On Sun, 16 May 2004 10:36:11 +0200, Arjan Renting >, wrote:

>When I first saw the new nose of the 156 I was
>very disappointed, it was too heavy and too much of a contrast from the
>smooth lines of the rest of the car. But now I do like it. I would
>rather buy the now model then the old model, that is if I could ;-)

I was frankly appalled when I first saw what had been done to the front of
the 156. When I drove one, out of necessity because of service/repairs,
recently I was astonished by the destruction of the interior too.

Even if AR offered to buy back my 156 at the full purchase price, I would
not buy a new 156 with the money. It is vile.

I would go shopping for a good condition secondhand 156.
As it is, there is NO WAY that I will be parted from my 156
for as long as it is economic to maintain it in reliable condition.

The 147 nose should have stayed where it belongs,
on the 147. Yes, I appreciate that times change and so do tastes.
That does not mean that either times or tastes always change
for the better. Something many marketing depts., learn to the
cost of the sales. Not relevant in the case of the 156, I am sure.

After all, AR fleet sales are what make the books balance.
They don't need people like me to buy their cars.
Which is why they are not fussed if their after-sales lets
me down. Cynical? Yes.

Pete
======remove the rust to reply======
>
156 2.0 TS (2001) - Proteo Rosso (his)
147 2.0 TS (2002) - Gem Green (her's)