I tried an Alfa 156 1.6 Twin Spark !

[Stefanel1]

I'm purchasing a new car to replace my current Delta and hesitate between an Audi A4 1.6, a BMW 318i (E36) but mainly between a Peugeot 406 1.8 16v and an Alfa 156 1.6 16v that I tried this morning.
And I'm fan of the Alfa, it's a very nice car (the most beautiful in its category to me), quite comfy (not as much as the Peugeot) and with an excellent handling (almost as good as the Pug) and a wonderful engine. It makes "only" 120hp (but my insura,ce doesn't want more !!) compared with the 112 hp of the Pug, the 100 hp of the Audi and the 116 of the BMW.
It's really an excellent car, and I didn't see that I was already at 130km/h (85mph) on the parisian périphérique (ring arround Paris) !
Alas, it's not well loaded, there is the ABS, 2 Airbags, A/C, électric windows and mirors, etc. But it's less than on my current Lancia which has the rear electric windows, the Alcantara (seats), the electric sun roof, the alloy wheels, etc.
Look at the picture for people who doesn't know the 156 (on the pics it's not an 1.6, but the GTA V6 3.2 250hp )

[Jimster]

I tend to find the 1.6 a little down in the get-up and go stakes- but it is still a great car- a little spartan though- but quality, styling, handling and comfort are all top-notch in these babies

[Stefanel1]

It's indeed not very powerfull, but more than my Delta and I'm only 18 and have my driing licence for less than one year. More, my insurance doesn't want to assure a too powerfull car.
Though, I'm still hesitating between these cars, what do you conseil to me ?

- Peugeot 206 1.6 90hp Roland Garros
- Peugeot 406 1.8 112 hp SV
- Audi A4 1.6 100 hp
- BMW 316i E36 100 hp
- Saab 900 2.0 130 hp
- Alfa 156 1.6 TS (Pack if possible !) 112/120 hp

And if you have any further propositions for a price of about 8 000 € with about 70 000 km (same prices than in Italy I guess), do not hesitate And if you have some good bargain, tell me !!!

[Jimster]

Originally posted by Stefanel1
It's indeed not very powerfull, but more than my Delta and I'm only 18 and have my driing licence for less than one year. More, my insurance doesn't want to assure a too powerfull car.
Though, I'm still hesitating between these cars, what do you conseil to me ?

- Peugeot 206 1.6 90hp Roland Garros
- Peugeot 406 1.8 112 hp SV
- Audi A4 1.6 100 hp
- BMW 316i E36 100 hp
- Saab 900 2.0 130 hp
- Alfa 156 1.6 TS (Pack if possible !) 112/120 hp

And if you have any further propositions for a price of about 8 000 € with about 70 000 km (same prices than in Italy I guess), do not hesitate And if you have some good bargain, tell me !!!

The Alfa is the best of that lot- the 900 has a sloppy chassis, the A4 and BMW are gutless to the point where it is frustrating. The 2O6 and 4O6 are both great buys as well- I'd suggest teh 2O6 to you- but it's up to you

Would a VW Passat 1.8 fall into your price range?

[Stefanel1]

The Passat is in this price range, as the Golf IV 1.6, but I had a Golf III and was not very satisfacted of it.

The 206 is nice, but does it have the same qualities of the 406 (excellent handling and confort mainly) ? I really like the 206 but we can't go outside without sawing one (1st car sold in Europe...), not better for the 406, so it'snot the most original, the Alfa is better for this topic maybe not in Italy
Indeed the Saab has the chassis of the Vectra....

The real problem is the equipment (? I mean the options) of the Alfa, I'd like a 156 Pack with leather, auto A/C, radio CD, rear electric windows, etc. to be fitted as the 406 SV. But it appeared in 2000 and costs more ! Does the Pack exist in another country for longer (since 98 or 99) ? And do you know if the prices are interesting in Italy ? or in another european country (as you're working by Fiat ) ?

So the Alfa is now my favourite but the equipment is too low (and the built quality not as good as in the 406 SV : maybe because it's a basis version for the Alfa (except for the Pack !), and a luxury verion for the Pug (SV).

[Jimster]

Originally posted by Stefanel1
The Passat is in this price range, as the Golf IV 1.6, but I had a Golf III and was not very satisfacted of it.

The 206 is nice, but does it have the same qualities of the 406 (excellent handling and confort mainly) ? I really like the 206 but we can't go outside without sawing one (1st car sold in Europe...), not better for the 406, so it'snot the most original, the Alfa is better for this topic maybe not in Italy
Indeed the Saab has the chassis of the Vectra....

The real problem is the equipment (? I mean the options) of the Alfa, I'd like a 156 Pack with leather, auto A/C, radio CD, rear electric windows, etc. to be fitted as the 406 SV. But it appeared in 2000 and costs more ! Does the Pack exist in another country for longer (since 98 or 99) ? And do you know if the prices are interesting in Italy ? or in another european country (as you're working by Fiat ) ?

So the Alfa is now my favourite but the equipment is too low (and the built quality not as good as in the 406 SV : maybe because it's a basis version for the Alfa (except for the Pack !), and a luxury verion for the Pug (SV).

One place I would suggest looking- aside from Italy is Denmark- seeing as taxes there are low, and cars are cheap.


I will have a look for some 156's at work- I could basically find every 156 in Italy that is for sale All you need to tell me is what you are looking to pay

[Stefanel1]

I'll have about 7 000 € in December.
So, does the 156 1.6 Pack exist at this price with less than 80 000 km ? and are the cars in Italy not too rudely driven ?

[Stefanel1]

I also thought to a 206 HDI, but there was not Roland Garros in diesel.

[Menu dei Motori]

well in germany a 156 1.6 with arround 80000km cost about 9000-14000€

[Stefanel1]

Same thing here, or in Belgium or Italy.
I looked on autoscout.de/.be/.it mobile.de lacentrale.fr and others, so if I choose the 156, it'll be in France without the problems of homologation and move.