felixthecat1 Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Right now I have a Passat and I'm sick of things going the way of the Pear with it. I was wondering, is the 156 a wise buy? Second hand values are so low right now it's hard to resist. I was thinking of a 2 or 2.5. Veloce, manual. I've seen them for less than £10,000. What do you think as a stop gap? Fast enough, unusual enough, just big enough but are they reliable enough and do they drive well enough over time? This is also posted on the Italian cars forum, just that I need to move fast before something else stops working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 The quickest thing about that car is going to be the way it eats your 10k I'm afraid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 NO. NO. NO. You've had a bad experience I know, but don't let it taint your future purchase! If you buy a 156 you'll be driving along one day and the car will fall apart (ok, not that bad). You'll lose a small fortune in depreciation too. Wait until March-April, then buy an E46 3-series - they'll be superb value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Unfortunately a 156 will be like chucking your money away. The 2litre is very weak(claimed 155bhp but don't believe it after having one for a week)the V6 is a whole lot better but reliability and quality don't come as standard on that model either.And as M3ME rightly says,the price will drop like a lead balloon if you have it for any more than...... about 3 months really! Sorry to be so negative but I have a lot of experience with Alfas along with a pal who runs an Alfa garage and they are just not upto the quality of todays cars. On the plus side,nice sound,and...... no that's not enough to justify purchase! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 No way!!! Had a couple of Alfa 156's on the company fleet a year or two ago, never again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Okay, so no to the Alfa. Not quite sure I agree. Let's face it if I'm buying a two year old Alfa, all the money has already been shed by the previous owner. I get all the benefits. I have driven a couple of 2.5 V6s and thought they were a fantastic drive. What about a two year old Saab (old shape), failing that, it's another Passat, but is that wise with the replacement so soon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Mate, if you're talking "less than £10,000" then I'm guessing close to £10K in which case they've still a long way to fall... And whatever the price or depreciation curve, they're still an unreliable bag of wossit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munki Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Don't do it, it'll cost a fortune to service, will fall apart after 3 years and one day and it's value will double every time you go to the petrol station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Didn't you see the Police program on last week. A brand new 156 went up in flames at the side of the road. Bloke thought that it had run out of petrol. The company I work for will not have Alfas on the fleet anymore because of so many reliability problems. A colleague did have one and the speaks blew in the first week, the gearbox was replaced in the second month and he had nothing but problems the whole time he owned it. I would seriously stear clear. 10k might seem cheap before the bills and the still high depreciation are taken into account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 I don't mind Saabs but remember they share the Vectra platform - and it isn't a fantastic drive. Why just restrict it to an Alfa, Saab or Passat though? What about an Audi, BMW, Merc etc - or why not go the other way and buy something that is a genuine outstanding car with a few more years on it. £10k will get you the following, this week, on AutoTrader with a bit of bargaining on some of them: 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale - RHD conversion and FSH (and various other Integrales) 1996 BMW 840Ci, 89k Various 1992-1995 BMW M5's with FSH's 2000 BMW 318Ci, 57k, FSH 2002 BMW 320Cd, 55k, FSH 1998 Mercedes-Benz E240 Avantgarde Tiptronic, 74k, FSH 1999 Mercedes-Benz E300D, FSH, 55k 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S, Concours winner, FSH, 75k 1993 Porsche 968 2000 Saab 9-3 2.0 HOT SE Convertible, 31k, FSH Various Volvo S60 T5's 2000 Subaru Impreza WRX, 28k, FSH There ya go, I've spent 20 minutes getting those for you and they're just the tip of the iceberg - spend an evening on Autotrader and I guarantee you'll cheer yourself up at the prospect of what you might get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 BMW 318Ci or the Saab convertible out of that list for me please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Both are superb prices too! The Saab is very very good value, 31k only! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS4_Barry Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 I made the mistake of buying an Alfa once and would never ever do it again the car was rejected after 11 days due to hitting a pothole in the road causing the seatbelt pretensioners to fire and the driver and passenger airbags to partially explode. Not good scared the poo out of me - I shan't be having another one. Oh I signed a disclaimer when I rejected the car saying I wouldn't tell anybody so erm keep it shhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 M3Me, so good of you to put that little list together for me, thanks very much . One problem is my other half will not concider most of the cars as she thinks they are too old. Paranoid I know but what can I do? Anyway, the Saab, althouth not the ragtop looks likely, or another Passat. Problem is, I love my Passat and prefer the shape, look and feel over the Saab. If I can find a fast Saab with cow seats It'll get the nod, saves me a trip to AmD. Once again, thanks to everyone and sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedtb Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 I have an Alfa 156, I bought it brand new in March 2004 but as it was an Irish import saved almost £8,000 off the full Alfa list price at that time. I can honestly say that apart from the abbreviation for October being spelt wrong on the computer (it shows "OKT") I have absolutely no complaints about the car whatsoever. I love it to bits and I'd recommend one to anyone and everyone. Albeit however... I would never have paid the full price for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Ahhhh, a positive post. Which one did you get and most importantly what are you used to? I mean what are you comparing it to? Is it as good in build quality as the Germans like to think they are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Only get an 156 if you're happy to stop and collect all the parts that fall off it when you drive. Known too many Alfa's fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 I've been in and driven a few second/third hand BMW's and I think that unless the driver has driven the pants off it, they are a quality purchase. I had an old 318i in 1998 and loved it to bits. It wasn't mine, but lent to me for a while and I really didn't want to hand it back. It was old at the time, had done a huge amount of miles, but felt solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 I considered buying a 156 after I sold my S3. I eventually got a Diesel Focus as I could not make up my mind and as my latest thread suggests, I'm now swapping that for a Saab 9-3 2.0t vector next month. The reason I decided against the 156 was mainly due to concerns on the reliability. As stupid as it sounds, I was also concerned by the turning circle!! I discovered the turning circle (at least on paper) was very poor. One of my previous cars was a 306 GTI-6 which also has a poor turning circle. Although it was only a small annoyance having to do 3 point turns where most cars could just swing round did annoy me! When I changed, trying to reverse park in a car with a half decent turning circle was quite funny. It was then I realised how much easier it is to have a car with a decent turning circle. Oh, at the same time the facelift 156 was appearing so that put me off the car a little more as I would know it was the old shape... Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Well I went to have a look at an Octavia today in the freezing rain and wished I hadn't. I have to be honest, it's not the best looking car in the world, it looks dated and slightly square. This aside, the example I saw was in a dreadful state, suffered from damp in the boot at some stage and genarally tatty. The materials were low grade an it managed to make the reasonable equipment look meager. Anyway the corner cutting is obvious and I wasn't impressed. Looks like the Saab might get the nod, failing that another Passat. (I still like them). Anyway, below you will find a pic of the Skoda in question. A cheap one I admit, but a good indication of what life with a Skoda would be like. Oh, before I forget, IT HAD RUST!!!! What's that all about. the last time I checked my watch it was 2005. Cars do not rust in 2005. That's a no, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHo Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Had a 156 2 litre TS Sportswagon for 3 years as a company motor, know what you mean about the turning circle, my Audi turns like a black cab by comparision. Other than that loved the card, had normal Alfa problems new gearbox after 20K, engine rebuild after 40K, litre of oil every five yards etc. Did 90K in it never let me down once, great drivers car but would only have one with full warranty and maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Sorry you didn't like the Octavia, Tian. It sounds like you came across a right dog of an example but you can only go on what you have experienced. When I've bought the Fabia and tuned it, you'll have to come and see what you're missing. btw I didn't get the chance to talk to my work colleague about fuel consumption today and am not back in the office until weds - I'll try to remember then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 [ QUOTE ] btw I didn't get the chance to talk to my work colleague about fuel consumption today and am not back in the office until weds - I'll try to remember then [/ QUOTE ] Thanks very much for that. The Skoda was a dog, one careless owner. On the bright side I've found a 2001 Saab HOT Aero for sale in silver, so I'll be having a look at that asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 Although I singularly failed to get a test drive in a HOT AERO, thanks to total dealer ineptitude, I understand that the mid range is quite strong. I remember seeing some film (?Top Gear) of how quickly one of them did 30-70 - looks fun. If you are someone who finds the ergonomics to their taste and can get some good customer service, then why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 Do Saab still hide the igintion key in the centre console? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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