Alfa Romeo 156 - What great fun!!

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 but...

amani_nicholson 12.04.2006 (13.04.2006) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark

Alfa 156 - The truth.....

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...

triplenut3 10.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark

Alfa Romeo - getting better ?

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

...The first thing to say is that you should not have to spend a fortune to get a good example - I bought my Alfa after I spotted a load of 1 year old ex-rental examples for sale at what I felt was a very reasonable price. I think I was seduced by the looks and the Alfa badge - this car has a lot of showroom appeal - but one year on what is it really like ? Well I have to say that despite initial concerns after reading other reviews I remain really pleased with my purchase. My car is a January 2003 example with the updated interior and zoned air conditioning. The car has been 100% reliable, the handling and the rev happy engine still put a smile on my face. Quality won't match a Merc or Beemer, but nothing has broken or fallen off. You still feel that it's a bit fragile so I'm quite careful. The brakes seem a bit...

mcneild 20.11.2004 (18.11.2005) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 Twin Spark

I am the Alfa male. (My 100th review on Ciao)!!

Advantages: Simply an awesome car and driving experience.
Disadvantages: The running costs will put some people off owning one.

...it lacks the raw rough around the edges power of the old 156 and I am starting to think maybe I should have had another year with my 156 before having to let it go, I hope the guy from Newcastle that bought her is looking after her in the manor she was accustomed to and that he is getting all the enjoyment I got. I would recommend the Alfa Romeo 156 V6 24 valve to anyone interested in owning a real powerhouse of a car but as I have said they need lots of TLC and you have to be prepared for hefty running costs. If you want a 156 but do not want the hefty running costs then you can have the style without the power if you go for the 1.8ts or the 2.0ts but as well as power you will lose some of the added extras but never the less you will have yourself a very nice car. The only thing to stay well clear of when buying an Alfa is the semi...

thebigc1690 23.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.5

Alfa Romeo...the emotive choice

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...

Stevejames 22.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 1.6 Twin Spark

An Exotic Partner

Advantages: Superb looks and performance
Disadvantages: Ride not the best, quality of manufacture still not quite up to standard

...that is no great surprise. Anything remotely innovative and reasonably well bolted together in Milan or Turin can win that award. There is no doubting however that the Alfa is a very attractive car which stands out from the usual rep plodder in the fleet. Given the choice of 6 sets of keys of Mondeos, Lagunas, Vectras, 406s and an Alfa you would probably choose the 156. It has a head start on the others for looks and desirability and the pick-a-key test proves it. The performance of the car is also very good. Even in the 1.8 version we have had it can cruise all day at 90mph (where legal) and due to the sporty gearing of the 144bhp engine it is barely ticking over. You really have to be careful as any inattention to the speed and you can easily find yourself in licence losing territory without realising it. Away from the motorway...

polydeuces 26.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 Twin Spark

Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Advantages: Engine, Looks, Leather, Options on my car
Disadvantages: Safety, Reliability Record, Dealership Record

...Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso You probably just don?t understand Alfa's and until you sit in one-you never will? Just bought an Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso and on first impressions I?m delighted. It?s Navy Blue in Colour which sets the car off great against the Cream Leather, its a top of the range model and comes with SAT NAV, Cruise Control, Telephone, full heated Leather Upholstery, trip computer, 16inch Alloy wheels etc. The options are great, although not a requirement for everyone-however I would recommend the leather upholstery as a MUST its fantastic. I test drove many cars before buying, yet decided on the Alfa 147, because it put the biggest smile on my face, it was the nicest car to sit in and felt the best to drive by a long way. The Golf mk4 GTi felt its age, and although the Golf mk5 1.6s that I...

Azz4711 26.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Fun but futile - UPDATE

Advantages: Smile on your face Drive
Disadvantages: Bits falling off

...Well, my first ever Op got some good comments and some not bad reviews, but the overall impression was "good, but more fact please". Well, in addition to the above, here we go... Provided as a company car, so no fancy extras thrown in (tight gits!) Cost New - £17,000 MPG - supposed to be 33 mpg (but see above, it's an Alfa, so my right foot twitches, so my fuel goes "Gulp", and the real mpg I don't even want to know about - just fill it up when it's empty!!!) Key Fact 1 - 5 door saloon (with the clever back door handles hidden away near the c-pillar. Clever, but a real pain if no-one has told you where to find them. You can look a real fool at the petrol station trying to get your jacket out of the back seat and you can't open the door!!!! Performance - 0-60 in sub 10s (officially is 9.4, but varies enormously dependent...

Flipper01 05.08.2003 (18.08.2003) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 Twin Spark

My first Alfa and I'm in Love!

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...

JohnnyMaher123 19.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark

A real drivers car, Alfa Romeo

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...

Ralfa156 31.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 JTS