Alfa Romeo 2.0L GTV. A future classic!

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

...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...

redlandking 18.03.2006 (19.03.2006) · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Twin Spark

  Romeo's heart captured mine

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

.... With the interior the centre console is aluminium grey as are the speedo and rev counter surrounds and you get kick plates down the sill with 'Alfa Romeo' in sliver plastic with a black background. In 1999 the 6-speed box was introduced and offered with 17" telephone dials alloys and some were fitted with the rear spoiler (avoid the rear spoiler ones, it realty is a 'spoiler' and does spoil the look of the car). 2001 saw the release of the special edition GTV cup which was linked to the racing series in Italy, these where only available in red and had a numbered plaque on the dash. Very limited and the most collectable and of course the most expensive, saying that I've never seen one for sale. 2003 saw the phase 3 version which had the 3.2 V6 and a new nose job but this was the last and production ended this year (2005) to make way for the new GT...

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

...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

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

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.

...Over the years since first passing my driving test, I have had dozens of cars and since I turned 21 and could get insurance for them most of them have been sports cars of one type or another. I have owned two convertible BMW`s a VW Golf VR6 and several Alfa Romeo`s, with the Alfa Romeos being my favourite cars by a mile. The Alfa Romeo I am Writing about today is the 156, 2.5 V6 24 valve, I have just sold this particular car on in order to buy the newer model of Alfa Romeo but I am missing it badly. Even though the new Alfa is breathtakingly good it just does not seem to have the character and raw power of my old faithful 156. The Alfa Romeo 156 is a very stylish 4 door saloon and because of its hidden rear door handles it looks like a 2 door coupe from a distance. It oozes Italian style both inside and out, with the unique body...

thebigc1690 23.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.5

PITY IT WASN'T ALFA RACING RED!

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

...WHAT IS IT? The 147 is Alfa Romeo's compact hatchback, produced in three and five door forms and competing in the Ford Focus / Vauxhall Astra market. This is actually an interesting, diverse and most popular market sector now, outselling all other types of car. The competition is fierce and many of the alternatives, such as the Honda Civic, are new and bang up to date. In 2001 the Alfa 147 was voted European Car of The Year. WHICH SPECIFIC MODEL? The actual car that I am reviewing here is right at the top of the Alfa 147 tree. It is a five door 1.9JTD 150 Lusso. The 1.9JTD 150 has the most powerful two litre version of the now ubiquitous GM (Vauxhall / Saab) engine in it, which was co-developed with Fiat, parent company of Alfa Romeo. IN WHAT CAPACITY AM I REVIEWING THIS CAR? OK, hands up, this is not my own car. This...

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

Alfa Romeo - getting better ?

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

...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...

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