What Car Should I Get

[ChrisUK]

The sportwagon isnt the pretiest thing that i have ever seen but seems to be fitting for the job would prefer the coupe but havnt a clue about boot space just waiting for the conformation email from alfaowner.com

Already answered your boot space question here . I managed to get a full size pram / push chair and 2-3weeks worth of shopping 12+ bags in my boot as well as a Subwoofer

 

[Hellcat]

You mean the saloon? I can tell you the boot is big but the loading 'slot' is the limiting factor. Easily big enough to fit a Hornby train set plus sub/amps etc if that's what you'll be likely filling it with.

In fact according to Yahoo cars the boot is actually larger than the Sportswagon. Still I'd get the 2.4 JTD as it's an imense engine and perhaps the standard 1.9 is a little underpowered for a car of it's size.

 

[ChrisUK]

You mean the saloon? I can tell you the boot is big but the loading 'slot' is the limiting factor. Easily big enough to fit a Hornby train set plus sub/amps etc if that's what you'll be likely filling it with.

In fact according to Yahoo cars the boot is actually larger than the Sportswagon. Still I'd get the 2.4 JTD as it's an imense engine and perhaps the standard 1.9 is a little underpowered for a car of it's size.

Nope the later 1.9 is more than adequate and is a lot lower on insurance which is a limiting factor in this case . I agree though Oddpot JTD power is schweeet

 

[volxstu]

I dont really mind about standard power as i can do the neccecary mods as long as it has good potential.

When i say i want a lot of boot space i mean i need space for two 15" subs which need 12' air space and room to fit the shopping oh and room for the amps, wiring, power cap and other stuff associated with ICE.

Al DIN so i will have a car computer coming so that will take up space to so double Din space would be ideal.

Why couldnt they do the stilo in a boot version rather than the dog ugly multiwagon.

 

[poggy]

I had a Alfa 156 Selespeed JTS Veloce with all the toys, it was a great car and the only problem I had while I owned it was a lambda sensor and the usual drop link suspension bush issue, both of which were repaired under warranty in the third year. If you buy a petrol, beware and make sure the oil level is good. They drink oil and it can be several thousand miles after they have run low on oil before they blow up. The JTD has oil level sensor, plus also doesn't drink oil anyway.

I then bought one as a company car for one of the guys who came to work for me a Face Lift 2004 JTD (I think there are two verions of the 1.9 with different BHP, his was the lower). He didn't have a single issue apart from a headlight bulb in all the time we had it. The fuel economy was in the 40's and it looked great with leather seats, dual climate, nice alloys etc all part of the Veloce spec. There are also plenty of specialists who offer cheap but good servicing.

To be honest they are the bargain of the century when you see what you get for the money and the later versions don't have any quality issue's.

EDIT:

How on earth do you only get 24 mpg from your car. We have a Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto and a Porsche 911 S Tip and they both do more than that on average.

 

[JFL]

Alfa Romeo 156:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-ALFA-ROM...oryZ9834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-ALFA-ROM...oryZ9834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-Alfa-Rom...oryZ9834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Strange one, but Vauxhall Signum

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Vauxhall...oryZ9858QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or an S60

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-03-Volvo...oryZ9872QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[thepottleflump]

You got about £6k come and take a look at my 156, I'm near Gatwick, it's Alfa red, 1.9 JTD (44-50mpg average), veloce spec, i.e. lowered suspension and sill covers, 53,000 miles, FSH, very nice car and as stated the late cars tend not to have the quality issues of the early cars, nothing but a couple of light bulbs for me. The 156 comes in either saloon or sportswagon, no coupe, that's the GT but you are looking around a starting price of £10k for the earliest high mileage examples. Suspension can be an issue on the 147/156/GT (all based around the same platform), usually the top wishbone rubber bushes go which is an easy job and £30 a piece, other than that they don't tend to have any major flaws other than avoiding the selespeed ones. Maintenance costs aren't too bad, I use local specialists and pay less than my mother does maintaining a Ford KA at the local dealers!

Also A6 is well worth a look, considerably more space than a 156 and good value for money.

 

[Munkul]

the vauxhall signum is quite nice, very executive, my uncle has just bought one from auction, 04 plate for about 5000, they are very underlooked.
the boot space is imense (about as much space as my omega had lol)

otherwise, mondeos are very cheap, and quite reliable, buuut, they arent very interesting..... we have an S reg ghiaX V6 with top spec and its nice, but not my cuppa tea...

 

[JFL]

its the person with the money who buys there car

my dad said to me when i got mine, vauxhall astra , i said stilo

everyone at work said ford focus, i said stilo

 

[Munkul]

if you had got an astra or focus, then the FF would be 2000-odd posts worse off

 

[Hellcat]

I said Bravo...


Everyone else said.... You bought a Fiat? What would you want one of them piles of cra...... ooh. It's rather nice isn't it?


Anyway, what 1.9 engine does the 156 have? Is it the 150 multijet or a 115 as found in the JTD stilo?

 

[JFL]

if you had got an astra or focus, then the FF would be 2000-odd posts worse off

i dont know what you mean

i like this place, its like a home from home

 

[JFL]

Everyone else said.... You bought a Fiat? What would you want one of them piles of cra...... ooh. It's rather nice isn't it?

bit of research on whatcar should see some results on the JTD engine in the alfa

The amount of people that have said my car is crap, until they have sat in it, or even looked at it closely. Its comfy inside, well insulated from the road (better then a focus ), not 'to plasticcy', reasonably well built, economical, cheap to insure, very-very well equipped

all i can say is, dont knock it till you have tried it

 

[Hellcat]

I've had beer and watching Aussie V8 supercars. Can't be bothered to google engine specs when there are so many helpful people on here

 

[JFL]

they do 115, 140's, and 150's in the JTD in the 156 - all 1.9.

I think that the 115 and the 140's were released at the same time, with the 150 following a while after

 

[Venters]

Anyway, what 1.9 engine does the 156 have? Is it the 150 multijet or a 115 as found in the JTD stilo?

I think you get them both but the 115 is by far the most common.

 

[volxstu]

Ive been having a look around and the signum def looks better spec age and price than the 156.

Taken a completely different tangent and been looking at the Freelander.

Right signing off now thanks for the help will keep you posted.

 

[JFL]

you had better keep us posted

what about a croma by the way

 

[Munkul]

and the 140/150 JTD is group 13 insurance although the 2.4 JTD's are 14 and 16

heck, i spend far too long reading up on cars on parkers.... one of the better used sites in my favorites,..

 

[JFL]

im a whatcar man myself

its crazy how different cars insurance groups can vary