156 Sportwagon - prospective purchase questions
Discussion
I drove a 2.0TS Veloce Sportwagon at the weekend, and was well impressed. Particularly the driving position (I'm short, and modern cars seem to be built for people much bigger than me), the willingness to rev, and the all-round driving experience I suppose. Small steering wheel, big rev counter, sensitive and precise power steering, positive shortish-throw gearlever in the right place - not what you expect from an estate car, really.
Anyhow, it raises a couple of questions which I probably need to get back to the vendor on, but I wondered if Pistonheaders had any comments. Firstly, it had a fairly comprehensive service history which means that regular service items will have been checked frequently enough - but it has just gone over 48,000 miles. I wondered if this meant that it would need an expensive service immediately rather than wait for its next anniversary. Secondly, there was evidence that the fuse box had recently been opened and the vendor said that the battery had been recently replaced. I need to ask him if this means that it's had anything electrical work done recently - but should this ring any alarm bells? Thirdly - how do I know it's a Veloce?
Any opinions on the above, and anything else I need to be wary of, will be gratefully received.
I also bore in mind what I've heard about low-down torque. Well it will give you 4000 revs as soon as you apply the boot to the accelerator and you've still got 3000 left. And the engine isn't exactly noisy, although you do get a fairly civilised "vroom". What low-down torque problem?
>>> Edited by saxmund on Tuesday 8th February 12:46
Anyhow, it raises a couple of questions which I probably need to get back to the vendor on, but I wondered if Pistonheaders had any comments. Firstly, it had a fairly comprehensive service history which means that regular service items will have been checked frequently enough - but it has just gone over 48,000 miles. I wondered if this meant that it would need an expensive service immediately rather than wait for its next anniversary. Secondly, there was evidence that the fuse box had recently been opened and the vendor said that the battery had been recently replaced. I need to ask him if this means that it's had anything electrical work done recently - but should this ring any alarm bells? Thirdly - how do I know it's a Veloce?
Any opinions on the above, and anything else I need to be wary of, will be gratefully received.
I also bore in mind what I've heard about low-down torque. Well it will give you 4000 revs as soon as you apply the boot to the accelerator and you've still got 3000 left. And the engine isn't exactly noisy, although you do get a fairly civilised "vroom". What low-down torque problem?
>>> Edited by saxmund on Tuesday 8th February 12:46
Thanks for the comments. The loose fusebox cover makes sense - I've seen one at a dealer with the same problem (I think it was new in and not yet prepared for sale, not that the dealer seemed to have done much to his other cars). I'm fairly sure the luggage area is big enough, and this one has roofrails as well, but I will check whether the belts were done at 36K as if not I'll knock something off the price I'm prepared to pay. The plugs don't worry me too much, 60K is over a year away for me.
It has fancy wheels and sideskirts, and I admit I didn't inspect the paperwork that thoroughly on a first look. But even if I don't get this one, I have at least decided it's a Sportwagon for me.
It has fancy wheels and sideskirts, and I admit I didn't inspect the paperwork that thoroughly on a first look. But even if I don't get this one, I have at least decided it's a Sportwagon for me.
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