Romeo's heart captured mine

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

...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 3.0...

Paid.Ark.Man 07.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0

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

Alfa Romeo...the emotive choice

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

.... The sweeping lines down the sides, the concealed coupe style rear door handles, the cast aluminium front door handles, the aggresive nose apexing to the Shield of Alfa Romeo in chrome at the front. Then there's the engine...It sounds fantastic. It's almost as if they've defined the sound you want a car to make and then piped it in through your CD player. Its full of pitch and growl. The interior is simple but cool. Dials are large such as the speed and rev counter with a very 70's retro feel about them (think bulbous arches on any old GT) Some reviews I have read thought the speedo was sometimes concealed by the stearing wheel (not something I've experienced). The centre console has 3 circular dials angled towards the driver (more retro styling) which cover the engine temperature, clock and fuel guage. Then below there's the in car...

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

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!!!

...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...

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

..., the Alloy wheels on mine were known as the teledial ones and they grabbed the attention of many. They also fit these cars with different sizes of wheels, some come with the standard 1 inch most come with the larger 16 inch but you can chose to upgrade if you buy new as I did, I went for the awesome looking 18 inch wheels although with the Alfa going through tyres like nothing on earth I often wished I had gone with a cheaper option. When it comes to driving the Alfa it really is an awesome experience well at least the 2.5 V6 that I owned was, this car had frightening power and speed and although I had driven other V6 cars none could come close to the Alfa Romeo. Even at standard power before I got the ECU remapped the car was capable of a 0-60 in 8 seconds and a top speed of 147mph after its remap this awesome Italian sports car would do 0...

thebigc1690 23.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.5

MY ITALIAN STALLION

Advantages: Style, power, speed
Disadvantages: Lack of space, Fuel Economy

...Having grown up surrounded by Italian cars and enthusiasts alike, it seemed inevitable that I too would end up driving a car that truly aroused your senses – an Alfa Romeo. The moment it arrived I knew I had made the right choice, sat there on the back of the lorry waiting to be unleashed from its restraining straps like a caged animal waiting to be released into the wild for the first time. As the car was rolled from the vehicle carrier I could only admire its beauty, its sexy, almost feminine little round headlights and its flowing curvaceous lines that drew my eyes to its broad masculine rear - all complemented by huge 17 inch alloy wheels. My choice of colour could not have been better - Iridescent Nuvola complemented by MOMO hide interior. It seemed like a lifetime before the keys were handed to me. As the driver...

SnotSlut 22.06.2001 (23.07.2001) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0

PITY IT WASN'T ALFA RACING RED!

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

...are finding 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...

RICHADA 11.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Alfa Romeo 146Ti

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...

MartinClark 13.03.2003 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 146 2.0

Don't believe all you hear about Alfa Romeo

Advantages: Eye catching looks - relatively rare
Disadvantages: Other peoples perceptions

...I purchased my 1.6 Lusso in June 2002 from a car supermarket. I had been torn bewteen the 147 and the new Mini. I visited both dealers - the Alfa dealer was keen but couldn't come down to my price, whilst the Mini dealer was very much "I can sell 10 of these tomorrow - why should I bother trying to help you!". Frustrated I visited a car supermarket and was somewhat bewildered by the choice on offer. I would strongly recommend it to anyone - even if you don't buy from them. Seeing the car in full colour beats trying to imagine it from the 2 inch square card in the showroom. The supermarket offered a favourable rate on my car and at £12,300 it was £2300 less than list. I picked it up a few days later and was suprised to wait in-line for the keys along with about 10 other people collecting at that time. Once they hand over...

CarNut 23.12.2003 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.6

Italian flair meets space shuttle

Advantages: Performance, style and looks, ride, interior, handling
Disadvantages: Temperament, residuals

..., quad cam, 24 valve, topped off with crackle alloy rocker covers and plenum chambers, and 6 polished chrome induction pipes. Naked of the black plastic covering (reminiscent of packaging material from a packet of biscuits)so typical of its rivals, it is an object of genuine engineering beauty. Cuore Sportiva is not a myth - park this in your street with its engine laid bare for all to see, and passers by will be entranced. Alfa's 3 litre unit is one of the very best: it spawned the later, bored out, 3.2 litre derivative - widely regarded as THE best. It begs to be worked, and its specified 226bhp is probably well below its potential. It revs freely to well over 5000 rpm and will cover the 0-62 mph barrier in under 8 seconds. And the driver's control over it is needle sharp. The pressing of a button on the console to engage sport...

jerry6525 13.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 166 3.0