Not buying an Alfa.

[RoadworkUK]

I don't need any more cars. The Rover is with me until I'm buried in it, the Audi is worth nothing as it is so isn't worth getting rid of, and I quite like it anyway, so that's staying.

 

I have a single garage, drive for one more and a single spot outside my house which my infinitely better half fills with her 306. Which is also staying.

 

I can't have any more cars.

 

There's this Alfa, right, and it's pulling seductive faces at me.

 

2003 156 Spor thatch. Manual. 2.4JTD (which I assume means 10v. Single cam?). Lusso, Nero Leather. Towbar. "Buy Me" blue.

 

Looks like, and is, this:

 

 

163,000 miles, no idea about history yet but MOT until July '16 by a proper, trusted place, previous advisories were only tyres and discs.

 

It would require me to part with £350. Plus insurance, plus tax etc.

 

What would you do?

[brownnova]

Been there, would go there again.

 

Mine had done 170k ish and the engine was great!

[Timewaster]

You're not a proper petrol head until you have owned yadda yadda yadda.....

[Ghosty]

Glass's Car Checkbook says 5cyl DOHC, 136bhp.

 

Sounds like a lot of the car for the money. Do it!

[RoadworkUK]

Shit. Encouragement like this is the last thing I need.

 

I have owned a 156 before. A 1.9JTD, 05. Bought for two bags in 2011. Liked it lots but suffered massive buyers remorse and almost immediately sold it for a grand more than I paid. 

 

Would there be any hazy possibility of my making a drink on this if I run it through the winter?

[RoadworkUK]

Glass's Car Checkbook says 5cyl DOHC, 136bhp.

 

Sounds like a lot of the car for the money. Do it!

 

2 valve DOHC? Like on an I-4 Sierra? Sounds a bit silly.

 

Are these any good?

[MarvinsMom]

DO IT!!

 

you know how this site works.

 

you have 3 dozen cars already, BUT have just been offered "the one" that will make your life complete and alluring to the opposite sex,

 

you post about said vehicle in the hope of been talked out of it.

 

that isn't how autoshite works.

 

you need to buy this, because, well, just because.

 

DO IT!!

[Pillock]

For three fifty? I would, hard and fast. It's gorgeous.

 

I'm half tempted to say if you don't go for it, can I have any details of where it is?

[dollywobbler]

Jeez. I'd be so all over that if I had the money. I know I'll be kicking myself for not getting one when they were worthless.

[strangeangel]

 

What would you do?

 

Definitely not buy that.

[sporty-shite]

£350? It'd be rude not to.

[KruJoe]

I've properly had my third eye on these lately. Most recently this one had me twitching:

 

 

That ended at £400.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon-/221913024449?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=SK9nLBNmPW%252FczN5Q7cpA%252BX0G82U%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

I have absolutely no need for anything like it, but there are so many so cheap just now. It's only a matter of time.

[Ghosty]

2 valve DOHC? Like on an I-4 Sierra? Sounds a bit silly.

 

Are these any good?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JTD_engine#2.4

 

Yep, 10v, changed to 20v and a 40bhp gain in '03. Unlucky.

[LC Torana]

Ditch the Audi and buy this.

 

Life is too short.

[Junkman]

I'm fully aware that buying an Alfa is considered some kind of a passing rite.

Alfa ownership has hitherto eluded me, so please feel free to call me a wimp.

However, there is a reason for it. I take the liberty to explain.

 

If there ever was a constant in TEH JUNKMAN's life, it was this:

 

- The Junkman falls in love with a new Alfa.

- The Junkman goes to the friendly Alfa dealer.

- The Junkman test drives the new Alfa.

- The Junkman walks home crestfallen.

 

This is an ongoing procedure for the past three decades.

[purplebargeken]

Buy it then sell it to me when you have finished with it. Seriously.

 

Alfa is the next car on my bucket list. 

[drum]

Can't see it being worth less than 350 for a long time. Get it.

[spike60]

At £350 it looks well, I liked my saloon but it was too needy, requiring regular wallet opening. My high miles 10v engine and box were fine, it was all other stuff like mounts and pipes requiring attention. From memory the 10v has a 5 speed box which is better than the later 6 speed. A deal breaker for me would be the clutch, expensive to get done and beleive me, you don't want to do yourself! 5 pot engine is snug. Best low down grunt of any diesel turbo I've driven, excellent poise, comfy, 41mpg.

[Rusty_Rocket]

I've had three 156s. Two petrols and a diesel. The diesel left me cold- it had a very limited usable rev range and was a right drama queen. They do have lots of torque though but that works the driveshafts and dmf very hard and mine needed all that doing (££££).

Be sure to check the floor underneath. I know a £300 car won't be rust free at this age but the rust got one of mine badly and they're seldom worth repairing at this value.. (annoying when you've spent loads just keeping the thing running- which you will)!

[J-Rod]

Father J-Rod has one and swears by it. For £350, I say do it. 

[Cavcraft]

RoadworkUK, on 21 Oct 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

 

 

What would you do?

 

 

Stop typing and get buying.

[D Spares & Tyres]

Due to scrap now being worthless I have seen my first abandoned car in years

 

It's an 03 plate Alfa 156...

 

I loved my 2.0 sportwagen though, was just about the only modern car I can get interested in

[trigger]

As Nike would say.

 

[stripped fred]

The 10v is the one to have. My ex has one bought about 7 years ago for £600 and it's been excellent. My 20v has cost me quite a bit. You're right about the 5 speed box being the best one too.

[oldcars]

Buy it, hidden* door handles are for winners.

[RoadworkUK]

WORST FRED EVER!

 

I was providing a customer with excellent service when I saw the Alfa disappear on an auction lorry.

 

Aparrently the message about my intention to buy never got through.

 

For me it would now be subject to auction cancellation fees and or making a specific trip to Bedford Auctions to bid for it.

 

This was seriously a close one. Sorry guys.

 

Nothing to see here.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[HMC]

As someone who spectacularly failed at not buying an Alfa last week, all I can say is DO IT.

 

HTH

[Taff]

thanks.

 

I've just added a new eBay search. Alfa's between £25-£400, within a 150 mile radius

[Taff]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-ALFA-ROMEO-156-SELESPEED-BLUE-/321896784249?hash=item4af28b2179:g:25kAAOSwl9BWI6~1

 

"Taff quietly sobs into his hands as he releases what he's doing this weekend"

[Sigmund Fraud]

This is an ongoing procedure for the past three decades.

 

I'm afraid he's right. The last Alfa that felt special to drive (for the 6000 miles the bottom end usually lasted) was the 33.

 

I'd still buy an 156, they are very competent and fairly under-rated cars. Plus, I already own a multimeter and an OBDII scanner...