[rachael0701]

Hi, I picked up my 1st ever alfa 156 yesterday, an impulse ebay purchase! Took it for mot this morning. It has more holes in the floor and sills than my kitchen colander, not good hey? Also, a leaking brake pipe. The drivers airbag light is on and one of the rear electric windows does not work.

The problem is,,,,, I am totally smitten so I suppose bring on the bills! Can anyone recommend any good welders on the Wirral?

Thanks
Rachael

 

[Philjay50]

Do you know how much welding is needed, I have the kit but not much spare time, but I would hate to see an alfa suffer. I am away from tomorrow until Monday.

 

[rachael0701]

Hi thanks, I don't know exactly how much, 5 pieces apparently but not sure exactly where, around the sills and passenger floor, apparetly the guy in the garage has spoken to someone who usually does the welding and he doesn't want to do it!!!

 

[mrshomersimpson]

ive just been quoted £300 for my sils which also have holes sad sad times...

 

[rachael0701]

Hi, is that for both sides?

 

[mrshomersimpson]

yeah it was.. my alfa 156 is 1998 so its rather old.. but still wonderful its not as bad as having holes in the floor but the sills are well done in, and well the guy said *UP to £300 but the previous owner fiberglassed over the holes like an idiot and now it all needs to be removed and properly welded!

The alfa specialist tells me it could be less than 300 but they wont know until they take the fiberglass off the passenger side ... but rather than do it all at once.. coz well to me £300 is a MAHOOSIVE amount of money considering ive just ploughed 500 into it for fixing an oil leak and new cam belt.... so im hoping i can split the job.. make it a bit more financially managable.. yeah but they aint cheap! so please just brace yourself for £300 and if you get it cheaper! let me know! LOL im kiddin

 

[rachael0701]

haha, yea mine is 1998 as well, oh well what can you do I am so in lurve with it!!

 

[iainfm]

To be brutal... I'd cut my losses and buy a better example. 156's have very poor crash-test performances, and that's before being patched up...

 

[rachael0701]

Really, have been in touch with fella that I bought it from and he has offered me a full refund, so maybe.....

 

[iainfm]

I bought one off ebay a few months back. It was nice, but it was rotten underneath (it was from Aberdeen). I was pretty much expecting this, and it was bought as a breaker, with a small chance that it might be a fixer-upper!

It's being broken, and will soon be on its final journey!

 

[iainfm]

‪Alfa Romeo 156 - Crash Test‬‏ - YouTube

 

[rachael0701]

Oh dear :wow:

 

[In_The_Pass]

It's good the seller is being so understanding. As another said cut your losses and look for a better one.

 

[mrshomersimpson]

aww cheers guys LOL ive just spent a small fortune on mine! :S LOL

 

[Guest]

‪Alfa Romeo 156 - Crash Test‬‏ - YouTube

If that worries you, buy a Volvo (or Tiger Tank) !

 

[mrshomersimpson]

as a sidenote when i first came to this forum i have to say it scared me stupid. i was scared to drive the car at one point! but its just soo gorgeous you cant help but love it, ive said on here many a time ive got a love hate relationship with my alfa but when your in it, its just something else..

i scrambled like mad trying to get the seller to give me my money back or a partial refund and in the end i gave up, but this forum scared me with all its rev counter storys and all its new clutch nightmares..

if "looking for a better one" isnt a financial option for you then i say stick with the one you have and fix it.. maybe when all the works done you can then think about selling it on.. but dont be scared with horror storys, and there are some on here, just do whats right for you. its like someone told me when my alfa was getting me down.....

" if your reading a technical help forum section, then of course your going to get horror storys!"

read some of the other sections it makes up for all the faults listed, there are other members on here, that have 1998 model alfa 156s and have been more than happy with them. im one of them! i love my car.. it looks the part and gets me n the baba from a to b. So what if its 1998... its still lookin sleek!

good luck whatever you decide xxx

 

[mrshomersimpson]

If that worries you, buy a Volvo (or Tiger Tank) !

agreed!:thumbs:

 

[AR301]

Rachael, don't worry about that "crash test video". As stated on Youtube it was apparently done to test windscreen adhesive, not crash survivability; so different conditions.

I was so impressed with my comparative lack of injury following a foray into the front of a Mercedes Sprinter that I bought another identical-model 156. One with a big-mass engine up front, though: Most serious crash you ever had? - Page 2 - Alfa Romeo Forum

Andrew

 

[rachael0701]

Thanks everyone! Still a little undecided, my head is definitely saying run a mile but my heart, well that is definitely saying "get it fixed"!!!!

 

[Guest]

Stay with the Alfa, you will only get annoyed with yourself and wish you had. Driving in the UK is getting to be such a pain these days that anything that actually makes you smile to youself at having to get in the car has to be worth something.

I had one of the first 1998 155 bhp 2.0 TS's about 3 years ago for £825 and the bodywork was absolutely sound apart from the wheel arch edges just starting to go. The engine was true Alfa and still did 0-60 in 8.2 seconds and 30 mpg at 124k miles. I had to put some time and effort in to mine to get it working 100% but it paid me back in Spades.

I have had an Audi A4 2.5 TDI Quattro and a Merc SLK 320 since then and have come back to the 156 as the most beautiful and enjoyable saloon ever built.