156 - why so cheap ??

I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this to
my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would only be
about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
Why are they ssoo cheap ??

In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
follows
> I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
> to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
> only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
> Why are they ssoo cheap ??

Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water. Selespeed
156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish yet.

They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their group -
BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be irrelevant..

Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.

Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.


--
Pete M - Ford Capri !!! - Mercedes 500 SEL,

Scouse Git extraordinaire. Liverpool, Great Britain

Pete M wrote:
> In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
> NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
> follows
>
>>I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
>>to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
>>only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
>>Why are they ssoo cheap ??
>
>
> Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
> likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water. Selespeed
> 156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
> car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish yet.
>
> They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their group -
> BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
> people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
> Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be irrelevant..
>
> Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
> against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.
>
> Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.
>
>
amen. my thought exactly

Pete M wrote:
> In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
> NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
> follows
>
>>I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
>>to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
>>only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
>>Why are they ssoo cheap ??
>
>
> Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
> likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water. Selespeed
> 156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
> car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish yet.
>
> They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their group -
> BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
> people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
> Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be irrelevant..
>
> Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
> against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.
>
> Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.
>
>

Thats whats I thought - but the chances are he'll still frown when I
purr up in one with 80,000 motorway miles on the clock (making sure FSH,
cambelt etc etc).
If you hate the service departments, what other choice is there to
maintain a proper service history ? Can you trust independants ?

"NC" > wrote in message
...
> Pete M wrote:
> > In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
> > NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
> > follows
> >
> >>I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
> >>to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
> >>only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
> >>Why are they ssoo cheap ??
> >
> >
> > Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
> > likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water.
Selespeed
> > 156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
> > car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish
yet.
> >
> > They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their
group -
> > BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
> > people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
> > Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be
irrelevant..
> >
> > Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
> > against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.
> >
> > Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.
> >
> >
>
> Thats whats I thought - but the chances are he'll still frown when I
> purr up in one with 80,000 motorway miles on the clock (making sure FSH,
> cambelt etc etc).
> If you hate the service departments, what other choice is there to
> maintain a proper service history ? Can you trust independants ?

A cautionary tale. A friend of mine took his GTV to an independent for a cam
belt change. He opened it up to about 90mph on a motorway and the engine
overheated. So he was sat on the verge of the hard shoulder phoning for the
RAC, and then noticed the car was actually on fire. The engine compartment
burnt out, the car was written off, and the garage admitted liability. He
was very upset, but he's buying another GTV.

That was just after I bought my 156. I'm sure there are some good
independent Alfa specialists out there, but be careful. As for mine, I'm
keeping the 156 as FARSH.

I bought a 156 because it wasn't expensive (about 6K, 2.0TS Lusso, 1999, 48K
miles), and I wanted something a bit different. Also, it's quick, handles
great, looks great, sounds great, and I've had no problems with it at all
after a year. Bad points, a few bumps and rattles if the road surface isn't
too good, but hey, it's an Alfa! The insurance and servicing isn't cheap.

Still, it's one of the best purchases I ever made, and if you buy one, I
hope you have as much fun with it as I have.

Neil

NC > wrote in message >...
> Pete M wrote:
> > In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
> > NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
> > follows
> >
> >>I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
> >>to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
> >>only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
> >>Why are they ssoo cheap ??
> >
> >
> > Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
> > likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water. Selespeed
> > 156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
> > car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish yet.
> >
> > They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their group -
> > BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
> > people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
> > Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be irrelevant..
> >
> > Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
> > against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.
> >
> > Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.
> >
> >
>
> Thats whats I thought - but the chances are he'll still frown when I
> purr up in one with 80,000 motorway miles on the clock (making sure FSH,
> cambelt etc etc).
> If you hate the service departments, what other choice is there to
> maintain a proper service history ? Can you trust independants ?

Hi there,
You say can you trust the independants? the answer to that is 90% And
when you go to National Alfa day or any other Alfa events and you will
find the only people connected to Alfa Romeo who turn up are the
independants and not the dealers, or anyone from Alfa GB. I bought my
147 Lusso through an independant in Newcastle upon tyne, who imported
it in through Ireland, they have done all servicing over 2 years with
no backlash to the warranty, the work is always done well, and by
people who know what they are doing. Unlike some dealers.
I have had the odd fault or two but you will get that with any car.
The car has pleased me every time I have driven it, and I intend
driving it for many years to come. We often hear of cars with bad
faults, but what you should think about is that people who have no
complaints don't write in to complain, and believe me we are in our
thousands, and happy to drive our Alfa Romeo's. John UK.

"Neil Waterworth" > wrote in message >...
> "NC" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Pete M wrote:
> > > In news:JePnc.108$Xs2.106@newsfe1-win,
> > > NC > decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as
> > > follows
> > >
> > >>I am looking ot buy a used 156, prob 2000/2001. When I mentioned this
> > >>to my father in law he looked amazed, but then when I said it would
> > >>only be about £5k he looked even more amazed ??
> > >>Why are they ssoo cheap ??
> > >
> > >
> > > Because the Great British Public think that anything built in Italy is
> > > likely to disolve when parked near a shop that sells Volvic water.
> Selespeed
> > > 156s are less reliable than an MPs answer. Otherwise the 156 is a superb
> > > car, and I've not seen any signs of rust on an Alfa built after 1990ish
> yet.
> > >
> > > They're more fun to drive hard than virtually anything else in their
> group -
> > > BMW 3 series is *definately* less fun, but because of this quite a few
> > > people have grenaded 'em. The fact they'd have blown the equivalent BMW,
> > > Mercedes, Audi etc if they treated them the same seems to be
> irrelevant..
> > >
> > > Oh, and the Alfa after sales / service departments should be first up
> > > against the wall when the revolution comes. They're crap!.
> > >
> > > Buy it, enjoy it, but look after it.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Thats whats I thought - but the chances are he'll still frown when I
> > purr up in one with 80,000 motorway miles on the clock (making sure FSH,
> > cambelt etc etc).
> > If you hate the service departments, what other choice is there to
> > maintain a proper service history ? Can you trust independants ?
>
> A cautionary tale. A friend of mine took his GTV to an independent for a cam
> belt change. He opened it up to about 90mph on a motorway and the engine
> overheated. So he was sat on the verge of the hard shoulder phoning for the
> RAC, and then noticed the car was actually on fire. The engine compartment
> burnt out, the car was written off, and the garage admitted liability. He
> was very upset, but he's buying another GTV.
>
> That was just after I bought my 156. I'm sure there are some good
> independent Alfa specialists out there, but be careful. As for mine, I'm
> keeping the 156 as FARSH.
>
Hi Neil,
I agree with some of your points,[check out the independant]yes, but
what you should remember is some of these ind.s have been selling new
Alfas as a dealer long before the common market put the heavy boot in,
[My ind. over 40 years Frachised dealership]and forced the cars to be
sold in more expensive showrooms alongside the likes of Rover, and
Vauxhall, they [the ind's.]did a fine job of working on the faults
too. And are still doing the jobs at reasonable prices, two points
that the dealers cannot say they are doing at all well.At the end of
the day what will a FARSH give extra when you sell the car, about
£600/£1000, I saved £2600 buying new from my ind. I save £80 on every
service. My book is still stamped by a reputable Alfa garage, and [if]
I wish to sell it in six years time,I'm sure I will get the same price
as a dealer car. Mind you I love the GTV too. John. UK.

> I bought a 156 because it wasn't expensive (about 6K, 2.0TS Lusso, 1999, 48K
> miles), and I wanted something a bit different. Also, it's quick, handles
> great, looks great, sounds great, and I've had no problems with it at all
> after a year. Bad points, a few bumps and rattles if the road surface isn't
> too good, but hey, it's an Alfa! The insurance and servicing isn't cheap.
>
> Still, it's one of the best purchases I ever made, and if you buy one, I
> hope you have as much fun with it as I have.
>
> Neil