Alfa Romeo 156 - style at a low price

Gossip can make life difficult for anyone. Usually they are more or less real, but in the 90s Alfa Romeo's plans fell through. People didn't want to drive ambulances, so they stopped buying them. Fortunately, one model made the hearts of drivers outweigh the mind, and the brand still exists today. What does Alfa Romeo 156 look like?

The Italian concern had a sad period in its career, which almost led to the collapse of the entire board. Sales fell, money ran out, salons were empty. Some lunatic, however, decided to put everything on one card in order to create a car that would use the entire brand. The matter was difficult, because there were only two ways - a brilliant success or a shameful defeat. And guess what? Managed.

In 1997, Alfa Romeo introduced the 156. Small, stylish and fast. But most importantly, beautiful. Walter de Silva was in charge of the project. It's hard to say what he proposed, but he created a car that looks great even today, almost 20 years after the premiere! The project was later pampered again. The first facelift in 2002 made minor improvements, and the second in 2003, in addition to engines, refreshed the design. Here another big name pops up again - Giugiaro burst into the night over the body. Appearance is, perhaps, the main trump card. People said: “What a failure rate, I want this car!”. But is the Alfa Romeo 156 really breaking down as badly as rumors say?

ALFA ROMEO 156 - EMERGENCY?

It all depends on the use, but in fact, you can see that the Alpha Limousine suffers from some specific problems. Gasoline engines are often a safer choice than diesels, but in this case, the topic is rather slippery. Problems are caused by variators of the variable valve timing system, and one of the flagship breakdowns is damaged bushings. The latter lead to failure of the entire engine.

Sometimes there are premature breaks in the timing belt and malfunctions of the units, including the generator, but in our country one element suffers the most. Italian roads are usually as smooth as the head of a Corwin-Mikke, while ours resemble the pimply face of a teenager. What is the conclusion? Often you have to look into the delicate suspension. Front wishbones, linkages, stabilizers and shock absorbers wear out quickly. Some versions have a self-levelling suspension at the rear, making maintenance much more expensive.

To the general it is worth adding small problems with the steering mechanism - especially with higher mileage, it is easy to get backlash. Electronics? Traditionally, it has its own moods, but is the standard among all modern cars. You can expect computer errors and hardware failures, such as power windows or central locking. But since there are rumors that Alpha is an emergency, is it really better to avoid it? Good question. After a closer acquaintance with this car, I can say one thing with confidence - no.

It makes up for the joy

First, you don't have to be limited to one body style. You can choose from a sedan, station wagon, and an elevated all-wheel-drive variant that wasn't popular. However, it is enough to sit behind the wheel of the 156th to feel the passion with which this car was created. True, there is a slightly tart aftertaste from Fiat, but many details are pleasing to the eye. The console was turned towards the driver to make it clear to the passenger that he had little to say in this car. You can even find the brand's logo on many elements, and the dashboard design is extremely inspiring compared to cars of the same year. Especially those who are of German and Japanese origin. However, this does not mean that everything is perfect here.

The Alfa Romeo 156 has everything you don't like about cars. The suspension is stiff, the plastic is poorly fitted. In addition, in versions without navigation, the wretched cover with the brand logo instead of the screen is terrifying. Is there something similar in a style oriented car? Doesn't drop out. In addition, no one wants to sit in the back seat, as there is not enough head and leg room. And the trunk is a storage compartment - the sedan has 378 liters, and ironically even less - the 360 ​​station wagon. In addition, the loading opening is quite small and voluminous. And if in an average car from this segment all these shortcomings would be a problem, then in Alfie they are relegated to the background. Why? Because this car is a lifestyle, not a family bus.

THERE IS SOMETHING

The average quiet cabin makes sense here - you can listen to the sound of the engine and feel the work of this car on the road. The steering is precise and allows you to easily feel every slip of the front axle. And this one likes to gently “fall out” of the turn with sharper driving. In turn, the suspension does not like bumps - neither longitudinal nor transverse. He reacts quite nervously, but in the corners you can afford a lot. The Alfa rides like it's on rails, and with optional all-wheel drive, it does wonders. The system is based on the Torsen mechanism, a purely mechanical solution similar to Audi's Quattro. Thanks to this, you can rediscover the pleasure of driving a car - just like after the phrase "editing". However, the level of enjoyment depends on the engine.

Gasoline engines range from 1.6L to 3.2L in the flagship V6. In turn, the power ranges from 120-250 km. What about diesels? There are two of them, 1.9 or 2.4. They offer from 105 to 175 km. The weakest 1.6 gasoline engine is best avoided. 156 is a sports limousine, it's a shame that it was overtaken by VW Golf. 1.8TS and 2.0TS engines with 2 spark plugs per cylinder perform much better under the hood. Unfortunately they are emergency. CVT, bushings, oil consumption, components - this can hit the home budget. The more modern direct-injection variant of the JTS also fights carbon buildup. There are two V6 engines left. 3.2 is a flagship design that delivers great performance and sound. But it costs a lot to maintain, so the smaller and slightly more economical 2.5 V6 is a good alternative. In turn, JTD diesels are very successful designs. Option 2.4 has five cylinders and is more expensive to operate, but 1.9 receives only positive reviews - this is one of the best diesel engines of recent times. The weakest with 105 hp may not match the temperament of the car, but the 140 hp version is already a lot of fun.

Alfa Romeo 156 seduces with a low purchase price and at the same time terrifies with a decrease in cost. Not everything is exquisite there, but without such machines the world would be boring. And the roads clogged with Volkswagens and Skodas would be terrible. That is why it is worth considering this car.

This article was created thanks to the courtesy of TopCar, who provided a car from the current offer for a test and photo session.

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