Is Alfa Romeo 156 a good car to drive?

Answer 1

It obviously depends if you've got one of the front-wheel driven versions or the more unusual Q4 model, and which engine you've got. I've only driven FWD-versions, so my answer will be based on them.

Smaller, lighter engines means a lighter, more balanced car with slightly better handling. Bigger, heavier engines means generally faster and nicer sound, but with compromised handling.

In general it (the normal FWD) is a good car to drive, largely due to the fancy multi-link rear suspension, which helps a great deal to take away most of the understeer you get from FWD cars. It can improve drastically with minor changes though. Changing to lower (not more than 5mm), stiffer springs (Eibach is the recommended brand) and maybe the shocks (Bilstein is a good choice) helps a great deal. Changing to Powerflex bushes also makes a fantastic difference, but be aware, you can't do this yourself unless you've got a hydraulic press!

Compared to other compact executive cars of its era, it's very good to drive, and has to the potential to become exceptional with the mentioned 'tweaks'.

One could go as far as to claim that it's better than the equivalent 3-series actually (don't get blinded by the RWD!). I would't say the 156 GTA (which is the top version) is as good as an M3, but a normal 2.0l TS/JTS 156 I'd prefer a thousand times before the 318 or 320 (E46). The 156 2.0l JTS is faster than the 318, which is the 3-series with the equivalent engine. 156 2.0l JTS is actually as fast as the 320, which has a larger (2.2l) engine. The 156 also has better, more direct steering.

If you drove them around a track, you'd expect any 3-series to do rather well if not better than the equivalent 156. But, when driving on the road, the 156 gives you such a better experience. It can't be properly explained, you just need to try it and feel (yeah I know, I'm a bit of an 'Italophile') the difference.