RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon
Discussion
anything fast said:
a cambelt change from a dealer will cost as much as the price of this heap.... avoid!!
Think you are missing the point of SOTW just a little bit. If this is your attitude might be best to lease a Giulietta at £300 a month. A beautiful "estate" and a bargain at this price.
G524 said:
Lovely, lovely shed. And it would hold a drum kit.
Ha ha - I like that - As irrelevant to me as the usual way I'm sold a car's boot capacity ("Two sets of golf clubs will easily fit"), but a lot cooler! 
If I needed a cheap car, I would. The 156 still looks like Alfa's most beautiful 'practical' car of all time to me in saloon or Sportwagon form.
M.
cadoganpier said:
something appears to have eaten a chunk out of the dash just to the right of the ignition?! or am I missing something....
Looks like the panel that covers the fuses has come off.Vimto156 said:
As much as i love the choice this week... Im gutted as im now, according to PH, driving around in a shed 
I thought that too.. PH have done a 156 SOTW before though?I love my 156 Sportwagen, is constantly getting positive comments from people for it's styling.
It's switches are fragile and bits of it's sunroof's plastics keep falling out though.
Cambelt change, new clutch & dual mass flywheel weren't cheap to replace, but I really cant think of another car I'd rather drive daily.
Lovely looking cars, shame about everything else.
Had/have one now sitting festering after the engine oil magically vanished over 700 miles and it suffered big end failure. The oil level was checked, driven 350 miles, and 10 miles from home on the return, the game was over. No somke in the mirrors, no puddles. Just gone.
No anything special to drive either IMHO, I had a hearty dislike for the sharp, but utterly devoid of feel (compared to what I've been used to) steering.
And more parts fell off it in 4 months of driving than have fallen off the rest of the car's I've owned together.
I wanted, badly, to love it as well.
Had/have one now sitting festering after the engine oil magically vanished over 700 miles and it suffered big end failure. The oil level was checked, driven 350 miles, and 10 miles from home on the return, the game was over. No somke in the mirrors, no puddles. Just gone.
No anything special to drive either IMHO, I had a hearty dislike for the sharp, but utterly devoid of feel (compared to what I've been used to) steering.
And more parts fell off it in 4 months of driving than have fallen off the rest of the car's I've owned together.
I wanted, badly, to love it as well.
Cambelt service on one of these is fairly cheap - £65 for the belt kit from Alfashop and 3 to 4 hours fit - my tame mechanic charges £175 all in. The 1.6 and 1.8 are physically smaller than the 2 litre so are easier to work on, no balance shaft belt either.
These early 156s seem to last much better than the later ones, my only downer on this example would be the Recaros which must be the flattest and most unsupportive 'sports' seats ever!
With regard to high mileage and Alfas take a look at the German/Italian/Dutch classifieds and you will see some huge mileages especially on the JTD's.
These early 156s seem to last much better than the later ones, my only downer on this example would be the Recaros which must be the flattest and most unsupportive 'sports' seats ever!
With regard to high mileage and Alfas take a look at the German/Italian/Dutch classifieds and you will see some huge mileages especially on the JTD's.
wooooody said:
Lovely looking cars, shame about everything else.
Had/have one now sitting festering after the engine oil magically vanished over 700 miles and it suffered big end failure. The oil level was checked, driven 350 miles, and 10 miles from home on the return, the game was over. No somke in the mirrors, no puddles. Just gone.
No anything special to drive either IMHO, I had a hearty dislike for the sharp, but utterly devoid of feel (compared to what I've been used to) steering.
And more parts fell off it in 4 months of driving than have fallen off the rest of the car's I've owned together.
I wanted, badly, to love it as well.
Yours had probably been run low on oil prior to your ownership and will have slightly cooked a piston causing higher oil consumption but as you say, no obvious symptoms. A litre per 1000 miles is acceptable oil consumption for a twin spark.Had/have one now sitting festering after the engine oil magically vanished over 700 miles and it suffered big end failure. The oil level was checked, driven 350 miles, and 10 miles from home on the return, the game was over. No somke in the mirrors, no puddles. Just gone.
No anything special to drive either IMHO, I had a hearty dislike for the sharp, but utterly devoid of feel (compared to what I've been used to) steering.
And more parts fell off it in 4 months of driving than have fallen off the rest of the car's I've owned together.
I wanted, badly, to love it as well.
It's a shame to see, that those have fallen into shed category already.
That one has to be keyed badly, if it is that cheap.
Over here on the continent it would go for 2,5 x the money.
I'd strongly advise anyone not to listen to the pub speak and buy a
good one now cheaply, as the 156 will be remembered as the last "proper
Alfa" short of the Giulia.
I had one as a company loaner back in 2002 and it was a true drivers car,
much more refined and nimbler than the Audi of the time.
Martin 480 Turbo
That one has to be keyed badly, if it is that cheap.
Over here on the continent it would go for 2,5 x the money.
I'd strongly advise anyone not to listen to the pub speak and buy a
good one now cheaply, as the 156 will be remembered as the last "proper
Alfa" short of the Giulia.
I had one as a company loaner back in 2002 and it was a true drivers car,
much more refined and nimbler than the Audi of the time.
Martin 480 Turbo
G524 said:
Lovely, lovely shed. And it would hold a drum kit. It's a winner. Would the owner like to swap for a 328i Touring, and exactly no money I wonder...
True it will, I bought mine off of the drummer from Republica, think he was getting a bit sick of cramming it in the back though. 
"If it wasn't in Wrexham"
I'm actually sitting here in Wrexham, looking at those photos and it's difficult to tell, but they look like they are taken literally down the road from where i am now.
It's funny as i have been scanning the classifieds at fast estates this morning too! Although not looking to purchase anything till the end of the year.
I'm actually sitting here in Wrexham, looking at those photos and it's difficult to tell, but they look like they are taken literally down the road from where i am now.
It's funny as i have been scanning the classifieds at fast estates this morning too! Although not looking to purchase anything till the end of the year.
Good shed that.
Yep, the doomsayers slate Alfas, but I reckon if you take you time and buy a good one it'll be as relaible as anything else.
Bloke at my work has a 156 - he's had it for years and has no problems with it becuase he keeps on top of maintenence.
One day I'll have one... MUST have leather though.
Yep, the doomsayers slate Alfas, but I reckon if you take you time and buy a good one it'll be as relaible as anything else.
Bloke at my work has a 156 - he's had it for years and has no problems with it becuase he keeps on top of maintenence.
One day I'll have one... MUST have leather though.
re33 said:
anything fast said:
a cambelt change from a dealer will cost as much as the price of this heap.... avoid!!
Think you are missing the point of SOTW just a little bit. If this is your attitude might be best to lease a Giulietta at £300 a month. A beautiful "estate" and a bargain at this price.
This car will probably be bought by someone, will start to go wrong and will then be scrapped as it will not worth fixing!
My point is £650 car like this will be in one one word s
t! I helped my brother find his JTD and it took ages to find a decent one, so many had had new engines, replaced gearboxes, electrical faults and this was in a £3000-£3500 bracket!!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff