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I am about to buy one I would really like some imput from 156 owners on their ownership experiances
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Here we go - cue the Anti Alfa brigade!
I personally think they look gorgeous, and when I drove one it seemed pretty good to me....
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..and the reliability?!!
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ive had a 145 cloverleaf (my own) and 147 2.0 petrol as a company car. both nice to drive but £75 p/h labour charge and poor reliability dont add up. stick to german cars now. its ok if your company are paying the bills but when a brand new car breaks down 5 times in 3 months then id question the reliability. they need to get their dealer network sorted out as well - they dont no what customer sevice is!
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£75 p/h labour charge and poor reliability dont add up. stick to german cars now.
Obviously it doesn't address any reliabily problem, but, out of interest, what are the labour charges at your German car garage?
I find it hard to believe that they're any less, unless you found a very expensive Alfa dealer and a very cheap German car dealer.
On the other hand, if it's under warrantee then you shouldn't be paying those charges for issues with the car, and if it isn't, then a golden rule of Alfa ownership is to find a non-dealer specialist.
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Here we go - cue the Anti Alfa brigade! I personally think they look gorgeous, and when I drove one it seemed pretty good to me....
did you buy it?
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No, it was over budget at the time. I ended up with a Laguna 2.2dt Executive.
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Go for it (although Im a bit biased!) I drive a GTA and it is awsome. For more advice Mr No Dosh will no doubt soon be along, a moderator on this site, he has a JTD sportwagon.
For any other advice etc. you could try alfaowner plenty of good advice on there.
www.alfaowner.com/Forum/index.php?referrerid=3852
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Hi Dave
I haven't owned a 156, but I'm possibly more qualified than most contributers, as I do own an Alfa.
My Alfa has been pretty reliable, only had one non-start in two years of ownership. It's also been the most rewarding, enjoyable car I've ever owned.
The reliability problems which Alfa are renowned for are mostly a thing of the past - I say mostly as it seems there is still the odd 'friday afternoon' job, but the majority are fine. They do sometimes suffer from the odd dashboard or door rattle, but it's a small price to pay for a car which shines out amongst the dull cars you see surrounding you on the roads every day. The important thing about an Alfa, and the reason to buy it is that every time you step out of your front door and see it, it makes you smile.
I would recommend you follow this link:
www.alfaowner.com/Forum/index.php?referrerid=3009
and ask the people there about your prospective purchase, there is a great deal of knowledge held on AlfaOwner, and they're all very friendly and ready to help you out.
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I'd agree with everything PR says, apart from the link to use ;)
Nah, don't worry about that, it's a referral thing, but however you get there, I'd certainly recommend a visit to Alfaowner.
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Oh, another piece of info: The Alfa JTD is a very well regarded engine, one of the best diesels available. So good in fact that I think Alfa have now dropped their 2.5 V6, since it's not as quick!
I have been in one and as well as decent power, and shed-loads of torque, it's actually got quite a nice engine note, very un-diesel-like.
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So you're saying the 2.4 jtd doesn't rattle like a diesel? I have yet to hear any diesel that doesn't sound like a skeleton have an epileptic fit inside a filing cabinet! If the alfa manages to do that as well as look gorgeous then I might be tempted to buy one as a sensible car :-)
I've driven a petrol 156 and it was a good drive. Comfy seats, well built, very quiet. Quick rack steering was good but took a little time get used to before I stopped over steering.
My dad nearly bought a 156 diesel but only the ground clearance put him off. He spent a week raving about how comfortable the seats were though.
teabelly
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So you're saying the 2.4 jtd doesn't rattle like a diesel? I have yet to hear any diesel that doesn't sound like a skeleton have an epileptic fit inside a filing cabinet! If the alfa manages to do that as well as look gorgeous then I might be tempted to buy one as a sensible car :-)
I know exactly what you mean, and I myself have always been a fanatical diesel hater, but it's certainly swayed me.
The engine noise is very hard to describe, it's certainly not the same as a petrol engine, but it's not rattly as you'd expect. I know one JTD owner who describes it as a bit like an 80's Audi Quattro rally car - possibly a little bit of wishful thinking there...
But, they definitely sound nothing at all like the nasty Corsa 1.5TD I'm currently driving (suffering?) while my 145 is in for her service.
This news just in: She's passed both MOT and service with flying colours (that's a 5 year-old, 84,000 mile 'unreliable Alfa' ;) ) so this afternoon I'll be back in the driving seat where I belong!
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So you're saying the 2.4 jtd doesn't rattle like a diesel? I have yet to hear any diesel that doesn't sound like a skeleton have an epileptic fit inside a filing cabinet! If the alfa manages to do that as well as look gorgeous then I might be tempted to buy one as a sensible car :-)
I drive a diesel and am therfore biased. My wife's VAG 1.9tdi rattles like your skeleton but the last 2 cars I've had have both had 6cyl engines and I find that they hardly rattle.
As the Alfa has 5cyls I am sure that it won't be that rattley.
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serious torque.
i heard vauxhall are sourcing it for a new shape sri diesel astra.
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I agree with BazzaBear - consult the Alfa gurus on Alfaowner.com. I'm a passionate owner of a 2 litre manual 156 - it's been the finest car I've ever owned. 3 years and 60,000 miles of trouble-free motoring. By "trouble-free" I mean MAJOR troubles. There ARE niggles with Alfa - creaky dashboard, fuse box door coming off, occasional electrical problems. However, they don't detract from the whole ownership experience in my view.
It's a beautiful saloon, with a superb engine and it gives an entralling drive. I look back at it every time I park up - there can't be many cars that have this effect after 3 years.
Alfa dealers come in for a lot of criticism. And most of it is justified! That's why I tend to live with the minor problems until the car comes up for a routine service and get them to sort everything in one go. Otherwise you take the car in to be fixed for 1 minor problem, and end up coming away with a new, minor problem.
Anyway, I can't recommend the 156 enough!
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There's a full road test review of the 156 JTD (and many others) at www.dieselcar.com - albeit a few years old
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Depending on the relative age of the review, and the car Dave is intending to buy, it could be quite out. There have been 3 2.4JTD engines I think, getting more powerful with each incarnation.
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I will be going for the 1.9 115bhp, ex alfa uk cars that most dealers seem to have at resonable prices with less than 8000miles on the clock, when I test drove one I was so impressed with the whole car, the handling, the inside, and the sound !!!! of the engine, I have had diesels for 10 years now and this was the most impressive yet although our 8 year old 306 dturbo takes some beating round the bends (if you know the road)thanks for everyones imput but I am still a bit worried about servicing costs etc
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Oh right, sorry Dave, I've been talking about the 2.4.
I'd still recommend Alfaowner, there are plenty of people on there with 1.9's, and I'm sure they'll be able to advice you on costs.
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For that matter, although PR has said he can't help that much as he has the GTA, I'm pretty sure his partner has a 147 with the 1.9JTD engine in, so perhaps he can give some advice too.
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You're right Bazza! The 147 JTD is a lovely car, with a willing engine, good economy and not too bad a sound. She has done 14k miles in 7 months without a hitch (except new rear window, because 2 elements werent working)
It hasnt used any oil, and the first service cost £185 which is a bit steep, (especially compared to my GTA which was £150).
If I were you Id also try the 1.9JTD MJet, which is the 16v one, and has 140bhp and more torque than the GTA. If you bought a new one you'd also get a 5year warranty, and dont be too put off by the cost, we got £2.5k off the 147 from our local dealer!
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this is a real long shot but, has any one used Monza Sport in W. Sussex for servicing - any good?
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drive through cowfold quite a lot where they are situated can,t help about the servicing but there are certainly a lot less cars for sale than there used to be,just an observation.
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My car is in the bottom 20 in the reliability & depreciation indexes. And you know what? I couldn't care less. I think it's great & I've not had any problems with it so far in 12 months & 14,000 mls. Intend to keep it a while too, so not really interested how much it's worth.
If you fancy it, go for it...
Let your heart rule your head!
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{psst....Nitro....you need to tell us what car you've got, I take it it's an Alfa?}
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I have owned 2 156 2.5 v6 models, both bought second hand. Nearly 3 years worth of trouble free enjoyable motoring. Find a good specialist to service your car and ignore the misguided anti-Alfa comments you read in lots of the motoring press.
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No, it's French...
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No, it's French...
Oh right, REALLY unreliable then ;)
Glad to know my marque isn't the only one instantly disregarded as hopelessly unreliable by the great ignorenti.
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Bazza,
Let the masses buy Mondeos, Vectras et al.
Nowt wrong with them, but it's nice to own something that not TOO many people have...
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