I finally found my Alfa!

[Anth73]

Well, after scouring every used cars classifieds Australia-wide for probably 6 months, I finally found her, mia bella!

She's a one owner 2002 update series 156 sedan in red, tan momo leather interior, sunroof, full service history and, most importantly, fitted with the 2.5V6 and 6 speed manual transmission.

A good going over and test drive, and she was all mine. I pick her up next week.

Wohoo!  Now to join AROCAV.

[Evan Bottcher]

Fantastic Anthony - great news.  You'll have to post some photos ASAP...

[Anth73]

Photos attached after taking delivery yesterday. Note that I replaced the orange side indicators with clear ones as I think they suit the car better. Otherwise she is factory standard. The gear knob will be replaced by a nice Momo Sphere in black leather with chrome dress ring.

[Fast Eddie]

you know the factory lowering kit and bodykits look awesome on these cars (see pics).  An after market rear muffler will make it sound pretty good too.

[Victor Lee]

This is a pic of our 156 JTS at Spetacollo with the Autodelta front spoiler.

Also is a pic of the Novitec front spoiler.

Hugh at Alfpa Repairs in Bayswater has both spoilers and body kits in stock. 

Cheers

Victor

[Anth73]

I've never been a big fan of the factory bodykit for the 156. I think the wheel arch flares make it look too "Torana SLR 5000" for me and visually narrow the stance of the car as the wheel tracks look too narrow with the flares. The bodykit on the GTA is my favourite and gives the 156 a real "sleeper" look given the subtle front spoiler, side skirts and no real spoiler.

I do like the Autodelta and Novitec front spoilers though, will have to give Alfpa Repairs a call. Not sure I can get away with lowering the car the 20mm the factory lowering kit does as I barely miss scraping my drive now.

I should pick up my Momo Sphere gear knob and Momo Stealth pedals today. I'll post a photo onnce they're fitted.

[Victor Lee]

Hi Anthony,

Agree about the Alfa kit.  In my opinion, whilst it looks ok, the lower front spoiler "chin" juts out too much and can't clear driveways.  Yep, the 156 GTA kit is the best, but unfortunately can't fit the standard 156.

We also lowered our 156 JTS.  Looks great, but for practical purposes, not good!  I'm not sure why, but the turning circle was worse and the ride from the passenger's seat very bumpy.  (That's using lowering springs only).

We have that time again, I would do the body kit but not the lowering.

Cheers

Victor

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Excuse my ignorance, but why can't the GTA kit fit on the regular 156?

[Victor Lee]

If I recall correctly, the 156 GTA guards and panels are wider and thus the front spoiler/bumper is also wider to fit. 

It is similar to what BMW did: The mid 1990's 3 series (E36) BMWs had all those copy look alike M3's, but really were only 318's.  Then with the subsequent model 3 series (E46), the M3's had deliberately wider panels so as people could not retrofit M3 spoliers onto bog standard models, thus keeping its "exclusivity".

[Anth73]

Spot on Victor. The GTA has 10mm wider front guards to accommodate 17x7.5 rims and 225x45 tyres. Standard 156's run 16x6.5 or 17x7 rims with 205x55 or 215x45 tyres respectively.

Interestingly enough, I have seen the 17x7.5 GTA rims on a standard 156. anyone else running 17x7.5's?

[Victor Lee]

We did!   We had the Simmons FR17 on our 156.  But I can't rememberl if they were 17x7.0 or 17x7.5 

They looked great when they were the outer rims were all polished up! 

[Anth73]

I introduced Mia Bella to the lovely folk at Lance Dixon today for a minor service given it was 6 months since the last oil change in the owners handbook.

They gave her the once over and the I'm happy to report she's in good health! The only problem to report was a split bush that helps to stop the engine rocking. I had noticed some excessive movement through the gear lever if you blipped the throttle whilst cruising in 4th for example and the new bush has eliminated this.

Interesting to find out they use Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60 synthetic oil instead of Selenia. That was $96 for 6 litres.....ouch but worth it. Here's the blurb from Castrol:

"Castrol Edge Sport 10W-60 is a full synthetic SAE 10W-60, API SM/CF, ACEA A3/B3/B4 engine oil which is race proven for highly stressed competition engines and older technology sports cars and luxury sedans. Its wide viscosity rating provides excellent start-up wear protection and superior engine protection under every condition of operation."

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Bloody hell!!

I could have given you a whole 2.5 V6 for $96 about 6 months ago.  Couldn't give the bloody thing away.

[Anth73]

Supposedly the Selenia oil is MORE expensive still. I've heard in the range of $20 a litre.

[Pinkstig67]

Well arent people rich