Edcase

First, let me just say, the RS6 Avant really is the best car I've owned. It's amazing. I love it more each time I drive it.

There, I've got that off my chest.

However, the reason I got an estate was mainly for my love of extreme sports, namely mountainbiking and snowboarding. As such, I sometimes feel a bit insane using a £60k+ uberwagon for this job.

On top of that, almost £2k for a new set of brakes, nearly as much for tyres, and 18mpg on a good day (+insurance) means running costs of around £1 per mile. Not great if you are hooning off to the alps, scotland and wales all the time.

Also, given I live in London the car only gets used at weekends, if that. Seems crazy to be spending over £1k a month on something that I hardly use?

When I bought the car I exhausted pretty much every option, but one I missed was the 156 GTA estate.

You can now pick up a well loved example for around £10k. Thats £25k less than I paid for the RS6.

I'm also finally looking to buy a nice house in London at the end of the year, and so I shoudl probably start being a bit more sensible with my money.

Anyone have any thoughts on these? Main worry is just how bad is the driving position, and the reliability. I love the looks and the engine, and I can drive around understeer. Also what about boot space? Will it take a bike rack on the back?

cheers

Ed

Edcase

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/bb_rec...2/32200d58.JPG

FletchCSL

To be honest for the same price couldn't you have an Audi S4 Avant (old shape) A quick chip to 330bhp and you have something almost as fast as your RS6?

Better bet than the Alfa IMHO

Also isn't the carrying capacity on the Alfa dreadful?

Edcase

My problem is I'm a petrolhead.

Although my head says you are totally right, the last time I bought with my head I drove a Passat Tdi 130 for a year. It was good, to be fair. But good isn't what I'm looking for. The GTA might try and understeer me into the first tree but god it would look and sound fantastic doing it

staffs Mike

I seem to remember the main problem with these is due to the way the boot lid opens or where it is positioned you end up with less load space than the saloon.

Saying that...if its all fits in, why not eh?

KiwiGTI

I actually walked past one the other day and thought what a fantastic looking car it was. Have no doubt it would be a lot of fun to drive (as most Alfas are)

Andy M3

If you thought the outside was good looking, check out under the hood!

http://www.alfa147gta.jp/images/147/...e_photo002.jpg

kart_man

Is the alfa 4wd? Surely that's handy if you're in the alps or highlands?

I just picked up an rs4 avant on Friday and am loving it, so I may be a little biased !

Jamescsti

I drove the saloon version 156 2L Selespeed, the driving position was very good IMO, and i'm 6ft4 so that's no problem, found it a very nice car to drive when I drove one, only reason I didn't buy was due to the Selespeed box being very unreliable, wouldn't go into reverse, or got stuck in reverse.
But as a manual I would recommend one from my experience.
Can't comment on the wagon model though for space

Edcase

Does anyone know if they did a selespeed version of the GTA? How does the selespeed compare with other manufacturers paddle boxes?

Edcase

Hmm, fairly impressive review, seems to like the selespeed too.

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews...a-1003394.html

AudiLover

they look nice but I wouldnt trust them to ferry me around the country/continent at all.

How about a newer diesel A6 instead of your RS6?

Edcase

As above though, it's just not exciting enough for what I'm looking for. I must admit the reliability worries me, however I have a friend who has the normal version of this car and he's barely had a problem.

KiwiGTI

Problem with the A6 diesels (or most Audis for that matter) is that you have to have no personality to drive them.

Edcase

We'll leave the RS versions out of that sweeping statement though, eh?

AudiLover

mmmmmm RS. Get a forester? A audi S6 Avant?

How about a toy and the just rent something whenever you need a big estate to hoon off somewhere. Audi rent out performance A6 Avants for reasonable price.

Edcase

Forester sti was actually one of the cars on my list, however the only reason I'm considering chopping in the RS6 is to save some money. The Forester Sti would still cost a fair few quid, certainly a lot more than the GTA.

TopBanana

I had a GTA for a day whilst my 2.0 Selespeed was being serviced. Went pretty well and handled OK - didn't push it that hard though. They're not large cars though, you might struggle to fit in all your kit. Did quite a bit of windsurfing in my 156 and everything lived on the roof!

stilover

Don't Alfa's lose more money than most other cars though ??

Running costs may be less than the RS, but when you come to chop it in, in a couple years you could lose a fortune. Enough to buy load's of Fuel, tyres etc on the Audi.

Beef

I have a friend with the saloon, and in red it looks drop-dead gorgeous. It also sounds fantastic, and goes well too!

The turning circle can be best described as 'sh1te', which may or may not be a problem. He's had no problems with reliability, and it handles very nicely indeed.

Edcase

Yes but the Alfa has done most of it's depreciation. I can't see the GTA dipping much below 10k, it's already a hell of a lot of car for that much!

I imagine the depreciation and running costs on my RS6 over 2 years would pay for the Alfa!

stevencotton

I had a look at a few 156s (I also carry mountain bikes in the back), didn't seem to be enough room for me, check one out. I ended up with a Legacy GTB instead.

Longjing

I was thinking Legacy as I read this thread, but the problem seems to be that they're either quite old & high miles and cheap-ish (like 4/5 grand) or a couple of years old and 18-20k. All imports too, the newer GTBs anyway. They are nice though, and more like the size of the A/RS6.

Having said all that, the Alfa is a lovely car & I'd have one. **** it, if you like it, get it - 10k is a tremendous bargain, same as a wrx wagon.

I almost never see them for sale though - only one in the few months i've been looking for a mid-sized estate with some poke.

AudiLover

I just remeber doesnt the 156 wagon have less boot space than the saloon lol What about a saab estate?

GCollier

The biggest costs associated with the RS6 are almost always going to be initial depreciation and relatively high dealer spreads when buying/selling this sort of car. You have to be doing a pretty high mileage before cost of fuel and consumables even approaches this.

Personally I'd keep the car before swapping it for something like the 156, which frankly is in nowhere near the same class, but of course I am somewhat biased

Gary.

TopBanana

I agree with the above. The longer you keep a car the cheaper it gets... kind of!

Edcase

I will never. Never. Own another Saab.

Never.

Ever.

Gary, you are probably right, but I am racking up the miles, trips to the Alps and East Germany in the last 2 months didn't help. Mind you they were fun, and I guess that's what it's all about?

davecweed

wot about a new version Volvo V70R, awd, 300bhp, chip it 350bhp, normal running costs, good mpg, mine S60r(saloon version), gets 24 mpg average(mixture of roads)

u can pick them up for 15-20K

AudiLover

audi S3 sportback?

Edcase

You've all somewhat missed the point I've made a couple of times.

I want something interesting. Something with soul. Something with a bit of character.

FYI I'm now actively hunting a nice, low mile 156 GTA wagon in Red with teledial wheels