1999 Alfa Romeo 156 Twin Spark from UK and Ireland - Comments

Tappet noise.

Driveshaft bearing failed.

Air leak caused lumpy idle.

Interior light came on at random.

Central locking works when it feels like it.

Fuel gauge packed up.

Rev counter illumination packed up.

Air con became noisy.

I really want to like this car! For starters it looks drop dead gorgeous inside and out. The engine is the best four cylinder unit on the planet bar none, and it goes like a rocket. It handles superbly and sounds orgasmic!

All this is offset by a reliability record and dealer service that quite frankly defies belief in this day and age. I really hoped Alfa had got their act together after the years of bad press, but sadly it is not the case.

I didn't expect the car to have Germanic reliability, and I was prepared to accept the odd silly problem. Latin temparement and all that. However, I went through the service records recently, and there has been a fault on average every four weeks I have had the car. This is bad enough, but if I hear the words "we'll need to order the parts from Italy" from one more dealer, I am going to punch somebody's lights out! It's made worse by the fact that they usually come after the workshop has taken the car apart and rendered it undriveable, as well as after having it in their workshop for several days.

The car is on a lease deal, so I have no choice but to use the dealer network for all servicing and repairs. I'm sure the use of a good independent would improve matters, but the fact still remains that the car is criminally unreliable.

However, it is a testament to the quality of the driving experience that, when it is all working properly, and that wonderful 2.0 Twin Spark engine is fizzing away under the bonnet, or when I polish up the red paintwork and look at its gorgeous lines, I fall instantly in love again.

It's a car that imparts extreme emotions on the driver. One minute it is pure, unadulterated love and a high that lasts for days. Then something packs up for the umpteeth time and I feel hatred so deep that I just want to set fire to it by the side of the road, and catch the bus home.

Frustrating! Wonderful! Horrible. Oh, I don't know.

I entirely agree with this amusing review of the 156! In my opinion, when something goes wrong with the car and you can avoid taking it to a dealer for repair, then don't give the dealer the opportunity to drive you insane! The dashboard on mine needs replacing because the fuse-box lid has snapped off and now won't fit back on. But I'd rather live with the wires hanging out than let Alfa UK get their hands of it. Their service is appalling which, as you say, is a great shame when the car is so beautiful and the engine such a delight.

Nice review, I enjoyed it. I had loads of problems with my 2000 156, sold it in the end, it was a pain in the ass.

Good review, hits the nail on the head first time. Owning a 156 really is love-hate.

My own lasted 4500 miles before the engine failed, and it took 4 weeks to source a replacement - yes, you've guessed - from Italy. From that point on it was all downhill - failed EMC (x2), wonky electrics, new sunroof, new doorlocks, new handbrake, paint defects, new starter motor, (gorgeous) full Zender bodykit fell off in bits.

Alfa UK should be taken out and shot - they're (just) capable of dealing with Fiat, certainly not the technically complex 156. And Fiat SA just don't want to know.

Owning a 156 is like having an Italian mistress - beautiful, but expensive.

RIP Alfa Romeo

Quality must vary incredibly from car to car. I'm genuinely shocked to see reviews and comments like these.

My 1999 (v) 2.0 156 has been almost perfect. Like many others mine suffered with the rear brake whistling - fixed during service at no cost.

My dealer (Platts) are excellent too. Twice my car has been damaged and the dealers fitted new parts and resprayed paintwork brilliantly. Top marks.

I guess I haven't tested them with technical problems, but in 32K miles I haven't had any!

I am the proud/nervous owner of a 4 year old 2.0TS 156.

The original comment which caught my eye, while sitting here searching the net for a solution to the intermittent electrical problems that I am having; Failed fuel sender, this is the reason that my Alfa is booked in to the dealership in one weeks time. Meanwhile, during this weekend the fuel gauge is once again reading, but the intermittent 'Central locking and front windows not working' fault has re-occurred.

These are such silly niggles on what is otherwise a lovely car. You feel proud driving it and getting out, then, you can't shut the windows and you have to go round manually locking the doors - not so cool!

My friend recently purchased a gorgeous black 1.8 TS and rang me to say it refused to start one morning. Upon spending a couple of hours poring over the electrics (after checking fuel was present) I sat in the drivers seat and noticed the immobilizer warning light did not go out on turning the key. After turning the key quite a few times however said light duly extinguished and the engine came to life. I have since discovered elsewhere that this can be one of the numerous electrical problems to come to terms with if one wishes to live with one of the sexiest cars on the road!

I think Alfa 156 is a good choise for people,who are tired driving German or Japanese cars. these cars have a great character, they can accept you as a driver and give you good fun. i am going to get one soon in the future.

I had an old 156 with little problems - then bought a new one cos I reckoned the old one would give bother. What a mistake.

List of problems

- dealer fitted CD changer and disabled info display

- dealer fitted CD changer without bracket

- wipers stopped working

- inside trim on door loosened

- new one is dampness in passenger foot well - 'ah yes that would be the air con leaking' said the dealer!

So I am back to the garage again next week to get all the outstanding faults hopefully repaired!

Other than that its been great - but you have to love em those Alfas.

Saying that I am giving a lift to someone whos 6 month old Audi A3 Air Con has packed up and my boss' Audi A4 Cabrio has had 5 boot solenoids, alarm going off and now the engine is playing up! So the Germans ain't all they are cracked up to be!

Well, despite a dreadful experience with an AlfaSud 25 years ago and having become bored with the reliability of my diesel Citroens 500k miles covered in ten used Xantias and one C5, one snapped clutch cable only problem) I have bought a 1999 156 TS.

The car has been very well looked after, drives perfectly (65k miles, main dealer service all it's life and one owner before me) and has a gorgeous leather and wood interior, yet cost only £1700.

I can get 40mpg, or 29 if I try hard, and after one month all is well. Cue breakdown!

Help!!! my alfa 156 was cover in water after some floods. I think my starter motor has gone as it makes a funnY grinding noise when I try to start it. it enginE does not even try to start I just hear this funny noise. does anyone know if any alfa 156 starter motor will fit my car, or do I have to get a 1.8 starter motor? please e-mail me if you know the answer to wjcourtney@hotmail.com.

Well I have took the plunge and brought myself another Alfa 156. I hear people saying, are you mad? Well no, not really, as this is my third one -

Number one Alfa 156, brilliant, no problems at all, no reliability issues, just the normal servicing, that's on a 5 year car with Full Service history and 60k on the clock. I only sold it to buy a C5 because I needed a bigger car.

The 2nd Alfa was an older Sportwagon, a Y reg, and again apart from it being a cheap runner, it caused me no problems until my learner driver wife drove it into a multistorey car park pillar a day before her test.

Alfa I here you say, well they have got what the Italians call Brio, and of course that Cuore Sportivo or Sporting Heart, and if I had the cash I would be right out now getting the wife a Mito and myself a 157 Sportwagon.

A lot of cars have issues, that's a fact. Let's hope the dealers get better, although I read that's a priority of new management in Alfa UK - Read Auto Italia, it's an Italo Car lovers dream.