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

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

Alfa 156 - The truth.....

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

...Two years ago I decided to take the plunge and buy something different, and the Alfa had to be the choice. I purchased a 9 month old, low mileage "Lusso" 2.0ltr saloon version. Having still got the vehicle, how`s it stacked up? Read on for a few home truths after 30,000 trouble-free miles..... Initially the style of the car was a great attraction, not to mention the Alfa pedigree of "exclusivity" and relative scarecity (relatively speaking there are few dealers specialising in this marque). The cars lines are unmatched, being very sleek and aesthetically pleasing from all angles - and that front end is so aggesive! My initial impressions upon driving the car were that of a deceptively spacious interior, affording good driving visibility considering its compact and squat exterior looks. I chose the leather trim incidentally which is...

triplenut3 10.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 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

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

It will be remembered as one of Alfa's best...

Advantages: design, quality, timelessness, engine, handling
Disadvantages: second hand value

...The car is a driver's car for sure. Great handling, great engine, fun driving, agile, faster than most 1.6 engines. The design is magnificent. Some other brands have copied bits of its design later on. Alfa 147, winner of European Car of the Year Award 2001, has a lifetime of 7 years by now which proves the success of the model. Alfa 147 looks good inside as much as it looks good outside. The material quality and feel is high. The hidden door knob gives the coupe impression and is a nice little detail that now Seat Leon uses. I think Alfa 147 will be one of the cAlfa's icon models in the future. I now own a Hyundai Coupe and i love its looks too, but a part of me wants to go back to my Alfista days. Rumor has it, Alfa 147 won't be with us by the year 2009. Hope newcomer 149 will alsobe a true hot hatch...

Borracho 03.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.6

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

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

Thinking about an Alfa?

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 are not...

smeagle1981 03.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 JTS

My Alfa Romeo

Advantages: Its a comfortable ride, and has some prestige element attached.
Disadvantages: Wheel handling can be difficult in wet weather as its a rear wheel drive vehicle

...I have owned this car for about 8 years now, didnt buy it from new, but its always been a great experience to drive. It looks good and is comfortable because it has the race car bucket Rockero seats which my sons would love to have, but I wont let them have them of course. Its fast and ease on the road is a pleasure, although in winter when the roads are wet it can be a pain in the neck because its a rear wheel drive vehicle. It is pretty expensive to run because the parts usually have to come direct from Italy, well in my experience they have. But they are easily accessable. Mechanics dont really like working on them however so I tend to take it to an Alfa specialist which of course is far more expensive, but it makes all the difference. I dont know too much about the technical side of the car but I do know that it takes a good driver...

kiria 18.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 75 2.0