I run a pair of 10v Alfa 156's, one if them - a standard sportwagon - is returning 53mpg average with true mixed driving.
I've heard horror stories of sub 40mpg from 20v diesel 159/breras.
Definitely food for thought!

jatkin, believe the horror stories!;

I own a 159 Ti Sportwagon with a 1.9 JTDm engine- 37 mpg on average with no better than 44 mpg when on a long (and slow!) run. Having said that, it is much cheaper to run than the old Audi S6 Avant it replaced (12-19 mpg) and still better than any other car in the garage, especially the Coupe!

The 159 seems to have two different set of 1.9 engine cars (looking at the AR forum)- those of us that can't get better than 45 mpg no matter how slow and carefully they drive and those who can't get worse than 40 mpg even if they rag it!- There still doesn't seem to be any reason for this, other than perhaps inconsistent engine builds during the manufacturing. Driving style, tyres, fuel type,DPF deletion etc. all play their part but not to the extent that would explain the big difference. It was a disappointment not to get even close to AR's published figures but after 2 years I have just had to get used to it and revel in the fact that I have the best looking estate car this side of maybe a M-B CLS Shooting Brake or Touring coach built Maserati Estate ( in Auto Italia magazine last year).

OK I can't go down the TT 3.2 DSG route. I have now had so many people who know them well advise me to stay well. They all say it is a fantastic gearbox but suggest it's more a case of when it goes wrong rather than if!

Anyhow, I have bought a really cheap, but quite tidy, 156 as a work hack. It's a 2005 2.0 JTS with just under 80,000. So far steady driving seems to be getting me close to the 40mpg mark and although it's not a patch on the 166 it seems OK. I've already picked up a set of 17's for summer tyres and will get some winters on the current 16's. I've also had it checked over at a specialist and it seems it's a good car, just a few minor things. They did though advise to get it under sealed to prevent later rust issues, so it's booked in.

I've also been out today to get some quotes for the Coupé paintwork.... I might just keep it yet! So far I've not found anything sub £10k that tempts me!

Funny enough, I had a 2.0 JTS Alfa 156, also 2005 in silver, which I passed on very cheap to my son-in-law about a year ago. Had it for well over two years and was delighted with it. I believe they were fully galvanized up to the roof line, so undersealing may not be really necessary.

Had very few problems with mine and it was a very good car to cruise from A-B in and being a bit different than your average family motor, it still felt a bit special. Not in the same way as the Coupé, but still special. Hope you really enjoy it and yes, if you're careful, you can get surprisingly good mpg.

My 2004 156 just crept through 200k so you should have a fair bit of life left in yours.

Mine isn't all that rusty - probably worth a look around the bumper hangers at the front.

When it was up on the ramp the chap showed me the underside of the car. He showed me that Alfa only applied protection the the outside edges of the floor pannel and there were indeed signs rust towarts the centre of the car, nothing huge just some small bubbles. The fellow explained they have had to weld floors on 156's before and advised I had the underside cleaned and protected!

I thought it good advice so it is being done tomorrow.

Coupé has had a few bodywork quotes for the roof now and it can be done on the cheap, sub £300. However for a good quality job all the places have suggested that the glass has to come out. Thing is whilst driving to these various garages I am realising just how much I like the blooming Coupé.

Over the past month I have looked at replacing the Coupé and almost bought 3.2 Manual Audi TT the other day Whilst I was sat there thinking about it I realised that no matter how much newer and different to the Coupé it was it just wasn't feeling special. Yes I know it sounds odd but my scruffy old Fiat does feel special

So I've had a quote for the roof that includes the bonnet, front Zender and bootlid that has come in at just over £1K. The body shop comes highly regarded so I'm now tempted to get the car paint properly sorted and keep it

With regard the 156, I'm hating it There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, it's just not me. I've already been looking at ditching it and going for a V6 tdi Audi or Passat

Finally sense is getting through

Oddly the budget 156 is growing on me, go figure

Ok so it's no 166 but it is returning about 40mpg so saving a fortune over the 3.0. Currently got a set of 17inch Alfa wheels being refurbished so it should look a bit nicer sitting on those. I'll then stick some winter tyres on the 16's.

As for the Coupe, not touched it since Stanford but it could well be getting painted and staying. I looked at a couple of replacements the other day but still didn't get moved to buy any of them. I'm currently thinking of spending the money on the Coupe and the house

Just read this post

Your such a drama queen big man

I thought you were thinking of selling up too?

I took my Car to the Auto Italia day at Gaydon but it hasn't been out of the Garage since!! I'm hoping that when I next get in it it will be to go to the body shop.

Looks like it,that's if everything goes to plan.

Glad you've changed your mind though Bob

For some reason I wasn't upset when I read that you plan to visit The Body Shop Bob

Ha

Any news Bob?

I bought a Brera when my coop got killed. Great car, as someone posted earlier Smooth, comfy, good looking, handling is excellent, not as fast as the coop but it has the same fuel consumption! (2.2 petrol)Back seats are useless except as a parcel shelf as is the boot, unless you have a tall pot plant to transport. How they made such a big car so small is beyond me. It's like the opposite of the Tardis

Oh and it has a coop type problem - minor but bloody annoying. Water gets into the drivers side seat belt mount and you have a wet seat belt! Not very good, and it smells of baby sick when it's drying out

Cant comment on the TT but am currently runing a late Golf Mk5 R2 with DSG - it a very good alrounder, as for the DSG, there are key points to look out for first that the DSG/Haldex service has been carried out at 40,000 miles, also if possible go for one of the later cars with DSG post 2008 would be ideal.

No the 3.2 is not that economical but hey thats never been in my consideration, I leave that for the 'Tree Huggers' (hope I dont get flamed on that statement)

In addition there are a few (very limited) 'petrol heads' that have fitted superchargers or turbos and they are quick - but again not my cup of tea.

I find the R32 a nice compromise - quite relaxing when on motorways and a spirited drive when you want to push into sport mode and use the paddles.

As a wild card for thought - as some of the guys that know me and the wife - the wife is probably more of a petrol head than I am - she decided to go down the Mini cooper S route, she drove both the early supercharged and the later turbo versions - she took the supercharged as it was def more raw and less refined - anyway these are very highly tuneable and have a bit of a cult following with loads of stuff after market.

But anyway Im just trying to say not to rule out the 3.2 DSG just yet - have a go of a couple...

I tried quite a lot of Audi's, both the 3.2 and 180 4 pots but just couldn't do it.

Although I purchased the cheap Alfa just to get Adam back from Leeds Uni I still have it! It will never set the world on fire, and it's no Alfa 166 but it has grown on me. I have also kept the Fiat Coupé but it hasn't left the garage much this year

I stuck some money aside to the Coupé painted, new clutch, engine strip and a few other tarty bits. I then thumped the rest of the money into my pension pot to try and ensure I can still retire at 60... ish

Only trouble with my plan is that I've since been dipping into the Coupé funds to buy other toys