Talk me out of buying a 166

Zathras wrote:
> er..have you lot forgotten that the Sportwagon has LESS boot capacity
> than the saloon UNLESS you drop the back seats! I manage 1 kid + all
> the kit with a 156 saloon. Any more kids and I'd need a top box. I
> took one look at the Sportwagon boot, laughed, then bought the saloon.
> I'm sure the Sportwagon was an Italian joke that nobody else got.

I also manage two kids plus all the kit in a saloon, but I think the extra
height of the Sportwagon boot plus the bigger opening would come in handy.
It's not the lack of space that's frustrating, but the size of the opening I
think. Hell, I even have to slide in a box of groceries sideways and
tilted...

--
Regards, Hans
Alfa Romeo 156 Selespeed - 1999
Alfa Romeo Spider 3.0V6 - 1997

Hans de Heer > wrote:

> Zathras wrote:
> > er..have you lot forgotten that the Sportwagon has LESS boot capacity
> > than the saloon UNLESS you drop the back seats! I manage 1 kid + all
> > the kit with a 156 saloon. Any more kids and I'd need a top box. I
> > took one look at the Sportwagon boot, laughed, then bought the saloon.
> > I'm sure the Sportwagon was an Italian joke that nobody else got.
>
> I also manage two kids plus all the kit in a saloon, but I think the extra
> height of the Sportwagon boot plus the bigger opening would come in handy.
> It's not the lack of space that's frustrating, but the size of the opening I
> think. Hell, I even have to slide in a box of groceries sideways and
> tilted...

You want to try loading the boot of a 75....
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

In article .com>,
wrote:

> I don't think the wife will let me have any more hobby cars, not with a
> half built kit car in the garage, and 2 Minis and a Honda CRX in the
> back garden....
>
>
> But, based on what all you helpful Alfa owners have told me and after a
> few more hours research on the net, I have decided the manual 156 is
> the way to go, it's just the particular model that is the issue now,
> year is going to have to be 2001 at the very latest for the price I've
> got a max of £3000 to spend, I'm leaning towards the 2l but a nice 1.8
> or V6 would be considered. Leather and extras are important.
>
> Am I right in ruling out the 1.6? And am I right in thinking Veloce is
> best option pack , then lusso, then standard?

I have driven the 1.6 liter 147 extensively. Even in a car the size of a
Ford Focus, the 1.6 is anemic, I cannot even imagine how lackluster the
performance would be in a car the size and weight of a 166. I did notice
one other thing. At highway speeds, the 1.6 is really busy sounding,
fatiguing, actually. The 2.0 liter is much better, but a car the size of
the 166 wants the 3.0 liter V-6 or at least the 2.4 liter Diesel.

In article >,
Zathras > wrote:

> On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 16:20:55 +0100, > wrote:
>
> >On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 12:50:52 +0200, "Hans de Heer"
> >, wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Consider a Sportwagon. With a baby on its way, you can really use the extra
> >>space in the back. Stuffing a buggy in the back of a 156 sedan is not a
> >>nice
> >>thing to do, trust me...
>
> er..have you lot forgotten that the Sportwagon has LESS boot capacity
> than the saloon UNLESS you drop the back seats! I manage 1 kid + all
> the kit with a 156 saloon. Any more kids and I'd need a top box. I
> took one look at the Sportwagon boot, laughed, then bought the saloon.
> I'm sure the Sportwagon was an Italian joke that nobody else got.

Except that it's the prettiest current station wagon on the planet and
maybe the best looking one this side of an Aston Martin Shooting Brake.

George Graves wrote in
>

>
> I have driven the 1.6 liter 147 extensively. Even in a car the size
> of a Ford Focus, the 1.6 is anemic, I cannot even imagine how
> lackluster the performance would be in a car the size and weight of a
> 166.

That would be a good point, were it possible to buy a 1.6l 166


--
PeterMcC
If you feel that any of the above is incorrect,
inappropriate or offensive in any way,
please ignore it and accept my apologies.

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:04:53 GMT, George Graves >
wrote:

<snip>
>Except that it's the prettiest current station wagon on the planet and
>maybe the best looking one this side of an Aston Martin Shooting Brake.

I agree..but as a load carrier...1/10

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 22:26:49 +0200, "Hans de Heer"
> wrote:

>Zathras wrote:
>> er..have you lot forgotten that the Sportwagon has LESS boot capacity
>> than the saloon UNLESS you drop the back seats! I manage 1 kid + all
>> the kit with a 156 saloon. Any more kids and I'd need a top box. I
>> took one look at the Sportwagon boot, laughed, then bought the saloon.
>> I'm sure the Sportwagon was an Italian joke that nobody else got.
>
>I also manage two kids plus all the kit in a saloon, but I think the extra
>height of the Sportwagon boot plus the bigger opening would come in handy.
>It's not the lack of space that's frustrating, but the size of the opening I
>think. Hell, I even have to slide in a box of groceries sideways and
>tilted...

True..I use bags for that reason. However, it's still a smaller space
in the Sportwagon and I need all I can get.

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 07:36:16 GMT, Zathras
>, wrote:

>On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:04:53 GMT, George Graves >
>wrote:
>
><snip>
>>Except that it's the prettiest current station wagon on the planet and
>>maybe the best looking one this side of an Aston Martin Shooting Brake.
>
>I agree..but as a load carrier...1/10
Which is why I have a 156 saloon + a LWB Transit <ROF>

Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 15:04:55 +0100, > wrote:

>On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 07:36:16 GMT, Zathras
>, wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:04:53 GMT, George Graves >
>>wrote:
>>
>><snip>
>>>Except that it's the prettiest current station wagon on the planet and
>>>maybe the best looking one this side of an Aston Martin Shooting Brake.
>>
>>I agree..but as a load carrier...1/10
>Which is why I have a 156 saloon + a LWB Transit <ROF>

Ha Ha! That covers a few bases!!! :-) It also has the plus point that
after the Transit, the Alfa will feel like a supercar!

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:29:12 GMT, Zathras
>, wrote:

>after the Transit, the Alfa will feel like a supercar!
Yep, but it doesn't have the sub-aqua kit fitted :-)

Pete
--
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso