2004 Alfa Romeo 156 JTS Veloce from UK and Ireland - Comments

Air conditioning failed at 4,000 miles.

Broke down completely at just over 6,000 miles. Faulty air mass meter diagnosed. 4 week wait for the part!

Rear suspension banging and knocking from 10,000 miles. After the third attempt, the dealer has quietened it massively, but it's still there over sharp bumps.

Erratic idle developed around the same time. This took four attempts to fix and the magic cure was simply to clean out a stepper motor. No parts needed.

Heater temperature adjustment dial stopped working.

Gear linkage has needed adjusting twice.

Clutch judder just rearing its ugly head.

Drop dead gorgeous and fantastic to drive. Makes a frankly trouser-stirring noise, goes like stink and provides its driver with a sense of occasion that 3-series and A4 buyers simply wouldn't understand. Unfortunately, it is still too unreliable and flaky to be a serious prospect as an everyday car and the dealer and spares backup is truly appalling.

The car is worth much less than the outstanding finance on it, and I refuse to continue to shell out for another 2 years on a terminally unreliable and freefall depreciating car, so I will be returning it to the finance company as soon as the payments are half over later this year and walking away.

If this were a second car I would probably live with the problems, but encouraged by a friend with an utterly reliable 156, I let my heart rule my head and bought this pristine ex-demo model. I can honestly say I've regretted it from the moment the problems kicked off.

As another reviewer has said on this site, I didn't expect Germanic reliability, but neither did I expect 12 dealer visits in the first year (several for the same thing!), and a total of 11 weeks off the road waiting for parts! I also expected a bit more than 4,000 miles before things started crapping out. I know not all 156's are like this, but it's somehow more worrying that they vary so severely. At least if they were all dogs, people who bought them would be prepared.

Despite all this, I don't dislike the car. As I said, for a second car cum weekend toy type thing, it's superb, but you can't rely on it to do anything else. Very disappointing.

After all these problems, am supposing youre looking back for the good old pug. Not all brands are like PUGs.

A PUG!! you must be joking, I traded my 156 for a Lexus IS300, very reliable.

Sorry you had a bad experience - but I am on my second 156. The first one I had for 3 years - it did not hiccup once and cost me next to nothing to run - used a specialist Alfa mechanic. I am now running an new 156 which is even more georgeous and even better to drive. And more importantly I don't look like everyone else in a BMW/ Audi and not a photocopy of a German car which is the Lexus. Lexus is perfectly fine, but has no soul and no character.

It is a shame that the main dealers are struggling to get their act together. I love all Italian cars and have only ever owned Fiat, alfa and Lancia. All are mechanically very robust, but let down by varying build and poor dealer backup. They do seem to be doing something about it though, as I cannot fault our local fiat/alfa dealer in Welling. As the other comment said though, using a specialist can make life with an alfa better and cheaper. Sadly with the recent GM fiasco I think they may be on borrowed time, though I hope the new 159 and brera coupe keep the alfa brand alive. However bit late for you :o (Though the IS300 is a cracker of a car!

Hello.

Sorry to hear your experiences. It really does seem to be luck of the draw. I had a '98 156 with similar problems (air conditioning broke, engine seized up), however after receiving a full refund I bought a '03 156 jts, and apart from a few minor problems, its run perfectly for nearly 2 years now, touch wood.

We are quite aware that you don't find these cars aesthetically appealing, but please understand that the vast majority of people probably do like the look of them!

I'm surprised to hear of the appalling problems experienced by the owner mentioned here. I have owned several Alfa's and can honestly say I have never ever experienced problems like this with any..Sud, 33, 155 & 156. I have had two 156's...both 1.8 TS'...a 01 and now an 05 facelift. You have to cherish these cars and maintain the service schedule... I change the oil every 3,000 without fail. these cars represent superb value for money and I recommend them to anyone. As a side issue.. in between the Alfa's I have owned an 03 MG ZS (Unreliable) Vectra V6 (Electrical nightmare) VW Bora (Windows fell out!) and a Renault Megane (Rubbish build.. trims fell off and windscreen trim flew off on the M6)...so we need to keep things in context hey?

I bought a new 04 Veloce (facelift) in ivory mist with GTA multispoke 17". A real head turner.

I've still got it because I'm finding it hard to replace it on performance/per £ and style. Even looking at 2nd hand XK8 and lotus Espirt (how I found this site). I live in South East UK so every other car is a Audi/BMW.

I've had less problems than my Audi/BMW mates. nothing major. Reading, UK dealer OK for my first experience with a main dealer. Alfa has only annoyed me by bringing forward CAM belt change to 36,000.

Agree with your advice re hire purchase payments. It's a good way to go with a fast depreciating motor of variable build quality like the 156... 3+ yrs HP agreement and by the time you're half-way in, the car's worth less than you've paid in instalments (inc interest!). If it's not for you, hand it back with no penalty.

Hi guys or gals.

I'm on my 2nd 156 and 6th alfa - and same as above haven't anywhere near the nightmares I've read about - my 1st 156 was an 2000 2.0 TS selespeed - yes s e l e s p e e d - Jeremy Clarkson was right - 'it will drive you mad'.

No issues apart from the SS oil pump dying one day so $600 Australian dollars later all fixed - loved and hated the Selespeed, was craving for a spd manual again. Should never have sold my alfa 3316V BOXER :( However I'm now the proud father of a red 03 2.0 5spd man JTS - it's better than what happens in the bedroom when you're not sleeping :) :)

I've serviced all my Alfas early or on time by a very trusted and honest Alfa/Fiat specialist and it's paid off - my sister took her Golf to a franchise auto mechanics chain for a service - a simple oil change turned into the car being scrapped due to engine totally cooking itself - so much for a cheap service!

Always Alfa - Australia.

Always Alfa - Australia.

Where do you service your car?

Hello.

At an Alfa/Fiat specialist in Perth whom I have been using for years - why?

And I would like to put all the reliability questions and jokes about Alfa Romeos to bed. I have had the joy of driving a 166 from Sydney to Perth - 4000 kms the 3.0ltr V6 was giving a superb economy figure of 800km to a tank! The car performed beautifully - of course.