Faults:

CV joint on the intermediate shaft gone after 1 week; $300.

Differential leak for gearbox drive shaft 3 weeks after purchasing. New gearbox required at the cost of over $5000.

Engine idler arm after 2 weeks ($150).

ECS system screen flickers when turning headlights on/off.

General Comments:

The most comfortable car I have driven and sat in, you can never hear the road. Luxury at its best.

My fault, I should have had some more money saved. Alfas are known for issues. My next car will be an Alfa once I have some emergency money saved.

I had to trade it in to get another car, but I will be back; once you drive an Alfa, you always want one regardless.

Faults:

A/C defunct. Apparently this is a known weakness of Siemens equipped A/Cs in BMWs, M-B, Alfas and some of the newer Fords etc.

Car is a Japanese import so still coming to grips with the ICU. Will need to attend to the cam belt and water pump soon.

General Comments:

Only just got the beast and love it. Great engine, exhaust note, steers well for a large and heavy FWD. Well assembled, no squeaks or rattles even at this age and mileage. There is a lot of fun to be had in this car but already I am wincing at the woeful fuel economy.

And given its size and general rating as the 'big' Alfa, there isn't a whole lot of space in the back. The Cefiro was definitely the better car to be a passenger in.

Faults:

Tyres wear rapidly at the back.

General Comments:

I have owned and driven new Toyota's, Hondas, Ford's, BMW's, Fiat's, and VW's, but this is a truly great car. When they first came out I thought the front-end styling was a little strange, but now it makes sense. From the rear it has a great stance. They still look great, this one will be a classic.

The interior is very stylish comfortable and robust. Its lasted well in the three years I've had it. Italians know how to make stylish furniture. I have the beige leather, so things look nice and light. People comment on how luxurious it is. The stereo is great.

It drives like a grown up 164, which is ideal: far more solid and refined, but still sporty. You can cruise very confortably in it, or when the road gets more interesting, really have a fun drive. It ain't a GTV, but that's another story.

The sportronic gearbox takes a bit of getting used to. In normal mode it changes quite early from first to second, which is quite smooth around town, but not that fast. Anytime you want a more sporty response, nudge the lever over to the left and it is in sport mode, where it holds onto the gears for longer. I find sport mode good for windy more demanding roads if I get a bit of space. For a cool trick, change it into first and floor it. it goes to the redline in first and second. By then you have to slow down because you are exceeeding the speed limit. It sounds glorious, best sound this side of a Ferrari.

People are funny about Alfas. It seems you either love them or hate them. People still ask me if breaks down all the time. Puh-Leeze. I've run a variety of Alfas for 16 years. They are better than the VWs I had at the same time. Just because your father had an Alfasud once and it dissolved in a rain shower. Its reliable, comfortable and fun. If you truly love cars, you would love this. If you care about what other people think, buy that BMW.