Alfa 156

[Howard]

And other similar aged models, how bad are these in terms of reliability?

[hitman67]

Alfa - Do you really want me to answer that.

Similiar Age - Well we really need an age and price if you want the right opinions. But I'm going to try and avoid VAG for this one to see if It works.

Quick List:

Nissan Primera
Ford Mondeo
Ford Escort
BMW E36 (NOT Recommended)
Toyota Avensis (Taxi drivers favourite)

[5lab]

they're not as bad as you think, but their dealers are aweful. you can simply get a warentee to cover the issues, then you're fine..

[dangel]

"Since its launch the 156 has picked up plenty of magazine and industry awards, but don't mention the customer surveys... Used Alfas cost more to repair than any other make, according to Warranty Direct. Alfas came joint worst for breakdowns in the German ADAC survey in 2001. Alfa was fourth-worst manufacturer and the 156 second-worst model in the 2002 Which? reliability survey. The 156 came ninth from last in the 2002 Auto Express satisfaction survey; it didn't do too well in the 2002 JD Power survey either. Meanwhile 4car's user tests on the 156 are riddled with niggling faults, and Alfa dealers get a very mixed assessment. Be aware what you're letting yourself in for.

The interior looks better than it feels - the dials, switches and minor controls all look great but the heating and ventilation dials could be more precise in their movement. The dashboard is made of rubbery black plastic but it's very deeply grained and marks more easily than it cleans. The seats squeaked on two of our (new) test cars, too."

Score: 2/5 for reliability & quality - Alfa Romeo 156 (2003-2006) (http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-te...--relqual.html)

Everyone moans about them as far as I can see.. Like all alfa's it's something you'd buy with your heart, not your head..

[davidstone28]

Well, put it this way - if yearly maintenance on an Avensis or an Accord involves a couple of new tyres and wiping the engine with an oily rag, a leggy 156 is likely to require tyres, oily rag, wishbones, ball joints, an electrical engineer.....

I don't think they're inherently unreliable in the sense it'll leave you stranded on the motorway (I'm looking for a 147), just that you'll have to budget for yearly maintenance costs over and above that of cars that run like clockwork. Also, as dangel has pointed out alot of owners have complained about the poor service from Alfa dealers. Most owners 'in the know' go to Alfa specialists which tend to know what they're doing as well as being cheaper. I also remember reading somewhere that a replacement lockset costs £1,000 (though I might be wrong on that).

http://www.alfa156.net/

[dangel]

Part of me has always liked them - but buying one would be like listening to the voice that says 10 pints of beer and driving home is fine.. Don't do it
Posh man's Fiat innit bruv?

[Howard]

That's what I thought. Shame, they're beautiful looking cars. I dunno.. I'm just thinking about the slight maybe possibilities of cars I'll be "upgrading" to in under a year's time perhaps.

[Shad]

My dad's had a 156 through his work since new at the end of 2002. So far the only problems have been the ECU threw a wobbly and they had to replace something quite critical which ended up resetting the mileage, and the climate control has developed dimentia.

Some are good, some are not. The later ones are a LOT better than the earlier ones, so buy as new as you can. And preferably with warrenty.

They look lovely, and sound lovely, but they will never be a 'smart buy'. Only car nuts need apply

[hitman67]

Possibly get hung for this - But I've heard around that the diesels tend to be more reliable. Might be worth considering.

[Barakka]

Possibly get hung for this - But I've heard around that the diesels tend to be more reliable. Might be worth considering.

Mmmmm the 156 2.4 JTD, nice quick car, give it a remap and you're pushing 200bhp

One of the managers at work had a 156 2.4 JTD for about 6 months and had no end of problems with it... kept cutting out at motorway speed. In the end he got another car and passed it down to a lower manager who had the car for another 2 and a half years with not a single problem.

Italian cars are all about how you look after 'em - treat it well and it looks after you... don't service it regulary etc. and it'll try and put itself in reverse when you're doing 80 in the fast lane

[hitman67]

There was an 06 JTD sat outside the office this morning, Stunningly beautiful car but somehow I was more attracted to the 51 reg TD5 Defender behind it...

[dave87]

One of the managers at work had a 156 2.4 JTD for about 6 months and had no end of problems with it... kept cutting out at motorway speed. In the end he got another car and passed it down to a lower manager who had the car for another 2 and a half years with not a single problem.

Doesn't that tell you something about managers?

Nah they are nice cars, I just dont trust Italian electrics (see Ducati electrical problems - absolute nightmare...)

[herbert_goon]

If you are going for a second hand one, see if you can get one from a specialist like Ramponi or maybe the owners club.

If they have been looked after (and that means check oil/water every week, warmed up ok etc etc) then they are great cars, very reliable and rewarding. Avoid anything < 2.0ts (and avoid selespeed) - the 2.0ts is still lively and sounds great. Also beware any petrol that sounds like a diesel at tick over - this means cambelt/variator belt change is imminent. This job is about &#163;400 at a specialist. Make sure the gearchange is smooth. Looks for signs of TLC! (maybe a 3rd hand one is a best bet from the owners club?)

I have also hear good things about the jtd - check the forums/autodelta etc

Other boring things include - it's not got tons of room in the back. Avoid one with the boot spoiler (it can ruin the boot springs and sometimes smash the rear window!). It will be great fun!

Any second hand car can go pop in a few months time. Alfa's are a real bargain - never buy a new one but at 3 years old they can be a steal.

Not that I am a fan or anything....

Best of luck

[gobbo]

Oh the Alfa 156, looks good, pretty fast, but it will break on you at every givern oppertunaty.

For some reason, the engineers must have cut so many corners with it, trim is a poor fit, bits fall off, cheep plastics, even worse electrics. Engine, brakes, paintwork, pretty much everything.

Please do your sanity a favour and don't buy one, be much better off with a Nissan Primera/Ford Mondeo etc, but not a Vauxhall Vectra!

[J4MES]

much better off with a Nissan Primera/Ford Mondeo etc, but not a Vauxhall Vectra!

right, he's on about an Alfa - yes, they're Italian, but... THEY'RE ITALIAN!!! Primera? Mondeo?? Give me a break.... oh, but a Vectra's fine?!?!?!?!

[Howard]

The styling just stirs the irrational buyer inside me!