had the airbag warning light on permanently a big oil leak,and needed a fair amount of welding underneath.
New wiper motor ,cam belt as well.
Been fixed / serviced by AHM and Rees Bros ,so seems to be running pretty much ok(was anyway before lockdown)
Cheers
Steve
Note:Just been for first run since lock down began,to get shopping.
The car is pretty amazing,starts first time,ran faultlessly.I love it,will keep as long as I can afford to!
I am the owner of a 2000 ,156 sportwagen 2.0 TS Veloce.
Sounds like I have been lucky so far with my car!
Only owned it for about 10 months,and touch wood its been pretty good(and its done 242K Miles!)
When I got it it had the airbag warning light on permanently a big oil leak,and needed a fair amount of welding underneath.
New wiper motor ,cam belt as well.
Been fixed / serviced by AHM and Rees Bros ,so seems to be running pretty much ok(was anyway before lockdown)
Cheers
Steve
Note:Just been for first run since lock down began,to get shopping.
The car is pretty amazing,starts first time,ran faultlessly.I love it,will keep as long as I can afford to!
Edited by sb-1 on Saturday 18th April 15:51
Edited by sb-1 on Wednesday 22 April 11:47
2003 Alfa 156 2.0 JTS owner here! I've had the car for a bit over a year now and love it. I'm the third owner, the original owner was an officer in the army apparently, and the second owner was (I think) his son, neither of whom used it much. When I bought it, it had about 75k miles although due to an early speedo replacement it showed as 50k.
I've had to replace the module in the steering wheel because the horn stopped working, I believe this is a common problem. Also I've had to replace the radiator. Other than that all I've done is routine servicing and cleaning up a few dirty electrical contacts which were causing the "bulb failed" warning light to illuminate.
I need to get round to doing the cambelt & water pump, and it'll need some suspension work at some point. It's my first Alfa Romeo and I'm definitely a convert.
I've had to replace the module in the steering wheel because the horn stopped working, I believe this is a common problem. Also I've had to replace the radiator. Other than that all I've done is routine servicing and cleaning up a few dirty electrical contacts which were causing the "bulb failed" warning light to illuminate.
I need to get round to doing the cambelt & water pump, and it'll need some suspension work at some point. It's my first Alfa Romeo and I'm definitely a convert.
I had a 2003 2.0 Jts about 12 years ago. I kept it 2 years. Apart from having to regard the air on, it was absolutely faultless. However I never really “clicked” with it and it was a tiny bit too small for a growing family.
I now have a 3 litre GTV which is really impractical, but I reckon I’ll keep it forever.
I now have a 3 litre GTV which is really impractical, but I reckon I’ll keep it forever.
4 years ago I needed a car in a hurry after one got nicked and a trade mate said he had a 2003 156 with 70k a full mot coming in for £750 and he’d deliver it for that, no other details as he hadn’t seen it.
Car arrived 2003 facelift 156 1.8 Veloce sport wagon in silver/black leather, FARSH last one being done month before inc belt change, 47k, 2 owner car and absolutely filthy (green slime everywhere outside, not been washed for years)
Cleaned up great, one or two tiny paint blemishes apart from badly oxidised 16” teledials and radio not working.
So big deep clean, Kenwood single din head unit fitted (£45 from Halfords + £15 for harness adapters)
Both keys been rebuilt into new housings as tatty
Wheels blasted & powder coated and was about to re fit them when got offered a set of 17” Jetfin style FoC as they needed refurbing so old ones sold on, 17” s blasted & coated in light grey, new Toyo T1R’s fitted and good to go.
4 years later I’ve done blades & bulbs, one puncture needing a new tyre, new battery and was due to have new rear springs fitted pre MOT at end of March so they are now in the boot while car is SORN ( still have company car & this is an occasional user)
Will need paint this year, scuff on front bumper from binmen whilst on drive and rear edge of front whee arches are starting to blister.
Now on 65k, looks great, drives great, can get dog in back and no intention to change it even though there’s another 3 Alfa’s here and the daily X5 (soon to be replaced with late RR L322
Car arrived 2003 facelift 156 1.8 Veloce sport wagon in silver/black leather, FARSH last one being done month before inc belt change, 47k, 2 owner car and absolutely filthy (green slime everywhere outside, not been washed for years)
Cleaned up great, one or two tiny paint blemishes apart from badly oxidised 16” teledials and radio not working.
So big deep clean, Kenwood single din head unit fitted (£45 from Halfords + £15 for harness adapters)
Both keys been rebuilt into new housings as tatty
Wheels blasted & powder coated and was about to re fit them when got offered a set of 17” Jetfin style FoC as they needed refurbing so old ones sold on, 17” s blasted & coated in light grey, new Toyo T1R’s fitted and good to go.
4 years later I’ve done blades & bulbs, one puncture needing a new tyre, new battery and was due to have new rear springs fitted pre MOT at end of March so they are now in the boot while car is SORN ( still have company car & this is an occasional user)
Will need paint this year, scuff on front bumper from binmen whilst on drive and rear edge of front whee arches are starting to blister.
Now on 65k, looks great, drives great, can get dog in back and no intention to change it even though there’s another 3 Alfa’s here and the daily X5 (soon to be replaced with late RR L322
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