1999 Alfa Romeo 156 velocce from UK and Ireland - Comments

Various minor niggles, including boot not closing (£30 to fix) and an overheating radio that cut out - described by Dealer as a safety feature!

Clutch bearing failure at 55000 miles - Alfa refused to fix under warranty (described as wearable part).

Car taken to dealer twice in one week for overheating. No problem found either time and car released back to me. 24 hours later engine suffers massive mechanical failure attributed by dealer to low oil (79000 miles). Dealer and Alfa HQ admit that oil warning light faulty prior to failure, but refuse to accept liability and threaten to withdraw any remaining warranty if I pursue a claim - cost to me £2500 for re-conditioned engine. Alfa refuse to accept warranty claim. Finally advised by Alfa Romeo Customer Services (Slough HQ) to sue them!

The problems I have had with this car have affected my health. It simply is not worth owning an Alfa.

Main-dealerships are patchy at best. Down right dishonest at worst.

After-sales servicing is expensive and shoddy (based on experience of 3 different Alfa main dealers).

Warranty is worthless, even when they admit car has a problem.

I have experienced same mechanical failure of engine at 34,000 miles full service history - low oil - I was supposed to check every 300 miles! - they say warranty will not cover as owner neglect - car is 1.5 years old and has full service history - I can even proove I put oil in 4 weeks before engine seized. car is alfa 156 2 litre selespeed - and by the way - air conditioning - does not work properly and selespeed sticks regulary - I have had it in to be fixed, but never works properly - service is very very poor and alfa romeo don't care how much they offend their customer.

This is not a car you can neglect. You need to check the oil every 2nd visit to the petrol station. Low oil in these engines is death (bit obvious by now).

It is in the handbook and dealers should make people aware of this before they drive away.

Keep them in oil and they'll go for 120,000 miles no problem.

Basically, know what you're getting into. They are great cars if looked after. Think of it as a feisty beauty.

Don't be put off by the reviews, I agree the servicing and level of service from Alfa Dealers is Non Existent however my father has owned a 156 2.5 V6 for over three years it had done 169,000 miles when he had brought it with full service history the car has now done 204,000 miles (yes that's right) on the original engine and box. It uses no oil and the only problems he has had is with Airbag light coming on, vacuum hose to brake master cylinder and exhaust. Not bad. Just a word of warning I wouldn't use the main dealers find yourself a competent and confident mechanic or garage who will do the work for you. My dad has offered the car to me, would love it, but need to persuade partner.

Never, EVER use an Alfa dealer. There are dozens of Alfa specialists around the country who love your car as much as you. They are cheaper, more experienced and have full access to genuine Alfa parts. Main Dealers are just an incredibly expensive waste of time.

All Alfa owners suffer the same diabolical dealer network-however, there are a number of independent specialists listed in some car magazines (Auto Italia lists loads of them) who will charge half main dealer prices & do twice the job, and with no headaches! Still, it's a small price to pay for being different from the herd-I wouldn't drive anything else.

I had most of my oil receipts and a half-empty oil-container in the boot and was STILL accused of not topping it up!!! A brief scan of the internet however

will pick-up a number of knowledgeable independent web-sites which detail these failures as a design fault on the car which is actually being caused by the oil-pump failing. Oil stops circulating, engine overheats and the result is a blown engine caused by a lack of oil. Responsibility for the failure however lies with the manufacturer, NOT the owner.

HOW do Alfa get away with it??? I guess people just give up and move on.

I've been having problems with the oil in my Alfa 147 - I think it might be a faulty warning lamp... can you direct me to these independent websites for more information?

Alfa make a point of pointing out to the owner of these cars that the oil should be checked at least once a week. If you rely on the warning light the engine will be ruined by the time it comes on (Low oil pressure). If you rely on this light you are lazy for not checking and have yourself to blame. As for the clutch, 55,000 miles is not too bad if you do a lot of town driving, or are the type that keeps in gear at traffic light or rocks backwards and forwards on the clutch.

I have had many Alfa's and if they are looked after correctly they are just as reliable as any other make. I do agree the dealers are not too good though.

Having to check the oil every week is simply unacceptable, in a mass-produced saloon car. This is 2006, not 1956. It is simply very poor design/manufacturing and there's no excuse for it, especially as the TS motor has been around for years. Even the French cars despite their failings don't get this bad!

Everyone should be checking the oil no matter what car you drive. I have always checked oil levels at least once a week and always after a long run. It's a small price to pay for such an individual and rewarding car. If you wait for the oil light to come on your asking for trouble in any car. It's a "warning" light... not a reminder to top up light!

156 2.0 2001 MODEL DRIVERS TOP DOOR HINGE PIN BROKE aLFA ROMEO WILL SELL YOU A NEW HINGE WITH THE PIN ATTACHED. The next problem is you have to have the old hinge removed and the new hinge welded in place 150 pounds for a 2 pound hinge pin. Alfa romeo will never sell volume when they treat ther end user in such a manner

I am a Alfa lover all my life and want to say, yes they are expensive, yes they will cost you a lot when in for servicing, but THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY in my book, and will always bring the young foolish and carefree teenager out in me Always

IRISH OWNER.

Reading all the woes on Alfa's, here is another sound, I am on my 3d Alfa, 1st was a 155 TS, never a glitch! 2nd a 146 TI, tensioner broke after 8000 km (warranty), 3d a 156 selespeed, no glitch (106.000 km now). Does not use any oil to mention of... belts renewed at 50k and 100k... engine is superb, just a minor throttle remap and a V6 intake pipe, strut-brace, 17in alloys. I love the damn thing!!

Oh no! I have just bought a 147 selespeed3 weeks ago and am now deeply regretting having not read the warnings all over the internet about how un-reliable they are. It's on an 02 plate and has done 73,000. I got in the car the other day and suddenly it seems to be stuck in reverse, on contacting an alfa specialist he said it may end up costing upwards of 900 quid!!!to repair... although this car looks beautiful maybe I should have been more sensible and got that ford focus???...

I Have a 2002 1.8 156 TS for almost 2 years now. In that time I have had to have the cam actuator replace twice because of the following symptoms.

1. The engine produecs a rattling noise when held at 3000-5000 rpm in neutral.

2. The engine 'pulls back' just before 3000 rpm when on the road.

The first repair was under warranty and the second was covered by good will from Alfa.

The car drives well most of the time however it has started to cut out from time to time recently, similar to running out of petrol so I suspect the fuel pump might be on the way out.

The car now has 73,000 mils on up and is still on the same clutch.

It also suffers from the genuine Alfa symptom of high oil consumption, but apart from all then niggles I would not change it for anything. If it starts right and all the engine is running well it is a fabulous car to drive.

Another IRISH Owner.

Tony_johnson_ire@hotmail.com.