2000 Alfa Romeo 156 Reviews

New life has been breathed into Alfa Romeo in Australia with the switch of control to the Italian head office; previously they were being brought in by a private importer. Price cuts and the introduction of new models have sparked buyer interest in new Alfas and Fiats.Sadly for sellers, but great news for buyers, the aforementioned change has resulted in lower prices on the used Alfa Romeo market.Though it’s supposedly just another mid-sized family car, the Italian designers of the Alfa Romeo 156 gave it plenty of verve in its design. Not only does it look great, the chassis has superb dynamics that appeal to those who really like to get out there and drive.Handling is what Italian cars are all about and the Alfa Romeo 156 doesn’t disappoint. It has a willingness to turn into a corner and once in there it has tenacious road grip. Steering is prompt and sharp and this car communicates to the driver as though it’s a sports machine.Few family sedans cry out to be taken for a run on your favourite bit of road early of a Sunday morning, but this Alfa Romeo just loves that sort of treatment.Despite looking like a sleek two-door coupe the Alfa 156 has four doors. The back doors are so well hidden that many don’t even realise they are there. The rear door handles are disguised as air extractor vents and we once had the experience of someone trying to get into the back of a 156 by squeezing in through the front doors.Once you’ve located the door handles, it’s reasonably easy to get into the back seat of the Alfa Romeo 156. However, the sporting heritage of the car’s shape shows up here and it doesn’t have the biggest of rear seats. Indeed the area back there is probably best left for children.The boot is also on the small side for a family car. The station wagon’s load area is a bit of a joke if you regard it as being a full wagon - but makes sense if you think of it as a coupe with an extended load area.Naturally, the Alfa wagon is much easier to load than the luggage area of a conventional two-door coupe. The Alfa Romeo 156 first arrived in Australia in February 1999 in sedan format with the station wagon being added in August 2000. In October 2003 the 156 got a major facelift that saw the traditional Alfa shield grille become considerably larger and stretching right down into the bumper. The tail was beefed out and a bit more brightwork added to the body.Power in the standard Alfa Romeo 156 range is provided by either a four-cylinder 2.0-litre or a 2.5-litre V6. The four-cylinder was upgraded to JTS specification midway through 2002 and we reckon it’s the one to buy. It not only has even more response, but also uses less fuel.In the usual Italian manner, the four-cylinder engine is the sporting unit aimed at the press-on driver, whereas the V6 is the luxury cruising unit. There is, of course, more acceleration from the V6 than the four, but the eagerness to work hard has been toned down.The Selespeed automated manual transmission used on many four-cylinder Alfa 156s, can be frustratingly slow and lumpy in the lower gears. We feel it’s better to buy a five-speed manual, but many have learnt to tolerate the Selespeed because they use their Alfa to commute in traffic. Try before you buy.The Alfa 156 V6 has a four-speed fully-automatic unit with semi-sequential options.An ultra-hot, very-expensive 156 GTA joined the range in August 2002. With a highly-tuned 3.2-litre V6, six-speed close-ratio manual box, bold body kit, big wheels tyres and brakes, it’s a real delight to drive. Look out for torque steer though, as it can try to take control of the wheel at times. The GTA didn’t sell all that well and was quietly discontinued in Australia in June 2004.Alfa Romeo is firmly established in Australia and there are a reasonable number of dealers. As is often the way with European cars, dealers tend to be concentrated in the major population centres and scarce in the bush.Servicing and spare parts prices are about average for this class. You can do some of the routine, non-safety items yourself but the engine bay is crowded and skinned knuckles aren’t unusual. Insurance can be expensive so make inquiries before falling head-over-heels in love with this Italian machine.Alfa Romeo 156 was replaced by the Alfa 159 in June 2006. The 159 is significantly larger so its introduction didn’t have the usual adverse affect on resale values that often occurs when a new model supersedes an old.New-generation Alfa Romeos are better built than the older models, however, we still see the occasional rough one, so be careful. We recommend that you always call on a professional before buying a car like this, although you can weed out the obvious duds by doing some initial checks yourself.A car like the Alfa Romeo 156 can fall into the hands of hard drivers because their very nature means they cry out to be driven to extremes at times. Signs of hard driving include severe wear on the tyres and lots of brake dust on the inside of the wheels and on the suspension inside of the guards.Look for body repairs; most easily spotted by mismatched paint on adjacent body panels, uneven gaps between panels, paint overspray on non-painted parts and ripples in what should be smooth metal.Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly from the moment it gets going. Naturally the V6 will be smoother than the four, but the latter shouldn’t be rough.Engine performance from the 2.0-litre Twin Spark unit isn't great, but if it seems below par the engine could be suspect.A manual gearbox that isn't light in its action could be due for repairs. Do some fast changes from third down to second and feel for a reluctance to shift, or for funny noises.During your road test look for steering that wanders and feel for brakes that don't pull the car up evenly.Sports sedans don’t always get driven in a sporting manner, but it can be hard to pick which has received harsh treatment. A professional inspection should be regarded as essential. 

There was a time you could pick a car’s country of origin by its styling, the way it drove, steered and braked. Cars seemed to have a unique character that stemmed from the culture of the country that produced it, none more so than Italian cars that had a certain flair that came from the Latin passion of the Italian people.Cars from Germany, France, England and America all had quite distinctive character traits that were a reflection of their country of origin.Globalisation has changed the face of the auto industry. Now that car makers have expanded beyond their national borders and are making cars with a world flavour those national characteristics that made particular cars stand out from the crowd have largely been eliminated from the business.One country that seems to have been less affected by globalisation than any other is Italy, which still produces cars that have a distinctive Italian flavour. One such car is the Alfa Romeo 156.In a time when cars are becoming more and more homogenised, the Alfa 156 stands out.Alfa’s traditional grille marks it out as a product of Turin to start with, but there can be no mistaking the taut flowing lines that could only have come from Italy.With its wheels placed at the corners the 156 has a powerful stance emphasised by its muscular shoulders and bold front and rear treatments.If styling is an important part of any Italian car, the engine is equally as important, it’s the heart that gives the car so much of its individual character.The 156’s heartbeat came from a 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine with twin spark plugs and four valves per cylinder or a 2.5-litre double overhead camshaft V6.With the 2.0-litre engine the 156 would reach 216 km/h if pressed, having reached 100 km/h in around 8.5 seconds, while the V6 would sprint to 100 km/h in 7.3 secs and had a top speed of 230 km/h.Those who chose the twin-spark four could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed auto; those who opted for the V6 could have either a six-speed manual or five-speed auto. A automated shift manual gearbox — Selespeed — could also be ordered for even more fun on the run.Final drive was through the front wheels, which was a disappointing departure from tradition for some Alfa enthusiasts who treasured the wonderfully exhilarating handling of earlier rear-wheel drive cars like the old 105 GTVs.But anyone who was able to get over the disappointment found the 156’s handling was just as thrilling as older Alfas despite the front-wheel drive.Double wishbone suspension was employed at the front with an independent MacPherson Strut layout at the rear. On the road it had a balance and precision that made it a joy to drive on the open road.Brakes were disc all round overlaid with ABS and EBD electronic brake distribution for optimum braking efficiency.The Alfa 156 came packed with standard features that befitted its place in the prestige segment of the market.Entry to the Italian club came via the Twin Spark Sedan, which had air-conditioning, ABS, dual airbags, adjustable steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, immobiliser, velour trim and carpets, power steering and a host of other features.You could also choose the 156 Sport, which added power Recaro seats, sports trim, instruments and carbon fibre dash trim.If you stepped up to the V6 you got alloy wheels in place of the steel wheels on the Twin Spark, as well as the V6 engine and the option of the six-speed gearbox.Perched atop the range was the Monza, which was available as a Twin Spark or V6, and added leather trim to the package.Owners of Italian cars have often had to be forgiving when their cars were often temperamental. They would often forgive them their sins for the sheer enjoyment of the driving pleasure.The latest generation of Alfas it seems are less prone to niggly problems as some of their predecessors.There were issues with poor radio reception on early cars, but that was about the extent of the dramas.Most 156s are owned by people prepared to lavish affection on them and ensure they are well serviced. Even so check for a service record and make sure no corners have been cut.Generally the 156 seems to remain rattle free, but the quality of interior fittings suggest that they might suffer in the long term when these parts may deteriorate and begin to loosen and fall apart as those of older Italian cars were prone to do.Agile handling and powerful ABS-equipped brakes give the 156 a great primary safety package, while dual airbags provide good crash protection when a collision is unavoidable. Standard side front airbags added to the secondary protection from 2000.Carol Sainsbery says her 2.5 V6 manual looks stylish, has a user friendly cabin with comfortable seats, and is a dream car to drive.Rick Fitzgerald says his 2001 Monza has been a great car . He loves the engine, the Momo leather interior, the styling, the gearshift and the handling. He’s not so keen on the front-wheel drive, the lack of cup holders, and the air-con, which struggles on hot days and reckons the plastics could fit better.Salv Pupillo has driven 125,000 km in his 1999 Twin Spark sedan and says every day has been a pleasure. He recalls the day he was invited by a dealer to thelaunch of the 156 and he was so impressed he decided it would be his next car. Six and a half years later he looks forward to many more pleasurable years before the inevitable update to a newer 156.Peter Coumaros dreamed of driving and owning an Alfa Romeo when he was student. He had to wait almost 30 years before realising his dream own one, but is now onto his third. He says it’s an addiction that’s very hard to describe to someone who has never driven an Alfa. The 156 V6 is pure pleasure, a “piece of art" on wheels. The V6 is fantastic and responsive.Stephen Vincent bought his Twin Spark manual in 1999. He has found it to be extremely reliable and a pleasure to drive. His only problem has been a computer failure, and his only criticism is the large turning circle.• classic Italian styling• smooth powerful engines• beautifully slick manual gearshift• excellent road holding• well equipped with every featureGood looking sports sedan goes and handles well and stands out from the crowd.

The Italian maker seems incapable of designing one that's mere transport, injecting a special flavour into even machines that would be built as “ordinary” cars by others.The Alfa Romeo 156 has the convenience of four doors, not the two you'd expect from its sporting coupe shape. The back doors are so cunningly disguised that many don't even realise they are there. Look at the shut lines, then at the handles pretending to be air vents and you'll see what we mean.Once you've opened the rear door, try the back seat for size, as it's not the biggest in the business. Indeed, the seat is probably best left for children or smallish adults. Big boofy Aussie blokes won't be happy back there.The 156 has been on the Australian market since February 1999 in sedan format; the wagon arrived in August 2000. In October 2003 it got a major facelift that led to the traditional Alfa shield grille becoming considerably larger and sitting right down into the bumper. The tail was beefed out and a bit more brightwork added to the body.Nevertheless, the original model still remains striking in its styling.The 156 has sold strongly from day one and a good number are on the used-car market. Take your time to shop between them, as there seems to be quite a variation in condition from best to worst.The boot is also on the small side for a family car. The station wagon's load area is a bit of a joke, if you regard it as being a full wagon, but makes more sense if you think of it as a coupe-wagon.Steering that communicates everything to the driver with plenty of detail on which they can make their next decision further enhances lovely handling and gives a huge amount of road grip. Few family sedans cry out to be taken for a run on your favourite bit of road early on a Sunday morning but this Alfa just loves that sort of outing.An ultra-hot, ultra-expensive 156 GTA joined the range in August 2002. With a 3.2-litre V6, six-speed close-ratio manual box, big body kit, extra large wheels, tyres and brakes it's a real delight to drive. Look out for torque steer, though, as it can try to take control of the wheel at times.The GTA was expensive, didn't sell all that well and was discontinued in June 2004.Alfa Romeo is firmly re-established in Australia. There are a reasonable number of dealers, both official dealers and independent operators. Alfa dealers tend to be concentrated in the major population centres and scarce in the bush.Servicing and spare parts prices are about average for this class. You can do some of the routine, non-safety items yourself but the bonnet isn't the easiest under which to work.Insurance can be expensive, so make inquiries before falling head over heels in love with this Italian masterpiece.The 156 was replaced by the Alfa 159 in June 2006. The 159 is significantly larger and its introduction may not have the usual adverse effect on resale values that often occurs when a similar new model supersedes an old one.Under the bonnetPower is provided by either Alfa's four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine or its upgrade to JTS specification midway through 2002. The latter is the one to go for because not only has it even more response than the earlier unit but also uses less fuel at the same time. There's also a 2.5-litre V6. In the Italian manner, the four-cylinder is the sporting engine, the V6 the luxury cruising unit.Many find the Selespeed automated manual transmission frustratingly slow-changing and harsh, especially in the lower gears when it's being used in the automatic setting, designated “city”. It's better to go for a conventional manual (to our way of thinking) but you may learn to tolerate the Selespeed if you're doing a lot of heavy-traffic work.When specified with a self-shifting transmission, the Alfa 156's V6 gets a semi-sequential four-speed, fully automatic unit. When used in automatic mode it's smooth and quiet in operation.Danger signsThese new generation Alfas are much better built than the older models. However, they can still fall into the hands of bad drivers and their very nature means they cry out to be driven hard.Look for body repairs. Most are easily spotted by mismatched paint on adjacent panels, uneven gaps between panels, paint overspray on non-painted parts and ripples in what should be smooth metal.Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly from the moment it gets going. Naturally, the V6 will be smoother than the four. Engine performance from the 2.0-litre Twin Spark unit isn't great but if it seems below par, it could be suspect. The JTS is a significantly better unit.A manual gearbox that isn't light in its action could be due for repair. Do some fast changes from third down to second and feel for a reluctance to shift — or for funny noises.During the road test look for steering that wanders and feel for brakes that don't pull the car up evenly.By all means do your own checkout to the best of your ability but always call on a professional for the final say. 

The 156 has a powerful stance emphasised by its muscular shoulders and bold front and rear treatments. The 156's heartbeat came from a 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine with twin spark plugs and four valves per cylinder or a 2.5-litre double overhead camshaft V6.With the 2.0-litre engine the 156 would reach 216km/h if pressed, having reached 100km/h in about 8.5 seconds, while the V6 would sprint to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds and had a top speed of 230km/h.Those who chose the twin-spark four could pick between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed auto; those who opted for the V6 could have either a six-speed manual or five-speed auto. An automated shift manual gearbox, Selespeed, could also be ordered for even more fun on the run.Final drive was through the front wheels, which was a disappointing departure from tradition for some Alfa enthusiasts, who treasured the wonderfully exhilarating handling of earlier rear-wheel drive cars like the 105 GTVs. But anyone who was able to get over the disappointment found the 156's handling was just as thrilling as older Alfas despite front-wheel drive.Double-wishbone suspension was employed at the front with an independent MacPherson Strut layout at the rear. It had a balance and precision that made it a joy to drive on the open road. Brakes were disc all round overlaid with ABS and electronic brake distribution.Entry to the Italian club came via the Twin Spark Sedan, which had airconditioning, ABS, dual airbags, adjustable steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, immobiliser, velour trim and carpets, power steering and a host of other features.You could also choose the 156 Sport, which added power Recaro seats, sports trim, instruments and carbon fibre dash trim.If you stepped up to the V6 you got alloy wheels in place of the steel wheels on the Twin Spark, as well as the V6 engine and the option of the six-speed gearbox. Perched atop the range was the Monza, which was available as a Twin Spark or V6, and added leather trim to the package.IN THE SHOPThe latest generation of Alfas seems less prone to niggly problems than some predecessors. There were issues with poor radio reception on early cars, but that was about the extent of the dramas.Most 156s are owned by people prepared to lavish affection on them and ensure they are well serviced. Even so, check for a service record and make sure no corners have been cut. Generally, the 156 seems to remain rattle-free, but the quality of interior fittings suggests they might suffer in the long term.CRUNCH TIMEAgile handling and powerful ABS-equipped brakes give the 156 a great primary safety package, while dual airbags provide good crash protection when a collision is unavoidable. Standard side-front airbags added to the secondary protection from 2000.OWNERS' VIEWSCarol Sainsbery says her 2.5 V6 manual looks stylish, has a user-friendly cabin with comfortable seats, and is a dream car to drive.Rick FitzGerald says his 2001 Monza has been a great car. He loves the engine, the Momo leather interior, the gearshift and the handling but he's not so keen on the front-wheel drive and the aircon, which struggles on hot days.ALFA ROMEO 156 99-02Smooth powerful engineSlick manual gearshiftExcellent road holdingClassic Italian stylingCheck for service recordWell-equipped interiorRATING16/20 Good-looking sports sedan goes and handles well and stands out from the crowd