RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa 156 Sportwagon
Discussion
Denorth said:
2.5 V6 was available in facelifted models (this is not a GTAmodel, GTA had 3.2 V6 engine).
Not sure about UK market though
here is walk around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcbcsRSjMoU
Correct V6 had a facelift (2.5 V6), GTA was only ever sold globally in limited numbers with original faceNot sure about UK market though
here is walk around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcbcsRSjMoU
PistonBroker said:
Fantastic.
Stuart Gallagher of Evo tweeted a 159 wagon in a similar colour iirc at the weekend. I marvelled at the fact that it was just £6k.
Little did I know you could get something just as classy for a 6th of that price.
As said already, I'd prefer it in petrol flavour but, otherwise, what a car.
Off to test-drive an Ateca tomorrow with a view to replacing our leased Tiguan in September. I'll end up putting 2/3 of the asking price of this down as the first payment. Beginning to wonder if I should go back to Bangernomics.
On two related topics:Stuart Gallagher of Evo tweeted a 159 wagon in a similar colour iirc at the weekend. I marvelled at the fact that it was just £6k.
Little did I know you could get something just as classy for a 6th of that price.
As said already, I'd prefer it in petrol flavour but, otherwise, what a car.
Off to test-drive an Ateca tomorrow with a view to replacing our leased Tiguan in September. I'll end up putting 2/3 of the asking price of this down as the first payment. Beginning to wonder if I should go back to Bangernomics.
- the current SEAT Leon ST is a great looking estate (Audi meets Alfa), with a better boot than the Alfa but I'm not sure if the rear three quarter view is a good.
- I went looking at Atecas, it's what my wife thought she wanted. But got a SEAT Leon ST FR, nearly new instead; We couldn't wait 9 months for a 1.4 petrol. But saved £10K, only pay £30 road tax for the same engine compared with £135, have a bigger boot 590 v 510 litres (with a proper roll cover not a parcel shelf & standard variable floor) & nicer interior as in January there was no FR Ateca.
I find myself wanting nothing more than to purchase Alfa Romeos. Each one seems to be able to look so good with the right combination of spec, it just seems criminal not to have a driveway littered with beautiful Italian cars 
Equally if I had about 5 of them, 1 of them is bound to start
(I say this as an Alfa owner whose only ever experienced a failure to start due to a flat battery)
Equally if I had about 5 of them, 1 of them is bound to start
(I say this as an Alfa owner whose only ever experienced a failure to start due to a flat battery)
I'm a bit late to this party but had to make mention of my 156 shed, a black 2002 Selespeed Sportwagon. Don't think one of those has been mentioned yet.
I've had it 2 years and done 16,000 miles in it and it has not put a foot wrong. The only non-service job I've had done is to fit Koni shocks and of course replace loads of suspension bits, again and again.
Apart from that it just gets used!
Having had a 2.5 V6, a 20v jtd and a GTA, I didn't realise quite how much the TS engine likes to rev but it doesn't get going till 5000rpm and above that, the Selespeed gearbox is just fantastic.
Spend my days chauffeuring people around in an E class Merc and the 156 is a revelation to drive. Love my 156s!
I've had it 2 years and done 16,000 miles in it and it has not put a foot wrong. The only non-service job I've had done is to fit Koni shocks and of course replace loads of suspension bits, again and again.
Apart from that it just gets used!
Having had a 2.5 V6, a 20v jtd and a GTA, I didn't realise quite how much the TS engine likes to rev but it doesn't get going till 5000rpm and above that, the Selespeed gearbox is just fantastic.
Spend my days chauffeuring people around in an E class Merc and the 156 is a revelation to drive. Love my 156s!
Wow these are aging very well, I'm starting really miss my old V6 Veloce.
However I remember getting behind a friends E36 325i and knowing I'd made the wrong decision. The 156 was great to drive up to 70%, but quickly went to s
t after that, lacking sufficient damping when cornering or changing direction over rutted roads. Also preferred the straight 6 of the beemers.
However I remember getting behind a friends E36 325i and knowing I'd made the wrong decision. The 156 was great to drive up to 70%, but quickly went to s
t after that, lacking sufficient damping when cornering or changing direction over rutted roads. Also preferred the straight 6 of the beemers. Thats a lovely example, I have a huge soft spot for the 156. I can remember when they came out in 1997, everyone was driving around in awful astras and the even more awful Escort mk6 at the time, the only other interesting car that year was the ford puma. Alfa did quite well with the 156, it was the last proper Alfa to have a good racing career and the car itself is very engaging to drive for fwd, although at the time Fiat still didnt see the potential of the brand. Not everyone remembers, because the 156 had a great range of petrol engines, but it was actually the first production car to have a proper common rail diesel engine before the technology was sold to Bosch. The Alfa 159 never did hit the spot afterwards, the 156 was a good car (made badly), the replacement 159 was a poor car (but made quite well).
Mike1990 said:
Had to double take at the Reg Plate! Wouldn't have thought it was 2004 :O Still looks modern today IMO.
Did they ever do 'hot' version of these ?
Looks very modern to me, also. We don't have these in the US, but one of my first thoughts was that the Giulia seems too similar to a car that old.Did they ever do 'hot' version of these ?
That JTD engine is fantastic, probably just run in at 150k. I used to have twinspark Spider when my wife had the 156 diesel, and I was always amazed how eager and full of character the diesel was when I drove it. Fab car, zero issues, unlike my current steed a Merc R231 SL, German quality and reliability... pah!
+1 with a soft spot & great memories of a 156. I had a 1.8 petrol veloce from new, pre-facelift. The interior squeaked from day 1, and there was a loud & very ominous-sounding rattle from the front left suspension that defied all investigations. I drove it in constant fear of that corner collapsing. And yet.... ...that car was alive, I swear. The engine was so full of joy, it sang constantly, and especially loved to be above 4000rpm. I drove miles in lower gears than normal just to let it play. A wonderful car.
Years ago I delivered a GTA over to the old Fiat place at Towcester. Delivering cars on trade plates - you drive loads of things, day in day out. I've been doing it on and off for since 2001 when music work is slow. I can still remember most of that drive - it was fifteen years ago. That engine. What a work of genius.
When the 156 came out it was a breath of fresh air, especially in light baby blue. When the 1.9 diesel came out it was a decent oil burner with a bite. Still great value and good cars compared to period VAG products.
Our two litre 147 hack. Spacious and elegant driving thing. Past 5k up to 7k the TS is a dream. Can't think of a 2-door hatch to match that. Apart from the GTi pack that is.
The 1.8 would be my pick of the bunch. The later 156 / 147 cars are the better drivers.
Our two litre 147 hack. Spacious and elegant driving thing. Past 5k up to 7k the TS is a dream. Can't think of a 2-door hatch to match that. Apart from the GTi pack that is.
The 1.8 would be my pick of the bunch. The later 156 / 147 cars are the better drivers.
I absolutely love my V6 version. Just coming unto 105k. It is absolutely perfect big brother to the Elise (which desperately needs a wash in that photo!).
They do eat tyres if you don't keep on top of the suspension bushes but everything else has been fine on it (except very recently the boot pop solenoid has stopped working).
I'm almost certain there are no facelifted V6 2.5 SWs in the UK (unless imported).
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