Advise sought - wagon

Bob Spencer · May 04, 2016, 04:06:03 PM

G'day.
I am a long time lurker who hasn't owned an Alfa for 6 or 7 years (the last one was a 164 which I wish I'd never sold!). Currently driving a Magna which I hate with a vengeance.

Am looking at buying a sub $11,000 wagon.

Are there any general things to be either avoided or sought?

Cheers,
Bob.

P.S I hope this is the correct category!

Neil Choi · May 04, 2016, 04:23:50 PM

159 2.4 JTD diesel wagon.

You should also read up on the various modifications and fixes you need to be aware of or do, ie EGR and that intake flappy thingy which always need replacing because all 5 flap mechanisms are worked off the first flap mechanism and all of the flaps get caked up in black diesel soot.
Plenty of advice already here.

Craig_m67 · May 04, 2016, 05:29:31 PM

Or.. If you're hankering back after a Busso perhaps consider an earlier GT. it was built on the (slightly) longer floor plan/chassis as the 156 sportwagon but came with a 3.2V6. Also the seats fold flat, which doesn't happen in the 159 (?)

I'm not sure if there were any 156 V6 Sportwagons (I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong). Certainly would consider buying an (imported) GTA sportwagon if any becam available

pasey25 · May 04, 2016, 06:55:50 PM

Seats fold flat in the 159

Craig_m67 · May 04, 2016, 07:05:23 PM

Quote from: pasey25 on May 04, 2016, 06:55:50 PM
Seats fold flat in the 159

Completely flat?

pasey25 · May 05, 2016, 08:23:00 PM

Yup

Neil Choi · May 05, 2016, 08:58:52 PM

Pfft....

156 sportswagon, overrated. Or is it sportwagon.
GT is a 2dr hatch, useless.
You will be waiting a long long time for a 156 GTA wagon (private import) or V6 (personal conversion) wagon, pfft.

You need this.

PS have seen 1 GTA wagon and 1 V6 wagon conversion, how long will you want to wait.

Neil Choi · May 05, 2016, 09:01:41 PM

Actually, a 147 GTA. At least it is a GTA!!!

Mick A · May 05, 2016, 09:02:47 PM

Quote from: Craig_m67 on May 04, 2016, 05:29:31 PM
I'm not sure if there were any 156 V6 Sportwagons (I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong). Certainly would consider buying an (imported) GTA sportwagon if any becam available

Yep one of our customers has a 156 GTA wagon.
Fantastic car, UK import, so the only down side is the surface rust underneath.

Great looking car with the GTA bodykit.

Darryl · May 06, 2016, 09:47:39 PM

Don't dismiss the GT IMHO. We were looking at a 159 Q4 wagon or a GT because they were the 2 models with useful space in the back with the rear seats down (and perfectly usable space with them up). Obviously if you need rear seats/access on a regular basis (i.e. kid transport) the GT doesn't work. We ended up with the 159, but that was due to a particular strain of the Alfa virus, if yours is different a GT might work...