WITH MODERN CLASSICS
WISE BUYER
It has style like no other – yet look how little it costs! James Walshe explains how to land a beautiful bargain
1998-2005
Why you want one
It seems impossible to believe this handsome Italian saloon is more than a quarter of a century old – it wouldn’t look out of place in a showroom today. Well, that’s if saloons were still fashionable in 2024 – which they’re definitely not. That’s partly what makes a 156 so appealing; its low-slung, classic saloon shape will only add to its appeal in years to come, but is it worth buying one now? We reckon so, because it’s unlikely the 156 will remain as affordable as it is right now – a really good one can be yours from about £2.5k. Seriously.
Quite aside from the looks, your 156 will come with a suitably charismatic engine and one of the most stylish cabins of any mainstream car. But there are still a few tired old clunkers out there, so allow us to explain how to avoid them and buy the best example of Alfa’s svelte saloon superstar.
Which one do I want?
There four basic engine families. You’ll find your twin-spark four-cylinder unit as a 1.6 TS, 1.8 TS, 2.0 TS and 2.0 JTS. The V6 comes in 2.5 and 3.2-litre form. Oh, and there are two diesels: the four-cylinder 1.9 JTD and five-cylinder 2.4 JTD.
The earliest UK car you’ll find will have been first sold in early 1988. A ‘Q-System’ sequential auto was available on the V6 from spring 1999, while the Sportwagon estate arrived a year later and is, to our mind, one of the most beautiful-looking estates ever built. Special gearboxes ranged from a five-speed Selespeed automated manual to a four-speed auto (Q-System) that allows drivers to switch from manual to auto.
You’ll spot numerous trim differences when peering inside examples of the 156. Some models with a ‘sport pack’ got a leather steering wheel, Recaro front seats and 16-inch wheels, while the Lusso gained a mahogany Momo steering wheel. For maximum thrills, though, you’ll want a GTA, with its 3.2-litre V6. After a minor tweak under the skin in 2002, the Alfa 156 was facelifted with a new nose and tail in August 2003.
VITAL STATS
Engine 1970cc/4-cyl/OHC
Power 155bhp@ 6400rpm
Torque 138bhp@ 3500rpm
Gearbox Five-speed manual
Top speed 134mph
0-60mph 8.6sec
Fuel economy 29mpg
WHO CAN HELP?
Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club aroc-uk.com
Alfa Owner forums alfaowner.com
Alfa Workshop alfaworkshop.co.uk
Autolusso autolusso.co.uk
EB Spares ebspares.co.uk
Motormech motor-mech.co.uk
Simply Alfas simplyalfas.co.uk
What to look for
Starting with that slinky bodywork, it’s highly likely when looking at cars that you'll see at least one with a rot problem. Galvanised steel or not, the 156 can rust anywhere – but focus
