156 Sportwagon 1.9 JTD 140
Discussion
I've got an 03 2.4 JTD Sportwagon Veloce 150bhp, very nice car, I know the engine couldn't be more different to the 4 pot, but the car itself I have been very pleased with. It's got enough boot space for what I want and you can really load it up without really affecting the handling.
We regularly spend 3 hours at a time in it on the motorway and it has always been comfortable, the Bose Stereo is OK, but if you have to opt for it on a 1.9 I think you may be better off getting an aftermarket one fitted although this probably makes the steering wheel controls obsolete. The leather is lovely and the interior one of the best in it's class. There are some awsome deals to be had on dealers demonstrators too.
The engine is smoother than most of the 4 pot VAG units and almost sounds nice due to the 5 cylinders, on the 2.4 anyway.
Performance is excellent on the 2.4 150bhp, up there with the BMW320d (now has 175bhp). I drove a 140bhp 2.4 Lusso before the car I have now and it wasn't too much different performance wise, but the suspension was far too soft for my liking, the Veloce is much better.
I get around 50 mpg on a run at 70-80, 46mpg if going faster and it doesn't dip much below this, my record on a run is 54.5 mpg at 70 mph.
Overall, nice car, very comfy, frugal, a bit different to every other car on the road, handles well enough and it looks good inside and out.
Only probs so far have been frustrating dealer attitude and a dead battery in 18k. I've sorted the dealer prob now and found a good one fingers crossed.
We regularly spend 3 hours at a time in it on the motorway and it has always been comfortable, the Bose Stereo is OK, but if you have to opt for it on a 1.9 I think you may be better off getting an aftermarket one fitted although this probably makes the steering wheel controls obsolete. The leather is lovely and the interior one of the best in it's class. There are some awsome deals to be had on dealers demonstrators too.
The engine is smoother than most of the 4 pot VAG units and almost sounds nice due to the 5 cylinders, on the 2.4 anyway.
Performance is excellent on the 2.4 150bhp, up there with the BMW320d (now has 175bhp). I drove a 140bhp 2.4 Lusso before the car I have now and it wasn't too much different performance wise, but the suspension was far too soft for my liking, the Veloce is much better.
I get around 50 mpg on a run at 70-80, 46mpg if going faster and it doesn't dip much below this, my record on a run is 54.5 mpg at 70 mph.
Overall, nice car, very comfy, frugal, a bit different to every other car on the road, handles well enough and it looks good inside and out.
Only probs so far have been frustrating dealer attitude and a dead battery in 18k. I've sorted the dealer prob now and found a good one fingers crossed.
Never! 
Firstly dealers, not wanting to name and shame etc, Southend have excellent sales staff, speak to Heather.
Chelmsford have an excellent service dept, the important bit, slightly cheaper and they have gone beyond the call of duty when we have pointed out problems, best dealer I have ever dealt with, my wife has a lovely bouquet of flowers to prove it, guess which one I use.
As for getting stuff in, it's no E-Class or Omega, but with seats down it's got just as much space as a large hatchback, I've loaded it up with some really heavy gear, a yacht cradle being one of them and that weighs a ton, almost litterally we can get all the baby stuff in there too, the only problem I can think of is the sligtly narrow boot opening, but I haven't found this to be a problem yet as the opening goes about a foot along the roof, what were you thinking of putting in it?
Try it and see, horses for courses and all that, the only other two cars I would touch new as an alternative are the Honda Accord diesel estate (don't know if it's out yet, wasn't when I got my 156) or the Mazda 6 estate, both have got bigger boots and better reps for reliability, Mazda's engine isn't as good. I love the Honda though, not driven the diesel Accord, but it's a lovely car, I had a CTR before the 156, fantastic car, better than the Scooby turbo I had before that! Interestingly though, less rattles in the 156 and the 156 has a much better quality interior.
>> Edited by dougal on Friday 28th November 00:25
Chelmsford have an excellent service dept, the important bit, slightly cheaper and they have gone beyond the call of duty when we have pointed out problems, best dealer I have ever dealt with, my wife has a lovely bouquet of flowers to prove it, guess which one I use.
As for getting stuff in, it's no E-Class or Omega, but with seats down it's got just as much space as a large hatchback, I've loaded it up with some really heavy gear, a yacht cradle being one of them and that weighs a ton, almost litterally we can get all the baby stuff in there too, the only problem I can think of is the sligtly narrow boot opening, but I haven't found this to be a problem yet as the opening goes about a foot along the roof, what were you thinking of putting in it?
Try it and see, horses for courses and all that, the only other two cars I would touch new as an alternative are the Honda Accord diesel estate (don't know if it's out yet, wasn't when I got my 156) or the Mazda 6 estate, both have got bigger boots and better reps for reliability, Mazda's engine isn't as good. I love the Honda though, not driven the diesel Accord, but it's a lovely car, I had a CTR before the 156, fantastic car, better than the Scooby turbo I had before that! Interestingly though, less rattles in the 156 and the 156 has a much better quality interior.
>> Edited by dougal on Friday 28th November 00:25
Thanks again Dougal. I have the same baby carrying requirements, when I do sprints and hillclimbs in my much older Alfa everything else needs to go in the other car - currently a Volvo V40 as we usually convoy down to events, so if it can take a pushchair, 8 million nappies, 200 cartons of milk, a high chair, 48 changes of clothes.....
I'll definitely talk to Chelmsford (my closest dealer too)
>> Edited by Alfa Dave on Friday 28th November 09:02
I'll definitely talk to Chelmsford (my closest dealer too)
>> Edited by Alfa Dave on Friday 28th November 09:02
It easily takes all the baby stuff you can throw at it, plus a bit, it's not as bad as the mags say for this.
Unless you have a 1950's Silver Cross you shouldn't have a problem.
Boot liner a must too.
A bloke I met in Thurrock with a 156 recommended Chelmsford to me after going through the same probs.
Unless you have a 1950's Silver Cross you shouldn't have a problem.
Boot liner a must too.
A bloke I met in Thurrock with a 156 recommended Chelmsford to me after going through the same probs.
I've got a 150bhp 2.4JTD 'Wagon and it's great. Baby stuff goes in OK - it's not Volvo V70 type luggage capacity, but then again it doesn;t look like one either... 
One way of increasing the pram carrying capability is to get one withOUT the Bose stereo as it takes a chunk off the left hand side of the boot, and doesn't sound that great anyway.
I have only driven the new 1.9 MultiJet in a 147 and it went very well indeed, without the ridiculous on/off boost of the VAG 1.9. It is a lot less characterful though than the wonderfully warbly 2.4 5 pot.
One way of increasing the pram carrying capability is to get one withOUT the Bose stereo as it takes a chunk off the left hand side of the boot, and doesn't sound that great anyway.
I have only driven the new 1.9 MultiJet in a 147 and it went very well indeed, without the ridiculous on/off boost of the VAG 1.9. It is a lot less characterful though than the wonderfully warbly 2.4 5 pot.
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