Alfa 156 V5 Sportwagon
Discussion
*BOLLOX* Can a mod change that to V6 yes that's SIX!!!!! :blush:
Rare as rocking horse poo, but on paper an exceedingly good buy.
Can I have the pro's and con's of buying one and what i should look for when buying one?
Oh and the fact it's a V6 and liable to be a tad thirsty isn't a problem, it's got to be more economical than the current monster it'll be joining.
It's being looked at as a car we can use for long journeys (the zorst on the 4 is loud), ease of passenger carrying (adults) and for slinging bikes in the back of for weekends.
It won't be doing a helluva lot of mileage - hence not bothered about the V6, but as I've really only had in depth knowledge of Jap cars, I'd like to know what to look out for.
Cheers
Sarah
Rare as rocking horse poo, but on paper an exceedingly good buy.
Can I have the pro's and con's of buying one and what i should look for when buying one?
Oh and the fact it's a V6 and liable to be a tad thirsty isn't a problem, it's got to be more economical than the current monster it'll be joining.
It's being looked at as a car we can use for long journeys (the zorst on the 4 is loud), ease of passenger carrying (adults) and for slinging bikes in the back of for weekends.
It won't be doing a helluva lot of mileage - hence not bothered about the V6, but as I've really only had in depth knowledge of Jap cars, I'd like to know what to look out for.
Cheers
Sarah
Edited by bint on Friday 6th October 23:10
If you want to sling bikes in the back, check they'll fit - the Sportwagen isn't exactly the biggest of estate cars. The V6 cam belt change can be very expensive. And the suspension bushes seem to wear out quite a bit - I understand that a squeek from the front upper wishbones is quite commonly due to worn bushes on the V6 (not hugely expensive parts and I'll be able to tell you how difficult to fit when I get around to tackling mine). All this is based on my experience of a saloon, hearsay and possibly other stuff I dreamt up so YMMV.
Run one for 4 years now. Fabulous for long journeys, quiet,comfy and quick, very docile around town as well. Ours has been completely reliable, only needing a suspension link replacing last year other than routine servicing.
Ideas that it's an estate car should be discounted, the good looks come at a price in that the boot is smaller than the saloon's. Towbar bike rack should do the trick though.
Only problem is that we can't think of something else to replace it, so I guess we'll keep it a couple more years and swap the Elise for a new one instead.
Ideas that it's an estate car should be discounted, the good looks come at a price in that the boot is smaller than the saloon's. Towbar bike rack should do the trick though.
Only problem is that we can't think of something else to replace it, so I guess we'll keep it a couple more years and swap the Elise for a new one instead.
I ran a 156 2.5V6 saloon for 4 years and now run a 3.2 GTA sportwagon. I love the sportwagon, it suits me perfectly as it's not a big car by modern standards but is a very nice-looking and still practical. I can lob 2 bikes and plenty of luggage in the back of mine - seats folded, it's a decent flat load area. Think of it as more of a big hatchback than an estate.
I'm not convinced about this "smaller boot in the estate than saloon" thing that the mags latched on to. The floor area seems about the same, but of course the estate's load area is much, much higher - and the opening far bigger. And you can use the height because a decent dog/load net is included. Perhaps someone just measured the floor area in two dimensions and the saloons is a couple of cm bigger or something.
The V6 engines are very strong and charismatic, with a unique note. The 2.5 needs revving but is silkily smooth, more so than my 3.2. It is one of the best engines I've ever used. Both my 156's have behaved themselves bar the odd very minor issue, too.
Consider a GTA wagon if you can afford one, it's an absolute steal for the blend of looks, performance and character on offer and the 3.2 uses no more fuel, bizarrely. See my review on this site.
I'm not convinced about this "smaller boot in the estate than saloon" thing that the mags latched on to. The floor area seems about the same, but of course the estate's load area is much, much higher - and the opening far bigger. And you can use the height because a decent dog/load net is included. Perhaps someone just measured the floor area in two dimensions and the saloons is a couple of cm bigger or something.
The V6 engines are very strong and charismatic, with a unique note. The 2.5 needs revving but is silkily smooth, more so than my 3.2. It is one of the best engines I've ever used. Both my 156's have behaved themselves bar the odd very minor issue, too.
Consider a GTA wagon if you can afford one, it's an absolute steal for the blend of looks, performance and character on offer and the 3.2 uses no more fuel, bizarrely. See my review on this site.
Cheers for that - I'm struggling trying to find a manual V6 wagon that's not in either Scotland or Ireland! My other alternatives are the Galant V6 wagon or the Saab, but TBH the Alfa is so much better looking and better value for money.
So if anyone knows of one for sale within 100 miles of Swindon.......for about £4k (I know it's not much, but it's a 2nd car and I've seen plenty for less than that!) please let me know.
I can't really afford the GTA as it's too new. Looking for a 2000 / 2001 at that price.
So if anyone knows of one for sale within 100 miles of Swindon.......for about £4k (I know it's not much, but it's a 2nd car and I've seen plenty for less than that!) please let me know.
I can't really afford the GTA as it's too new. Looking for a 2000 / 2001 at that price.
Edited by bint on Wednesday 11th October 12:58
The Galant V6 is great value, and looks good from the front - especially in sport trim - but the back is the usual disgrace.
You won't find many 156 V6's from after spring 2002 when the company car taxes changed. I ran a 156 V6 from 1999 to 2002, and got out of the whole company car thing when the taxes became emissions based, I was not prepared to compromise by love of 6+cyl petrol cars!
I would have thought there were a few pre-facelift (2002) 156 V6 wagons about, though. Keep an eye on alfaowner.com for cars for sale and advice...
You won't find many 156 V6's from after spring 2002 when the company car taxes changed. I ran a 156 V6 from 1999 to 2002, and got out of the whole company car thing when the taxes became emissions based, I was not prepared to compromise by love of 6+cyl petrol cars!
I would have thought there were a few pre-facelift (2002) 156 V6 wagons about, though. Keep an eye on alfaowner.com for cars for sale and advice...
jwyatt said:
I'm not convinced about this "smaller boot in the estate than saloon" thing that the mags latched on to.
No. It's the usual thing "It's an Alfa, so let's find something to take the pi$$ out of"...
With the boot cover drawn, there is slightly less cubic space in the Wagon's boot than the saloon. But obviously you can open the cover, take it out, drop a seat, drop both seats and so on which you can't in the saloon so it's a very misleading statistic!! It's true the Wagon isn't a Volvo 960 type load carrier, but nor does it look like one!!!!!
If it were me, I'd get the 2.4JTD SW, brilliant car that refuses to do less than 40MPG, even when hooning it. We've done 87k in ours from new and nothing major has gone wrong, the only time it broke down was a few weeks ago when the crank speed sensor failed, cheep fix.
GTA is a bit special though.
GTA is a bit special though.
wombat rick said:
No. It's the usual thing "It's an Alfa, so let's find something to take the pi$$ out of"...
With the boot cover drawn, there is slightly less cubic space in the Wagon's boot than the saloon. But obviously you can open the cover, take it out, drop a seat, drop both seats and so on which you can't in the saloon so it's a very misleading statistic!! It's true the Wagon isn't a Volvo 960 type load carrier, but nor does it look like one!!!!!
That sounds very plausible, and if true it's a fecking disgrace it was ever mentioned, let alone every time the 156SW comes up. It came up again in Autocar recently... Who cares about the capacity with the cover drawn? Without it, the height is doubled across most of the load area even without folding the seat, and as you say you can split-fold or fully fold the seat, which folds flat.
It's a shame that every time an Alfa gets reviewed (in the UK, anyway) the journos switch to "find something wrong" mode, when it's a beemer or porker they switch to "find a way to justify this winning every group test" mode
Anyway, having owned a 2.5 before my GTA, and having had the 2.4 as a loan car a few times, it's not for me in comparison to the V6 petrols as they are both superb and I'm a petrol purist (might get a 159 2.4 for the wife, though) but it's certainly a cut above the usual 4-cylinder turbos. The 175bhp facelift 2.4JTD's are real stormers, too, being so much lighter than the 159. Well worth a look, for sure. Just don't drive the V6 first as you'll need one :-)
Edited by jwyatt on Thursday 12th October 11:28
Went and test drove one local to me last night - dark blue, telephone dial wheels (the proper ones) grey leather, X reg (2000), looked reasonably well looked after, 99,6000 miles, but needs a new clutch. Me being the dopey mare only realised on the drive home (twisty back roads in the 4 make me glad we're keeping it) that the clutch was only engaging at near the top - I put the odd gear change prob down to me driving an unfamiliar car....
So how much would you say it was worth and how much is a new clutch for an Alfa 156 V6 Wagon?
Cheers
So how much would you say it was worth and how much is a new clutch for an Alfa 156 V6 Wagon?
Cheers
My 2.5 also engaged right at the top of the clutch travel - from new to 90k miles with no change. The GTA is not like that. The 2.5 just needed a "clutch fully out, then apply the power" driving style as a result of this and the instant (fly by wire) throttle response. It was second nature very quickly. So it may not need replacing... They do last well, more so than many of the so-called more reliable opposition...
Well I've agreed a price with the guy and I should be picking the car up this week.
Do you think the cable can be adjusted to stop me being paranoid? Also I and the other half will be interchanging between driving that and the GT4 so it would help with ease of drive (ie would stop stalling/clutch burning!!) when changing over.
I've posted up about what sort of exhaust - just to bring the tones of the V6 out you understand...........- on the 156 forum, but if anyone here has any views - please feel free to suggest.
Thanks for your help!
Do you think the cable can be adjusted to stop me being paranoid? Also I and the other half will be interchanging between driving that and the GT4 so it would help with ease of drive (ie would stop stalling/clutch burning!!) when changing over.
I've posted up about what sort of exhaust - just to bring the tones of the V6 out you understand...........- on the 156 forum, but if anyone here has any views - please feel free to suggest.
Thanks for your help!
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