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#11
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PeterMcC > wrote:
> > Thanks again for your help, you have all been very helpful. > > Have you never owned an Alfa before? If not, that's another powerful > argument to put on the 166's side. And, quite genuinely, though I don't do > the miles I used to, my current 166 is one of the cheapest cars to maintain > that I can remember. In the last 24,000 miles my only outside-of-servicing > expenditure was on a replacement water pump. Erm, doesn't that mean replacing the cambelts etc, though? - it's hardly a trivial item, IME. -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
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#12
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Nope, never owned an Alfa before. I'm swinging back to the 156 idea,
whats the general consensus on the Selespeed gearbox? I'm thinking I will be better trying to avoid it so there's less to go wrong but I must say I'm a sucker for fancy gadgets. |
#13
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> wrote:
> Nope, never owned an Alfa before. I'm swinging back to the 156 idea, > whats the general consensus on the Selespeed gearbox? I'm thinking I > will be better trying to avoid it so there's less to go wrong but I > must say I'm a sucker for fancy gadgets. Yup, you're right, avoid it. It's sometimes known as the 'sillyspeed' around these parts. -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#15
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#16
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I don't think the wife will let me have any more hobby cars, not with a
half built kit car in the garage, and 2 Minis and a Honda CRX in the back garden.... But, based on what all you helpful Alfa owners have told me and after a few more hours research on the net, I have decided the manual 156 is the way to go, it's just the particular model that is the issue now, year is going to have to be 2001 at the very latest for the price I've got a max of =A33000 to spend, I'm leaning towards the 2l but a nice 1.8 or V6 would be considered. Leather and extras are important. Am I right in ruling out the 1.6? And am I right in thinking Veloce is best option pack , then lusso, then standard? |
#17
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> wrote:
> I don't think the wife will let me have any more hobby cars, not with a > half built kit car in the garage, and 2 Minis and a Honda CRX in the > back garden.... > > > But, based on what all you helpful Alfa owners have told me and after a > few more hours research on the net, I have decided the manual 156 is > the way to go, it's just the particular model that is the issue now, > year is going to have to be 2001 at the very latest for the price I've > got a max of £3000 to spend, I'm leaning towards the 2l but a nice 1.8 > or V6 would be considered. Leather and extras are important. The V6 is nice, but it's very nose-heavy and thirsty. Personally, I wouldn't have one as I prefer the balance of the car with a 4-pot engine. Don't get a 1.8, they're vastly inferior. The engine is significantly different - a lot harsher as it doesn't have balance shafts. > Am I right in ruling out the 1.6? And am I right in thinking Veloce is > best option pack , then lusso, then standard? Definitely not a 1.6... not big enough for the size of car. The choice between Lusso and Veloce is down to taste - they're both almost identical in terms of equipment, but the Veloce or Sportpack versions have harder suspension, bigger wheels, sports seats, fake carbon fibre trim and a leather steering wheel. Veloce gets more comfortable seats, wooden steering wheel, fake wood trim, smaller wheels and softer suspension. My preference is Lusso, Catman likes his Sport trim. What you often find is that 1.8s are 'poverty' models with aircon instead of climate, nasty cloth trim (the Lusso has the same seats, but with a very plush velour) and steel wheels with plastic trims. -- Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo' http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#18
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#19
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On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 12:50:52 +0200, "Hans de Heer"
>, wrote: >Consider a Sportwagon. With a baby on its way, you can really use the extra >space in the back. Stuffing a buggy in the back of a 156 sedan is not a nice >thing to do, trust me... >And indeed avoid the 1.6, it's underpowered. I think the 2.0 is the best >trade-off between power and fuel economy. That Sportwagon is a good suggestion. At least take a good look and a drive in one before parting with cash. Definitely 2.0 Ltr with as much trim as you can find. The bigger alloys ride better in my opinion. Though others here will say the lowered Sport Packs drive better. If it is a trade off between driving pleasure and family ride comfort then the 2.0 TS with the rigid ride, 15" alloys and leather is my pick, but that is what I own. You do realise that the rear seat in the 2.0 does not fold like the smaller engine versions. Less body roll. If you need "child lugging space" then the Sportwagon looks just the same from the driving seat :-) Looks pretty darn smart from the outside too. Pete -- > 156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso |
#20
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On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 16:20:55 +0100, > wrote:
>On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 12:50:52 +0200, "Hans de Heer" >, wrote: > > >>Consider a Sportwagon. With a baby on its way, you can really use the extra >>space in the back. Stuffing a buggy in the back of a 156 sedan is not a nice >>thing to do, trust me... er..have you lot forgotten that the Sportwagon has LESS boot capacity than the saloon UNLESS you drop the back seats! I manage 1 kid + all the kit with a 156 saloon. Any more kids and I'd need a top box. I took one look at the Sportwagon boot, laughed, then bought the saloon. I'm sure the Sportwagon was an Italian joke that nobody else got. -- Z Scotland Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather 'Oil' be seeing you.. (Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!) |
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