buying a 2002 156
Discussion
hey guys love the web site 1st time in forum
i tink these cars a realy kool and am realy interested in buying a 156 1.6 but my mate keeps putting me off about reliablity issues(electrics etc). what should i look out for..and it would be mostly used for country driving
(i.e potholes,dips,bends etc) can any one help me out
i tink these cars a realy kool and am realy interested in buying a 156 1.6 but my mate keeps putting me off about reliablity issues(electrics etc). what should i look out for..and it would be mostly used for country driving
(i.e potholes,dips,bends etc) can any one help me out
Edited by goose215 on Tuesday 24th June 23:35
Alfaonwer.com is very good
Make sure the engine has been well looked after the belts sould be done every 36K OR 4 years. oil needs to be topped up. The V6 is front heavy I'm not sure about the T-spark but check the sump for damage.
Suspention can cause problems so watch that.
Alfas are not unreaible aslong as they are maintained properly. that being said they will cost a little bit more to run.
Make sure the engine has been well looked after the belts sould be done every 36K OR 4 years. oil needs to be topped up. The V6 is front heavy I'm not sure about the T-spark but check the sump for damage.
Suspention can cause problems so watch that.
Alfas are not unreaible aslong as they are maintained properly. that being said they will cost a little bit more to run.
i've had a 156 2.5 v6 for a while now and drove it around 20,000 miles in devon (pot hole central). It has uprated suspension too so that should be worse on dodgy roads.
it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
My wife has a '99 1.8 156 just coming up to 90,000 miles on West Cumbria's finest single track roads. It hasn't been a problem for it although, when driven with "enthusiasm" over crests, the undertray can catch the ground. We've never caught the sump but the crappy undertray got smashed to bits pretty quickly. I rang the main dealer in Carlisle for a price and asked if he had any in stock:
"oh yes sir, we always carry a good stock of those"!
But we didn't bother. It's been without (most of!) it's undertray for a couple of years now. The only downside is that the engine gets dirtier. The upside is that oil changes are easier!
As has been said, watch out for oil consumption - they generally LOVE the stuff and can do themselves real damage if not kept topped-up. Also cam belts (ours snapped at 57,000 miles and trashed 8 of the valves)! A month or so later, Alfa abandoned the 72,000 mile cam belt change interval and went to 36,000!
Also look for worn suspension bushes at the rear as well as top and bottom wishbones at the front plus anti roll bar bushes (that's not too nice a job)!
I have to say that it's a real pity about the cam belt on ours. If it hadn't been for that, it would have been the most reliable car she'd ever owned! We've not had any electrical problems to speak of and we've been through plenty of floods round here!
"oh yes sir, we always carry a good stock of those"!
But we didn't bother. It's been without (most of!) it's undertray for a couple of years now. The only downside is that the engine gets dirtier. The upside is that oil changes are easier!
As has been said, watch out for oil consumption - they generally LOVE the stuff and can do themselves real damage if not kept topped-up. Also cam belts (ours snapped at 57,000 miles and trashed 8 of the valves)! A month or so later, Alfa abandoned the 72,000 mile cam belt change interval and went to 36,000!
Also look for worn suspension bushes at the rear as well as top and bottom wishbones at the front plus anti roll bar bushes (that's not too nice a job)!
I have to say that it's a real pity about the cam belt on ours. If it hadn't been for that, it would have been the most reliable car she'd ever owned! We've not had any electrical problems to speak of and we've been through plenty of floods round here!
glad to hear that...as im a bit of boy racer with 4 points ands thats with a 98 mazda 323f. if the alfa can stand up to my driving technic and irish roads il be happy.
2002 red 156 1.6 t spark
the dealer was looking for €4000, and reduced it to €3200 without a test, and its 60,000 miles, one owner from new. also has a v6 spoiler and alloys,(looks that part) what do ya tink shes worth €€€€
but when i went to get a test drive she wouldnt start.as i was on my lunch break and i said il call back tomorrow. and it still dnt start even though it was parked at the other end of the fore court..
What do you tink?? the bonnet and spoiler is a little faded too!
is it true you cant t-cut it up as its got a lacquer finish from alfa and respray is only answer its kinda noticable in red to but it didnt fade to a pinky colour yet.
2002 red 156 1.6 t spark
the dealer was looking for €4000, and reduced it to €3200 without a test, and its 60,000 miles, one owner from new. also has a v6 spoiler and alloys,(looks that part) what do ya tink shes worth €€€€
but when i went to get a test drive she wouldnt start.as i was on my lunch break and i said il call back tomorrow. and it still dnt start even though it was parked at the other end of the fore court..
What do you tink?? the bonnet and spoiler is a little faded too!
is it true you cant t-cut it up as its got a lacquer finish from alfa and respray is only answer its kinda noticable in red to but it didnt fade to a pinky colour yet.
Edited by goose215 on Friday 27th June 15:15
Age has the biggest influence on price (daft really but there you are.)
How does it compare to this one? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/554307.htm
How does it compare to this one? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/554307.htm
jamesgrrr said:
i've had a 156 2.5 v6 for a while now and drove it around 20,000 miles in devon (pot hole central). It has uprated suspension too so that should be worse on dodgy roads.
it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
Hi sorry a bit off topic, i see you have a 145 cloverleaf. Are they quick? Seen a few for very resonable money, they do look fun.it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
goose215 said:
is it true you cant t-cut it up as its got a lacquer finish from alfa and respray is only answer its kinda noticable in red to but it didnt fade to a pinky colour yet.
My (2002) Sportwagon was Alfa Red and you could cut it back. However some are lacquered and you can't.
exgtt said:
jamesgrrr said:
i've had a 156 2.5 v6 for a while now and drove it around 20,000 miles in devon (pot hole central). It has uprated suspension too so that should be worse on dodgy roads.
it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
Hi sorry a bit off topic, i see you have a 145 cloverleaf. Are they quick? Seen a few for very resonable money, they do look fun.it has been fantastic, what i've learnt about these cars is as long as you take good care of them, never miss a service etc then they're just as reliable as any other car. but when people abuse them slightly they don't like it.
you could probably drive a vw golf for 40,000 miles without oil or service and it'll still work, don't expect that with an alfa. my car now has over 130,000 miles on the clock and nothing serious has ever gone wrong with it - only expected things like worn bushes, changing cambelt etc. and a maf.
my 2002 156 has been top.
Make sure it has the new interior as the internals are also much improved and poched from the 147 eg the electrics. Ive had to change the alternator, lower front wish bones, radiator in the past 2 years and it now needs 2 new lambda sensors and rollbar bushes. Expect lots of little jobs.
Make sure it has the new interior as the internals are also much improved and poched from the 147 eg the electrics. Ive had to change the alternator, lower front wish bones, radiator in the past 2 years and it now needs 2 new lambda sensors and rollbar bushes. Expect lots of little jobs.
Wombat Rick said:
goose215 said:
is it true you cant t-cut it up as its got a lacquer finish from alfa and respray is only answer its kinda noticable in red to but it didnt fade to a pinky colour yet.
My (2002) Sportwagon was Alfa Red and you could cut it back. However some are lacquered and you can't.
gazza82 said:
Even Alfa Red is lacquered .. or has a clear coat, so cutting back will only touch the clear, not the red.
Well as I said I think some are and some aren't. On my 2002 Sportwagon if I used cutting compound I got red on my cloth. Thinking about it, the same was true on my 1996 145 as well. I had no problems with fading on either despite them living outside all the time. You are right that the plastic bits fade at a different rate though! Hi all, I'm thinking about getting a 156 Sportwagen 2.0 TS.
Anyone know what the real world running costs are? I hear of things like 32mpg from manufacture etc. What do you get in the real world? How much (roughly) are tyres brakes etc? Bearing in mind i'm going from a 1.3 1993 polo which costs f
k all to run. Seriously, nuthing!
I'm looking at about £2.5k about 2000-01 with about 60-70k on the clock? What do I want to look out for? Is this a reasonable price or am i looking at getting a pile of ste?
Is the Selespeed G'box any good? Or should stick to 3 pedals? I haven't tried either yet.
Are they as unreliable as people say they are? Are they as small as people say they are? would i get a full sized mountain bike(or two) in the back?
Sorry for the long post!
Dudd
Anyone know what the real world running costs are? I hear of things like 32mpg from manufacture etc. What do you get in the real world? How much (roughly) are tyres brakes etc? Bearing in mind i'm going from a 1.3 1993 polo which costs f
k all to run. Seriously, nuthing!I'm looking at about £2.5k about 2000-01 with about 60-70k on the clock? What do I want to look out for? Is this a reasonable price or am i looking at getting a pile of s
te?Is the Selespeed G'box any good? Or should stick to 3 pedals? I haven't tried either yet.
Are they as unreliable as people say they are? Are they as small as people say they are? would i get a full sized mountain bike(or two) in the back?
Sorry for the long post!
Dudd
Avoid the Selespeed. Check out www.shop4parts.co.uk for parts prices. Luggage space is good with seats down but because of the low roof line the bikes probably won't go in vertically - you need a 145 Cloverleaf for that.
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