Alfa 156 - Any good?

[CortinaDave]

I have spied a Y reg Alfa 156 for sale near me.. 1.8 with the leather, alloys etc. Tested till august but no rent.. Seems cheap at 550 quid... Had a look on fleabay and they dont actually seem to fetch much more than that for some reason, what is the problem with them?Are they just plagued with the usual alfa daily breakdown woes?Thought about buying it and flogging the cougar just for a change

[Mr Lobster]

Alfa reliabilty. Need I say any more Actually, they are a decent enough car. Need to be 'loved' though and can require quite a lot of expensive bits which is probably why the average used car buyer runs a mile and residual values are pretty low.Do it!

[CortinaDave]

i may go along and kick the tyres/ be a general timewaster. What should i be looking for on them?

[pogweasel]

Bit of haggling and you're under a monkey, for a neat-looking, capable motor. That's a couple of months payment of something dreary like a new i10 on the never never, so you can't really go too far wrong I'd have said.

[Mr Lobster]

i may go along and kick the tyres/ be a general timewaster. What should i be looking for on them?

Mechanically, evidence of recent / regular servicing but really everything. Don't think the 1.8 had the variator issues of the 2.0 so thats a bonus.Check that the electrical stuff works - theres a fair bit of it and it does break for fun.

[wuvvum]

Look for the cambelt having been changed on time, and check the level and condition of the oil - these do use a bit more oil than the average "modern", which can catch owners out if they don't check regularly enough. If it was a 2.0 I'd say listen out for a knackered variator, but I don't think the 1.8s had variable valve timing did they? Other than that, as per the above comments they're a capable, enjoyable, great-looking motor.

[Pete-M]

The 1.8 does have the dreaded variator issues. If it's done anywhere near 30k miles since its last belt change, then it's time for the belt, tensioner, and variator more often than not.

 

DO NOT be tempted to just whip the cambelt off and have a go at doing it yourself, you need special cam locks - if you don't have 'em, the chances of getting it wrong are huge.

 

Last time I had it done the bits came to about £90 and I paid a tame Alfa mechanic to do it, took him an hour and a half, and he charged £80 - which is bloody cheap compared to blowing the thing up.

 

Variator rattle is most pronounced below 1800-2200 rpm, if it's rattling and you don't fancy shelling out a couple of hundred quid then run away. Easy enough to spot, it'll sound like a cab below 1800 rpm when warm.

 

Other issues with 156s are front top wishbone bushes, not too hard to sort.

 

Clutch slave cylinders are an utter ballache as they're inside the bell housing, they fail about every 50k miles from my experience. Annoyingly the 155 had the same problem, but on the 155 it's a half hour job to sort as the slave is on the outside. Why they moved it to inside the bellhousing, I'll never know.

 

Power steering racks can fail, and guess what, they're not cheap.

 

Bottom end rattles / failure is pretty common on abused ones, Oil needs to be changed regularly (every 6k or so) and they like high quality synthetic oils.

 

Otherwise, they're ace. Nice to drive, ok on fuel, nippy, and handle well. Turning circle is diabolical on 'em though.

[wuvvum]

DO NOT be tempted to just whip the cambelt off and have a go at doing it yourself, you need special cam locks - if you don't have 'em, the chances of getting it wrong are huge.

Aren't the cam pulleys a taper fit on these engines rather than a woodruff key? I'm sure I remember reading that somewhere. So basically as soon as you undo the bolts the pulleys can spin independently of the cams and you've got a hell of a job to get your timing back. Which seemed like a bit of a daft idea to me, but I'm sure Alfa had their reasons...All modern Alfas seem to have crap turning circles - the 166s are dreadful, and I understand 147s are pretty poor too, although I've never driven one.

[wuvvum]

Just a thought - I'm assuming it's a manual and not the Selespeed robotised gearbox? If it's got a Sillyspeed, don't even think about it.

[fiatdaft]

they are nice, esp. with momo leather but knocking bottom end knocking ,cam variator probs as mentioned but they do seem to be needing welding now at the corners of the sills, just don't buy a tatty one .and expect to always be fiddling with it !

[Dead_E23]

Check the condition of the radiator too - they should sit at 90 degrees under pretty much any conditions, and if they go much over that then the radiator has probably had it. Budget about £120 for the rad and (iirc) £40 for the thermostat, which usually needs doing at the same time. Not too difficult a job to replace either of them.Rear brakes seem a bit prone to seizing - I once had to replace a caliper, and now it seems that my rear pads are sticking. A few minutes with a wire brush should fix that.Twinsparks have a reputation for using oil, but I suspect this depends on how they've been looked after. Mine hardly consumes any, and it has done 148k. 15k of those have been in my ownership, and I have found it pretty reliable, if not the most comfortable car of all time (I suspect that this is largely due to my 148k driver's seat, which seems to have lost nearly all of its lumbar supporting properties).Finally, Alfa enthusiasts are always keen to tell you how quick they are. In reality, they're not especially - but they do make it feel like you're going much faster than the reality and they're engaging things to drive. I think they're nice to look at, too.

[Spiny Norman]

I loved the one I had.

A 156 is one of those cars where if you get a good one you'll never want to part with it, but buy a turkey and all the "told you so"s will really get on your tits.

 

In 4 years mine suffered from a dead battery, a broken rear door handle and less electrical silliness than any other car I've ever had. But feck me, could it generate some service bills!

It holds the record for the single biggest bill I've ever paid on any car, at just over £800 which was a major 48k, 'cambelts and everything else while you're in there' service with new plugs (£80 on their own!), all fluids changed, MOT and a couple of tyres.

Selling it last year was the stupidest car-related decision I've ever made.

 

If you get one from someone like me who treated it like their cherished first-born you'll be fine, but buy an uncared-for turkey and you'll regret it, and it'll put you off Alfas for life, which would be a real shame.

[whitevanman]

Dave...don't you just know it will bite you

[ashmicro]

Warped brake discsSeized rear calipersBlower malfunction (resistor) easy fixBlocked evaporator drain on AC models can cause fishtank footwellsSeized bonnet catchFuel tank sender rings a bell, think it was a recall on someFront upper arm bushesWater in plug orifices can cause rough running, Idle Speed Control can fail alsoSome ECU software bugs are knownLeaking power steeringA few people have told me that insurance can be a bit pricey too.

[Justin Case]

Mine is also a 1.8, and was also originally Y-reg, but has only done 61k. Servicing is expensive, even though I have mine done at an Italian car specialist, but I think it pays in the long run. In my seven years it has needed, besides the normal service items (cambelt is every 36k, but they changed the recommendation after mine had done 48k with no problems), rear suspension bushes (these don't last very long ) drivers door lock and that's it The o/s rear window doesn't work and the spring on the luggage cover has broken, but I can live with these for the time being.£550 seems suspiciously low, I recently had a look at the BCA website and the going rate seems to be about £800 to £1,000. I would think that a good service history with genuine Alfa parts and Selenia oil would be the best hope for trouble free motoring, but is probably unlikely at that age so be careful.Get a good one and you won't regret it; I've found nothing to replace mine with yet, the 159 is too big and unwieldy. It may not be the fastest car out, but hustling it along rural A-roads revving it up and down in the gears, is probably the most fun thta you can have with your trousers on

[Mr Lobster]

Get a good one and you won't regret it; I've found nothing to replace mine with yet, the 159 is too big and unwieldy. It may not be the fastest car out, but hustling it along rural A-roads revving it up and down in the gears, is probably the most fun thta you can have with your trousers on

Agreed! On it's day and on the right road my 145 was absolutely superb and possibly the best car I've ever owned. Certainly the one I'll end up regretting selling the most. There genuinely is something special about Alfas so if its half reasonable then buy it, yes there might be a few problems along the way but thats part of the Alfa experience isn't it!Thing is, my 145 was slower, more expensive to run, less practical, less reliable and more frustrating than the SEAT which replaced it. But it had a lot more character and was a really enjoyable car to own.

[meggersdog]

Sounds cheap.There was a 1.8 X.reg in Peterborough BCA on Friday 80k with history but no MOT and I spotted the rotten sills underneath the side skirts.It still made 800 clams though.

[Guest]

My mate just got a V6 one and he seems well chuffed with it.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The problem with Alfas is that once you own one you run the risk of becoming one of the biggest wankers on the the planet - an Alfisti.Alfisti spend all day on Alfaowner berating BMW's and talking about how their GM engined Brera/159/MiTo (insert mediocre Alfa here) has got 'soul' and 'passion' when really it's just a nice old badge on a badly made Italian Vectra.Some of them are quite scary.

[Justin Case]

The problem with Alfas is that once you own one you run the risk of becoming one of the biggest wankers on the the planet - an Alfisti.

I refuse to rise to the bait

[UglyAmerican]

Betaphile has a 156 in his household. I'm sure he'll be round soon with some advice.His is either a 1.8 or a 2.0 twin spark, and he did mention to me that you have to keep it on boil to really make it move. But overall he quite likes it and is happy with the purchase. I know the belts are big to look after.

[Betaphile]

The one in our household is a good 'un, but took a long time (6 months) to track down. Buying a 156 is a tricky business because although there are good ones out there, there are also ones that have been abused to hell and back and have the potential to ruin you.

 

On the other hand, 156s don't tend to hide abuse well, so if it looks like it's been pampered then it probably has been. Bottom line is, 156 is a typical Alfa in that it is not necessarily inherently unreliable, but skimp on the maintenance and it will pay you back many times over for doing so.

 

So: full service history is essential. Without one I would only touch it at disposable beer-money type pricing, otherwise you're taking a fair-sized punt.

 

Otherwise:

 

* Avoid Selespeeds at any price.

* Diesels are generally pretty reliable, from memory cambelt change is scheduled at 60,000 miles on the 1.9 rather than 36,000 miles on the 2.0 TS.

* Electrics can be grumbly occasionally - typical Italian, dealt with in the usual way (ignore it until it starts working again).

* Variator problems as previously mentioned.

* Original oil spec on the 2.0 Twin Sparks (possibly also 1.6 and 1.8, best to check this) was 10W/40 from the factory; subsequently revised to 10W/60. If you do get a TS, don't ignore this. It was changed for a reason.

* 2.0 Twin Spark is generally regarded as a more characterful and better engine than the later JTS, even though it's a bit less powerful.

* Suspension bushes wear relatively quickly on all cars, but especially the V6 and 2.4 JTD - because of the extra weight in the nose - go through them at an obscene rate.

* As noted, some Twin Sparks go through a lot of oil (I have seen up to a litre every thousand miles quoted as 'within tolerances'), some none at all. This seems to be related to how sympathetically it was treated early in life, but if it's using oil it's not a problem per se - just make sure you keep an eye on it. Otherwise, BIG $$$$$$. They REALLY don't like oil starvation.

 

Otherwise, they're not bad cars from a durability point of view - they have their issues and niggles, but nothing fundamental. The reason for the low values I think is typical Alfa residuals/rep plus the large number of dogs out there. They go pretty well once you wind the revs up on the petrol fours - not blindingly fast in outright terms but they feel and sound quicker than they are. Handling is very good too. The reason for the piss-poor turning circle, by the way, is that the front suspension has close to Ackerman geometry, which makes it quick to respond off-centre, but makes the turning circle as dismal as it is. Big deal.

[wuvvum]

I don't think I can recall ever seeing 10W/60 oil on sale...

[myglaren]

Opie Oils UK

[Betaphile]

Alfa's recommendation is Selenia Racing 10W/60 which you can pick up at any Fiat/Alfa dealer (for a doubtless extortionate price).

[Spiny Norman]

Handling is very good too. The reason for the piss-poor turning circle, by the way, is that the front suspension has close to Ackerman geometry, which makes it quick to respond off-centre, but makes the turning circle as dismal as it is. Big deal.

Quite a few new cars have 40 foot turning circles due to the stupidly wide wheels they're built to accommodate, so Alfa just got in first with that one!

The handling is without doubt the best feature of the car. I've driven properly expensive new sports cars that didn't track round bends the way my 156 did, and I once nearly demolished £40k-worth of Mercedes by assuming it could take a bend I knew well at the same 70mph I took it at in the Alfa..

 

I'm desperately trying not to be an "Alfisti wanker" but let's not forget that we're delving pretty deeply into the problems suffered by a 12 year-old model range here. If you go onto any single make car forum for BMWs, Audis, Mercs, Renaults or God forbid, Rovers of a similar age you'll read tales of woe that would put you off them too. The other side of the coin is that there are plenty of 156s with well over 100k miles on them, I heard of a V6 on the Alfa forum with over 200k miles, so they will take it if they're looked after.

[wilko]

I don't think I can recall ever seeing 10W/60 oil on sale...

Castrol RS, which was replaced by Castrol Edge Sport - easy to get, costs about the same as Mobil 1.Best thing about petrol Alphas is the fact they rev and rev and sound better and better the harder you do it - had a mate with a 146 TS and this was the most impressive thing about it, although the dashboard was sexier than most euroboxes too - I doubt I'll ever buy one as I would probably drive it with the windows down and rev it until the cams fall out and get about 15mpg

[dollywobbler]

Crap turning circles - you've just reminded me how awful my 164 was in this regard. Amazing how annoying that lack of turning ability can be too - it's a bit tight regarding parking here and I ALWAYS had to have two attempts to reverse into the parking spaces here.But Alfas truly are magical. And quite good at being rubbish. Boring is one thing they definitely aren't.

[Dead_E23]

I have just spent the afternoon fiddling about with mine. It got some 10w/40 Magnatec because that's what I had in the shed. I realised that last time I serviced it 12k ago, I'd used 5w/30 by accident - it had hardly used a drop, which I think is pretty good for a 148k engine that gets redlined most days. I've also put some new pads in the back - hopefully these ones won't seize in the mounting bracket and make squealing noises like the last lot did.

[Mr Lobster]

Best thing about petrol Alphas is the fact they rev and rev and sound better and better the harder you do it - had a mate with a 146 TS and this was the most impressive thing about it, although the dashboard was sexier than most euroboxes too - I doubt I'll ever buy one as I would probably drive it with the windows down and rev it until the cams fall out and get about 15mpg

On 145 Cloverleaf and 146Ti models they have a resonator pipe which takes air to the AFM and filter. Alfa sell a straight through pipe to replace this which when fitted makes it sound even sexier. Fitted one to mine and red lining it though tunnels became quite addictive after that