Faults:

Dealer recall due to faulty level sensors.

Wind screen wiper failure.

Key failure preventing entry to vehicle.

Alarm fault - ongoing as dealers have tried 3 times to repair.

Ignition coil failure resulting in breakdown. Alfa unable to supply part for 5 weeks, but eventually took a part from a showroom model.

Engine management problems on 5 occasion each requiring a dealer visit.

Car off road for 19 days in 9 months!!

Alfa customer relations are almost impossible to get hold of and do not even give an address or contact number on their reply! They are ignoring all of my correspondence.

General Comments:

The Alfa 156 is fantastic to drive. Regrettably if you are seduced by its beauty and performance you like me are a fool. These attributes are irrelevant when your car lives on a dealers ramp rather than the road where it should be.

Be warned about the ability and interest of Alfa and their dealers when the inevitable quality problems arise.

Faults:

Sometimes radio thinks that the changer is installed and on/off is needed to force to make it read CD's drom dash unit.

Covers of rear lights located inside rear doors fall off - they seem to be couple millimeters too small for the job.

So - nothing major.

General Comments:

After 5 years with previous Alfa I was expecting something different - harder, the car is much more silent and comfortable, then I expected - and I like it.

When accelerating I have a feeling that the car is slow - no sound, no influence on steering, only other cars are left behind surprisingly far away...

I wish I was 10 cm shorter - ergonomics are perfect for my girlfriend (172), and not so for me (188).

The steering, suspension and engine are very good. Shifting got much better after 10000 KM - it was a bit mushy in the beginning.

Suspension and tires (205/60/15) are excellent on bad Polish roads (on bumpy curves it is better than any other car I know), in Austria or Germany I would opt for bigger wheels and harder suspension.

The car is small (or rather tight) - it is rather premium class compact than D class station wagon.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

As well as this cars beautiful looks, it handles well in all road conditions.

Performance is strong in 1st through to third gear (nearly 100mph at 7000rpm in 3rd). It does, however, require "winding up" to achieve near to the 140mph top speed, and does feel a little light at these speeds, but not too twitchy though.

The beautiful red leather interior highlights well the metallic black exterior finish.

The driving position does feel a little odd (especially if your 6'1") however, after a while you get used to the position and the car is comfortable to drive on long motorway trips. Indeed it cruises well in excess of the UK 70mph limit!

I do slightly worry though that the all electronic climate control system may not last the course knowing Italian electronics!