considering 156 sportswagon

[colcol]

The 159 is a much bigger car, with more room on the inside, and it has a better airconditioner.
The series 2 159 has a little more room inside than a series 1, as they redesigned the seats, for more room.
If you get a Automatic, it has a good Japanese Asian Brand gearbox, without needing to worry about Dual Mass Flywheels on the manual, Colin.

[Craig_m67]

Rear seats on the 159 don't fold flat, unlike the 156 (and GT).  159 feels more solid but also much heavier. The 156 is quite nimble in comparison. 

[Divano Veloce]

Thanks guys..

Colin, what sort of fuel consumption do you get on the open road?

Craig, love to have your fuel consumption! Is a 156 SW big enough for 2-3 kids under 5??? (Probably not!)

[Craig_m67]

Craig, love to have your fuel consumption! Is a 156 SW big enough for 2-3 kids under 5??? (Probably not!)

Good question. This was pretty much the exact requirement ours had to meet in London. We had (at the time) two kids 0-3yrs. It's all about careful packing, you will use up all the space you have regardless of how big your car is. We managed to tour Europe and the Uk easily with everything we needed, including the pram and a very special Leckey Mygo seating system for Jemima who had quadriplegic cerebal palsy (reason we went to the UK).

We had two child seats in the back and were able to sit in the middle (feeding etc) however it wasn't very comfy for an adult.  Without the seats it would be better but it's no falcon back there, essentially the same size as a mk7 golf.  I doubt the 159 has wider or deeper rear seats in this regard to be honest.  I found the 159 to be a little impractical after the 156, felt darker and tighter inside to me and the higher load lip at the rear was also annoying... This and the fact the rear seats don't fold flat were show stoppers and is why I still have the 156 and haven't "upgraded". Gorgeous thing to look a though and a 2.4JTD (auto has paddles) is a frickin beast.

Our pram was a Phil & Teds double... Which I road tested in a few cars before deciding to buy. It fits fine leaving plenty of space for soft backpacks/bags etc.


*not my car! obviously

PS. Only just noticed your PMs.  Sounds good, let me give her a clean on the weekend and I will send you some pics.

[colcol]

My 156 JTS gets between 5.8 and 8.5 depending upon hills, headwinds, 90-110 cruising speed, have got 827 kays out of a a tank, then i ran out!, just wanted to see, not a selespeed, Colin.

[poohbah]

To avoid future punching from Mrs DV, I would suggest you avoid any of the Selespeeds. Try getting a conventional auto or conventional manual. While some say the selespeeds are fine if maintained properly, a quick scroll through this chat room would suggest that gremlin-free examples are pretty hard to find.

[Divano Veloce]

Thanks poobah! The dele speed test drive was more about looking at the size and detail of a jts sportswagon. Today I'm lm lm looking at a manual...

Do these need premium? My old 8v twinspark is ok on 91 (but it's also 10.5:1 and true twinspark)

[poohbah]

I only use 98 RON in my V6 as a personal choice, but the basic requirement is 95RON.

[Divano Veloce]

Sad end to this thread, Wife insisted on a skoda wagon. It's big, fast and diesel but very boring. I will have it tuned immediately to 125kw 400nm

[Craig_m67]

I dunno, if I was looking for another practical wagon that would be my choice. Best if luck with it!

[Divano Veloce]

I'm very disappointed to be honest. I'd love a sportswagon....

[poohbah]

156s are going so cheap these days you could still just get one as a weekender ...

[Davidm1600]

Poohbah is so correct, it is ridiculous how cheap 156s, let alone all the other 932 series Alfas are. 

I have had my 156 Sportwagon now for 7 years and apart from the sorts of issues Col noted, for me it has been a great car, practical, comfortable, economical and yet still fun to enjoy.  It looks superb as well.  In overall terms for me it has been very reliable.

Every now and again I kind of think of selling it, but seriously it is still such a terrific car, that i still have it. And yes its value now is about a quarter of what I payed for it, so there really isn't much incentive to sell it.

Pity the other half insisted on the Skoda, but in truth they are a pretty decent car these days.

[Divano Veloce]

im scheming an engine swap between a 156 JTS SW and a 147JTD... If someone could write off a 147JTD that would really help me out

would need to sell the berlina though...

[Craig_m67]

156 JTD has a different subframe to the other 156.

You'd be better off importing the complete engine/subframe/loom and ECU from the UK.
Get a manual 20v 2.4. Then it just bolts in

Or buy mine.