Discussion
New baby on the way plus my new clubs don't fit in the boot so I am thinking about changing my 147 for a 156 GTA. Saw one in red at a filling station on Saturday and even my wife thought it looked good!
Problem is as she will be driving I want to avoid too much hassle with breakdowns so I have been looking for a fairly new one. Had problems with the 147 so want to make sure warranty is in place. The newest I can find is on an 04 plate. I know they no longer make them but I thought that was since mid '05. Anyone know whether they stopped earlier or whether they are just rarer that rocking horse doodo?
Problem is as she will be driving I want to avoid too much hassle with breakdowns so I have been looking for a fairly new one. Had problems with the 147 so want to make sure warranty is in place. The newest I can find is on an 04 plate. I know they no longer make them but I thought that was since mid '05. Anyone know whether they stopped earlier or whether they are just rarer that rocking horse doodo?
156 GTA Sportwagon = 
Sorry, can't really help with your availability question, but a great choice.
Mrs Twin Turbo has a 2litre Twinspark Sportwagon.....and the boot's not huge (we've got an 11th month old Ms Twin Turbo!). If you've not already bought a pushchair, choose carefully. We've got a stroller that fits a doddle, but the full monty pushchair just fits.
Good luck with the hunt.
Sorry, can't really help with your availability question, but a great choice.
Mrs Twin Turbo has a 2litre Twinspark Sportwagon.....and the boot's not huge (we've got an 11th month old Ms Twin Turbo!). If you've not already bought a pushchair, choose carefully. We've got a stroller that fits a doddle, but the full monty pushchair just fits.
Good luck with the hunt.
For what it's worth I have had a 156 GTA since they first came out in Sept 2002, it has done 68,000 miles and apart from a cambelt change (done under warranty whilst adjusting the tensioner) and a brake upgrade (also under warranty)it has been superb, I recently bought a new car but the 156 is so good I decided to keep it along with the new one, the depreciation £32k down to under £10k was a factor in this decision but all in all it really is a great car.
I have a 2005 156GTA SW purchased at the start of the year, bar one rattle about to be fixed under warranty it has been A1. I also owned a 2.5V6 for 90k miles from 1999 with no issues bar new bushes at 55k miles (not unusual in any brand really).
I find mine a very, very nice mix of looks, sound, equipment and performance. The engine and gearbox are stunning. Granted, it's not RWD, but the traction and handling are great and anyway I got mine new for the price of a 316iSE - 156's are great value right now.
The 156GTA's have a great deal of kit for the money - even at the full list price! They are rare and beautiful. They are probably not for the sort of people who never check the oil, or who drive over massively potholed roads at 80, but if cared for they seem to last in my experience. I also average 25-26mpg as I mostly drive on quick roads, it's probably not the best town car from a ride, economy or steering lock perspective.
Alfa ceased production in late 2003 and re-started in 2004 (and stopped for good recently). The only change they admitted was upping the front brakes to 330mm, gripped by the same 4-pot brembos as found on the Ferrari 360. A 2004 or later car would be ideal, though if pushed the dealers will change the brakes on earlier models - if you warp them first!
>> Edited by jwyatt on Thursday 3rd November 16:18
I find mine a very, very nice mix of looks, sound, equipment and performance. The engine and gearbox are stunning. Granted, it's not RWD, but the traction and handling are great and anyway I got mine new for the price of a 316iSE - 156's are great value right now.
The 156GTA's have a great deal of kit for the money - even at the full list price! They are rare and beautiful. They are probably not for the sort of people who never check the oil, or who drive over massively potholed roads at 80, but if cared for they seem to last in my experience. I also average 25-26mpg as I mostly drive on quick roads, it's probably not the best town car from a ride, economy or steering lock perspective.
Alfa ceased production in late 2003 and re-started in 2004 (and stopped for good recently). The only change they admitted was upping the front brakes to 330mm, gripped by the same 4-pot brembos as found on the Ferrari 360. A 2004 or later car would be ideal, though if pushed the dealers will change the brakes on earlier models - if you warp them first!
>> Edited by jwyatt on Thursday 3rd November 16:18
...though if pushed the dealers will change the brakes on earlier models - if you warp them first!
Word from the Alfa dealer 'round our way is that the upgrade/fix of new calipers and discs is no longer being offered even on the older cars. It's new discs only from now on, and even them I doubt they'd be FOC as per the new brakes ("Ahhh, consumable item sir..." will be the get-out clause I'd imagine). I 'spose the logic is all the older cars have been sorted by now...
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Thursday 3rd November 17:19
Word from the Alfa dealer 'round our way is that the upgrade/fix of new calipers and discs is no longer being offered even on the older cars. It's new discs only from now on, and even them I doubt they'd be FOC as per the new brakes ("Ahhh, consumable item sir..." will be the get-out clause I'd imagine). I 'spose the logic is all the older cars have been sorted by now...
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Thursday 3rd November 17:19
I've got a 156 Sportwagon and find that the "size" thing is a bit over-stated. The boot is a reasonable size ("it's smaller than the saloon" is rubbish - you don't have to have the luggage blind in place), with the rear seats down you get a fair load space, although arguably rear legroom is a bit on the ungenerous side especially if the driver and front passenger are tall, but if you're a couple with a baby surely that doesn't matter. But obviously you need to make sure the pushchair fits.
The only "real" problem with 156SW bootspace is the relatively restricted boot apeture.
The reason being: if you wanted a really big estate to lug fridges and wardrobes around, you'd go out and buy a Volvo. If the 156 boot was too small for your needs, you simply wouldn't buy it in the first place.
Whilst the boot is a reasonable size, the opening is a tad awkward if you wanted to get a large box into it. As most people in reality have a larger number of smaller items to load the boot with, I don't see the problem myself...
The reason being: if you wanted a really big estate to lug fridges and wardrobes around, you'd go out and buy a Volvo. If the 156 boot was too small for your needs, you simply wouldn't buy it in the first place.
Whilst the boot is a reasonable size, the opening is a tad awkward if you wanted to get a large box into it. As most people in reality have a larger number of smaller items to load the boot with, I don't see the problem myself...
Thanks for the information. I have seen an 04 in black but it has 25K on the clock. It is an import, originally detined for Australia so the 3rd year warranty is not an Alfa dealer but I doubt that is problem. I am concerned about the mileage. Alternatively a 53 sportswagon in blue with 14K. About the same price although the black seems keen to sell.
Any thoughts on high mileage?
Black & White have a neat 04 saloon as well but it has the most awful spoiler I have ever seen - I do not understand why anyone would want to Max Power such a beautiful car!
Any thoughts on high mileage?
Black & White have a neat 04 saloon as well but it has the most awful spoiler I have ever seen - I do not understand why anyone would want to Max Power such a beautiful car!
Any thoughts on high mileage?
25K high mileage? As vulcan1208 says, our '02 has 68K. Either way, they lap it up; the recent MOT on said GTA showed nothing to be "wrong" as it were. One rear bush "beginning" to wear, but nothing more serious than that. The interior's not showing any signs of wear (the leather is unmarked), the paint and plastics - bar stonechips - is fine. The only sign of age is a tarnished numberplate. Impressive I feel for a car many would have you believe to fall apart as soon as you leave the showroom. If anything it's better now than when new; the engine's run-in nicely, oil consumption has settled down etc, etc.
Use 'em (as we've one with ours...day in, day out) and this cars run and run.
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Monday 14th November 20:07
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Monday 14th November 20:09
25K high mileage? As vulcan1208 says, our '02 has 68K. Either way, they lap it up; the recent MOT on said GTA showed nothing to be "wrong" as it were. One rear bush "beginning" to wear, but nothing more serious than that. The interior's not showing any signs of wear (the leather is unmarked), the paint and plastics - bar stonechips - is fine. The only sign of age is a tarnished numberplate. Impressive I feel for a car many would have you believe to fall apart as soon as you leave the showroom. If anything it's better now than when new; the engine's run-in nicely, oil consumption has settled down etc, etc.
Use 'em (as we've one with ours...day in, day out) and this cars run and run.
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Monday 14th November 20:07
>> Edited by SCOOTERMAN on Monday 14th November 20:09
Forums | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff