156 1.8 or 2.0

[sye68]

Is there much on road difference in performance between the two engines.
I run a twinspark gtv but i need a more practical car how does a 156 compare to a gtv for driving experience.

[mickyveloce]

I don`t think you`d notice a difference in 98 percent of any given situations . The maxim with older Alfas is the smaller the engine , the harder the`ve been driven . Don`t discount the 1.6 either ; it`s a very sweet engine and less weight over the front axle means better balance . 1.8`s seem a bit thin on the ground however .

[pdV6]

sye68 said:

how does a 156 compare to a gtv for driving experience.

In 2 words: they don't

Nowt wrong with 156's, but they really are completely different to drive than a GTV.

[Avocet]

Don't know if they still do this but my wife's 1999 1.8 156 only has solid brake discs on the front. They're not too good if you start giving them any real work to do. Incredible initial "bite" (ridiculously so in fact) but then they start to fade sooner than I think is reasonable for a car of that type. (In fact, a pikey-spec diesel Skoda I recently drove was considerably better endowed in the braking department)! My mate's 2 litre 156 has vented discs at the front. I think this rather than the engine differences would push me towards a 2 litre.

[bowlboy]

1.8 courtesy car lacked a bit of torque for joining roundabouts etc compared to my 2.0, and the 2.0 sounds a bit more epic but still a nice engine and probably not much difference on the B roads. Don't know if 2.0 is much heavier as an engine but I've had problems with it bottoming out on speed bumps etc.

[Avocet]

Should be lighter 'cause there's bigger "holes" in it!