How bad are alfas?

[OwenS]

So for my 21st my parents are putting some money towards a new car, i've decided i either want a Stilo Jtd/Mjet or an Alfa 156 Jtd/Mjet.

the 156 i want is the facelift model... you know the one that doesn't look like a retard.

But I'm having serious trouble convincing myself and my friends that this alfa isn't going to cost be a million pounds in repairs.

Are the 03-06 (i think thats the correct years) 156's as bad as i've heard?

Cheers

Owen

 

[TroyO]

the 156 i want is the facelift model... you know the one that doesn't look like a retard.

What's wrong with the look of the original 156?

Troy.

 

[DraigFlag87]

I really want a Brera, the 2.4 diesel is awesome, but Alfa's are just expensive Fiats, and £30,000 for a Fiat is a lot of money! Can get a second hand one for half that though so I'm not completely put off. Sorry for not being more helpful, i don't know much about Alfas other than you can expect similar problems to Fiats, e.g. electrical problems and quality issues (some models) the difference being it will cost you more to fix! but don't let me put you off!

 

[maddogmorg]

So for my 21st my parents are putting some money towards a new car, i've decided i either want a Stilo Jtd/Mjet or an Alfa 156 Jtd/Mjet.

the 156 i want is the facelift model... you know the one that doesn't look like a retard.

But I'm having serious trouble convincing myself and my friends that this alfa isn't going to cost be a million pounds in repairs.

Are the 03-06 (i think thats the correct years) 156's as bad as i've heard?

Cheers

Owen

the engines are the same so no worries there tbh, the only thing that i know of is the 156's go through suspension arms, and that's not an expensive troublesome part or anything.

 

[OwenS]

the engines are the same so no worries there tbh, the only thing that i know of is the 156's go through suspension arms, and that's not an expensive troublesome part or anything.

This is the kind if advice I was looking for I'm going to try and find a dealer with one I can test drive. Just to mAke sure i really want one

 

[T14086]

So for my 21st my parents are putting some money towards a new car, i've decided i either want a Stilo Jtd/Mjet or an Alfa 156 Jtd/Mjet.

the 156 i want is the facelift model... you know the one that doesn't look like a retard.

But I'm having serious trouble convincing myself and my friends that this alfa isn't going to cost be a million pounds in repairs.

Are the 03-06 (i think thats the correct years) 156's as bad as i've heard?

Cheers

Owen

I've warned you already:nono: but if your going to get one get full history of the car and I mean 'full'. Meet the seller, live with the seller, become the seller until you know everything about the car & its last owner.

 

[jug]

in terms of reliability and heartache alfa ownership is the same as fiat ownership, except insurance/tax/fuel tends to cost a little bit more, but you also get a much better car so overall its a better deal than buying a fiat imo.

the facelift 156 JTD is a great car. all the JTD's have reliable engines/drivetrains and the 156's faults are only small and easily/cheaply fixed by a DIYer.

who cares if your blower motor relay fails or a window cable snaps or the EGR gets blocked or your MAF gets dirty, end of the day you're still sat in a very sexy car that loves to be driven hard that cost next to nothing.

they are bloody bargains and you wont find a better car for the same money so you'd be mad not to get one.

only real areas of cost/concern on the JTD's are clutch/flywheel issues. replacement can be very expensive. when it needs doing varies greatly depending on how the car has been driven. some last to 150k, some dont make it to 75k. if the clutch judders when pulling away it usually means the dual mass flywheel will require replacement, which is gonna hurt.

 

[OwenS]

is this a common fault on any car using the jtd engine? or specifically the 156... i imagine a remap would encourage this to happen much earlier?

 

[T14086]

Sorry but it needs said, Alfas are money pits which is why you see so many rough examples around because owners cant afford the huge all too frequent repair bills and cant afford to sell because of depreciation. Yes there are some great well maintained examples around (and therefore bargains) but otherwise buy from a garage that gives you 30 days warranty then hit them with everything that goes wrong......then again garages are aware of this and normally just send them to auction.

I'm not anti-alfa (I work on them daily) and the majority of the range are a thrill to drive but I would be very wary about buying secondhand without somekind of warranty/autocover etc.

 

[DraigFlag87]

What's the Brera like for driving/reliability do you know? I'm after the 2.4 diesel

 

[306maxi]

What's the Brera like for driving/reliability do you know? I'm after the 2.4 diesel

Why go for a diesel in a lovely looking Alfa? It's like dating a supermodel and asking her to grow a beard

 

[Venters]

Why go for a diesel in a lovely looking Alfa? It's like dating a supermodel and asking her to grow a beard

Nah that's like putting a Laguna splitter on a 156.

Diesel Alfa is like this.
http://www.idkwtf.com/videos/latest-videos/hot-girl-with-a-bad-laugh-family-guy

 

[306maxi]

Nah that's like putting a Laguna splitter on a 156.

Diesel Alfa is like this.
http://www.idkwtf.com/videos/latest-videos/hot-girl-with-a-bad-laugh-family-guy

ROTFLMAO that's it!

 

[DraigFlag87]

Why go for a diesel in a lovely looking Alfa? It's like dating a supermodel and asking her to grow a beard

Mainly because it has 210 BHP, loooooooots of torque, 5 cylinders (sounds like a Porsche!) 0-60 in 7.9 secs (ok not that great) and 50 MPG. Same engine out the Croma? Is it from an Audi? That's what i heard anyway

 

[306maxi]

Mainly because it has 210 BHP, loooooooots of torque, 5 cylinders (sounds like a Porsche!) 0-60 in 7.9 secs (ok not that great) and 50 MPG. Same engine out the Croma? Is it from an Audi? That's what i heard anyway

Not sure if it's an Audi engine.

Thing is if you want a nice car which is torquet and enjoyable to drive from a straight line perspective then buy an Impreza or an Evo

Even my wifes ancient Legacy would blow a diesel Brera into the weeds! Definitely not in terms of looks though!!!!!!

If I was to go for a Brera I'd go for the V6 because you'd have to have the music to go along with the looks.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Not sure if it's an Audi engine.
Thing is if you want a nice car which is torquet and enjoyable to drive from a straight line perspective then buy an Impreza or an Evo
Even my wifes ancient Legacy would blow a diesel Brera into the weeds! Definitely not in terms of looks though!!!!!!
If I was to go for a Brera I'd go for the V6 because you'd have to have the music to go along with the looks.

An Imprezza/Evo are too common and far too thirsty, not to mention pricey. I'm not too bothered about speed, it would faster than my Panda! And the V6 would be too thirsty and looses value quicker in my experience. The 2.4 sounds nice for a diesel thanks to 5 cylinders and is still one of the best looking cars around imo.

 

[306maxi]

An Imprezza/Evo are too common and far too thirsty, not to mention pricey. I'm not too bothered about speed, it would faster than my Panda! And the V6 would be too thirsty and looses value quicker in my experience. The 2.4 sounds nice for a diesel thanks to 5 cylinders and is still one of the best looking cars around imo.

All the writeups of the Diesel Brera seem to say it's disappointing to drive, not as fast as it should be and doesn't sound that great

OK so an Impreza (Old style 2000 shape) is common but for 10k less I'll take thirstyness anyday As long as you don't put angel eyes headlights or lexus style rear lights on they look alright. The engine is an absolute firecracker and it sounds far better than any diesel will ever sound. Plus there is the advantage of being able to go on the A543 to Denbigh and you will absolutely fly with the Impreza

If it were me I'd keep the Panda for driving any distances and buy a V6 Brera for when you really want the noise If you have your heart set on the diesel go for the 1.9jtd as it'll still be faster than the Panda, will be about 6mpg more economical than the 2.4 and will cost less to tax and insure.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Good advice however i'm not sure what i'm buying yet, i have a hit list of "cars to own before i die" and believe me it's a long one! Neither the EVO or the Scoob do much for me though, i know they're fast, my friend took me for a spin in his FQ 320 a few months back, he only managed 140 MPH because it was a bendy road and had 100 foot cliffs either side, but he has had 170 MPH from it. I really don't get thrilled by going fast. I'll keep an eye out, whatever's about at the time. The 1.9 D is not in the brera but it is in the GT, another nice looking Alfa!

 

[306maxi]

Good advice however i'm not sure what i'm buying yet, i have a hit list of "cars to own before i die" and believe me it's a long one! Neither the EVO or the Scoob do much for me though, i know they're fast, my friend took me for a spin in his FQ 320 a few months back, he only managed 140 MPH because it was a bendy road and had 100 foot cliffs either side, but he has had 170 MPH from it. I really don't get thrilled by going fast. I'll keep an eye out, whatever's about at the time. The 1.9 D is not in the brera but it is in the GT, another nice looking Alfa!

Ah you're right the 1.9 isn't in the Brera! Not sure how I got confused. Must have been thinking about the GT. I agree that top speed isn't everything. Around here on some of the smaller roads you can barely do 40 safely, but sometimes it's good to have a bit of poke so you can overtake easily.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Trust me, the Brera Diesel has enough power to overtake! it has a lot more torque than the V6 too, so it should pull well once the turbo winds up.