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Review 1 of 1
Price Paid:
$36500.00
from Brisbane, Australia Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 156 Sedan Summary:
This should be a stunning sports sedan if it were not let down in critical areas.
Styling is superb. One of the first "retro" styles and still the best (personal taste).
Handling and roadholding are excellent. Rebound in the front shocks under hard cornering can be fixed. Body roll is typical and can be sorted with a stiffer roll bar if desired. Braking is satisfactory.
Body and interior are good after regular use. No rattles, squeaks or rust evident. Seats trim and upholstery in excellent order. Extras are minimal and the sound system is not great quality, but gadgets are not what one buys an Alfa for. Ride and comfort are firm but not harsh or noisy, and that's what you expect. Engine and road sounds are audible but not intrusive. Perfect for a sports sedan. Choice of tyres is critical to interior noise. High performance tyres and you can't hear yourself think.
Now the down side. Performance below 3000 rpm (ie., city traffic) is awful. The car bogs down off the line so badly that it will not beat a clapped out Viva from the lights without a lot of engine revs and clutch slipping. Requires the same technique for any incline start and will not climb a 15 degree driveway from a standing start. A rolling start is essential. After the variable timing cuts over the rush is like an old-fashioned turbo. All this makes is a very uncomfortable car to drive in city traffic. My wife hates it. This issue seems to be an ECU / timing control problem, but the dealer has never been able to isolate or fix the problem. It is not an isolated instance. There is quite a lot of complaint about this issue on Alfa chat groups, with the same lack of resolution, although it does not seem to affect every vehicle.
Second, the airconditioning is far below what is expected as a normal standard today. It is totally innefective on a warm (Australian) summer day. Most Australian, Japanese and European brands have sorted this issue long ago. Why not Alfa?
Ergonomics is also below average. The main instruments are obscured by the steering wheel from a reasonably normal driving position, even though there is a lot of seat and steering wheel adjustment.
On balance it did not deliver on the one important thing that you buy an Alfa Romeo for, a great driving experience. Strengths:
Styling, roadholding Weaknesses:
performance, dealer support. Similar Products Used:
Alfa Romeo 164; Alfa GTV (1978); Alfa Guiletta (1975).
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