Alfa 156 V6 - change or keep & run to death?
Discussion
Right guys, some advice please?
I've got a 51-reg silver 156 V6, 62k miles, Veloce model (as i understand - Leather, big wheels, carbon-look dash, side skirts). The car is great apart from the fuel economy/the number of miles I'm putting on it every day (100-odd miles/day).
My dilemma is whether to sell it/trade it in for a diesel (something dull but reliable and cheap like a Mondeo), or keep it and run it in to the ground.
I bought it for a little over £2k with 48k miles. For a similar, say VAG-group, diesel with similar mileage would have cost me another £2k to purchase, so I have a fair bit of equity with which to offset the 29mpg average. Is it worth changing, or should I keep sticking the miles on the 10-year old car and not worry about future resale value? Not that the car is worth much in the first place, maybe £1200 with the faults listed below.
(The only faults with the car are the rear windows don't work, but I don't have kids etc so they don't worry me - and the air con did, but now doesn't work, worst case it needs a new compressor. Engine hasn't missed a beat. If anything, it has been the second most reliable car I've ever owned - behind a Mondeo!)
What do you think?
I've got a 51-reg silver 156 V6, 62k miles, Veloce model (as i understand - Leather, big wheels, carbon-look dash, side skirts). The car is great apart from the fuel economy/the number of miles I'm putting on it every day (100-odd miles/day).
My dilemma is whether to sell it/trade it in for a diesel (something dull but reliable and cheap like a Mondeo), or keep it and run it in to the ground.
I bought it for a little over £2k with 48k miles. For a similar, say VAG-group, diesel with similar mileage would have cost me another £2k to purchase, so I have a fair bit of equity with which to offset the 29mpg average. Is it worth changing, or should I keep sticking the miles on the 10-year old car and not worry about future resale value? Not that the car is worth much in the first place, maybe £1200 with the faults listed below.
(The only faults with the car are the rear windows don't work, but I don't have kids etc so they don't worry me - and the air con did, but now doesn't work, worst case it needs a new compressor. Engine hasn't missed a beat. If anything, it has been the second most reliable car I've ever owned - behind a Mondeo!)
What do you think?
Edited by Opulent on Thursday 9th September 10:30
Hi, I've currently just notched up 3 years ownership of my 156 V6 1999 reg. I've decided to call it quits, in the sense I think I have virtually run it into the ground. This year required a new clutch at £600, rear brake caliper at £170, the light has just started flashing again, the back box is being replaced on Saturday, thankfully still 6 months inside a 3 year warranty. The engine has been slightly hesitant for the last 9 months and I've been told twice that a new radiator would be a good idea! It needed a bit of welding to get it through the MOT in Aug at £200. I'd be lucky to get £600 for the car. I went along to an auction last week and saw 3 156's go under the hammer. The best deal probably being a red 02 plate 1.8 TS Turismo for £800. So, by my reckoning you should get another couple of years from your V6 and then...? I think I've looked after the car pretty well and I will miss the V6 but the bottom line for me is I don't have any cash at the moment. Although, ironically, I'm looking at buying a Ferrari 348 when my endowment matures in 3 years!
I bought a 156 2.0 T Spark twin turbo special addition 12 months ago from a friend in financial difficulty for £500. I spent a further £800 on an alfa service and new wishbones & shockers. On a W plate with 65,000 miles it was and still is a bargain as far as i am concerned. I have had BMW, Audi's and VW's but to be honest they have no soul compared to the Alfa. The best bit about the alfa is that it has no sports badging no spoiler the interior however is top spec, yeah niggly things fall off every now and then but for sheer driving pleasure it is the best car i have had. From standing start it can beat most standard scoobies in fact i have embarrased some boy racers who thought that my Alfa was no match for them. So my advice is if you have never owned an Alfa you havn't driven yet!!
I have recently started my own company and as a treat i was going to have a new Alfa GT 1.8 Cloverleaf as a company car i was amazed to find out that Alfa have stopped production of the petrol versions so they are very hard to get hold of on lease and when i do find one the prices are very high. If anyone knows of a lease company that still has them at a reasonable price can you let me know.
I have recently started my own company and as a treat i was going to have a new Alfa GT 1.8 Cloverleaf as a company car i was amazed to find out that Alfa have stopped production of the petrol versions so they are very hard to get hold of on lease and when i do find one the prices are very high. If anyone knows of a lease company that still has them at a reasonable price can you let me know.
deucbigalo said:
I bought a 156 2.0 T Spark twin turbo special addition 12 months ago from a friend in financial difficulty for £500. I spent a further £800 on an alfa service and new wishbones & shockers. On a W plate with 65,000 miles it was and still is a bargain as far as i am concerned. I have had BMW, Audi's and VW's but to be honest they have no soul compared to the Alfa. The best bit about the alfa is that it has no sports badging no spoiler the interior however is top spec, yeah niggly things fall off every now and then but for sheer driving pleasure it is the best car i have had. From standing start it can beat most standard scoobies in fact i have embarrased some boy racers who thought that my Alfa was no match for them. So my advice is if you have never owned an Alfa you havn't driven yet!!
I have recently started my own company and as a treat i was going to have a new Alfa GT 1.8 Cloverleaf as a company car i was amazed to find out that Alfa have stopped production of the petrol versions so they are very hard to get hold of on lease and when i do find one the prices are very high. If anyone knows of a lease company that still has them at a reasonable price can you let me know.
I have recently started my own company and as a treat i was going to have a new Alfa GT 1.8 Cloverleaf as a company car i was amazed to find out that Alfa have stopped production of the petrol versions so they are very hard to get hold of on lease and when i do find one the prices are very high. If anyone knows of a lease company that still has them at a reasonable price can you let me know.
In a few years, you might just be old enough to get a driving licence.... until then, leave the car talk to the adults.
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