I’ve had 2 156s and now a GT, all 2 litre petrol.
The first 156 was S reg, non-sports pak but SP width tyres.
It gave me problems but was really nice to drive and a real mileage eater – drove from Surrey to Scotland with one break at a service station for a slash.
The second was a V reg and apparently they were more reliable from this date onwards.
It had the sportspak and was fantastic to drive with a great turn-in – had the feeling it would get you out of any corner/situation. When I picked it up from the garage I had face ache by the time I got home from the constant grinning.
I think the camber on the front wheels was wrong as no other 156 I have driven turned-in quite as well.
The only problem I had was when the clutch went toward the end of the time I had it – and I gave it away to a mate who has spent a fair bit on it doing it up and it is enjoying its retirement being suitably thrashed up near Birmingham.
The GT is nice and has more grunt but does not have the road holding of the 2nd 156. I got the GT to fit the bike in the back, otherwise I would have spent more on the 156 keeping it going.
The cam belt service interval is lower than Alfa originally said.
They also use oil – 1 litre per 1000 miles is not unusual. Ferraris use oil as well…
The petrol engines are nicer for me as they feel more like the car has a heart, but they are quite flat below 2.75k revs, whereas the diesel is obviously not. I would run V-Power petrol just to get better torque at lower revs.