Advantages: Lovely handling. Beautiful. A lot of car for the price.
Disadvantages: Quirky, unreliable electrics. Badly kept examples will cost you

..., but it's your car, you don't want to share it! I'm not normally a selfish person, honest. Disadvantages are that perhaps the 2.0 litre engine will not be enough for some people. However now they're stopping production I think it'll turn into a classic. Make sure you get an inspection on second hand purchases and double check the suspension, which is a complex bit of kit and can be costly to replace. Also check the cam belts have been replaced (ideally every 30,000 miles despite what the offical figures suggest). This will avoid potentially expensive engine damage. Other minor disadvantages are that the electrics can be a little unreliable and you have to get used to it's nuances, but nobodies perfect. Electrics aside, Alfa Romeo's are a lot more reliable than they used to be, and do not rust apart anymore. The TS engine is good... Read review

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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

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Advantages: Style, equipment levels, ride.
Disadvantages: Petrol consumption, insurance costs.

...From an early age, I've always hankered after cars that dare to look a little bit different and had always fancied an Alfa Romeo. Having now reached an age where I've owned several cars, Ford, Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault and Ford again, I decided the time was right to be that bit decadent and treat myself to an Alfa. The model I've bought is the 2.0 TS Selespeed Lusso, just over a year old with 3500 miles on the clock which is absolutely stunning in black with light grey Momo leather upholstery. Having paid just £12000 for it (best part of £20000 new with the extras it's got), they're are plenty of bargains to be had in the used car arena, and you'll get a lot of car for your money. Having owned a fully specced up Ford Focus 2.0 Ghia previously (full leather, air con, traction control, cruise control etc etc) I really wanted... 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: 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: Great to drive and look at. Reliable and well built.
Disadvantages: Insurance can be pricey with some companies.

...Well I purchased the 147 2.0 Lusso last July (2003), brand new, from one of the many car supermarkets. It was just £13500 and has everything from the 17" supersports Alloys to Leather interior, sunroof as well as the comfort pact and winter pack. I saved around £6000 on the UK retail price and therefore should protect myself from any early depreciation. Should you buy this car? Well YES it drives like it is on rails and the ride is still smooth considering it's on the wide 17" low profile tyres. Mine came with Goodyear F1 Eagle tyre which give excellent grip. I have had no problems and the first 12000mile service was done by my Alfa dealer in Amersham for a very reasonable £150. Average fuel consumption is 33-35MPG. It holds a decent amount in the boot, as shown by a recent holiday with the Inlaws and in our previous 1.6Lusso (which... Read review

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Advantages: Everything, excellent handling, excellent looks, excellent performence........ excellent everything.
Disadvantages: Not a lot! - Apart from the Insurance!

...I bought my Alfa Romeo 146 Ti just over two years ago. Its a P Reg now so is getting on abit and I keep thinking to myself I better get a new car, but I just cannot bring myself to sell it. I went out looking for a new car just over two years ago and had in my mind I were going to get a Vectra or Laguna or something along those lines, that were until I saw the 146 sitting on the forecourt. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it and once had took it for a test drive, well, that were it! Within half an hour the cheque were wrote and the car were paid for! Now I keep thinking about getting a new car but just think to myself - but I dont want to get rid of my Alfa! The Alfa 146 has absolutely everything, brilliant performence, excellent handling, is very comfortable, definatley looks the part and it definately gets you noticed... Read review

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Advantages: Fairly roomy at front, big boot, powerful, handling
Disadvantages: Turning circle, juddery wiper motors, cost of spares

...This is my second 155 2.0, I like the handling, and when you want to press on a bit, the sound of that engine is truely addictive!! The brakes could do with a bit of beefing up, they struggle to halt the car after a while playing on the back roads with lots of braking. One time I was actually STANDING on the pedal because of brake fade. The steering is very precise, quick rack, 2.2 turns lock to lock, although the QE2 could turn a tighter turn!! The momo steering wheel is a delight to hold, the thick rim is just right for a comfortable grip. Turning circle is nearly embarrasing, if you are not used to it, you find you have to reverse and have another cut, not good in a multi story car park during rush hour. The boot is pretty big, although rear seats that fold down would be so useful rather than a ski hatch (why anyone... Read review

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

...this an enjoyable engine to use in this car! It is fast, smooth, totally lacking in vibration and is without doubt the 147's ace card. PERFORMANCE 9 / 10 Sh*t off a shovel or a constipated tortoise? Here lays my reason for never appreciating the appeal of an Alfa Romeo. I have long held the opinion that Alfas always sound as though they are going much faster than they are. The fact that the 1.9JTD sounds like a petrol powered Alfa is all to the good, if you actually like the sound of an Alfa engine. Here, in this car however, its accelerative capabilities are beyond doubt, it is considerably faster than the same car with the evergreen 2.0 petrol Twin Spark engine under the bonnet, in fact it leaves that car for dust! Not only does it accelerate rapidly through the gears but as you would expect with a diesel, it has tremendous pick up... Read review

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Advantages: Lively glorious sounding engine, fun to drive, high specification, Used car market affordable
Disadvantages: depreciation, thirsty! rear view visibility limited Poor customer service from dealership

...rust what so ever! ALFA ROMEO 146 The Alfa 146 was launched in the UK in early 1995; with the introduction of the flat-four cylinder “Boxer” engined cars, which have the most glorious roar from that sweet purring engine. My first car was a Boxer 8v 146. These were the first batch of 145’s and 146’s with limited engine sizes and power. The fascinating thing about 'Boxer' engines is that they sounded glorious, even when not revved! Later on in 1996/97 Alfa Romeo developed the latest generation of twin spark 16-valve engines in 1.6, 1.8 and a special sports 2.0L version called the “Ti”. The same twin spark engines were first used in the larger Alfa 155’s that some of you might be familiar with. I will call twin-spark (ts) for short. These were vastly improved engines and were more efficient, for example a 1.6 Boxer produced only 103bhp... Read review

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