New car

[MAF260]

I've owned a 156 & a 147, both with Selespeed gearboxes. I liked them both a lot, but for different reasons. The 156 was leagues ahead of my previous 155 in terms of build quality, but being the brand new selespeed it had all of the initial faults with the gearbox. Something like 5 visits to the dealer in the first 6 months from gear selection failure - not funny when you're driving along a busy dual carriageway! The 156 was a very useable family car which carried all of our baby stuff at the time with ease. Did several trips abroad and aside from the gearbox issues early on it never missed a beat. The 147 was bought as an interim car between my Range Rover and 3200, I only kept it for around 10 months. It was also a really enjoyable car which was dirt cheap for such a well-specced car. I was amazed to find the build quality had moved on again and couldn't believe how well it handled. My wife had an Impreza at the time and I honestly believe the 147s handling wasn't that different.
Now I have the GT which I wasn't very excited about buying, but after 6 weeks or so of ownership I've really grown to like it and enjoy driving it. Yes, it's a diesel, but on the move you really wouldn't notice from the sporty sound inside. Now the geometry's been addressed, the new tyres are bedded in and the tuning has woken a few things up it's actually really fun to drive. 45mpg is optimistic, but have been achieving around 37, even with some spirited driving!

 

[conaero]

I've owned a 156 & a 147, both with Selespeed gearboxes. I liked them both a lot, but for different reasons. The 156 was leagues ahead of my previous 155 in terms of build quality, but being the brand new selespeed it had all of the initial faults with the gearbox. Something like 5 visits to the dealer in the first 6 months from gear selection failure - not funny when you're driving along a busy dual carriageway! The 156 was a very useable family car which carried all of our baby stuff at the time with ease. Did several trips abroad and aside from the gearbox issues early on it never missed a beat. The 147 was bought as an interim car between my Range Rover and 3200, I only kept it for around 10 months. It was also a really enjoyable car which was dirt cheap for such a well-specced car. I was amazed to find the build quality had moved on again and couldn't believe how well it handled. My wife had an Impreza at the time and I honestly believe the 147s handling wasn't that different.
Now I have the GT which I wasn't very excited about buying, but after 6 weeks or so of ownership I've really grown to like it and enjoy driving it. Yes, it's a diesel, but on the move you really wouldn't notice from the sporty sound inside. Now the geometry's been addressed, the new tyres are bedded in and the tuning has woken a few things up it's actually really fun to drive. 45mpg is optimistic, but have been achieving around 37, even with some spirited driving!

The GT is a little gem of a car, driven mine just to and back from the dealer as its not taxed, and I luv it. Maf I do hope I get 40 something in MPG as this is one of the main reasons I bought it. I dont drive like a loon on a day to day basis, I leave that for Maserati days. I have put half a tank in her, about £40 and done 125 miles and its use about a third of the fuel, someone do the maths, I got a D in Olevel for it.

I am going to leave mine in standard 150bhp tune, maybe this is why yours is drinking it, what were you getting before you chipped it?

 

[MAF260]

Definitely no lunatic driving, mine goes to the station and back each day which is a round trip of no more than 5 miles. I've done some A road driving (spirited, sweeping bends, overtaking etc.) but mostly it's short trips with stop/start. Overall I'm quite impressed with the mpg based on that. Overall since the tuning I've seen no difference in fuel economy. Whilst delivering increased power and torque it supposedly either gives the same or increased fuel economy due to having to work the car less hard - I don't know if this is true, or whether I believe it, but so far I've seen absolutely no difference.
Matt, as with other cars the fuel gauge on the GT is inaccurate. Presumably you have the computer on yours which will tell you your average mpg?

 

[dem maser]

i make that 45mpg..i think..i only got a C...

 

[conaero]

Maf, thanks for that, I have not found the MPG thing, but its a Lusso spec so sure its there somewhere.

Can you let me know what you paid for your tune up, who to and whats the BHP gain?

Oh, and is it noticeable quicker?

 

[dem maser]

i recommend autodelta...dont know who maf will or been to but autodelta on the old forum were the kings and i went there for my 2.0ts GTV

 

[MAF260]

The trip computer readings are operated with the right hand stalk which also operates the windscreen wipers. Keep pressing the button at the end to scroll through; press and hold to reset after filling up.

I fitted a Steinbauer P-box : http://www.steinbauer.cc/neu/index.php?select_id=5. After doing a lot of research I decided against a remap as they're permanent and cannot be swapped from one vehicle to another. The P-box is unlike conventional 'tuning modules/boxes' in that all they do is increase fuel pressure in the common-rail which can lead to failures in the fuel system and lots of black smoke from the exhaust. The P-box changes the injection duration, so provides more accurate fuel control throughout the rev range. It's also TUV-approved and comes with a 3-year warranty. It took me about 10 minutes to fit and made an immediate noticeable difference, especially in mid range acceleration. Power is increased to 180bhp (many believe this to be conservative, I haven't had it on the rollers to confirm), but more importantly torque is up from 305nm to 375nm - bear in mind a Gransport is 451nm and you start to understand why it's an enjoyable drive! Price new is something like £500-£600. I got lucky and bought a used one from a forum member for £120 posted - result!
I used Autodelta to do some work on my 156. I had the carbon airbox, performance air filter, remap and stainless exhaust system. What I didn't like was turning up after the exhaust was fitted to find Jano the owner literally revving the nuts of my car so that it was bouncing off the rev limiter! I've heard other stories like this and so would be very wary of approaching him again for anything.

 

[dem maser]

let us know if they are economical....they say 32mpg in town!!

 

[MAF260]

I'm still getting mid 30s Dem and that's doing loads of short journeys with cold starts where the car doesn't ever really get warm (gulp!)

I've been too busy with work to do anything about the Q2 diff yet, but if that quells the wheelspin in the wet/damp then economy will also increase. Might have to be early next year now as I can't see ay let up in work before then.

 

[conaero]

Maf, I put in half a tank, so thats 30 litres and got 287 miles from it...did drain it. Thats 6.5 gallons so working out at 44mpg.

It was a mix of motorway at 75mph and work commuting.

Its off to the paint shop on Tuesday, and it is in at Alfa having both electric window motors replaced under warranty.

Been living with the car for about 3 weeks now and the windows and a rattly boot lid are all I can fault, its blooming marvellous car.

 

[dem maser]

your both getting mid 30s in town and mid 40s with mixed.....

thats good....soo tempting as my seat diesel does 40mpg.....