alfa 156 spec help
Discussion
IMO the best one is a pre-facelift model. Black with tan leather, 2.0 twinspark, 16" teledials, climate control, side skirts, cd player and approximately 96,000 miles on it. I'm sure somebody would be prepared to sell one like that for about £1700.
Incidentally...
Lots of info here though: http://www.alfa156.net/ As a guide Lusso = luxury spec and Veloce = sporty spec with lower suspension. Some of the earlier ones were called Sportpack instead of Veloce, with various levels of equipment. Get as many toys as you can (no reason to buy one without leather and climate control), MAKE SURE cambelt changes are done on time (36,000 for 4-cylinder petrols) and avoid the selespeed gearbox.
Incidentally...
Lots of info here though: http://www.alfa156.net/ As a guide Lusso = luxury spec and Veloce = sporty spec with lower suspension. Some of the earlier ones were called Sportpack instead of Veloce, with various levels of equipment. Get as many toys as you can (no reason to buy one without leather and climate control), MAKE SURE cambelt changes are done on time (36,000 for 4-cylinder petrols) and avoid the selespeed gearbox.
Cheers mate, but for me it has to be red leather, thats the only thing il insist on, anything else im open I'd go for the first face lifted models, that way you get the better interior but the original bodyshape.
Veloce 2, spec gets you sport suspension, 16" Alloys, Leather, Bose sound amongst other goodies.
late 2002 to about 2004
Engines;
1.6 Bit weak
1.8TS OK
2.0 JTS reasonable power reasonable economy, not quite as much fun as the old 2.0TS, but quicker.
2.5 V6, lovely to use, less lovely to keep in fuel.
1.9 JTD Good allrounder
2.4 JTD Better option than the 1.9 if want deisel economy, a remap will give a V6 a run for it's money too. The heavier engine makes the handling a bit iffy on and rough roads you will clout the front undertray a few times.
Veloce 2, spec gets you sport suspension, 16" Alloys, Leather, Bose sound amongst other goodies.
late 2002 to about 2004
Engines;
1.6 Bit weak
1.8TS OK
2.0 JTS reasonable power reasonable economy, not quite as much fun as the old 2.0TS, but quicker.
2.5 V6, lovely to use, less lovely to keep in fuel.
1.9 JTD Good allrounder
2.4 JTD Better option than the 1.9 if want deisel economy, a remap will give a V6 a run for it's money too. The heavier engine makes the handling a bit iffy on and rough roads you will clout the front undertray a few times.
Edited by velocemitch on Monday 18th October 19:25
I've only driven the 2.4JTD very briefly, certainly not for long enough to be able to comment on it fully. From the drive I had, there was certainly a muscularity from low down, as you'd expect. There's also quite an appealing 5-cylinder warble. One question you may want to ask others with more experience of the engine, is how they are on fuel. I've heard stories of rather poor consumption from the 2.4s, so it may be worth some research.
robsco said:
I've only driven the 2.4JTD very briefly, certainly not for long enough to be able to comment on it fully. From the drive I had, there was certainly a muscularity from low down, as you'd expect. There's also quite an appealing 5-cylinder warble. One question you may want to ask others with more experience of the engine, is how they are on fuel. I've heard stories of rather poor consumption from the 2.4s, so it may be worth some research.
I always seem to get 43 mpg from my 2.4jtd SW- mainly motorway milesThe 2.4 JTD was always pretty good on fuel in a 156, only when they put it in the 159 and added DPF's and the like did the economy get killed.
If you can live with a diesel then the 2.4 is the best choice in a 156. the 20V ones were almost a match for a GTA in gear, but they will probably be over budget as they were only on the last facelift.
Unless you absolutely ring it's neck the 2.0 Petrols would be left standing by a 2.4 10V JTD
If you can live with a diesel then the 2.4 is the best choice in a 156. the 20V ones were almost a match for a GTA in gear, but they will probably be over budget as they were only on the last facelift.
Unless you absolutely ring it's neck the 2.0 Petrols would be left standing by a 2.4 10V JTD
I have owned a ten year old 156 2.4JTD SW for 18 months.
It has just passed its MOT today without any remedial work! Yippee! In the time I have owned the car I have needed to replace the rear shocks, rear wiper motor and thats about it (excluding servicing and a cambelt and water pump change!)
I get about 38mpg on the Isle of Wight and upto 44mpg on a run.
I love the torque and the sound of the five pot engine (very addictive for a diesel) I do get some problems with the car grounding on some speed humps/ high camber single track roads as mentioned earlier in the thread. The suspension is not confidence inspiring - especially coming from a VX220 and a Mini Cooper S. I find it a bit 'wallowy' and the steering is not that precise. However I am led to believe that against its peers it is acceptable!
The SW is not particularly practical for an estate car - but it does for my needs.
Have fun looking
It has just passed its MOT today without any remedial work! Yippee! In the time I have owned the car I have needed to replace the rear shocks, rear wiper motor and thats about it (excluding servicing and a cambelt and water pump change!)
I get about 38mpg on the Isle of Wight and upto 44mpg on a run.
I love the torque and the sound of the five pot engine (very addictive for a diesel) I do get some problems with the car grounding on some speed humps/ high camber single track roads as mentioned earlier in the thread. The suspension is not confidence inspiring - especially coming from a VX220 and a Mini Cooper S. I find it a bit 'wallowy' and the steering is not that precise. However I am led to believe that against its peers it is acceptable!
The SW is not particularly practical for an estate car - but it does for my needs.
Have fun looking
I love my 2.5. 2001, silver, Veloce spec, paid about £2k for a 48k miler with history. Effortless power, nice interior, 30mpg unless I'm pretending I'm a bank robber, and a noise to promote growth in the pant department. Will sit at 120mph+ all day long, no overheating issues. Keep thinking about changing it as I'm gonna need to spend some money soon on brakes and suspension bushes, but it ticks all the boxes, starts first time, and most importantly, on a daily basis it confuses people who want to get in the back. 
Only thing is, not very practical - the rear seats don't fold. Can be a bit of a pain if you're going away with a baby/child and need to get buggies, travel cots etc in.
Only thing is, not very practical - the rear seats don't fold. Can be a bit of a pain if you're going away with a baby/child and need to get buggies, travel cots etc in.
Opulent said:
Only thing is, not very practical - the rear seats don't fold. Can be a bit of a pain if you're going away with a baby/child and need to get buggies, travel cots etc in.
NB to OP. This is on saloons. SW is split folding (pretty flat too) and a lovely compact estate IMHO. (apologies for so many acronyms!)
As already said you'll probably find the twin sparks lacking in torque. the wifes 147 twin spark can be made to go OK but needs to be kept spinning over 4k. I have a 1.9 16v diesel and it goes OK, I tested the 8v's and found them too slow. One thing I wouldn't do unless you plan on upgrading the suspension is buy a turismo spec. My 156 is a 54 plate tourismo estate and it is too soft for my liking. The wifes 147lusso is much firmer and can be thrown around much more.
Common issues, creaking from behind the dash, is the upper wishbones. Easy enough to change and the parts for this job are cheap. MPG ont he diesel I get around 42 when commuting in traffic and thrashing around peak district roads. Up to 50 on a long m.way run.
Common issues, creaking from behind the dash, is the upper wishbones. Easy enough to change and the parts for this job are cheap. MPG ont he diesel I get around 42 when commuting in traffic and thrashing around peak district roads. Up to 50 on a long m.way run.
My tuppence worth:
- 2.4 diesel is one of the nicest I've driven. Apparently thirsty when caned - someone on this forum or the alfa owner forum was talking about his missus getting 22mpg in town with a heavy right foot. Doesn't sound like a normal diesel.
- if the twinspark doesn't pull properly from 2000 rpm, then it needs to have the ecu reset (easy fix). I test drove a few that were as flat as a fart and didn't pull until much higher revs, but mine was used by an enthusiast and drives brilliantly. Yep, stick it in 4th at 30mph and put the foot down and not vast amounts will happen for a few seconds apart from a nice noise, but it'll go very very well in 3rd.
- 1.8 ts will only get you 30mpg
- 156s eat suspension components, mainly bushes, but if they're not fixed then they'll eat the rest of the suspension.
- As already mentioned, the twinspark needs a new cambelt at 32k, not the spec mentioned in the owners manual.
Enjoy! I'm looking to replace our v40 hack a bout with a 156 SW in due course.
- 2.4 diesel is one of the nicest I've driven. Apparently thirsty when caned - someone on this forum or the alfa owner forum was talking about his missus getting 22mpg in town with a heavy right foot. Doesn't sound like a normal diesel.
- if the twinspark doesn't pull properly from 2000 rpm, then it needs to have the ecu reset (easy fix). I test drove a few that were as flat as a fart and didn't pull until much higher revs, but mine was used by an enthusiast and drives brilliantly. Yep, stick it in 4th at 30mph and put the foot down and not vast amounts will happen for a few seconds apart from a nice noise, but it'll go very very well in 3rd.
- 1.8 ts will only get you 30mpg
- 156s eat suspension components, mainly bushes, but if they're not fixed then they'll eat the rest of the suspension.
- As already mentioned, the twinspark needs a new cambelt at 32k, not the spec mentioned in the owners manual.
Enjoy! I'm looking to replace our v40 hack a bout with a 156 SW in due course.
I had a 2.4 JTD (10 valve, 140 bhp - so not the very earliest, but early)
The car itself was great fun. I had most of the rear suspension bushes replaced at 60k miles, and it needed doing again when I sold it at 130k miles - listen out for knocks.
My had the fairly common weird electrical thing where one of the tail lights doesn't go out, and the burst bulb indicator is on the dash. If you see that, check all the bulbs work - if they do the circuit board on the back of the rev counter that controls the lights has burned out and it needs a new rev counter. The rear light was only on dimly with the keys out of the car, so check.
I had the AA to it twice. Once because I triggered the fuel cut out moving the seat back too quickly and didn't realise until it wouldn't start in the morning, and once because the fuel line blew off the engine as they hadn't fitted it properly after a service.
I also had an intermittent non-starting problem (always got it bumped) which turned out to be a faulty tdc sensor which was £30 to replace.
Apart from that it was brilliant. 41mpg week in, week out. And surprsingly quick - they don't weigh that much. although they are a big nose heavy. I had a Veloce (black dials with orange numbers is the easy way to tell) with the lowered suspension. I clouted it a few times until I got used to it, then lent it to a mate who clouted it once and cracked the sump. Check for sump damage!
The engine itself takes dogs abuse. I was skint part of the time I had mine so I skipped 3 services in a row - I didn't even change the oil because I was topping it up every month anyway on account of the weeping sump (mine never burned any oil) and it ran like a charm. I ran it part of that time with the mass air flow meter unplugged because it was faulty, and it was still brilliant. Never skip a cambelt change though. It seems it is about half the price I paid to get them done now so there is no excuse!
The boot is tiny though.
EDIT to add that this is the sum total of problems I had with the car in 110k miles. Other than tyres, the only other thing I replaced were bulbs (front ones are a nightmare to get to), wiper blades, front shocks (one was weeping so both were replaced under warranty at 55k miles, although Alfa only wanted to replace one) and the little thin grille between the spotlights, which is only £17 from Alfa but takes ages to fit as you have to fasten it from behind the radiator. When the third one fell off I didn't bother with a fourth. I don't remember replacing the brake discs, but I must have. It was on the original clutch at 130k though, and it felt fine. Had I kept it I needed to do the rear suspension bushes again and the rev counter thing because it ran the battery down after three days if you didn't drive it!
The car itself was great fun. I had most of the rear suspension bushes replaced at 60k miles, and it needed doing again when I sold it at 130k miles - listen out for knocks.
My had the fairly common weird electrical thing where one of the tail lights doesn't go out, and the burst bulb indicator is on the dash. If you see that, check all the bulbs work - if they do the circuit board on the back of the rev counter that controls the lights has burned out and it needs a new rev counter. The rear light was only on dimly with the keys out of the car, so check.
I had the AA to it twice. Once because I triggered the fuel cut out moving the seat back too quickly and didn't realise until it wouldn't start in the morning, and once because the fuel line blew off the engine as they hadn't fitted it properly after a service.
I also had an intermittent non-starting problem (always got it bumped) which turned out to be a faulty tdc sensor which was £30 to replace.
Apart from that it was brilliant. 41mpg week in, week out. And surprsingly quick - they don't weigh that much. although they are a big nose heavy. I had a Veloce (black dials with orange numbers is the easy way to tell) with the lowered suspension. I clouted it a few times until I got used to it, then lent it to a mate who clouted it once and cracked the sump. Check for sump damage!
The engine itself takes dogs abuse. I was skint part of the time I had mine so I skipped 3 services in a row - I didn't even change the oil because I was topping it up every month anyway on account of the weeping sump (mine never burned any oil) and it ran like a charm. I ran it part of that time with the mass air flow meter unplugged because it was faulty, and it was still brilliant. Never skip a cambelt change though. It seems it is about half the price I paid to get them done now so there is no excuse!
The boot is tiny though.
EDIT to add that this is the sum total of problems I had with the car in 110k miles. Other than tyres, the only other thing I replaced were bulbs (front ones are a nightmare to get to), wiper blades, front shocks (one was weeping so both were replaced under warranty at 55k miles, although Alfa only wanted to replace one) and the little thin grille between the spotlights, which is only £17 from Alfa but takes ages to fit as you have to fasten it from behind the radiator. When the third one fell off I didn't bother with a fourth. I don't remember replacing the brake discs, but I must have. It was on the original clutch at 130k though, and it felt fine. Had I kept it I needed to do the rear suspension bushes again and the rev counter thing because it ran the battery down after three days if you didn't drive it!
Edited by blugnu on Monday 8th November 16:39
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