alfa 156 reliabitly

[pitbull turbo]

i am in a situation where i might be selling my fiat coupe 20vt and getting a newer car and i really like the alfa 156 as its got good looks and nice interior.
now i ideally want a 156 gta and the budget would just about get me one in good condtion but i may consider a 2.4 jtd as i do around 350 miles a week at the moment so would save me some money.
my main worrie is how reliable they are as after owning other itallian cars i know they aren't to reliable and also 3 guys i work with have 159 1.9 jtd and all had major problems with there cars.
also i take it the gta is a completely different beast to the 2.4 jtd and after having a 280bhp coop i doubt the 2.4 jtd will be quick enough but would the gta even be quick enough and can they be tunned?

[pitbull turbo]

anyone?

[P17_GTA]

I'd say you wouldn't be let down with the GTA anyway!

Could always get it up to that BHP figure with a few pounds quite easily.

The 2.4 JTD with a remap is a fairly rapid machine too mind you.

Others on here will be able to help more with the reliability of the various engines.

[TimR69]

I had an Alfa GT V6 (based on a mix of the 147/156) a while back and was generally unimpressed with the performance compared to my standard coupe.
Flat out performance figures are the same but the Alfa was lacking mid-range torque compared to the Fiat - not really what I had expected given the extra capacity.

Still, I'd have another GT any day and would love it to be the V6, just so long as I could keep the Fiat.

[P17_GTA]

I suppose its just the different power delivery style, like you say its good to have both for a change when you feel like one or the other.
I love the V6 power, but I've had use of high power VAG petrol turbos in the past and liked that too, depends what you prefer.

[funwithrevs]

The later 24v V6 engines can indeed have more power tweaked out of them, depends on how deep your pockets are. Not as simple as a turbo diesel remap of course.

3.8L rebore for example?

http://www.ahmotorsports.co.uk/index2.htm

More realistically, those guys do a Q2 LSD conversion kit.

[pitbull turbo]

that is one worry that the diffs are a major weak point and eletrical problems too.
the 2.4 jtd is alot cheaper to buy and run but just more worried it will dissapoint. i don't think my coop is fast most the time as my car before that was a 640bhp r33 and a 420bhp r34 skyline so most things will feel slow but i need to be a bit more sensible with money and the alfas seam nice but now with 350 miles a week it needs to be reliable.

[anonymous-user]

Just check:

• Decent service history (I hesitate to say "full" because some people service themselves, etc)
• Oil level is good
• Cambelt has been changed on time

If any the of above three are missing then don't even think about it, but if the above boxes are ticked and the car drives alright then go for it, you know you want to

One slight point, if the 2.4d is the same engine as in the Brera then it takes some getting used to, I found some shocking turbo-lag when pulling out of junctions/roundabouts, I'd definitely try to test-drive one (if you're not used to turbodiesels) and make sure you can get along with it, because it has the potential to catch you out otherwise.

[pitbull turbo]

sounds as if the 2.4 jtd won't be a car i would enjoy much really but might miake finacal sense.
i see that the 156 gta's and the 147 gta's are the same price and i prefere the looks of the 156 but which is the better car?
what is the handdling like on a gta with a q2 diff as some poeple gave it a bad review and others a good one. i like raw driving feel but still planted to. not keen on cars that do it all for you but rather a very good handling car that can be very fast if driven right.