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

...The Alfa Romeo 156.…Where to start? The first thing you notice is it's elegant curves and aesthetics which makes the 156 an attractive semi sports car. There is something however that many (including myself) notice though about the rear doors, there is no handle or at least no visible handle. This little touch of Italian design is something of a puzzle to some and absolute genius to others. It is only a shame the same style could not be incorporated to the front doors which would finish it off a treat! Inside there is a surprising amount of space in the front with just enough in the rear to make it a comfortable ride. With the fabric interior and its colour scheme of grey and black with the Alfa Romeo motifs on the front seats creates a nice touch. The front seats are slightly contoured for ultimate comfort and style and to some... Read review

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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

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Advantages: High specification, stylish design, good value used car, sporty performer
Disadvantages: lack of storage space

...I bought my 156 2.0 JTS Veloce as a one year old pre registered car with 10,000 miles and at the time did consider the Diesel JTD 150 version but in all honesty the heart and soul of an Alfa is not a diesel unit and never will be. The 2.0 JTS is a work of art, pumping out 178 Bhp and willing to rev round the clock if desired, which is frequently when I go out. The engine has that beautiful Alfa rip and burble when getting the foot into the pedal it is difficult holding back a smile driving down the country lanes, where the car is very much at home. I can't fault the handling, the turning circle is not too great but who cares it is quick and responsive when asked, point in the direction you want to go and obliges without a fuss. The driving position is superb, it is clearly designed for the driver, it looks good, everything is at hand... Read review

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Advantages: Looks, performance, that engine sound
Disadvantages: No traction control, M.P.G. interior build quality, rear seats

...in search of the one that was to become my Eleanor (remember gone in 60 seconds? I named it Eleanor because it felt like it was impossible to capture) but this was only due to the research I'd put in before hand and not because there aren't plenty of them out there. Some checking is needed to bag a good un. Not being a fan of saloon cars I didn't look at the 156 and 166, both a lot of car for not much money mind, and the smaller hatchback Alfa's didn't have much appeal as I'm a coupe man, so this left me with one obvious choice; the GTV. The GTV for me is one of the best looking Alfa's and while considering which version I should have adorning the drive way I found the first of many surprises that this car was to deliver; the insurance. The three versions that I was aware of are the 2.0, 3.0 V6 and the cabriolet (both 2.0 and 3... Read review

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Advantages: Pedigree. Stylish.
Disadvantages: Insurance costs. Depreciation.

...and impossible to deploy the handbrake with it "down". The car is relatively quiet at most speeds with the (gorgeous) Alfa growl only audible in the higher rev range. On the plus side, the 156 has without doubt the best steering system I`ve ever come across - the steering wheel has a beautiful but unusual profile and the steering itself is extremely light and positive. The power and torque is exactly where its needed - low in the rev range which gets the car away from roundabouts etc. at an impressive pace. The car itself drives superbly making every journey a pleasure. The gearbox is as good as any I`ve tried but would benefit from a closer gate and the brakes appear fine. A few words of extreme caution though, the insurance and servicing costs are excessive, so check before you buy, and like all Alfa`s, the 156 drinks oil so check levels... Read review

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Advantages: cheap when imported , beautifully styled and good standard features
Disadvantages: engine reliability , variator reliability , fuel guage , fusebox covers , suspension squeaks , colour on leather seats , boot accessibility

...I imported my 156 2.0 TS from Rome through a family member when the equivalent outlay would have secured me a basic entry level VW Golf 1.4l with no additional trimmings. The car and I fell immediately in love with eachother and for the best part of one year our relationship was untainted. Once my troubles started it took some time to stabilise the whole debacle. Within 6 months of my 1 year standard warranty which was then the norm for an imported vehicle to the UK, my fusebox cover needed replacing ( what's the big deal you may ask and you'd be right, it cost me a tenner to replace). However, afterwards the fuel guage stopped working apparently requiring the sender unit to be replaced at a cost of £300 for the part alone. Followed shortly by the engine failing for reasons undisclosed by AlfaRomeo UK. I have a squeaky suspension... Read review

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Advantages: Handsome car with excellent handing, peppy engine
Disadvantages: Quality doesn't inspire confidence

...- this was subsequently traced to a failing switch in the circuit (symptoms brake lights sticking on and intermitment warning on the info centre). Once replaced I would say that the brakes are as good as any car I've driven. I decided to have the car MOT'd at the same time it went for it's annual service this month - actually a couple of months before I had to - and I'm glad I did. My 34 month-old, 27000 mile car, failed on worn bushes in the rear suspension, plus the service revealed that the timing belt needed replaced. Not what I would have expected! However to the credit of the dealer (Arnold Clark Edinburgh) and Alfa Romeo, these points were remedied under warranty together with a slight gearbox leak. Only problem was that the dealer couldn't reset the service indicator and a new one is on order (also under warranty). Moral of the story... Read review

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Advantages: Out of the Norm Styling & Performance
Disadvantages: Getting Old Now

...Here is one area where the Alfa 147, at least in diesel form, is more than class competitive. The GM 1.9 Turbodiesel engine is probably, in real world use, the most efficient of the current (around) two litre four cylinder diesel engines. You would be unlucky to achieve less than 45mph and would in all probability average 50mpg when avoiding too many short runs and cold starts. SERVICE & MAINTENANCE COSTS 7 / 10: are you going to make the dealer rich? No, but you may end up lining BP's pockets! I am not sure that an Alfa Romeo franchise ever made any dealer rich! Traditionally they spent so much time sorting out niggling warranty claims with scant factory back up, that many gave up dealing with Alfa of their own volition. So bad has the reputation of the Alfa dealer network become in the UK that the manufacturer has decided... Read review

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Advantages: Driving experience, looks and style
Disadvantages: A few minor niggles and a little paranoia from negative reviews

...Buying an Alfa 156 is one of the best decisions I've made in a long time! Fair enough, I'm only about a month into it, but so far everything I've been told about the superb Alfa driving experience is true. I bought my 156 from a car supermarket, and still feel like I've got a hell of a deal when I look at how much car I've got for not much money. It's just over 2 years old, and regularly elicits amazed comments from friends when I give them lifts and they find out how much the car cost. The interior, while not by any means the height of luxury, is still way more impressive than practically any other car in its class, with sumptuous grey leather, and the often mentioned classic sports styling of the dash, which only improves at night when the dials light up! My Lusso came with a Radio/CD front loader, electric windows all-round, electric... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful looks, fun to drive, gets you noticed!
Disadvantages: service/repair costs

...I bought my Alfa 3 years ago and one thing has never changed - I love the design and feel of the 156! That's what this car is all about. Everyone knows that Alfa's reputation for reliability is not exactly up there with the Japanese cars! However, if anyone tells you that they don't like the look of a 156 then they must be lying! I still look at my car on the drive and feel proud to own it and people are always commenting on how nice it is. OK. So the visuals are great and I love it but how about everything else. The car is lovely to drive, the steering is smooth (although the turning circle could be a little tighter) and the car will accelerate at a decent speed. If you want to get the engine singing a merry tune then it really enjoys the low gears! Space wise, I think the best definition is adequate. The rear seats... Read review

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