5 Things You Didn't Know About The Alfa 156

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Launched in 1997 to worldwide acclaim, the #AlfaRomeo 156 needs no introduction. Its combination of stunning looks, brilliant handling, and lusty engines, plus a very successful racing career, made the 156 one of Alfa's greatest commercial successes. Let's revisit one of Alfa Romeo's best moments by looking at five things you probably didn't know about the #Alfa156 #Top5
One - Lightweight materials
The Alfa 156 was, at launch, one of the production cars that utilized the highest number of magnesium components.
Two - Call me Juliet
During the Alfa 156's development, the designers working on the project referred to it using the iconic "Giulietta" nameplate, which appeared on sketches and even full-size mock-ups.
Three - From Thailand with love
To increase its market penetration in south-east Asia, Alfa Romeo took advantage of Fiat's ties with General Motors to assemble the 156 in the GM plant of Rayong in Thailand.
Four - A blast from the past
In a nod to the marque's 1960s models, the gear lever of the 156 was placed further forward and in a more upright position than usual.
Five - The stillborn GTAm
Presented at the Bologna Motor Show in December 2002, the GTAm aimed at transferring some of the racing car's technology into a road car.
Powered by a 3.5 liters Busso V6 producing a claimed 300 HP at 6800 Rpm, the 156 GTAm had composite bonnet and fenders, 19" wheels, adjustable shocks, and larger Brembo brakes.
The exclusive merchandise you can buy to support my channel: teespring.com/stores/roadster...
My automotive books:
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
www.amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: www.amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 www.amazon.com/dp/1656632500

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27 сен 2021

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Комментарии : 253

@ke6319 2 года назад

Still feels it was designed recently. Timeless classic in my opinion

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

And mine too!

@lukaskli.3880 2 года назад

I have one of the 156 bj 1998 with the 2.0ts and I still love this car

@BoosterB96 2 года назад

I still have 2 156s: 1999 sedan and 2005 sw facelift. I enjoy their design and amazing handling every day

@lukaskli.3880 2 года назад

@@archer7716 and there is no Plastik 😂

@BoosterB96 2 года назад

@@archer7716 No plastic, even minimal in the interior

@f.d.robben159 2 года назад

some years ago, I got my hands on a completely stock 156 2.5 24V. One owner and 20 years always maintained by Ferrari in Hannover. Red leather interior and a wooden steeringwheel and gear knob ( 6 speed ). Very reliable and beautiful sounding car. One of my all-time favorites

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing, that must have been a great car indeed. The 2.5 busso is the sweetest busso of all

@djlim4612 2 года назад

the 156 (and the 159) still looks better than a lot of overdesigned sedan nowadays (especially from the Korean and Japanese makes). awesome video

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thank you very much! I definitely agree with you!

@Scout-nj7xj 2 года назад

The world's most beautiful 4 door saloon. Ever! I still miss mine. Pewter Grey Metallic. Loved everything about it, the shape, the engine, the dash, and the instruments. The name Alfa Romeo!

@ro63rto 2 года назад

Grigio Africa? I have one still from 2004.

2 года назад

As a proud owner of 156 2.5 this video is a joy to watch. Thank you

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it and congratulations on your cool car!

@through_changes 2 года назад

I love this video! The 156 is the car, you can not replace... Certain features, design elements and emotions, are very hard to find as a whole in another car. Bought mine back in 2001 and still have it and love it... I hope to be able to keep her for many years ahead.

@randomchannel1712 2 года назад

well parts, you have to keep them in stock

@dimitrisg.4504 2 года назад

Totally agree with you George!

@garstanforddasilva9663 2 года назад

I’ve had my 156 for 17 years now, loved every minute behind the wheel and am not looking forward to changing it any time soon.

@randomchannel1712 2 года назад

Well, there are two kinds of people. The ones that love alfas, and the ones that haven't experienced them yet.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Very true! 👍

@JethroBronner 2 года назад

I certainly didn’t appreciate these amazing cars when they were new, but as they age I find myself drawn to them very strongly.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

I can relate. Although I did like them when new, only now I realize how good those times actually were for Alfa Romeo.

@MLC... 2 года назад

I felt the same at the time. But the design has stood the test of time. If parts availability was not so poor today, I would buy one. But I already have a 155 that gives me parts nightmares every so often.

@marchutchings8834 2 года назад

i owned one and absolutely loved it. Well made and trouble free. I wish I still owned it.

@percytam3131 2 года назад

I am still driving 156. Love her very much

@MilanStojakov 2 года назад

Can't find words to describe how much I love it

@simonhodgetts6530 2 года назад

Possibly my favourite car, ever. Still beautiful even after all these years!

@markusmittwoch857 2 года назад

It's like a good old 80s Song. It never gets old.

@torresalex 2 года назад

That was a real pleasure to watch. I had no idea about the use of magnesium, very interesting. I remember well when they were launched. No-one was left unimpressed and I've never met a car enthusiast whose heart didn't beat very fast when seeing this car for the first time. Those unique styling features, like the side number plate, the chrome door handles, the back door handles disguised within the C pillar, even without these this car would be stunning. What a machine.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thank you very much! Yes, everyone fell head over heels for the 156: I remember going to the dealer on the presentation weekend: it was packed with people jostling to get close to the cars. People paid sticker and accepted to wait for delivery, which is something that hardly ever happened with Alfas back then!

@seancain7305 2 года назад

Bought a new 156 V6 Manual in 2001 and ran it for 7/8 years... only the AC compressor failed towards the end of my time with it. Loved it, especially the V6. The styling inside & out, stylish MOMO leather, practical nature were all great bed fellows too. When it went to Alfa for service, I drooled over the later GTA versions

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Cool! I'm glad you got to enjoy it for so much time, and the 2.5 is perhaps the sweetest Busso of all.

@seancain7305 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata funny you should mention that. When were teens, my brother had a Sud 1.5 Ti. It was rusting before our eyes, so we tried a Sud 1.2 to replace it… wow the smaller engine was like a sewing machine 🤩

@Landshark928 2 года назад

Awesome car! I remember coming in 1997 at an AR dealership and being amazed by its beauty. The car displayed in your vid gives me the same feeling. A 159 is a nice car for the eye but can never match the 156 lines. Todays and future classic.

@peterbarber8053 2 года назад

I had a black 156 as a company car. That’s the coolest company car I ever had.

@BloggsyMalone 2 года назад

After the Spiders, this Alfa is the one whose design I love the most.

@hugobloemers4425 2 года назад

A friend of me had one of the early Alfa 156s Whilst on vacation it was not uncommon that small groups of people would gather around it.

@ricado372 2 года назад

I've had two, one for 7 years and the other I've still got still running. Both have been the most reliable cars I've ever owned. Just servicing costs. The only reason I sold the first one was when I moved to a left hand drive country. I can only speak from my own experience, but still journalists talk about Alfa "unreliability". I've been driving Alfa's for 25 years, never had a breakdown. Even the earlier ones I had when I was skint, were great.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

I've met many people who, like you, never had any problem with their Alfas. While it's true that fit and finish wasn't great in the olden days, the marque doesn't deserve the bad rap it still gets.

@simonlow3039 2 года назад

I drove the 156 selespeed from 1999 to 2019 : 20 years and loved it, different from anything else on the road, had to give it up as parts were getting hard to get and taxes became very high where I am, but still sold it to a collector instead of being scraped so it's still alive

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

I'm glad your former 156 still exists! Unfortunately, the Fiat Group has never really supported its older models, with parts getting hard to find quicker than one would expect. They now have a "heritage" division and they're even remanufacturing some parts, though. It's not a lot, but it's better than nothing.

@markbennett2170 2 года назад

I loved my 156 but it finally succumbed to rust and was uneconomic to repair. A design masterpiece though. Thanks for another informative video Matteo.

@DYNANiK.official 2 года назад

The 156 GTA is still one of my dream cars!

@johnphaceas7434 2 года назад

Still the best looking sedan of the last 30 years. And classier. Onto my second Series 1 V6. It's 22 years old, my daily driver, and I can't imagine not having one in the driveway.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

That's fantastic. I can fully understand why you love it so much, as the 156 V6 really has it all: looks to die for, the sweetest engine imaginable, and the best badge in the world ;)

@marinusholland 2 года назад

One of the best cars ever

@Falcone-en4wl 2 года назад

I didn't know an 156 GTAm exists. Great shame it never went in production as it could have been a legend nowadays.

@MAtogable 2 года назад

They learned that lesson with the Giulia GTAm

@dragosxss 2 года назад

It takes years to realize what big mistake they did by not putting the 156 GTAm into production. At that time, let's say couldnt expect such a succes and the priorities where others. Let's hope for the best for further models (like Giulia GTAm), despite they will turn their heads more and more on electric cars by 2025-2026.

@johnp1787 2 года назад

...had two..one 1998 version and one 2004 with the facelift..drove the first one all the way from Sweden to Nurburgring in Germany for the 2007 Formula One weekend with no problem!👌..I'm on my fifth Alfa now...a 159 1750 tbi from 2010 and I'l stick with Alfa Romeo to the end!💯🍀

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Those late 1750tbi 159s are highly sought after now. Cool car!

@johnp1787 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata ...yeah thanks!...Mmm..had some people that wanted to buy it..but I'm sticking to it for now...🍀

@ilovecheeserolls 2 года назад

I drive a 1998 156 2.0 TS, and you've taken me to school on a few things. Nice job! I've had the car 13 years, and sill love driving it - one of Alfa's best cars of the modern era. Also, I enjoyed seeing the blue one from the museum - I took a photo with it a few years ago!

@giorgosliltsis5580 2 года назад

Car with soul. I just love it.

@malcolmhardwick4258 2 года назад

Always loved the 156 especially if it had the V6 !

@pauldaviesvoiceover 2 года назад

Bought our JTS new in 2004, still loved and going strong 🇮🇹🇦🇺 Another terrific video Matteo, thanks.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Nice one, thank you!

@timhancock6626 2 года назад

Paul Davies, That's really good to hear as the JTS engine came in for a lot of stick.

@pauldaviesvoiceover 2 года назад

@@timhancock6626 Not the most charismatic Alfa engine ever but great at 3 - 4000 rpm and no oil leaks or blown turbos unlike our BMW diesel. Still a fascinating and beautiful design.

@Passchen 2 года назад

I know they are transverse, FWD platforms, (far from a hater, I own multiple Hondas) but as an American I would give anything to have the cars Alfa made from 1995-2017 available here. I would get a facelifted 166 for commuter work.

@msbarsi 2 года назад

Mark having owned a Lancia K Turbo 16 for 3 years on which the 166 is based and having test driven a 166 I'm not entirely sure you would like to really have one of them after a test drive. I know I wouldn't

@delahayenator 2 года назад

Get a 156 Sportwagon if possible a GTA. The finest handling and driving fwd Alfa produced imo. And already a classic only rising in value

@MLC... 2 года назад

That GTAM would have been such a sought after collectors piece today, much like the single 155 GTA prototype. Opportunities missed indeed.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Agree with you!

@Pat_RickX 2 года назад

I'm a hardcore Busso V6 Fanatic. But to be honested -mostly I was impressed by two 2.4 JTD I drove a lot while I worked at a Alfa Romeo Dealer. One had 270000 Km, the other had 400000 Km. Both had been driven daily, 24/7. Both without any problem.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

It flies in the face of all the cheap stereotypes associated with Alfa Romeo. Yet people keep thinking Alfas are fragile cars, even here in Italy. I wonder if that will ever change!

@cirrus1964 2 года назад

I'm all ready are driving my third 156. A 2005 2.0 JTS sedan. My former, a red version 1.8TS, I had over 10 years. Not once did I met high maintenance costs. No rust , only once it let me down, which happened to be the big end sensor. My present 156 which I know have for 18 months, uses no oil, drives a bit more enthusiastic. Is also in mint condition, only has the habit, once in while the computer reads error, go see the dealer.When at time I do, the error doesn't show at arrival in all cases, and we can't find anything wrong. I used to drive British sport cars in my younger days. If it comes to a 4 seater sedan, the 156, is second none for me!

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

That’s cool! Great to hear your Alfas have been trusty companions all this time!

@dannyboyy31 2 года назад

I owned two 156's, a 2.5 V6 and then a 2.0 JTS. The JTS was surprisingly good, but the 2.5 Busso was pure heaven. My god it was thirsty, but in my opinion it's still the best sounding engine before you get into V8 territory.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Yes, Alfa's old V6 sounded like no other V6 engine, and I guess that's a big part of its appeal: after all, we don't get many engines that are actually nice to listen to, nowadays.

@radiocontrolled9181 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Thank you for the nice video. I am the happy owner of a 1.8 TS from 1999, since 2011. It has aftermarket Apex lowered suspensions and 17" wheels and sideskirts, looks sweet. Still in great condition with only 60K miles. Always a joy to drive (I don't drive it a lot due to terrible traffic in my country, I use my 125cc scooter most of the time). The ride and handling (esp. the steering which is a dream) are great and the performance is very good for a little 1.8 non-turbo engine. However, I must say something. As far as engine and exhaust sound goes, it just cannot compare to the Alfa 33 1.3V from 1991 that I previously owned. That 33 had a boxer engine and twin Dell'Orto 40's carburettors. Starting that thing in my garage before going out always made a big smile instantly appear on my face. Too bad I crashed it at high speed in a bend, going sideways and smashing into a concrete wall. Driver error, if I had some track experience, I woudn't have crashed that day, but anyways, I'm just lucky to be still in one piece. The 33 has been scrapped, sadly. My 156 has better performance and it is more smooth and refined, but that 33 was much more raw and sounded 'come una bestia arrabiata'.

@Rammstein56 2 года назад

When you see the renaissance that Alfa Romeo went through since the launch of the 156, they deserve better sales and more different models on the market. Too bad FIAT made a mess of it, they could not even hold their own position in the market, it looks a bit like the downfall of British Leyland back in the eighties. Let us hope it is not too late for this noble car maker and that the new owners Stellantis will invest in a bigger range of Alfa models to offer to the public.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Indeed. Fiat (the whole group) has only sometimes managed to achieve back-to-back successes. I've recently heard from a former Fiat engineer that the 156 was quite highly rated at VW in period. Ferdinand Piech, however, wisely said to his underlings: don't worry about the Fiat Group and Alfa, they got this one right but sure they'll screw up the next model :D

@danielromeo1859 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licatajajaja great story. I loved the detail of the gear lever by the way. When you drive it hard it s perfect, because you get closer to the steering wheel. Didn t realize until now. Excellent video, as always! Bravo Matteo!!

@Desmodromic916 2 года назад

156 was the first production car with common-rail direct injection, 10 years before VW!

@coltr7561 2 года назад

and little bit earlier than Mercedes, common rail system patent was sold by Italians and was used later on other brands aswell-

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Yes indeed! I didn't mention it because it's something that's widely known, I think.

@viktormatyus7396 2 года назад

3 years before VW.

@Desmodromic916 2 года назад

@@viktormatyus7396 DIdnt know about 3.3 tdi was their first CR engine. But first 4 cyilinder CR was in 2009

@mrjellepelle 2 года назад

Great quality video's! Love watching them!

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoy my content :) I'm preparing a new one for Saturday, watch this space...

@jeffb9010 2 года назад

After all these year I’ve only now got the chance to enjoy a ‘Busso’ 156, well actually any 156! Some interesting facts I never knew - thank you for sharing 😎

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Good to hear! Thank you very much! :)

@geyza0711 2 года назад

my 3rd Alfa. best looking wagon still to date.

@ohhyesitsonlyme 2 года назад

Wish I’d kept my Grigio Silver 156GTA, but at the time other priorities came up. Have now however gotten myself a Stelvio Quadrifoglio, to satisfy my Alfa-itch.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

And that's what I call proper motoring! :) Congratulations on your cool Alfa, the Quadrifoglio is a beast!

@ohhyesitsonlyme 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata she certainly is. 😎😎.

@gearhead9828 2 года назад

Five things I didn't know, thank you so much. I lost count how many times I have browsed the classifieds for 156s, unfortunately only few good ones are left. Ciao🙋‍♂️

@stevenfernando1842 2 года назад

Interesting. I knew only two. The Thai production and the GTAm show car. Probably the best driving FWD Alfa after the Sud in my opinion. I owned 2 156s and loved them both.

@p.kuansuwan2070 Год назад

Even if production numbers had been low here in Thailand, I’m happy to say many are still running strong with a great community behind them as well!

@Matteo_Licata Год назад

That's great to hear, I'm glad the few 156s made there are cherished, thank you for letting me know

@timhancock6626 2 года назад

I think it's the best looking medium saloon ever made. It should have sold a million. I'l never understand why they didn't do a direct replacement. The 159 took them into a different segment. I loved my 156 Sportwagon 2.4 jtd 10 valve. It was such a capable machine in every respect and my wife could get nearly 60 mpg out of it......I couldnt😀

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Us Italians have never been good at consistency... One stroke of genius tends to be followed by a pointless attempt of reinventing the formula. In the long run, we've seen that it doesn't pay off, but at least it makes for interesting stories! :)

@lucash.9517 2 года назад

Great video as always, cheers bro

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thank you!!!!

@katywalker8322 Год назад

Best saloon car I have driven. Loved our one.

@gaetanoflorio6277 2 года назад

I owned a twin spark 2lt and it was a dream to own. It was well cared for by the previous owner and made my ownership even better. Would love to get my hands on a good GTA and really enjoy the drive. Great story again Matteo, keep the content coming 👌

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Very nice, thank you!!!

@michaelstaley2241 2 года назад

Very good presentation lots of interesting facts thrown in .😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Glad you think so!

@tempessst 2 года назад

Amazing video ! Could you do a video about the 159 next ? There are nearly no video about the beatiful 159. Would really appreciate it. Keep up the good work !

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Possibly! I'll try to source a good example to film. Thank you very much for your appreciation!

@audiman63 2 года назад

Great video and greetings from France :) I also own a 156, but the Sportwagon model. It was produced in 2000 and was bought brand new in Italy. It is fitted with the 2.5 V6 (the legendary Busso) engine, developing 190 bhp, and has a six speed manual gearbox. It has only 83000 km on the clock. This car was well engineered, that's for sure. It's already a legendary car to my mind. I love it 😍

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Wow, a low-mileage V6 is a sure-fire future classic. Congratulations and wish you many more years of driving enjoyment! Thank you and cheers from Turin!

@audiman63 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Yes, that's really rare, that's for sure. Thank you very much and yes, I will enjoy it for many years 🙂 You're welcome.

@MicrobyteAlan Год назад

Thanks 👍, great story

@fhwolthuis 2 года назад

Very interesting facts, Matteo! I think the 156 is so beautiful, in fact I even prefer it to the current Giulia, as far as the looks go ❤️🍀

@peterorigenes4358 2 года назад

Yes they should have just copied the 156 body for the Guilia. The 159 also a gorgeous car but without the right v6 engine. Unfortunately we never had any of these cars in the US after Fiat and Chrysler totally bailed on the market. There was a time when Audi barely sold any cars in the US but starting with the original A4 rebuilt the brand. Too bad FCA didn’t learn that they could sell cars by the boatload if they had a great dealer and service experience, even if the early Guilia and less so the Stelvio had software issues. Uniquely the 4C is very reliable.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Totally agree! The current Giulia doesn't look bad, but I blame the Centro Stile for doing little with the huge opportunity they had: a wholly new platform! Walter De Silva's guys didn't have nearly as much freedom, yet they delivered a masterpiece.

@recycleman975 2 года назад

amazing !!!

@GPigTV 2 года назад

I’m suddenly regretting selling my 156 Lusso all those years ago. Have to admit, loved driving it and just got used to it drinking a litre of oil every 1,000 miles 🤣

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

It’s not the first time I hear that those engines use quite a lot of oil, especially by modern standards. Could be dangerous if the owner never checks it!

@maxikozi77 2 года назад

Love this car! One of the best in the history!

@mauriziolagaxio4954 6 месяцев назад

One of the best cars ever produced by AR

@Bumper3D 2 года назад

I loved my 156. A beautiful car with a lovely handling that didn't really compromise on the ride comfort. The 2.5 V6 was powerful and silky smooth engine with a soundtrack to die for. If only the floorboards had lasted a bit longer - it just got terribly rusty terribly fast despite me cleaning it regularly. I currently have a Peugeot 406 of the same production year and over 10 years after the Alfa rusted through from several places you still can't see any trace of rust on the Peugeot. Such a shame, as I'd actually prefer owning the 156 had it held up a bit better.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Ouch! I’d thought the 156’s body would last at least as long as any other car. Sorry to hear yours didn’t. At least it left a good memory of itself though :)

@Bumper3D 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata The floors rusting through is a pretty common issue with 156s up here in Finland. I guess they hold up significantly better in countries where they don't use road salt for 6 months in a year. But still, most of its competition was better in this regard.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

@@Bumper3D Definitely. Here in Italy rust is pretty much unheard of on modern Alfas. Still, I would expect them to fare as well as the average competitor...

@1240enzo 2 года назад

I totally enjoyed my 2003 156 JTS Sportwagon..Such an elegant car, and a pleasure to drive. Mine was the same blue as the one in this video. It really suited the car. Sadly it was written off by its next owner. 156s are now becoming quite rare on the road, given for so long their value was so low.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Indeed. Here in Italy, given the sheer number of cars made and the fairer weather, 156s are still common on the road. But most of those I see are hanging by a thread, one breakdown away from the scrap heap. But enthusiasts are already snapping up the best preserved cars with the most desirable specs, and prices seem to be slowly rising.

@paulrobinson3649 2 года назад

Could I request features on Italian cars that were rarely, if ever, seen outside Italy, please? Moretti, for example, have fascinated me for years and head a list of marques that could appear in any Mille Miglia retrospective. Cisitalia, Siata and Ermini all spring to mind before the relatively well known OSCA.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

It's a good suggestion, I admit. I wouldn't expect much in terms of views though... Even my Lancia videos usually don't do terribly well, so I wonder how many would watch an Ermini or Siata video.

@paulrobinson3649 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Some people have no taste.

@paulrobinson3649 2 года назад

Maybe 'smuggle' Siata into a programme on the Fiat Otto Vu?

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

@@paulrobinson3649 Could be! The 8V would be a cool story to share, indeed.

@paulrobinson3649 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata 👍

@BanjoLuke1 2 года назад

This is not a car I can love, but I love the story of the gearstick location. It tickles me that such expensive and potentially tricky issues can be solved in such an inventive way. When I say I cannot love the 156, I do not mean I hate it.... I mean I do not lose control of my breathing every time I see one. To me it is just a clever use of Fiat Group parts in a pretty body shell. But the story of the gear stick is great. Also.... As one who in my youth switched seats between marques and models to make driving a nicer thing, I am tickled to know that if I ever get the urge again, 156 seats have titanium frames..... All knowledge is good knowledge. Interesting video. As usual. Thank you.

@donjorge8329 2 года назад

I (still) love this car!!!

@albertz78 2 года назад

Loved my 2003156 sportwagon 2.0ts Veloce.

@RapideWombaticus 2 года назад

The 'Selespeed' versions were problematic, but otherwise I've lusted after one of these most of my adult life. A beautiful design that continues to grow on you. Nice video

@mattbettany1174 2 года назад

I owned a 156 2.0 TS Sport pack 1 in Alfa Rosso , it was so much fun to drive and was the first Alfa I owned that turned me on to fast steering . I believe the “Alfa Link” rear suspension linkage was also designed around the Delta set up which is why it handled so well .

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

The 156's rear suspension design (not the actual components, of course!) traces its roots back to the Lancia Beta. It was then used on the Gamma, Delta, Thema... And the Alfa 164, which famously shared the Thema floorpan. It was a brilliant concept that Fiat's engineers forgot to patent and has been adopted by other manufacturers too, most notably Subaru.

@mattbettany1174 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata ah wow , that’s really cool. Good old Lancia innovation strikes again

@robertos4172 2 года назад

Beautiful car. I remember driving back and forth between Sarteano and Cetona in a friends 156, and just smiling. I just could not get past the idea of front wheel drive though....(I must say though that the 147 also handled very well.)

@xturnbullz 2 года назад

Your take on the 159? My first 156 the same colour. A joy to drive. My second, series 2 with selespeed - even better. 12 years ownership of my current 2.2 selespeed 159. Not quite so sporty but very reliable and certainly sporty enough. Selespeed makes the car such a great drive!

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

I haven't yet published a video on the 159 because I'd really like to find a nice example to film. In my view, the 159 is a great car in its own right, unfortunately penalized by lackluster petrol engines. No wonder Italian enthusiasts are already jacking up the prices of the few 1.8 TBi examples made late in the model's run. Personally, I'd gladly own a 159: looks fantastic and goes well, with much better refinement than before.

@xturnbullz 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Lacklustre performance is a bit harsh. Again, the matchup with selespeed on the 2.2 gets the best out the engine’s Alfa topend refinements on a high revving unit.

@fabiocene 2 года назад

Un altro video gustosissimo. Ovviamente, entrambi i pollici in su!

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Grazie mille!!!!

@DoctorP131 2 года назад

Another cool vid about my first and still owned car :-) Soon due for it's 200.000km service and some TLC. @Roadster, where did you find the wallpaper at 00:19? Would love to have that as a background on my pc.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Thank you! To mimimize the risk of copyright claims, whenever I can't use my own pics or videos I resort to manufacturers' media sites, and that picture can be found here: www.media.stellantis.com/it-it/alfa-romeo/gallery/1127

@DoctorP131 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Ah great, thanks a lot!

@nicolaypol 2 года назад

Magnifique machine ! Dommage que elle ne soit pas propulsion comme la 75 !! See you next week !

@sachinh1635 2 года назад

I daily an '04 V6 Q-system. It's beautiful and makes every drive feel special.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Fantastic car, and in a pretty rare specification. Cool!

@sachinh1635 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata It's a very interesting concept for a traditional torque converter but would be much better with more ratios to play with, in the twisties you are pretty much always in 2nd (if you want to stick to the speed limit that is)

@johnphaceas7434 2 года назад

@@sachinh1635 Agreed. I only drive mine in manual mode. Not as good as the 6sp manual in my first V6, but better than any other conventional auto I've driven.

@kevgermany 2 года назад

Lovely car

@sonny6893 2 года назад

Alfa Romeo 🔝🔝🔝👍

@Brisbane2024 2 года назад

I still love my 2000 MJ 156 JTD, with it‘s base Diesel power, of 105 HP. I already spent some money to keep this car nice and reliable but I will never miss this great and nice car in my garage. Hopefully I will get the german H number plate in about 8 years😊

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Cool. And added kudos for preserving so well a base diesel model, as these rarely get to "H" plate age!

@Brisbane2024 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata 😊

@AC-busso Год назад

I just bought yesterday french 156 2.0 Jts, Ragazzon exhaust system, Novitec admission air system, Zender kit... 🇮🇹🍀

@Matteo_Licata Год назад

Very cool, congratulations!!!

@AC-busso Год назад

@@Matteo_Licata Thanks Matteo ☺️🇮🇹🍀 How to expect to live without Biscione ?)

@DC-hn9jc 2 года назад

Still love to drive my 2004 156 v6!

@dragosxss 2 года назад

Hi, Matteo! Would it be possible for you to make a video like this also about Alfa GT (937). I think it's still one of the most underrated GT cars on the market, despite the fact in 2004 it won the "Most Beautiful Cars" prize at the Paris Car Show. Would be lovely if you can gather as many details as possible about this beauty and i would realy love to find out more and more infos about a car i also own. Many thanks in advance and good luck! 🍀🎩

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Possibly! At the moment, I can't find 5 things nobody knows about it, but I'll try :) Meanwhile, you can watch this, if you haven't already: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cQb4SZ_3o-o.html

@dragosxss 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata i already did, few months ago, and it's already added to my favorite videos playlist. Being the car I own (and I have no thoughts at all at this moment to change it), I really love to find out new things about it. Everytime I change some parts or add some upgrades to my GT, I feel more excited and happy than a kid around the Christmas tree. I watched most of your videos on your channel and I definetly can say that I appreciate very much your work here. 👏🎩🍀

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Cool! Thank you very much for your appreciation! 👍

@takhsnikolakopoulos5553 Год назад

Good morning i still have it 156 1.6 1999 and it's like a new 😊

@Matteo_Licata Год назад

Cool, congratulations!

@dipling.pitzler7650 2 года назад

I find it funny that the Fiat ergonomists complained about the forward placement of the gear lever in the Alfa as they did the same thing in the Fiat 132 2000 . I always liked the look of the centre console and the lush interior of the 132 2000 one of the first cars i drove as my father had one.

@thomaslieven8447 10 месяцев назад

Had a few. So good looking. So nice in handling. Had to pick another brand as this car was not great for larger families. Practicality was underdeveloped

@martinmartinmoone3104 2 года назад

I owned a beautiful 156 2.5 v6 in red with red leather interior, it was fully specced and looked like a gta, I bought a v6 registration plate with my initials, now I drive a PRODRIVE Brera 3.2 v6 ..I'm an Alfaholic

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Very cool! Red on red must have been spectacular-looking your 156! Congrats on your Brera too, the Prodrive was a UK-only model, so I've never seen one in the wild

@martinmartinmoone3104 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata it's something to behold it's red with black leather, p zeros and the tone from the engine is magnifico

@ferrisbentley 2 года назад

I miss my Alfa 156

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

What happened to it?

@franciscogranada2149 2 года назад

Great deising of Walter De'Silva.

@dimitrisg.4504 2 года назад

Still in my posession since 2003!... can't drive anything else.... don't want to drive anything else...

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

That's cool! Which version do you have?

@dimitrisg.4504 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata September 2003. Pre-facelift / facelift-digital instruments interior. ❤️

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

@@dimitrisg.4504 Cool. Probably the best spec, in my view :)

@dimitrisg.4504 2 года назад

@@Matteo_Licata Yes indeed. They say that the specific version (very little examples made) was the transition stage to the final edition of the 156 and that it is also very reliable. That's why I am not going to change it.

@user-ur2kn8qy5t 2 года назад

I miss my 156😢

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

What happened to it?

@eugenebarry5376 2 года назад

I regret selling mine. The 98/99 original version for me was best styled especially dash. They ruined it with revised version

@MrTheunivideo 2 года назад

achingly beautiful.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

It really is!

@ginolatino4122 2 года назад

piange il cuore vederne cosi tante dai demolitori in questi anni :(

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Eh, purtroppo così va il mondo. Mi ricordo ancora benissimo quando le Giulia e le Alfetta erano solo roba da demolitore... Però oggi c'è una sensibilità diversa, sto sentendo di molti appassionati che stanno già prendendosi cura degli esemplari migliori, ed i prezzi per le 156 più belle sembrano in crescita. Vedremo!

@tjshill82 2 года назад

Wow how cool is that GTA M !!!!

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Indeed. I still remember seeing it on its pedestal at the Bologna Motor Show, almost 20 years ago. It's a pity we never got a production version but, with the Fiat Group circling the drain back then, I understand why management didn't bother.

@lr_s3102 2 года назад

I'd love a 156.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Me too! :)

@TheLordofcod 2 года назад

The facelift version of 156 by Giugiaro is the real wonder of timeless design. 159, the truly timeless design was based on this facelift... Amazing

@johnphaceas7434 2 года назад

I'm of the opposite view - to me the original Walter de Silva design is the timeless classic and totally unique. In my opinion (each to their own) the facelift was a very anodyne, safe and mainstream "toning down" of the original. Like a punk rock band which follows up an unadulterated but unexpected hit with a Top 40 pop single.

@TheLordofcod 2 года назад

@@johnphaceas7434 hmmm can we really compare them that hard? The one is the son of the other one. What I really don't like in de Silva is the small front grill. I never liked it as a kid, still I don't like it

@johnphaceas7434 2 года назад

@@TheLordofcod No one is right or wrong - Taste is a very personal thing. The 159 does look good, but I reckon the lines accentuate that it is a much heavier car (relative to the 156). I also think the facelifted 156 looks like it was done to make it look inoffensive and please everyone, whereas the original 156 is slightly pugnacious - I love the way the grille is punched into the bumper assembly. I feel the same about the original 166 versus the facelifted model - the original is truly unique, and takes a while to grow on you, but once it has, in comparison the facelifted model just looks a bit obvious and predictable.

@TheLordofcod 2 года назад

@@johnphaceas7434 wow what a nice reasoning! Happy to learn other people's opinions and views on our beloved car brand 🇮🇹🍀

@Sharp931 2 года назад

So there were an Alfa, made outside of Italy. Btw it looked good in chameleon colour. And the magnesium parts were rare in race cars too in that era.

@rabit818 2 года назад

I suppose this is the 164’s take on the jelly bean/rounded look of the late 80s or early 90’s. Just enough soft curves make the 164 a good looking car (even on video, we don’t have this on the US).

@sainta2667 2 года назад

Where are the video's about the latest Spider model you promised ?

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Please remember that Roadster Life is a one-man-show: I research, write, film and edit everything you see. It's a lot of work, and getting hold of cars to film isn't always straightforward. I promised a video about the last Spider, yes. But I didn't commit to a specific release date, because that would be impossible :) It will happen, as soon as I can.

@derekgibson6191 2 года назад

This was my Alfa 156 2.0 Twin Spark Selespeed I owned in 2009 to 2010 in Fantasia Blue. It really was a quick car indeed. I replaced it with the MG ZT 160+ which just matched the performance but rust killed the Alfa.

@maxbg 2 года назад

Still have my 156GTA selespeed. It would be nice if Alfa had decided to go ahead with the GTAm

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Cool! I remember drooling over the GTA when it was new and I was an engineering student. We used to go to Fiat's prototype workshop and watch the pre-series cars and testing mules being worked on.

@kelemenkaban2505 2 года назад

What is the best petrol engine for this car (not counting the Busso)? Can you still daily a petrol 156?

@marcst3199 2 года назад

I still do, but it's to rusted now so I have him away next year... Well what's the best engine? The 1.6 TS is Not very fast but very economic

@timhancock6626 2 года назад

Keleman, Rust is your enemy I'm afraid. If the engine has kept going this long the chances are it's OK as long as it's looked after properly, but the sills and subframes and bottom of the front wings are a different matter and need very careful examination. If you simply want the pleasure of driving an Alfa the 1.6 is fine. If you want performance it has to be the 2 litre. The 1.8 is a good compromise, fast enough, but not fast. Provided it has been well maintained I'd daily drive one as long as I had an Alfa specialist garage nearby capable of helping me with the difficult bits. Try to keep it away from salted roads in winter as that is usually what kills these cars and most others.

@johnphaceas7434 2 года назад

I've daily driven a V6 156 for the last ten years (first a manual, followed by a Q-Auto), doing 350km a week in peak hour commuter traffic. So yes, definitely.

@Tourist1967 2 года назад

Odd that the rear door handle arrangement was never used again by Alfa - but it's been copied by everyone from Honda to Kia. I always thought it was brilliant and far more effective than you might think. Had a facelifted one in Lipari grey.

@Matteo_Licata 2 года назад

Well, it’s not true that Alfa never used it again: the 5-door 147 hatch and later Giulietta all featured that solution. Maybe it’ll be back in the future, who knows? :)