1999 Alfa Romeo 156 TS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Engine blew up after 6,000 miles coming back from Spain. First service not due until 12,000 miles and it is well looked after.

Great car, truely enjoyable drive - not that grippy but great handling for a frustrated sporting driver forced to own a saloon. Almost hard to tell its front wheel drive! Yes it is that good.

Engine blew (disintegrated piston) at 6,000 miles and dealer service/experience has been dire throughout. Zero customer service, zero interest in the car or owner. Truely 1970's poor. Thankfully this is a company car and is not my own investment.

I'm a 156 Selespeed owner and have already had my first scary experience with my local dealer. Spoke to Alfa Head Office who seem to think dealers can operate as they want and don't appreciate that dealers have been entrusted with their valuable brand!

Any comments from other readers re. poor Alfa dealer service would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

julianwellings@bigfoot.com

I hear what is said about Alfa dealers in the UK. For what it is worth, I have been using Northgate Garage (Canterbury, Kent) for the past six years and have nothing but praise for them. Knowledgeable, helpful and with a real understanding about customer care. Adrian Pile (their head Alfa technician) has won Alfa Technician of the Year awards several times recently. The dealership has also an impressive array of "Gold Cloverleaf" customer service awards. For any of you with seemingly incurable irritations, do yourselves a favour - run it past Northgate. It will be worth the journey for those who live far afield.

Tel: 01227 765561

St. John Harvey (Bethersden Kent)

P.S. I do not - repeat DO NOT, work for Northgate!!

I have a vision in my mind after reading the comments about this fabled Alfa Romeo dealer.

On Monday morning, they will open their roller shutter doors to a wondrous sight. Horizon to horizon will be a shimmering sea of metal - Alfa Romeos, in all shapes and sizes, requiring immediate healthcare. From dawn 'til dusk, they will traverse the sacred service centre floor, to emerge on the other side, revving their charismatic Italian engines, their Latin spirit revived.