I live with my Husband of 7 years and son who is 2years8months old.
I have studied at the Universi...
I live with my Husband of 7 years and son who is 2years8months old.
I have studied at the University of Sana (Yeman) and at the University of Surrey UK.
I enjoy Gardening, cooking and looking after my family!
Member since:12.04.2006
Reviews:1
The Alfa Romeo 156.…Where to start? The first thing you notice is it's elegant curves and aesthetics which makes the 156 an attractive semi sports car. There is something however that many (including myself) notice though about the rear doors, there is no handle or at least no visible handle. This little touch of Italian design is something of a puzzle to some and absolute genius to others. It is only a shame the same style could not be incorporated to the front doors which would finish it off a treat!
Inside there is a surprising amount of space in the front with just enough in the rear to make it a comfortable ride. With the fabric interior and its colour scheme of grey and black with the Alfa Romeo motifs on the front seats creates a nice touch. The front seats are slightly contoured for ultimate comfort and style and to some extent makes the whole experience a little more racy without being to boy-racer! You can of course I believe as an optional extra have the leather interior, and probably worth the cost to!
I was once told that the dashboard of
carbon fibre or similar is the same design of that found in a Ferrari, and it certainly looks like it to. In reality these small but important details make the 156 more and more appealing and attractive. The attention to detail inside the car again makes the whole encounter more pleasurable. For the passenger there are two lights plus a retractable mirror in the sun visor to assist in the application of make up etc, with one ambient light above and a bright spot light to the right.
There are a number of small compartments, and they are small which is a shame. The glove compartment only has enough room for a small number of CD's and possibly a map but nothing else and this does let the car down a little. In the rear of the 156 is the standard centre arm rest which converts to an access panel to the boot, but the inability to pull the rear seats forward can hamper that trip to Ikea and Homebase when purchasing large items. There is again enough space in the rear for passengers with their own air vents and clear views out of the car which makes a big difference and this is something lacking in a lot of other newer vehicles on the market.
The boot is surprisingly deceptive. It almost makes up for the minimal storage space inside the interior, and I in fact found that I could fit more in the boot of the 156 than a Ford Escort….yes - a bit of a shock. I suppose the only disadvantage for the boot, and probably what also supplements the deceptiveness of its size is the opening is a little small. This of course can hamper putting in awkward items such as a pushchair in - but you soon learn a technique to over come this, so it is not really a big deal.
The drive of the 156 is short of exceptional…even the 1.8 model has a quick acceleration and high speed, but the 2.0 has even more grunt. The sound of the engine could be compared to a quiet TVR Tuscan or large Tiger purring, it really is a sweet sound, one which you never get tired of listening to! There has been much said in the press about Alfa's having a tendency to understeer but I have not found this to be the case of the 156, if anything I found it to be spot on, the cornering at low and high speed is responsive and accurate, something one demands these days rather than requests. The tight suspension makes the cornering easier but I have felt it a little to stiff when driving along the bumpy roads in my local High Street, day after day of that can annoy you a little, but when you think about it, the 156 is more of a sports can than a 4x4, so one has to give a little as well as take!!
One thing you will find in t 156 is the peddles are very close together, something I think which has come about from Alfa Romeo's history of successful racing, and its from this great heritage that gives the Alfa a big head start against competitors with regards to the overall driving experience of acceleration, speed and handling. In short you really feel you are driving a more expensive car than what you paid for - now that can only mean value for money!
A few small points to make also include: The stereo sound system is of a high quality, and I felt that when playing classical, pop or club music it copes well under all conditions. The bass is thumpy and the treble crisp. I don't believe I have a factory fitted stereo and therefore cannot comment on the CD player (sorry!!) but I'm sure it will live up to expectation!!!
Security is a big thing for Alfa's. from my knowledge they are rarely stolen, again something put down to their rarity on the road. But the internal alarm system which is not only anti theft but also anti entry - something lacking in modern day cars yet another plus…
Servicing can be expensive, I have recently been quoted just under £300 for a 96'000 mile service, and this is from an Alfa dealer, which I would of course trust to carry out the service to the best quality. One thing I should make you aware of, and this is VERY important. The Alfa customer services whether it is via their website or via the freephone number is second to none with the most helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff I have spoken to in a long time, they even answered my silly questions as if they were the most technical and they certainly were not patronising.
I think I have covered most aspects of the 156, I am quite happy to try and answer any questions…
In short, since purchasing the 156 I have fallen in love with Alfa Romeo and the 156.…..and shortly I am test driving the new 159, and should I win the lottery any time soon, I'm sure I will buy that as well as the new Brera which is being advertised on the TV… [swoon!]
So if anyone would ask my opinion if they should buy a 156? My answer would be an unquestionable YES!!!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Apr 12th, 2006
(Apr 13th, 2006)
exceptional by (6%):
very helpful by (35%):
helpful by (18%):
somewhat helpful by (41%):
