my saab blew up spectacularly. hard to find a replacement engine.

have seen an Alfa I quite fancy, but would like to know in advance what will go badly wrong if i buy one that's done about 70k miles?

(it's a V6)

…have a word with the nice peeps over at http://www.alfa156.net forum, I've got a 2.0 rather than the V6 which I've run from 55k to 125k and I still love it…

has it had the cambelt done. That's the killer on these iirc (mine went bang at about 52K vs a 60K change. Or so i thought, until a helpful Alfa mechanic 'leaked' an internal service doc to me advising garages to advise change at 48K now because too many weren't masking to 60K)

It's not massive in the back for an estate.

I loved my 147, no help I know, but do it! Everyone should have an Alfa

I had a V6, bloody lovely.

The cambelts do need regular attention, it's not just Alfas but everyone is halving their cambelt change intervals.

The engine itself is very strong and will run and run, however do resist the temptation to fit an aftermarket air filter as they kill the air mass meter very quickly – 1 year and three days on average (funnily enough just outside the warranty period).

Check the suspension too. Any clonking needs sorting PDQ as complete replacement of rear bushings is expensive. Also the Sport Pack handles much better than the wallowy Comfort standard pack too.

Enjoy! And get used to 18mpg… 🙂

most alfas have a good commanding road presents (when they are on the AA/RAC low loader).

Under 20mpg unless you have a very light foot! Stupid road tax next year as well. V6's don't have the same cam belt issues as the TS engines, officially its 72k or five years but many owners change them at 60k. TS engines have been at 36k for the past few years now. I have a 1.8TS SportWagon by the way.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/ is the best forum around, http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_servicing.shtml is the cheapest place for servicing.

boot isn't huge, nor the tailgate. If you can live with that, get one.

My last car was a 2.0ts one, absolutely lovely car…but, the boot is tiny, and I really mean tiny, it's a funny shape and not really any bigger than a mk3 golf hatch (which it replaced) the suspension will creak and bang even if there is no play in any of the bushes, the v6 lump is heavy and apparently doesn't handle as well as the 4 pots and the water pump will die causing loads of expensive problems unless it's been replaced with a metal vaned one. Oh and over 30k miles I averaged 25mpg
I'd have another one tomorrow though, although realistically I'll have to wait until the kids don't need a pushchair, did I say the boot was small?

the boot is actually smaller than the 156 saloon boot, despite the wagon being longer!

'leaked' an internal service doc to me advising garages to advise change at 48K now because too many weren't masking to 60K)

Dont know why he "leaked" it, its common knowledge and customers were updated years ago. I had an S reg 156, 1.8 ts. Great car, possibly one of the nicest looking cars around (within reach of course)
Have a 147 2.0 TS Selespeed now, luurrrvvlly
Put the best oil you can afford in as well, as regularly as you can afford!

…and don't go near an Alfa main dealer 🙂 use the forums to find a local Fiat/Alfa specialist in your area…

I had the pleasure of working in an Alfa dealership, 00-03. As above, cambelt at 80km, but make sure you use a shop with the correct tooling. Both V6 and TS engines have NO timing marks, the cams are locked in position for timing by CNC caps that fit over one of the lobe profiles, the pulleys with correctly tensioned belts are then locked to the shafts, and timing is set. Without these tools the cam timing will never be correct.
Also, unless the shop has an Alfa diagnostic tool (EXAMINER), they will struggle with the late cars, and if you have a Selespeed, forget it. Selespeeds need careful set up of clutch and shift gate calibration that is impossible without the Alfa diagnostics. Well set up they are a pleasure, poorly a nightmare, (dont expect well set up from new).

In sum, a good independent with correct kit wil care and do the job. A dealer will have the correct kit, and is unlikely to care, unless you're lucky (me :-)), but a well meaning independent without the kit may waste both your and their time on anything other than routine servicing.

Edit: In nearly four years I never saw a 156 come in on a transporter, 166 yes, 156 no. Plenty of stupid troubles, yes, but they didn't STOP.

So, how much would you charge me then chopper for a cambelt change 😉

Chopper actually sounds like someone on here who knows what he is talking about 🙂

Apart from the bit about 156's never coming in on trailers though – mine did after the crank sensor went one night. I was able to tell the dealer what the problem was though and he ordered a new one ready for me.

Sorry iDave, long out of it now, no special tools and abut 12000m away from you.
Still, If you pay the airfare….

cambelt on my Sportwagon went at 42000 miles. – 3 months outside warranty period. No one was interested in helping out (either the dealer who'd serviced it or Alfa).

Alfa main dealer wanted £2500 to sort out, indepemdent £1800.

Ended up being cheaper to sell the car witht he knackered engine than pay for the repairs and then sell it.

156 Sportwagon 156 2.4 diesel here

Drop links, corroded earth strap (which led to a flatbed recovery), minor electrical niggles and a whistley turbo. Put 80k on it over 4 years, cambelt changed at 60k. Smallest estate in the world, but drives brilliantly. If I'm careful, I get close on 50mpg; would love the V6 but I couldn't affort the fuel given the miles I'm doing at the mo. Will def. buy another Alfa next year.

As mentioned above, key is finding a good independant – they love Alfas and are massively cheaper than the twits at the main dealers. There's a great independant just outside Wrexham if you're near there.

one thing I would add to my previous post;

They drive wonderfully but you do have to get used to hearing the sump gaurd hitting the tarmac on a regular basis.

in a word….

… lovely

Had a TS Sportwagon as a company car – leaving that behind was the worst thing about getting a better job with a new employer.

The only problem I had was a flat battery – was doing circa 30k pa. Gorgeous to look at, really nice to drive, fantastic engine sound – especialy from 4500 rpm to the redline.

Only downside was that it needed a roof bars and box to make it into an outdoors / camping vehicle

ETA – wouldn't fancy the fuel bill on the V6

I had a 156 as a company car, in fact we had about 25 of them (obviously got a bundle deal).

Now I and approximately 20 of the other drivers got to experience why Alfa got the reputation they had. Reliable, they most certainly were not.

Lovely car to look at, lovely car to drive, interior was great, and different to every other Eurobox, it was just an unreliable pile of junk.