Alfa Romeo 156

[Lissa]

My son is thinking of buying one of these. I don't know anything about Alfa's, except owning one can apparently be an interesting experience:rolleyes:

Anyone on Org had any experience with Alfa's.................good or bad?

[simesb]

Had a couple of Alfas (a 33 then a 156) and both were great fun, but ended up being a bit expensive. If you get one that's in good shape and keep up the maintenance you may be okay. No pain no gain with Alfas I think.

I would happily get one again.

[blueto]

My son is thinking of buying one of these. I don't know anything about Alfa's, except owning one can apparently be an interesting experience:rolleyes:

Anyone on Org had any experience with Alfa's.................good or bad?


I HAVE ONE! Let me list you my troubles in the 2 years i have owned it.

Cam belt snapped - 50k on the clock. New engine form alfa as they say cam belt should be good for up to 60k. - FREE (LUCKILY) OR IT WAS (?1800)

New suspension arms - ?280

new ecu - ?200

new water pump - ?190

new tachometer - electronic failure tha controls the warning system in the car - ? 170

new key - ?187.50

new air bag sensor - ?80

services -- so far to date i have had 4 done on mine..1 at alfa and the rest at a independant gargae. - total cost ? 560


However despite all these problems i have had with mine it runs like a dream and you cant beat the drive of an italian car.

When your lad looks for one he needs to ensure that the suspension does not knock and the cambelt has been done or if fom a dealer he wants it done.

Try to go for the veloce model. Mine is the top end spec with all extras.

Avoid the selecspeed model at all costs!

expensive on fuel to!

Pic of mine. Although a beautiful car they do come with a cost im afraid. Which is why im getting rid of mine shortly.

HTH


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rossbarrett/22092007012.jpg

[Lissa]

Thanks guys, I've sent my lad a link to this thread so he can read it for himself. It generally seems to appear that although Alfa's can be a right pain in the arris..............people still love them for the driving experience:D

[blueto]

Thanks guys, I've sent my lad a link to this thread so he can read it for himself. It generally seems to appear that although Alfa's can be a right pain in the arris..............people still love them for the driving experience:D

that they do lissa....u cant beat it!

O forgot to add 2 perelli p7 tyres fitted on saturday another ?200

But the funniest thing...my mate who also has one has owned his form new and in the last 6 years only put tyres on it...

How wierd

[Luckypants]

My mate had his Spyder (new shape) V6 punch a piston out the block on a roundabout with a heady 3000 rpm showing....... A kayaking friend has a 156 Sportwagon that gets used as a paddling vehicle. It has been mechanically sound, not missing a beat despite the interstellar mileage paddlers put on their vehicles (while heavily laden) but the finish has suffered terribly. The interior looks tatty now, but that is par for the course on a paddle wagon.


The trouble is, you will hear of all the bad ones, but not the reliable ones.

[Speedy Claire]

I`ve had an Alfa Sprint and an Alfa Spyder and loved them both but the Sprint did suffer with corrosion.

Lissa the person to speak to could be Mototech as he as been repairing Alfa`s for some months now for a local dealer.

[petevtwin650]

The trouble is, you will hear of all the bad ones, but not the reliable ones.
Yes, that's a very good point................generally people are more likely to talk about bad experiences than good ones.................you see lots of thread on here complaining about bad dealers etc, but very few praising them:D


Drat.............Pete was logged in!

[Lissa]

I`ve had an Alfa Sprint and an Alfa Spyder and loved them both but the Sprint did suffer with corrosion.

Lissa the person to speak to could be Mototech as he as been repairing Alfa`s for some months now for a local dealer.

Hopefully he'll be along soon then to give his opinion!:D

[markmoto]

Lissa they are reliable as long as they are looked after, as with all cars there are good and bad ones, I do alot of work on alfas and i personaly love them the engines are strong as long as they are serviced correctly service it ever year or 10,000mls with a good quality semisynthetic oil, if its a twinspark engine alfa halved the timing belt change interval from 72,000 to 36,000mls or 3 years if its a v6 then they havent changed the interval, but id recommend not leaving it past 60,000mls or five years dont skimp on servicing and it should stay running sweet.
I dont see any major problems on alfas that i dont see on other cars, most of the problems are down to bad maintenance.
He will love it. If he needed any advice point him in my direction.

[markmoto]

p.s shameless plug for www.justalfaspares.com (http://www.justalfaspares.com) andy and trish are personal friends and are always happy to help out with advice or parts if needed.

[markmoto]

159 Come on who wouldnt? http://www.alfaclub.lu/GRAPHICS/rum_159gta3.jpg

[Speedy Claire]

hmmmmmmmm..... nice car!!

[Lissa]

Lissa they are reliable as long as they are looked after, as with all cars there are good and bad ones, I do alot of work on alfas and i personaly love them the engines are strong as long as they are serviced correctly service it ever year or 10,000mls with a good quality semisynthetic oil, if its a twinspark engine alfa halved the timing belt change interval from 72,000 to 32,000mls or 3 years if its a v6 then they havent changed the interval, but id recommend not leaving it past 60,000mls or five years dont skimp on servicing and it should stay running sweet.
I dont see any major problems on alfas that i dont see on other cars, most of the problems are down to bad maintenance.
He will love it. If he needed any advice point him in my direction.

Thanks hun:D

Hopefully he won't have any big problems but I'm sure he would appreciate expert opinion and help.

[markmoto]

hmmmmmmmm..... nice car!!

Take note gents ladies go Hmmm nice when they see an alfa, imagine what they do when they they sit on the red leather seats ;):cool:

[Bluepete]

I mearly bought one, but with kids, the COMPLETE lack of rear leg room was a no no. Also, I was warned to check the glove box as some had problems with water getting in and flooding the box. Sure enough, the red V6 I drooled over was mouldy in the glove box at Carcraft. Several others had signs of moistness. (mmmmmmmmmm Moistness :smt016)

[markmoto]

I mearly bought one, but with kids, the COMPLETE lack of rear leg room was a no no. Also, I was warned to check the glove box as some had problems with water getting in and flooding the box. Sure enough, the red V6 I drooled over was mouldy in the glove box at Carcraft. Several others had signs of moistness. (mmmmmmmmmm Moistness :smt016)

Hmm not seen any signs of moistness, well not in the glove box anyway :smt016 . The v6 does sound nice though and goes equaly as nice. Im personaly a fan of the TS motor think they sound and go well.

[portreekid]

I fancy a 156 sportwagon to replace my ageing fiat marea weekend later in the year. Love the old fiat, not that popular a car but i've had mine 7 years and it owes me nothing. With moving and doing up a house just now poor thing being abused disgracefully (Has just demonstrated it's disgust by pouring oil out clutch slave cylinder - but can forgive that!)

Always liked the look of the 156 (sucker for italian style) and from what I've heard about them and as mototech says a good service history essential.

Saw a 159 the other day and really is a stunning looking piece of machinery

mototech - if you don't mind I'll maybe pick your brains a bit as well if I do go for one

[markmoto]

The italians certainly know how to put style and soul into a machine, yeah no probs pick away :-)