No 156 is worth anything other than GTA or maybe very low mileage 2.5 A 2.5 in the state of the car in this video will never be worth anything other than parts to save others, even that is somewhat questionable.
Bought a 2.5 v6 q system sportwagon back in 2010/11 as a doo-er upper for £700 on 54,000 miles. So far has cost me north of £4k on the mechanicals alone and haven't even started on the bodywork - and it is still on less than 64k miles. But the sound of that busso engine... You definitely buy these cars for love!
@@pietro6206 Agreed, it wouldn't have been if i'd been able to use it but that was just to get it on the road and working, and most of it spent in the last two years. I suppose what i meant was that it's not worth the money i've put in and that's likely to be the case with most reasonably modern Alfas.
Have one for 3.5 year, paid € 650,00. 265.000 Kilometer now. Belt, headlights, oil, battery, fuelpump, cranckshaft pulley, brakes and welding. Airconditioning needs new pump. Fairly simple through MOT every year though. I never get rid of it I think. That Busso sound never gets old, and with all EV's I see I love it even more. Blew up my 2.0 TS, still have it and still looking for a decent engine for it. 156 Is timeless design.
Absolutely, the design alone is worth saving no matter the engine size. I had a BMW driver call my 156 Old but Gold as he looked over from his 2-year-old model.
@@Schlipperschlopper Not at all, the German & Italian Governments have just overturned the EU mandate so ICE cars will continue to be made using synthetic fuel beyond 2035. The same fuel incidentally that works perfectly well on the hundreds of millions of ICE cars running today so they will be able to run for decades to come - far kinder to the planet to keep old cars on the road rather than generating more CO2 building new ones, and of course it means you don’t have to send the little children down the mines so Tesla and co. Can manufacture their blood batteries.
There comes a point where a car isn't worth saving. That 156 is there abouts. Unless someone has the time, space and money to do literally everything themselves. Even if it's ultra low mileage, it has no history so it's likely never going to be worth very much.
Put it on a boat and send it to America. 25 is a magic number here in the US. Anything 25 years or older can be imported without concern for emissions or safety regulations. We didn't get anything after the 164 and there's lot's of people here who would love to get a 156, including me.
Love watching your vids and being a Fiat, Abarth and Alfa owner for the past 20 years or so and seeing some of the cars you work on is just amazing! I currently have a 2.0 GTV and your vids have helped me a lot. Cheers 😊👍🏻🇮🇹
Did the buyer go for it? Did sound lovely when started up. Inagine the seller wincing behind the curtains as he heard you tapping your screwdriver underneath.... Low miles though for the age and still a great colour. 1700 seems high bearing in mind recommissioning costs.
This is one of my all time favorite cars. The lines are perfect. Especially the pre facelift one. Couldnt find a good one within my pricerange (1.8 or 2.0 twinspark) so I had to settle for a 159 2.2.
@@adriantoole4601 £1,700 plus recommissioning ….examples available on eBay for £7-8k in better condition. I know it’s a lot more £££ but could be worth it in the long run.
Nice video, Neil. It's good to see all the time you spent outlining the pros and cons of this car. That Busso sounds awesome. I think it's one to be saved and enjoyed by the buyer. Thanks again for the video, and keep them coming 👍🇦🇺
Oyyyyy....165+ pounds for an inspection? You're doing a good job, but it's a brutal cost given the time spent on it. I really wouldn't be able to afford a car at all in the UK...I can see why people abandon cars in quite good condition / cars are written off so easily. ...in Greece for 70Euros you get a ~2hour on-site inspection, with the depth of the paint checked all around, chemical check on car's liquids, battery measurement, ECU check, photos of every bit of the car, especially problematic areas, a written report, test-drive etc....for
That 165 is easily saved by not buying the wrong car, finding a ton of issues and having a hard time getting it sold again due to issues without huge loss. These cars usually are bought by people who know what to look for, dont be the few ones not looking out for issues properly
@@RandomYTStuff Considering its an old Alfa that problaly still got the potential to make sense, But that depends if you're totally a car rookie yourself or atleast can diagnose any major issues. I've heard too many stories of people going buying cars at privat sellers, coming home with a dog of a car that they somehow managed to cover major issues up temporary on. So in my perspective the value depends on the knowledge of the buyer
@@NoBion Not talking about paying to have a car checked by a professional; talking about the cost. Over 100pounds (no test drive, no paint thickness test, etc) is just damn expensive. I paid 5 x 70€ to have cars checked before I bought my 156 1999. Even for 40K Merc/BMW cars people pay 70€ and for less than 150€ you get all the above + full MOT test (with car pickup and delivery). As I said, I wouldn't afford a car back in the UK... that's why perfectly good cars get written off, maintenance and repair of used cars is too expensive.
@@RandomYTStuff Try come to my country (Denmark) Its like this country hates people who likes cars. Big taxes on everything car related. Then there is the prices mechanics charge, an average hour rate is around 100 Euro atleast. I know we have higher salaries, but the costs here for anything car related is stupid. In that perspective, my view on this is of course spoiled :)
A Busso V6 must survive. I would start with corrosion and technical repair first and finalise the bodywork over the time. However, you have to spend a lot of money, time and love.
Feeling quite lucky that where I live there is no issue with rust destroying cars. For a car like the 156, where parts are getting hard to come by, the last thing you need is rust messing with your car.
Loved our early V6 Sportwagon, cracking car, brings back great memories: a really thorough check, very impressive - if it helps, just a couple of minor bits missing under the bonnet; there should be a couple of black foam sound deadening pads between the hinges & the wings, they often disappear, & also the passenger side trim cover on the wing - not surprising after 25 years though. My pet hate is poor jack positioning wrecking the floor & sills, causes so much damage for a couple of seconds of lazy stupidity or ignorance.
Can you post a video on how you open the sunroof and how you fix it please. Would be super interesting as I currently have the same issue. Thanks a lot for your videos
1.700 Pounds for that car should not be too bad at all. I paid 2.100€ when I bought mine back in 2021 from a guy in the Netherlands. Had only (real) 131.000km, Q-System (the only annoying thing on that car!), had a cylinder not firing and I had to do the cam belt, the owner initially was asking 3.000€ for a car in real great general shape. Interior is leather tobacco, wood trim and wooden steering wheel and exterior is Cosmo Blu metallic. After one year the ECU and the Q-System Control Unit had a major problem, had to buy a new ECU and Q-System control unit, found it on eBay UK for 350 Pounds after more than 3 months search and the right front wing was rusty, so had to find a new one and let it paint...all in all I have spend more than 4.000€ after buying it for 2.100€ and it ALWAYS give me great fun and pleasure when I drive it. These cars are worth saving them, as they did not produce a lot V6 of this type. In Italy prices are exploding for these cars and wait a little bit, in the rest of Europe prices will also rise slightly. Here in Germany you won't find a comparable car like mine for under 6.000€, unthinkable 2 years ago! Take them, as long as they are out there! The best looking saloon from Alfa Romeo since the old Giulia!
I had one of these back in 2003 it was a Y Reg in Red with clover leaf alloys , 1.6 , it had done 42000 miles 3 years old , and I had nothing but trouble with the shit box , but god I could just sit and look at it all day long
Its not too bad really! Considering its age, it's in decent shape. Anyone buying this, goes in with eyes open. Cambelt out so check the water pump bearings and crank shaft pulley. In essence, you're not going to buy a car like this, without having a 2grand budget to fix up most of the "needs done now" bits. There's nothing wrong with that though, especially if it's your daily. If you want anything close to something like this to drive, you're paying £300 per month anyway. That's £3600 a year, and you'll have paid a sizeable deposit! Buy it for £1350, fix it, put 200 in the bank every month for "surprises". You've then got a brilliant, rare, lovely driving car, full of feel and character/charm. Why not.....?
Thanks for showing us where to look when purchasing a 156! Wish i had known all the weak spots when i bought mine 6 years ago haha. I think it's worth saving since they are disappearing by the hundreds each year...
@@Negativvv I don't know how you can ascertain that, but that is a sadly low number. There's certainly more than that in the city where I live in Greece, Thessaloniki. But the models over 2.0l could be half than that in the entire country. Not common at all.
@@RandomYTStuff There is a website that shows how many of a specific model of car is left in the UK with road tax or is registered as off road... There aren't many 156 V6 left now.
run away there are a lot better out there ,Its been neglected for sure I cant think of a good reason to buy it. i am looking for a 156 but it would not be this one for sure
Its a worthy project in my view. At the end.of the day its a 25 year old car needing some tlc. In common with many cars of this ilk you either pay top dollar for an absolute minter - or have to be prepared to put in the work to rejuvenate a tired and careworn example at the lower end if the food chain. These are getting harder to find in any shape or form so it would be good if it could be saved.
For me there's too many red flags suggesting it has not been looked after properly. The exhaust seems a convenient excuse for not being able to road test it.... Your survey shows the value of a professional inspection - an amateur could easily have missed something that would cost more than £165 to fix.
Don’t bay this, buy my Giulietta, cambelt snapped so I just spent £1100 on cambelt water pump, all rocker covers, fluid changes etc and although the car runs it puffs out smoke! The garage have done tests and it has a cracked inlet manifold and want another £800 plus vat! It’s been sat on my drive 3weeks now and really needs saving, passed mot in jan no advisories, white with Pam roof, red interior, 17 grey guilia alloys 110k miles, new style front grill badges front and back, was a great car! Needs saving, going on eBay later this week
To answer the question.. no it's not. The thought of spending money on that makes my teeth itch. If it was free it might be worth doing to get a daily driver but it's ultimately not worth it.
Yeah I thought that was the same one, he never did find out what was causing the problem. I thought it may be sticking turbo vanes. My old 159 didn't boost over 3k without putting the eml on.
Neil. Can you help. 156 Selespeed 2.0 broke down returning in heavy rain from purchase 3 hours away. Bad roads. Mass Flooding. Took my time. But a lot water hit splash guard/s. Selespeed flashing red fault lost 3,4,5. Only have N R 1 and 2. Think actuator fluid ejected from reservoir engine bay. Cannot believe rain hitting under side car could effect Sele but it’s certainly tired. Will go back with Cs Speed tomorrow. Had to drive last 40 miles at 35 mph.
@@ItaliaAutos thanks. I’ve the fluid loss out reservoir add. Inspection light. I’m Cheshire. Who’s best have car checked over. Seals SeleS come electrics. Thanks. Dan. Is it something you do or leave for Sele DuoL specialists. Selling my GTA 9k manual keeping this instead. Legs need an auto head want a manual !!!!
@@ItaliaAutos Neil. You’re right. Fluid not issue. Was so so ok topped up 50/100ml. Was ok on min. P0720. Speed circuit. How do you fix a speed sensor circuit malfunction? What repairs can fix the P0720 code? Replacement of the output speed sensor. Replacement of the input speed sensor. Replacement of the wires or connectors. Drain and refill of the transmission fluid. Replacement of the PCM.
If you want a 156 v6 for £1700 you will spend 1-2k in the first few months easily. These are old and expensive cars, they cost around 1k a year to maintain in my experience.
Run away - quickly, unless you are willing to spend a lot of money putting it right, I've done a few old cars and even doing the work yourself you're looking around £5000 to get it half decent.
That car is an utter dog. If it could talk it would be saying "Please let me die". I sold my own 156 V6 recently for a little more than that was advertised and it had a fresh MOT plus it was actually maintained.
I'm afraid the maintainance requirement of the busso is too much for the market value of the car to bear. It's a shame, but a sluggardly 1.6 makes more sense if you want to drive a 156. No balance shafts to worry about and easy to do water pump and belts. Then there's the suspension parts you are bound to need.. then there's the rust. Don't mention the rust. I did, but I think I got away with it 😂
Checked your website and it looks like your cars for sale stock was last updated in 2019. An update would be nice to see if one could pick up something interesting...
If you want to throw a load of money at it and never get a return on it then fair enough go for it, otherwise it looks like a waste of time and money and better off as a donor car
Pretty sure those wheels were a dealer accessory option when new (used to work at one when they were new). If they aren’t they are a very similar copy of them. Never liked them myself but some people just want something different.
@@kieranmccreedy271 Don't worry I've already been shot down as everyone thinks they're not very good! But before the days of the 17" teledials it was Zender who produced this size of wheel, not only this design but also the Milano which is still popular with the 916 Alfas.
Hey I just swapped the odometer instrument on my Alfa 147. The mileage on the new odometer is higher than on the old one. As I need MOT (Germany) and for the insurance company I need to have the original mileage on the clock. With MultiECUScan I can only increase mileage. Does anybody know with which tool I can decrease it?
Aye, save it however, just due to the engine and relative scarcity of 156s (however not my choice), GTV or Spider more my preference. £900 and no more in my humble opinion!
Well the interior is worth at least a third of the asking price. Top that with the engine and gearbox and you got your money back Sorry to say, 156s are getting rare, but I'd buy it for a 1000 and sell the parts. Bonnets and bumpers are getting rarer and rarer, as are the lights, etc. Someone will love that rear spoiler. So at least other 156s can have a life extension of a few years.
Greetings from Croatia, Zadar :) . I have a 156 2.5 2001., with a little problem. A cold start is not good. The car starts relatively quickly, 1-2s of cranking, but first at 600-700 rpm, about half a second, and then rises at the correct 1200-1300 rpm. Where do I start from? I cleaned the MAF sensor with MAF cleaner, and it was fine for 2-3 cold starts and about 50-100 km, and then it went back to the old state. Bad MAF sensor or something else? Thank you...
The way he's carrying on ud think the guy selling it was selling a brand new car its 1500 quid for gods sake not the right amount of coolant...you telling that to the customer 😅😅 I turned off at that point
@@ItaliaAutos In Germany the Greens implemented a BABVVO law FOR ALL COMBUSTION VEHICLES FROM 2024! According to what has been said, this means that every combustion engine is only used for commuter trips and certified transport trips. The TEBBVO, the Federal Transport Tourism Emission Restriction Ordinance, then applies to commercial vehicles!
@@Schlipperschlopper And when the French Unions see their German and Italian competitors to Renault & Citroen carry on selling ICE cars beyond 2035, watch the French government fold just like the German and Italian Governments have already done; Source: Politico “Germany - backed by Italy, Poland and Bulgaria - has blocked the final approval of a law that would mandate only zero-emission cars and vans can be sold in the EU from 2035. Berlin wants the European Commission to first put forward an option allowing cars to use synthetic fuels known as e-fuels, but the blockade is leading to broader questions about the whole 2035 measure”
the problem is the bloody damp in the UK. It just kills old cars, unless you're lucky enough to have warm garages. I'd walk away from this one, it probably could swallow 10K on getting it properly right.
