decided to buy an Alfa 156, getting the squeak sorted still on the laguna, (they had it 3days last sat and still couldnt fix it ) but as soon as then hello alfa, has anyone had one? i am thinking of getting the 1.8TS as apposed to the 2.0 or the 2.5 mainly for running costs etc etc. but i think they look well cool and should do for a yr until i decide on whether to get my Esc Cos or not

 

yeah they look nice but not overly quick. Me mates dad had a 2.5 156 and snapped 2 timing chains and done a gearbox in a year. Was a brand new one as well....

Make sure you get a warranty!!

Chris

 

I have the older and bigger 164 Cloverleaf (3.0 V6) and they are great fun to drive as are the 156 (test drove loads) although the 1.8 is not up to much the 2.0 is better all rounder I think!

Just make sure you get one that has been looked after as they do suffer if neglected and can be expensive as well!

 

Have a read up on them here:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/index.ph...ycar/index.htm

 

i had a 156 company car for 2 months

2.0 t spark thing

lovely looking car inside and out

drank oil and had to have the side skirts replaced as a garage put it up on the wrong ramps and snapped them

 

Mate of mine has one as a company car and he loves his to bits. Mind you he also has an MX5 as well

No reliabilty issues in the past 2 years

 

i was thinking about one of these, the diesal engine is supposed to be the good, 2.4 JTD one, 147bhp as standard

give it to stu and see what he can do

 

no.. but i saw one rolled in a field this morning musnt like the wet

 

my mates brother has got one. it broke a cambelt (or chain i don't know) before it was due for replacement and fucked the engine. cost him 5k for the car, and over 2k to have new engine put in.

it's a fiat, need you say any more?

 

Pretty car, but not as quick as you might think, and smaller than the likes of Mondeo, Vectra etc.

Engines have to be revved to get the best out of them - that may be why Alfas like their oil - count on a pint or more every thousand miles.

Electrics can still be a little teperamental, but way better than Alfas used to be.

Parts availability isn't as good as some other makes. My car was off the road for 8 days waiting for a rear wheel bearing: first one arrived broken, 2nd arrived and didn't fit. Third time lucky.

The dealer network is, generally, shit - if you find a good dealer keep going back to him (and you will!)

 

about a ton for the set of plugs.IIRC

 

A couple of my mates have got them. Ones got a 2lt twin spark on an R. He does loads of miles and has had:
the cams, a waterpump,two rear suspension arms and all the front suspension bushes replaced under warranty.
Oh and a power steering pump too!
To be fair - thats in 3 years HARD driving.
The other one is an X plate 2lt selespeed in black. Looks great - the gearbox will confuse the fuck out of you though. It automatically changes down when you slow down for example for a roundabout.. but doesnt change up again
Sometimes you dont think its going to downshift, so you change down, so does the car and you headbutt the steering wheel!
He's had it 6 months with no probs so far.

People have horror stories for any car. So long as you get a good one you'll love it.