Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6 24 valves Registered Dec 1998
Same husband and wife owners from new
Lady driver (wife) past 14 years
93,500 miles with full service history
MOT till 23rd November 2016
Last serviced about 5,500 miles ago
See pictures here:
https://goo.gl/photos/L6oGg79Bi31f1AEv5 After 17.5 years of ownership from brand new, it is sadly time to sell my wife?s beloved Alfa 156 V6. The kids are now too big for it and we?ve just bought a Volvo V70 estate for my wife to lug them around in with their increasing amounts of sports and school bags, hockey sticks etc. The Alfa you?re reading about has a genuine, documented 93,500 miles on the clock, with full service history and well looked after.
It is still used a few times a week so the mileage may rise slightly.
Not many of these 2.5 V6 models left (I can see 3 others on Gumtree and 3 on Autotrader) and certainly not with such low miles so if you?ve always wanted to own a V6 Alfa for a reasonable price, this could be for you?
I think when buying a used car, it is just as important to know about its history as it is to know about the car?s condition, so here goes:
History
In December 1998, I chose this beautiful car as my company car. The Alfa 156 had just come out and had been voted Car of the Year 1998. The motoring Press was raving about it and the company I was working for at the time (the Reed Elsevier publishing group) had just relaxed its company car policy enabling me to have one. So, of course I chose the most powerful version- the 2.5 V6 with 195 BHP. As I wasn?t paying for it, I spec?d it up to the max, adding all the extras available at the time including metallic paint, Alpine 6 CD player, electric sunroof, passenger airbag and Momo leather seats with the beautifully embroidered Alfa Romeo logo on the seat backs.
Two years later, in 2000, the part of Reed Elsevier I worked for was sold to another publisher and myself and the other employees transferred over to the new owners as did my company Alfa. (Hence the 2nd keeper showing on the V5.)
In 2002, it was time to change company cars so I bought the Alfa off my company and gave it to my wife. (Hence she is the 3rd and current keeper showing on the V5). She has been driving it ever since and loving it. She much prefers driving it to the spongy Volvo estate but the kids complain it?s cramped in the back. Although I love driving it, I have my own Volvo XC90 and the Alfa is just not getting enough use now and we really can?t justify all these cars.
So, I thought I?d see if anyone would like this v6 156 which at 93.5K miles, has averaged just 5,500 per year.
Service History
14 service stamps in the Service Booklet. Serviced every year, initially by Alfa Romeo franchised dealers, then by independent garages. The service booklet shows:
22/12/99: 12,246 miles
27/11/00: 24,474 miles
16/11/01: 35,697 miles
11/06/03: 43,898 miles
Cambelt , tensioner and water pump replaced at 47,300 miles
04/01/05: 52,506 miles
16/11/05: 61,244 miles
13/11/06: 64,499 miles
12/11/07: 66,737 miles
19/11/09: 70,836 miles
23/11/10: 74,112 miles
11/11/11: 77,427 miles
09/11/12: 82,318 miles
19/11/13: 85,852 miles
Spark plugs changed about here
11/11/14: 88,380 miles
26/10/15: 91,726 miles (air / pollen filters and levels checked. )
Current miles approx: 93,500
Engine
Let?s face it, you?d be buying this car for its glorious quad cam V6 power plant developing 195BHP. The quoted figures for this engine are 0-60 in 7.3 secs and 143MPH. I believe this engine is what the 250 BHP 3.2 GTA engine is derived from? The engine sounds absolutely fabulous, pulls like a train and is silky smooth. You are up to 70mph in the bat of an eye but it feels like 40mph! The engine fires up right away and settles into a steady idle. Believe it or not, this car has never not started or broken down in the 17.5 years we?ve had it. It has been ultra reliable needing just service items and things like exhausts, brakes discs/pads, and a new radiator, fuel pump, plugs, and the like. A few years ago they changed the MAF and Lambda sensors because it was running a bit rough one service.
Gearbox
6 speed box which works as it should. Put it in 6th and the revs drop right down giving you a quiet, more economical ride.
Interior
Very stylish blue leather seats in good condition. Lovely wood effect steering wheel with matching dash trim and real wood original gear knob which was recently replaced. Comes with the original thick Alfa floor mats. There is a ski hatch through the rear seat squab. Electric windows all round and central looking with two working key remotes.
Stereo
Factory fitted Alpine Radio casette player with 6 CD changer in the boot. As with everything else in this car, it works perfectly and sounds lovely.
Tyres
4 matching almost new Good Year Efficient Grip tyres. (Front fitted about 5 months ago and the rears shortly before that.) See pictures for tread depth.
Bodywork
Still in shiny condition with a couple of car park dings as you?d expect from a car this age. But no major dents.
Electrics
Everything works perfectly and no dash warning lights have ever come on. All electric windows work as does the central locking via two remote keys. Has outside temp gauge and interior lights which all work- even the glove box light comes on when you open the glove box.
Recent items
It?s recently had four new tyres, a new pollen filter and a new air filter. The oil and filter were changed about 5000 miles ago. The spark plugs were replaced about 10K miles ago if that. New original Alfa fuel pump at about 89K. New original wooden gear knob showing the 6 speeds changed a few months ago. New front number plate to keep it looking tidy.
Mirrors
Electric mirrors centrally controlled from the inside and work perfectly.
Climate Control
Works fine- we?ve had it serviced when needed.
Driver and passenger air bags
Passenger side can be de-activated
Will need rear silencer replaced for next MOT. Also over the winter I started getting a leak from the sunroof and till I can get it sorted, I had it sealed with some transparent silicon sealant. Somebody just messaged me saying the leak is probably due to some drain holes being blocked? I have no idea but perhaps whoever buys it can unblock these drain holes?
Thinking ?1495 might be a reasonable price?
So, there you have it- a car with an engine to die for that has never let us down in 17.5 years. It cost my employers ?24K new. It is not new so don't expect showroom condition but it still gets admiring glances and I personally think it's one of the most good looking cars on the road. As described, it does need certain items attending to so I am selling the car as "needing repairs." But when you think you'll be getting a car with this performance for under 1500, I think it's not bad. I am a private seller and have described it as best I can.
Located in Sunbury, Surrey, TW16, Junc 1 of M3
Other specifications
POWER ASSISTED STEERING
ABS
CLIMATE CONTROL
ALL ROUND ELECTRIC WINDOWS
ELECTRIC/HEATED DOOR MIRRORS
DRIVER & FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS
DEACTIVATION SWITCH
5 THREE POINT SEATBELTS
REMOTE CONTROL
CENTRAL DOOR LOCKING
ALARM AND IMMOBILISER
REACH/RAKE ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN
HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT
LUMBAR SUPPORT
REAR ARMREST
TINTED GLASS
SKI HATCH
HEADLIGHT WASHERS-working fine
FRONT FOG LIGHTS
ALPINE RADIO/CASSETTE PLAYER WITH 6 CD AUTO-CHANGER IN BOOT
6 SPEAKERS
15" 'TELEDIAL' ALLOY WHEELS
SPACESAVER SPARE WHEEL
FULL BOOK PACK IN ORIGINAL FOLDER
TWO KEYS
V5 in my wife's name
SERVICE BOOKLET
TOOLS ALL PRESENT
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