Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 1.8 TS Veloce

Advantages: Nice looking sexy car
Disadvantages: customer service for ever ending problems

...As a young driver I always wanted to own and drive an Alfa Romeo. Coming from the nation where the Ferrari originates form you'd think you cannot go wrong. When I was old enough to own an Alfa Romeo, I daringly went for the new 156TS Lusso when it first came out in the UK nearl 2.5 years ago. I have had constant problems with this vehicle but guess when you go for something as new as this you have to bite the bullet and accept recalls - especially the problems you report which orginates the recalls on other vehicles. My real problem is with the lack of Customer Service thats exists in Fiat-Alfa. Whatthey fail to realise is that an Alfa Romeo is aimed for a different market compared to the common Fiat and people should be treated as differently too. I have complained consistently abotsome problems which they failed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful to hear, beautiful to look at.
Disadvantages: Fuel economy, Back seat room, Lack of folding rear seats

...I recently passed my driving test (2nd attempt at age 35). To me this milestone (for a soon to be first time father) wasn't about practicality, fuel economy or any other of the usual considerations you should make when purchasing probably the second most expensive item you own. This is because I'd already seen the car I wanted...The Alfa Romeo 156 TwinSpark. I'd looked at the Which reports and many many other publications and if I was honest with myself (and my wife Emma...sorry dear) I should have purchased a Ford Focus. A car which has great styling, a good reliability record and reasonable servicing. But no...as I say, the decision had long since been made, and I positively drooled at the sight of 156's whenever I saw one. So after a long search I found the model I was looking for...a shiny Black 1.6 litre (Insurance being... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Aesthetically pleasing, stylish, spacious boot, security, quick and knee tremblingly superior!!!,
Disadvantages: can be expensive to run....thats it really!!!

...of its size is the opening is a little small. This of course can hamper putting in awkward items such as a pushchair in - but you soon learn a technique to over come this, so it is not really a big deal. The drive of the 156 is short of exceptional…even the 1.8 model has a quick acceleration and high speed, but the 2.0 has even more grunt. The sound of the engine could be compared to a quiet TVR Tuscan or large Tiger purring, it really is a sweet sound, one which you never get tired of listening to! There has been much said in the press about Alfa's having a tendency to understeer but I have not found this to be the case of the 156, if anything I found it to be spot on, the cornering at low and high speed is responsive and accurate, something one demands these days rather than requests. The tight suspension makes the cornering easier... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful