Alfie the Alfa (not original i know)

[sam simmons]

Here is Alfie my 156 v6 q-system (four speed auto by aisin with h-gate selector) who has been with me for over 9 years being totally reliable and never letting me down in that time.He was made in 2002 and transported to Malaysia but kept there for 3 years before being sent back to the UK and registered and bought by me approx 4 years old.

 

Doing the servicing myself has helped keep him cheap to own costing approx £2k in those years and approx 50k miles and while advised by my late father to never touch a Alfa Alfie proved he was a good buy and a fun car to own comfortably cruising well above certain speed limits (abroad of course) and even managing to carry 3 metre lengths of copper pipe thanks to the ski hatch in the rear seat when my works van was being serviced..

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading

 

Sam

[DSdriver]

Try again with the bigger pic, your avatar pic looks like an ebay advert

[Bren]

Alfa + V6 + auto =

[RoadworkUK]

Oh wow. One of my greatest regrets is not pouncing on a 53-plate 2.4 JTD 10V Sportwagon that was the same colour as yours. I could have had it for £200 but the auction lorry took it away before I could get there.

[sam simmons]

Try again with the bigger pic, your avatar pic looks like an ebay advert

 

Done....

[flat4alfa]

Nice colour that Brilliant Blue, so much so I had to have one too



Similar success story on this 2.4 JTD 10v Sportwagon. 8 years now.
Engine's never been apart nor has the sump been off. Still on its factory clutch and DMF at 170k. Every dash button operates the thing that it is supposed to.

Unlike my E46 or Rover 75

[vaughant]

Smart that. The only Alfa I've ever owned (briefly) was a 1.8 one of those which actually drive ok. Swapped it with a lad that worked for me for my old scooby and a pile of cash and to be fair I put it on eBay and if sold instantly to a total non Messer.

 

Can't remember the reg but it was still going a few years later.

 

A V6 one would have stayed a lot longer.

 

Very nice.

[vaughant]

Nice colour that Brilliant Blue, so much so I had to have one too

 

Similar success story on my 2.4 JTD 10v Sportwagon. 8 years now.

Engine's never been apart nor has the sump been off. Still on its factory clutch and DMF at 170k. Every dash button operates the thing that it is supposed to.

 

Unlike my E46 or Rover 75

Funny isn't it how odd you read everything printed on the interweb you'd think that the E46 would last forever and the Alfa would have been cut into bean cans by now.

 

Like when I had my ML, apparently the worst possible 4x4 on the road at the time yet gave me 8 years service with little maintenance and it only stopped working twice both my own faults.

[Junkman]

It would be much funnier if it had an impeccable track record of hilarious defects and FTPs.

But in order to enjoy that aspect of motoring, you'd have to buy a German or Japanese car nowadays.

[Datsuncog]

It would be much funnier if it had an impeccable track record of hilarious defects and FTPs.

You might want to brace yourself for my personal account of Alfa 156 ownership, coming soon... I take no responsibility for sides splitting as readily as did this particular Italian's brake pipes.

 

(Not knocking them, btw - gorgeous cars, but mine happened to be a total lemon that gave me more grief and expense than nearly all my other cars combined. My own fault!)

 

[flat4alfa]

Before you post the 156 woe, I'm sure there is a woe and wonder thread or two on the model already. Saying that I ought to look up the 159 and Delta III thread for my own enjoyment

[sam simmons]

It would be much funnier if it had an impeccable track record of hilarious defects and FTPs.

But in order to enjoy that aspect of motoring, you'd have to buy a German or Japanese car nowadays.

 

 

I have owned Saab`s and Volvo`s with terrible reliability which i soon got shot of but i guess if you find a good well cared for car you can get a peach and not a lemon..that said my Alfa had 4 previous owners and i bought it at 4 years old which didnt bode well but it is still going strong with a minor advisory here and there easily rectified.

[Alfaisti]

I too own a 156 in 1.9JTD flavour, hence the username, had it for 6 years and had no major problems until this year where it needed welding on the subframe. It's windscreen washers have given up the ghost and i have a leak in the boot, so may be coming to the end of the road soon

[flat4alfa]

had it for 6 years and had no major problems until this year where it needed welding on the subframe. It's windscreen washers have given up the ghost and i have a leak in the boot, so may be coming to the end of the road soon

 

What, for want of a cheap plastic washer motor and a rubber from a scrappy? Noooo

 

Even the Rover 75 has seen the sparkly stick. E46 owners don't even power them off. They are all old, beyond manufacturer's EOL and getting classical now (well ok not that Bavarian disaster   ). Funnily enough, the Rover was on a classic policy until I bought it and pushed it into the being the daily for a bit, out of choice

[sam simmons]

Nice colour that Brilliant Blue, so much so I had to have one too

 

 

Similar success story on my 2.4 JTD 10v Sportwagon. 8 years now.

Engine's never been apart nor has the sump been off. Still on its factory clutch and DMF at 170k. Every dash button operates the thing that it is supposed to.

 

Unlike my E46 or Rover 75

Cracking looking wagon you have there also nice to see you have kept the amber wing indicators on,many 156`s have smoked or clear....

[motorpunk]

Scabby Alfa? Here's mine. Might start a thread.

 

[purplebargeken]

I would have another one but not just yet.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I too own a 156 in 1.9JTD flavour, hence the username, had it for 6 years and had no major problems until this year where it needed welding on the subframe. It's windscreen washers have given up the ghost and i have a leak in the boot, so may be coming to the end of the road soon

 

 

Amateur.

 

Subframe welding is a badge of honour here. I'm sure a boot leak was listed in the 156 brochure.

[Sudsprint]

I had my 1.8 Twin Spark from new to 160k before a continental lorry wrote it off on the M20.

 

Uber reliable apart from bushes and inlet variator.

 

Replacement 2.4 JTD Sportwagon also excellent as was 159 2.4 JTD that followed it.

 

Excellent cars IMO

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Partner’s Dad has a 52 plate 1.8 twinspark and it’s lovely lovely lovely. Would have one in a heartbeat but especially a wagon. Oof.

[flat4alfa]

Uber reliable apart from bushes and inlet variator.

 

Variator didn't FTP though did it?  Never known them to jam.  They just wear out, get knocky and need replacing. Sort of a mid-life £120 consumable when the 60k belt is done

 

Rot is a weird one on the 156.  Most cars good, some quite rusty like flood cars get rusty.  Rear pans common with age due to the drainage flaps left open to the elements, speed hump grounding doesn't help.  Must admit the underseal was really sparse on my 156 wagon, yet full coverage on the earlier saloon.  Probably a Friday, when Luigi and Mario returned from late lunch having supped a couple of Peronis.

 

There is more rust under my Rover 75.

[Bren]

While some of them are bad generally I don't think they are as bad as people make out. Most 15/16 year old cars will need a patch come MOT time.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

While some of them are bad generally I don't think they are as bad as people make out. Most 15/16 year old cars will need a patch come MOT time.

 

 

 

They're not bad for rust. Better for example than the E46.

 

But, Alfa seemed to stop undersealing cars around 2003/4. Early 156's are still good after 15-20 years but later ones aren't so hot. I've seen a 20098 159 with startling underbody rust.

 

Manufacturers don't give a shit. The first owner had no rust issues, and might buy another.  You bought it at 9 years old and it needed a patch on the sill? Oh dear.

[Six-cylinder]

I love these cars so much I have to add my 10 penith!

 

This is my second 156, I started with a 2.0TS manual saloon and loved it. Then nearly 3 years ago I took on a bit broken 156 2.5 V6 manual Sportswagon Lusso from this parish and thanks to the Northampton Alfa Specialist Andy Blake who fixed it up for me it has been a wonderful car. Mrs6C and I share a pool of cars and the only one we both want to drive at the same time repeatedly is the 156.

 

I forgive you 156 all your Italian foibles, even the two recover trucks last year, it is such a pleasure to drive while still being a workhorse!  

[Supernaut]

q-system (four speed auto by aisin with h-gate selector)

What? Photos and explanation of that one please.

 

EDIT: Found a picture. Not sure if I'm less or more confused now!

 

[sam simmons]

What? Photos and explanation of that one please.

 

EDIT: Found a picture. Not sure if I'm less or more confused now!

 

D position is usual auto with sport or city mode (sport is a bit aggressive) or H gate like a normal manual gearbox but no clutch so allows downshifting into corners etc,good fun...

[motorpunk]

What? Photos and explanation of that one please.

 

EDIT: Found a picture. Not sure if I'm less or more confused now!

 

 

I am confused. Is that a 4 speed manual with a CVT autobox nailed on? What is this trickery?

[Sigmund Fraud]

I am confused. Is that a 4 speed manual with a CVT autobox nailed on? What is this trickery?

 

Mechanically, they're just a conventional 4-speed automatic. Electrickery allows you to select any of the four gears yourself using the gear lever.

 

Like many things automotive, I love the fact they exist but don't really see the point. Unsurprisingly, very few people opted for it !

[SierraMikeHotel]

I'd love to have a go with this!

 

One of the problems with flappy paddles is remembering what gear you're in, but this would get around that. Very nice indeed!

[sam simmons]

Mechanically, they're just a conventional 4-speed automatic. Electrickery allows you to select any of the four gears yourself using the gear lever.

 

Like many things automotive, I love the fact they exist but don't really see the point. Unsurprisingly, very few people opted for it !

I certainly would not of opted for it but at the time i was recovering from a motorcycle accident leaving my left leg very immobile and it was a toss up between my 156 and a BMW 330i auto which at the time was £11k whereas my 156 was £5k...and at 4 years old that was a bargain in my eyes.Being a aisin box it seems reliable but at only 70k miles i hope for a few miles yet.