Alfa Romeo 156 SW 2.5 V6 Impulse Buy....
Discussion
Yup, you read that right, an impulse buy Alfa V6, this can only go well...
Having brought offspring into the world back at the start of the year I found myself with a need for more practical transport than a Fiat Coupe or a Mini and having always had a thing for estates decided now was the time. Thing is I don't like the usual German suspects, the wife's already got a Ford and I couldn't quite bring myself to buy a Volvo. That left interesting 2 choices, MG ZT or 156/159 SW. The original plan was a nice practical diesel but had to be a darker colour and leather inside.
Then I went on a stag in London, got drunk, got hungover and found out the train home to Plymouth had become a bus replacement service. Didn't really fancy that so went and bought this instead...
2002 156 Sportwagen 2.5 V6, 75k, £1.5k, black leather and even more mental, because I really didn't want to get that train home, no MOT!
Having brought offspring into the world back at the start of the year I found myself with a need for more practical transport than a Fiat Coupe or a Mini and having always had a thing for estates decided now was the time. Thing is I don't like the usual German suspects, the wife's already got a Ford and I couldn't quite bring myself to buy a Volvo. That left interesting 2 choices, MG ZT or 156/159 SW. The original plan was a nice practical diesel but had to be a darker colour and leather inside.
Then I went on a stag in London, got drunk, got hungover and found out the train home to Plymouth had become a bus replacement service. Didn't really fancy that so went and bought this instead...
2002 156 Sportwagen 2.5 V6, 75k, £1.5k, black leather and even more mental, because I really didn't want to get that train home, no MOT!
Edited by MiniMan64 on Sunday 1st June 15:04
kamilb1998 said:
Fantastic 
My old man had a 2.0 one of these a few years back and I still miss the old thing, yours is a rare beast too being a V6 Sportwagon.
We had a 1.8 salon and a 2.0 SW when we were younger, never had a problem with either. My old man had a 2.0 one of these a few years back and I still miss the old thing, yours is a rare beast too being a V6 Sportwagon.
Bit more on this one, I didn't have an MOT but the vendor (advertised on PH) seemed to be a bloke who looked after his cars and already had it booked in for a test the following day so for some insane reason (blame the booze, a lack of sleep and a dislike of buses) I bought it there and then and drove it off.
Great run down the M5 and it went like stink, lovely place to sit in and no obvious problems bar slightly worse than expected MPG. Booked it a few days later and awaited the bad news.
There was none. Went straight through, just two advisories for front tyres. Duly purchased and have now also had it serviced, new plugs sorted out the wonky MPG and had it running much cleaner low down. Had the tensioners checked for a slight whine, cambelts due next year. Slight knock at the front but these are notorious for chewing suspension bushes so will get those done too when I get around to it.
Apart from that, beautiful, although I still don't fully trust it despite doing several long runs in it already with no issues. I mean it's an Alfa right?!
This needs a good clean.
This doesn't.
carinaman said:
Did you do the plugs? The rear bank is supposed to be a nightmare and some have been known to change just the front ones.
Yes.It was serviced last year but it was running rough and I had a feeling it was the plugs and was duly proved correct when they came out absolutely stinking.
bananachips said:
Bloody hell takes balls of steel to do that! I'm going to get mine booked in for a cambelt change hopefully this week!
Nope.Just a lot of Jagearbombs and cider and a very strong dislike of buses.
Edited by MiniMan64 on Sunday 1st June 21:24
tomsnelling said:
Very nice, same as mine but I have the tan interior.
Its easy to fit the facelift front end on as well if you fancy it....
Very nice.Its easy to fit the facelift front end on as well if you fancy it....
To be honest that was more the spec I was after minus the tan leather. Just could not find that for love nor money at the right price or mileage. The newer nose/blue/interior/multi-spokes look so much better in my eyes although the Teledials and earlier, simpler dash are really growing on me now.
bananachips said:
MiniMan64 said:
Nope.
Just a lot of Jagearbombs and cider and a very strong dislike of buses.
Couldn't think of a better alternative haha. Just a lot of Jagearbombs and cider and a very strong dislike of buses.
Edited by MiniMan64 on Sunday 1st June 21:24
If you get the time head over to alfaowner.com there's plenty there to help you out if you need it!
I'm finding it a bit odd having a car that I don't need to "mess" with. The only things I can do at the moment is tidy up the paint on the wheels and sort out some new badges.
Yup, I had an alignment done when I bought, two new tyres at the front.
Bit of greasing up seems to have sorted the rear windows (for now) but still suffereing from squealing brakes although bizarrely only in the evenings? Heat releated I presume.
Still a lovely thing to drive (that noise!) and to sit and it fufiled it estate role well last weekend shifting a load of rubble to the tip although I did actually feel bad for doing it to such a beautiful car, estate or not.
Anyway, lastest issue, VERY sluggish to start indeed, to the point of almost not starting so a new battery has been purchased and will be dropped in tonight and hopefully that'll be that one sorted.
Front bushes/mounted definitely need done in the summer too, all sorts of bumps and knocks on the speed humps at the moment!
Still, life is never dull when you run an Italian and the less said about the other one I own the better!
Bit of greasing up seems to have sorted the rear windows (for now) but still suffereing from squealing brakes although bizarrely only in the evenings? Heat releated I presume.
Still a lovely thing to drive (that noise!) and to sit and it fufiled it estate role well last weekend shifting a load of rubble to the tip although I did actually feel bad for doing it to such a beautiful car, estate or not.
Anyway, lastest issue, VERY sluggish to start indeed, to the point of almost not starting so a new battery has been purchased and will be dropped in tonight and hopefully that'll be that one sorted.
Front bushes/mounted definitely need done in the summer too, all sorts of bumps and knocks on the speed humps at the moment!
Still, life is never dull when you run an Italian and the less said about the other one I own the better!
Life with the Alfa continues to be anything but dull...
Unfortunately the issue with the battery persisted, even with the new one in, bit of research and checking online and it turns out there's a very odd (but common) fault with a circuit in the rev counter of all places causes lights to stay on and drain the battery. Bugger. Still needed a new battery (old one took no charge) but the rev counter has now been disconnected until I can source a new one.
Fitted new badges front and back to cover the faded ones and it made a huge difference to the look of the car. Until some f
ker snapped off the spinning boot lock one two days later. bd.
Apparently this is a bh of a job to replace the whole mechanism so I might hold off on this one.
And final joy, had a long run up the A38 the other day and managed to clonk both a large pothole and the chunk of tarmac that came out of it.
And it wrecked the bottom suspension arm :facepalm: ...
...so that was another £200 down the pan. Joy.
Still, it looks awesome, lovely to sit in and goes like stink. Imagine how boring life would be with a normal car!
Unfortunately the issue with the battery persisted, even with the new one in, bit of research and checking online and it turns out there's a very odd (but common) fault with a circuit in the rev counter of all places causes lights to stay on and drain the battery. Bugger. Still needed a new battery (old one took no charge) but the rev counter has now been disconnected until I can source a new one.
Fitted new badges front and back to cover the faded ones and it made a huge difference to the look of the car. Until some f
ker snapped off the spinning boot lock one two days later. bd. Apparently this is a b
h of a job to replace the whole mechanism so I might hold off on this one. And final joy, had a long run up the A38 the other day and managed to clonk both a large pothole and the chunk of tarmac that came out of it.
And it wrecked the bottom suspension arm :facepalm: ...
...so that was another £200 down the pan. Joy.
Still, it looks awesome, lovely to sit in and goes like stink. Imagine how boring life would be with a normal car!
Nearly 3 years later and I finally fixed the badge!
My favourite "Alfa moment" so far? The remote bit of the remote central locking ceased operation last summer and I'd just been living with it.
Yesterday, for absolutely no reason, it kicked back into life.
It's the little things with Alfas isn't it?
My favourite "Alfa moment" so far? The remote bit of the remote central locking ceased operation last summer and I'd just been living with it.
Yesterday, for absolutely no reason, it kicked back into life.
It's the little things with Alfas isn't it?
OpulentBob said:
rxe said:
These are just great cars, and with some tactical suspension upgrades, the handling can easily match the engine.
Only downside with a V6 is the thirst. I've recently picked up a (temporary) 140 mile a day commute which was costing about £160 a week in the 3.2, so I got a diesel 10v SW for £380. It has dropped the weekly fuel bill to about £60, and will officially pay for itself next week (man maths, not including tax and insurance). I'm just amazed that a £380 Alfa is coping with 750 miles a week with no obvious signs of distress.
MPG isn't too bad in the 2.5, I averaged 27mpg over 2 years, and was over 30mpg on a motorway run. A slightly longer 6th gear would do wonders. Only downside with a V6 is the thirst. I've recently picked up a (temporary) 140 mile a day commute which was costing about £160 a week in the 3.2, so I got a diesel 10v SW for £380. It has dropped the weekly fuel bill to about £60, and will officially pay for itself next week (man maths, not including tax and insurance). I'm just amazed that a £380 Alfa is coping with 750 miles a week with no obvious signs of distress.
The rollercoaster of ownership continues...after last months victory of sorting the badge a down was sure to follow....
MOT is due to had to bite the bullet on a job I've been avoiding for a while, ABS/handbrake light stay on, while the ABS was fine, a light on is an MOT failure these days. Joy.
Solution was a new ABS unit, after a protracted saga involving the purchase of an incorrect unit and my own disorganisation it was fitted yesterday, lights off, VICTORY!
And then the check engine light came on returning from the garage. Arse. Cleared it off back at the garage. Got home and it's back. Double arse. There's no obvious running fault so I'm guessing it's just some bd electrical problem somewhere but crappy bloody timing!
Plan is to go in for the MOT tomrrow, make sure there's no other failures, fail on a stupid bloody yellow light, get it back for a check again, hope it's not some major problem, pass the retest.
Somehow I doubt it will be that smooth.
Alfas.....yay!
MOT is due to had to bite the bullet on a job I've been avoiding for a while, ABS/handbrake light stay on, while the ABS was fine, a light on is an MOT failure these days. Joy.
Solution was a new ABS unit, after a protracted saga involving the purchase of an incorrect unit and my own disorganisation it was fitted yesterday, lights off, VICTORY!
And then the check engine light came on returning from the garage. Arse. Cleared it off back at the garage. Got home and it's back. Double arse. There's no obvious running fault so I'm guessing it's just some b
d electrical problem somewhere but crappy bloody timing! Plan is to go in for the MOT tomrrow, make sure there's no other failures, fail on a stupid bloody yellow light, get it back for a check again, hope it's not some major problem, pass the retest.
Somehow I doubt it will be that smooth.
Alfas.....yay!
e21Mark said:
I'm not really into estates but these look bloody lovely. There's something so stylish about their interiors too. Any more recent pics?
I'll get some once it's had a wash! Parking in dusty car parks and several tip runs have left it a bit grotty!As for the MOT, turns out a check engine light isn't a fail as long as emissions are okay which they were. Needed a suspension arm at the front but went through on everything else. These things seem to chew through front suspension at a rate of knots anyway so I'll count that as a win!
The dripping oil and engine light will have to wait for the next schoool holidays now
Still running but it’s been a tough last 6 months, I don’t think the Alfa likes getting close to 100k!
Needed replacement rear arms to get through last years MOT and then in the last 6 months it’s needed both rear struts replaced after they collapsed (no fun) and then it needed the coil packs done after developing a misfire. For added bonus points the neighbours son revered into it too. Then this years MOT resulted in more work to fix an oil leak and more frustratingly (and more stereotypically Alfa) several hundred quids of welding on the rear floor .
I love this car more than any other I’ve owned bar one but the bills are adding up at the moment. Feel like I’ve committed now with the investment plus I need to keep reminding myself that if was only £1400 to start with! My head says that yearly maintenance costs are equivalent to the depreciation on something more expensive, man-maths at its finest!
Needed replacement rear arms to get through last years MOT and then in the last 6 months it’s needed both rear struts replaced after they collapsed (no fun) and then it needed the coil packs done after developing a misfire. For added bonus points the neighbours son revered into it too. Then this years MOT resulted in more work to fix an oil leak and more frustratingly (and more stereotypically Alfa) several hundred quids of welding on the rear floor .
I love this car more than any other I’ve owned bar one but the bills are adding up at the moment. Feel like I’ve committed now with the investment plus I need to keep reminding myself that if was only £1400 to start with! My head says that yearly maintenance costs are equivalent to the depreciation on something more expensive, man-maths at its finest!
Kitchski said:
MiniMan64 said:
My head says that yearly maintenance costs are equivalent to the depreciation on something more expensive, man-maths at its finest!
They most certainly are, and there are no newer cars in the same kind of category that look or sound as good as this.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff