Alfa Romeo 156 Pre-facelift (1998–2003) Price Guide

The pre-facelift 156, produced from 1998 to 2003, is the one that won European Car of the Year and the one with the purest version of da Silva’s original design. The hidden rear door handles on the saloon were the detail that made everyone look twice.

Best Choices

The 2.0 Twin Spark is the sweet spot: 155bhp, willing to rev, and with genuine character from its twin-plug ignition system. The 2.5 V6 sounds wonderful thanks to the Busso engine but the chassis was too soft to match the power. The 2.4 JTD five-cylinder diesel is an effective motorway cruiser with strong mid-range torque but it is heavy on the front axle. The 1.8 Twin Spark is adequate and the 1.6 is merely adequate. Avoid the Selespeed on any variant.

Buying

Platform corrosion is the critical check. Get any prospective purchase on a ramp and inspect the underside thoroughly — the chassis legs behind the front bumper, the floor pans, and the rear subframe mounting points all corrode. Cambelt history must be verifiable. Front suspension bushes are consumable items. A pre-facelift 2.0 Twin Spark in Nuvolari Blue with Momo tan leather is arguably the most attractive specification in the range, and far less obvious than Rosso Alfa.

The pre-facelift 156 shares its platform with the contemporary 147, and most mechanical components interchange between the two.