Life with a 156

I think yours might be upgraded Brian, as I thought they were all plain unless upgraded.

Unless it was part of an SP package, but having not owning an SP vehicle I wouldn't know for sure.

Jug knows ALOT about the different specs mate so hopefully he should be able to help out.

Nice 40 miles each way drive to the coast yesterday, needle sharp steering and plenty of power made it a real hoot, had one dodgy moment when I thought there was something wrond with my car.
stopped at some traffic lights, and as I pulled of I heard a rattly tinkling noise that appeared to be under the car
I heard it every now and then for a couple of miles, oddly tho. it stopped after the BMW I was following turned off panic over.
Brian, I would take a guess that your crossdrilled discs are an addition, but to be sure if I was you I'd post a thread in the technical section, you need to know 'cos when you come to change your pads you need the correct ones. I did work with a guy once who drilled his own discs (on a Renault Laguna WTF) I would not recomend anyone to do this

Today I did the ultimate act of love on my partner, I let her drive the 156
She handled it quite well, she found the brakes a bit sharp and the power a little too much for her, an awful lot of stabbing on and off the throttle. We caught up with an old Scooby, which I naturally encouraged her to overtake, but she was having none of it.
Isn't it spooky on the other side, you really can't see the speedo, unless she's doing 140 plus, and she wasn't
Can't see the speedo, fuel gauge or temp. gauge, and I know Beth won't take any notice of them
Still she did agree its a nice car to drive, I get the feeling she thinks the Lilac Picasso is a better car, and who am I to argue, 'Cos the 156 is MINE

Jason, I 'let' Lisa (Fiancee) drive the Alfa (As she lowered my insurance by about £50 just by being on it) a few weeks back, and sadly it wasn't as happy a story as yours, lol

Having only driven 1.2's and being 19 years old she wasn't QUITE used to the immense power the 156 had and every time she pressed the gas down and whizzed off she'd go 'Woah!' and ease off! lol

She said though it was a really easy car to drive as the biting point was so high thus eliminating any chance of stalling, and she did like it in general but found it too big and too fast! No such thing in my book, the bigger and faster the better!

Ah well, she can keep the Punto and I'll keep the 156, haha.

As a bit of a test I dropped down to 20mph on a slight up hill section of road today, in sxth gear!
It then pulled (steadily) and smoothly, uphill to 80, all in sixth gear, now I don't understand these people who say the 24 valve engine has no tourque
This quite clearly shows a theoretical speed range, in one gear (sixth) of 123 mph, assuming the 143 mph for an SP3 2.5 is correct, you can comfortably pull off in second gear run upto 40mph change to top and continue to maximum speed in just two gears.
'Kin hell I like my car

Yeah I totally agree Jason, I have done a similar test in my 156 going up quite a steepish hill.

I tried it before in 5th gear in my Mondeo and the Mondeo HATED it, it would start to slow right down and if I din't intervene and drop down to 3rd it would have stalled.

The 156 however in 6th pulled amazingly and kept up with the other traffic pretty sharpish, great car.

Although Jason... I have a guy coming out to look at her on Saturday and he could possibly buying it... Will you still love me...? lol

Darren

Dazza what are you going to get next........
You may find that little silver minx hard to replace
I hope it goes well for you on Saturday.

Hey Jay,

Yeah well I've emailed the guy but not had a reply yet, he seemed certain he wanted it though so I shall see what happens.

To be honest, if it doesn't sell I won't really mind as she is great fun, the best car I have ever owned!!!

Big day today Daz man. will she stay or will she go?
Any thoughts on replacing your Bella?
Please not a mundano, keep the faith Bro.
I have got a nice little mondeo story for you Daz, for a chuckle.
In my last job I used to whizz up and down to South Wales in my bosses 4wd drive 2.0 Zetec, I think that was the engine. Any way it was a good motorway car, and it did handle well (4wd) but it wasn't that quick off the mark.
One day this guy went off in the Mondeo as some guys were worknig on the front of our building, they started to get all excited, shouting give it some whayy hey etc. I casually said it wasn't that quick really but they insisted and said what do you drive then a Ferrari? Nah a Corvette I said Actually my day to day car was a 318i BMW and that was quicker off the mark, but nowhere near as quick top speed as the Mondeo, whuich I had an indicated 127 out of I didn't go any faster due to the apearance of a white T5 Volvo behind me with the lights flashing on its roof I had a close call that day.

Originally Posted by jason156

Big day today Daz man. will she stay or will she go?
Any thoughts on replacing your Bella?
Please not a mundano, keep the faith Bro.
I have got a nice little mondeo story for you Daz, for a chuckle.
In my last job I used to whizz up and down to South Wales in my bosses 4wd drive 2.0 Zetec, I think that was the engine. Any way it was a good motorway car, and it did handle well (4wd) but it wasn't that quick off the mark.
One day this guy went off in the Mondeo as some guys were worknig on the front of our building, they started to get all excited, shouting give it some whayy hey etc. I casually said it wasn't that quick really but they insisted and said what do you drive then a Ferrari? Nah a Corvette I said Actually my day to day car was a 318i BMW and that was quicker off the mark, but nowhere near as quick top speed as the Mondeo, whuich I had an indicated 127 out of I didn't go any faster due to the apearance of a white T5 Volvo behind me with the lights flashing on its roof I had a close call that day.

Dude, she's gone... And I miss her so much!

Sold her today, and now probably going back onto the Mondeo for a few weeks until I know what to do. As I think I gotta sell that little sucker as well

I have convinced Lisa though that the Fiat Coupe is amazing on fuel because it's only a 2 Litre, I didn't bother explaining the 20V and Turbo bit to her though

Nah, but I am really upset about selling my Bella, it really hit me hard for some reason

This post has got alot of little sad smileys to it, justified I think, as I watched it drive off I felt really bad, like I had betrayed it or something. Bit weird I know!

I don't know what to do now. Alfa-less and depressed. Not a good way to be.

The guy who bought her though seemed really nice, brought his daughter along and everything, she liked the car too, hope he enjoys it as much as I did.

But boy am I gonna miss that V6...

Originally Posted by Darren156

Hey Jay,

Yeah well I've emailed the guy but not had a reply yet, he seemed certain he wanted it though so I shall see what happens.

To be honest, if it doesn't sell I won't really mind as she is great fun, the best car I have ever owned!!!

I didn't believe that, still shes gone to a good home where hopefully she can be happily thrashed around a bit, and the new owner enjoying that lovely sound as you go past 4000rpm in third, and past some d1ck in a boring hatchback, or a nice cruise on a big old road where 90 seems like your standing still...........
as I've said elsewhere keep in touch pal.

Well, today I took the towbar off and also the engine tray, I am curious if the tray does anything?
Does anyone know?
Was it aerodynamics or engine temps or just style?
I was sick of mine bottoming out, although I am thinking of putting a brace at the back of it and refitting, but that depends on why its there.

Also theres a spare towbar bracket here if anyone is interested, give me a shout with a fair offer, I must say the car looks better without it tho', still if I need to tow I borrow the father in laws Hi lux.
See you all soon.

i've had my 2.0 TS for over a week and coming from an ST200 Mondeo i was surprised to see a Ford being better equipped than an Alfa!

in one way, i suppose it shows how smitten i am with my alfa, that i didn't really care about the lack of a trip computer, or digital readouts for the temperature, or even a rear wiper (it was only yesterday that i realised it didn't have one!).

and for a four-pot motor it makes such a lovely noise, although the diesel dugga-dugga when cold is a bit unusual (though i've been told this is normal behaviour), even if the V6 Duratec is still the best sounding engine i have owned.

oh, and the 156 isn't half nippy for quite a big and composed car, even if the turning circle is pretty chronic!

well, even with the little gripes, all i can do is look at it and smile as its by the far the best looking car i have owned, and it makes me even look vaguely respectable. well, until i step out of the car with scruffy etnies and frayed jeans!

oh, and this is the link to the advert for it: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/213668.htm

and i've already changed the repeaters to clear items.

Originally Posted by bigz

i've had my 2.0 TS for over a week and coming from an ST200 Mondeo i was surprised to see a Ford being better equipped than an Alfa!

in one way, i suppose it shows how smitten i am with my alfa, that i didn't really care about the lack of a trip computer, or digital readouts for the temperature, or even a rear wiper (it was only yesterday that i realised it didn't have one!).

and for a four-pot motor it makes such a lovely noise, although the diesel dugga-dugga when cold is a bit unusual (though i've been told this is normal behaviour), even if the V6 Duratec is still the best sounding engine i have owned.

oh, and the 156 isn't half nippy for quite a big and composed car, even if the turning circle is pretty chronic!

well, even with the little gripes, all i can do is look at it and smile as its by the far the best looking car i have owned, and it makes me even look vaguely respectable. well, until i step out of the car with scruffy etnies and frayed jeans!

oh, and this is the link to the advert for it: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/213668.htm

and i've already changed the repeaters to clear items.

Your variator is worn (diesel noise on start up) get it changed at the next cambelt change, 36k or 3 yrs.
Nice looking car

Bigz, if you were coming from an ST200 mate you should have gone for a V6 156, theyre quicker. I had an ST24 which felt nothing like the Alfa at all, compared to the Alfa the Mondeo ST24 was an old dog.

I'm back on the Mk1 Mondeo now though since selling the 156

Nice enough car, as was the ST, but it doesnt make me feel as good driving it. Probably because it's alot slower

Looks nice to me, and a good price too, those seats wouldn't last 5 minutes with my lifestyle, still v. nice, Its an unusual colour, Im sure it looks brilliant polished with the sun on it.

thanks for the replies!

the noise is a slight rattle coming from the left hand side of the engine bay but i can live with that!

as for the colour and the interior, yeah, they are a bit unusual and the light grey leather looks like it will be a right PITA to keep clean, though the seats are ridiculously comfy (if not as snug as the Mondy's Recaro's).

as for the V6 156? i sold my 200 to help pay for a deposit in a house and so my finances, and my new horrendous postcode (from a low level Liverpool one to a high level Liverpool) and parking on the street meant i had to restrict myself to a non-V6 model.

there's a few dings and scrapes on it from the previous owner, but nothing too major (offside front bumper has scuffs from a careless car park driver).

oh, and since i'm here, if anyone is interested in getting a Mondeo (you know how rare and exclusive an ownership proposition that is!) have a look at the Mondeo Enthusiasts Group at www.fordmondeo.org as its a very very well run forum.

Originally Posted by bigz

thanks for the replies!

the noise is a slight rattle coming from the left hand side of the engine bay but i can live with that!

as for the colour and the interior, yeah, they are a bit unusual and the light grey leather looks like it will be a right PITA to keep clean, though the seats are ridiculously comfy (if not as snug as the Mondy's Recaro's).

as for the V6 156? i sold my 200 to help pay for a deposit in a house and so my finances, and my new horrendous postcode (from a low level Liverpool one to a high level Liverpool) and parking on the street meant i had to restrict myself to a non-V6 model.

there's a few dings and scrapes on it from the previous owner, but nothing too major (offside front bumper has scuffs from a careless car park driver).

oh, and since i'm here, if anyone is interested in getting a Mondeo (you know how rare and exclusive an ownership proposition that is!) have a look at the Mondeo Enthusiasts Group at www.fordmondeo.org as its a very very well run forum.

Hey Dazza, one for you there Pal
To be honest Big guy theres not too much difference between a 2.0 and a 2.5 anyway, just a diffent type of noise and a larger ban......

Originally Posted by jason156

Hey Dazza, one for you there Pal
To be honest Big guy theres not too much difference between a 2.0 and a 2.5 anyway, just a diffent type of noise and a larger ban......

You cheeky sod!!!

I used to be part of the FORD ST OWNERS CLUB, but it was crap compared to this! (No offence ST guys)

Also Jase, are you comparing the 2 Litre 156 to the 2.5 156? I've been told theres a big difference in power. And it felt like it too when I had my baby!

I am sure that I looked up the 0-62 and a 2.0 litre is 8 'n a bit seconds against 7 'n a bit for the 2.4. Top speed is similar 137 to 143, I aint done 137 in mine so that seems a little irrelevent anyway.
I wanted a 2.0 as the TS is a classic Alfa engine, but once I'd heard, driven a 2.5 I was sold on the V6
Any way I don't want to make Our man in Bristol feel too bad now do I? Oh and I like your new signature