156. Future classic?

[rhysenna]

Thought I'd start a thread based on a comment that Liquid Knight said on another thread that the 156 will be a future classic.

Just wondering what other PH's think about this. I myself consider it a future classic and will be holding on to mine for a few years yet.

So if it was to become a classic what sort of spec are we talking about?

Interested to hear your thoughts.

[robsco]

Pre-facelift V6s with leather will be a future classic, there's nothing any surer. And, of course, the GTAs.

[rhysenna]

Hi Rob, hope your well mate. My thoughts exactly. Any particular colour, red perhaps?

[robsco]

I'm good thanks, are you? I was thinking a white one like this:



Good lord I miss that car. How's the 156 running, she in rude health now?

[rhysenna]

I'm good, cheers. The Alfa is slowly getting to that point where its gonna be in rude health. Rear wheel bearing are coming of this weekend as is the exhaust back box. Both need changing.

I also discovered today that the brakes aren't quiet up to the job, lets just call it a near miss!

Does look good in white yours, sorry, your old one.

[ATTAK Z]

I had a silver with red Momo leather ..... really loved that car

[robsco]

rhysenna said:

I'm good, cheers. The Alfa is slowly getting to that point where its gonna be in rude health. Rear wheel bearing are coming of this weekend as is the exhaust back box. Both need changing.

I also discovered today that the brakes aren't quiet up to the job, lets just call it a near miss!

Does look good in white yours, sorry, your old one.

Great news, glad things are coming on nicely. The brakes on mine were terrible too, everything was set up properly, they were just not very good. Apparently Ferodo DS2500 pads and braided hoses improve bite and pedal feel somewhat, you could give it a try?

[Oilchange]

rhysenna said:

I also discovered today that the brakes aren't quiet up to the job, lets just call it a near miss!

http://www.ferodoracing.com/catalogue/search.php?s...
Ferodo ds2500 brake pads

[rhysenna]

Could have done with them today. DS2500 going on as soon as.

[MarkwG]

156 - future classic?

Nice idea...maybe, great styling & design - might even say timeless, great performance, big fanbase, good independant support, numbers dwindling, practical, fun, with some foibles thrown in for good measure. Considering some of the appalling junk that gets the "c" word, why not! (If anyone wants to tuck away a 2000 V6 SW in Nuvola Blue, next to their Sinclair C5 - drop me a line!)

[PJ3074]

Well..in July's Top Gear Magazine was their Italian Car Supplement: 150 Greatest Italian Cars of All Time.

The 156 GTA was listed within and commented as a future classic. I think the model choice, colour and trim level will dictate future values. I'd probably say that anything Pre-2001 will be of more value, as the original releases are normally the more desireable...especially when you look at the prices now for an E30 BMW 3-Series are fetching some top coin for 20++yr old motors.

I certainly love my 2001 Veloce...I use this everyday and its a fantastic looking motor (comments welcome )

[Dougie166]

I have owned three 156's - a 1999 1.8 sport pack 1, a 2001 1.8 sw sport pack 3 and a 2003 GTA. All have been great cars - the sw being the longest owned car of all for me and thereafter owned by family and friends.

BUT it will be a long time before anything other than the GTA is considered as a classic as other models are currently far too common! Due to low values though many are making it into uncaring hands so this could speed up the model decline :-(

[mike9009]

Dougie166 said:

I have owned three 156's - a 1999 1.8 sport pack 1, a 2001 1.8 sw sport pack 3 and a 2003 GTA. All have been great cars - the sw being the longest owned car of all for me and thereafter owned by family and friends.

BUT it will be a long time before anything other than the GTA is considered as a classic as other models are currently far too common! Due to low values though many are making it into uncaring hands so this could speed up the model decline :-(

It is all down to supply and demand as to when a car becomes a 'classic' and starts appreciating in value. I would say the GTA may already have classic status with values seemingly fairly robust.

The 'lower' models are reaching their low financial point (although I suspect it may bottom out a little more yet before some stabilisation.) The current decline is licensed examples has gone from a peak of 42,000 in 2005 to 26,500 in 2011. I suspect that rate of decline (2600 per annum) will continue for another 5-7years, so approx 9000 cars left registered in 7 years time. These figures still do not warrant it as a 'classic' and so a real return in financial appreciation may be a long while off yet.

As a comparison the Alfa 155 only had a max of 4309 licensed vehicles in 1998. Now there are 870, and they are only just becoming a true classic now (in my eyes!).

All very woolly, I accept but I am sure some whizz kid will be able to predict when a car is likely to become a classic and start appreciating based on the DVLA data. However I do think the 156 will become a classic early than others purely based upon its aesthetic design. Discussion point is whether the SW or saloon will be more desirable in years to come. (Hopefully the SW, as long as I can keep mine on the road!!)


Mike

[anonymous-user]

I regret getting rid of mine. Guaranteed they will be a future classic. Most cars look totally outdated and outclassed when put alongside their successor - Mondeo, Astra and Megane for example. Not the 156 - the 159 is a realy nice car but I can see many design touches of the 156 that are much more special and eyecatching than the 159. There's no fussiness, no awkwardness in the design and because Alfa chose not to conform and follow the design fads of other manufacturers that means there's nothing on the road that looks anything like it.

[MarkwG]

What strikes me - the fuss made about the "hidden" rear door handles when the 156 was launched, yet, now, they're everywhere, Peugeots, Seats, etc - & after dropping them on the 159, as if by magic, back on the Guilietta! Mark of a design that sets trends, rather than one that follows, maybe?

[James Dean]

MarkwG said:

What strikes me - the fuss made about the "hidden" rear door handles when the 156 was launched, yet, now, they're everywhere, Peugeots, Seats, etc - & after dropping them on the 159, as if by magic, back on the Guilietta! Mark of a design that sets trends, rather than one that follows, maybe?

I'll never understand why the 159 didn't come with hidden door handles.

[Simon1397]

I seem to be in the minority but as a whole no, individual cars such as the GTA yes but IMO there is little of Alfa Romeo in these cars that I can see.

[PJ3074]

Simon1397 said:

I seem to be in the minority but as a whole no, individual cars such as the GTA yes but IMO there is little of Alfa Romeo in these cars that I can see.

???? Really ???? ..... you should go to specsavers

[exgtt]

As cool as the hidden rear handles were, I found them to be annoying - everyone with no experience of 156's simply couldn't see them for looking. I'd be in the drivers seat trying to explain what to do through the open rear window - and I'd just be met with blank stares everytime!

Personally I think too many have been produced for them to become a classic within the next 30 odd years. Oil/fuel supply issues to come will kill off cars like this, only the truly special stuff will be worth keeping, not mass produced fwd saloons.

[14-7]

I personally don't think the 156 will become a future classic. Probably too many in circulation.

Something like a 156/147GTA though? Maybe, although I think the 147GTA would win in desirability stakes (but I am biased ).