2005 Alfa Romeo 156 Veloce JTD M-Jet from UK and Ireland - Comments

Heater blower fan died after a week. Sorted with no hassle under warranty.

Managed to pick up this car pre-registered from an Alfa dealer for over UKP 7,000 off list. It had been used as a demonstrator, and so came with a healthy sprinkling off the options list.

This is a very pretty car. It's finished in Gabbiano Blue which is a metallic grey/blue similar to the Moonstone used by Ford on the older Cosworth models. My car also has full leather, the Comfort Pack with heated front seats and lumbar adjust on the drivers seat, the Winter Pack with rain and mist sensors, Xenon headlights, and headlight wash wipe. Other extras include a fabulous upgrade Bose hi-fi system, an electric sunroof, and parking sensors on top of an already generous standard spec. I was able to pick up this car, with a new list price of just over UKP 24,000, for just UKP 16,700.

I will admit that taking on an Alfa was a tough decision. Having spoken to Alfa owners I tended to hear stories of either total delight or total despair. Very few were indifferent. After deciding to go ahead, I was very worried when the heater blower packed up in the first week, but the car was instantly sorted by the dealer under warranty. Since then, the car literally hasn't put a foot wrong.

To drive, it's fabulous. Although some still consider the idea of a diesel Alfa to be sacrilege, the 2.4 JTD M-Jet is exactly what you would expect Alfa's take on diesel power to be. In other words, quick. It pulls like a train from 1,500 RPM right through to its 5,000 RPM limit with no flat spots or hesitation, and makes a wonderful noise as it does so. Another review likens it to an Audi Quattro, and that's exactly how I would describe it too. A lovely gruff warble with no hint of diesel rattle, overlaid with turbo and induction noise. Punch in any gear is instantaneous and relentless. Economy is even respectable, the car returning 38-40 mpg with relatively hard use.

The handling is also very good, although there is more understeer at the limit than I was expecting which is presumably due to the big diesel engine hanging over the front wheels. The ride is on the firm side too, and can be a little crashy over the typical dilapidated British road surface. It's nothing I can't live with though. Overall it feels taut and sporting, with very "direct" and quick steering offering plenty of feel. Weighting is a little light, but no worse than my old Mondeo, and far better than anything from VW/Audi.

I have also been impressed with the build quality and attention to detail that the car offers. The interior is very attractive design with hooded dials that remind me of classic Italian sports cars like the Lamborghini Miura. I also like the additional central dials which angle towards the driver, and the stylish controls for the heating and air conditioning. The leather trim is also very pleasing, with a certain texture and smell that only the Italians seem capable of producing. The embossed Alfa logos on the seat backs are a nice detail, as are the stainless "Alfa Romeo" kickplates. Build quality and fit and finish are flawless.

I am delighted with this car quite honestly, and although I have no plans to change it just yet, I have got my eye on the gorgeous new 159 which now boasts a 200 bhp version of this engine. However, such is the depreciation of the 156, I plan to get some use and enjoyment out of it first.

People who buy 3 series BMW's, Mercedes C-Class or Audi A4's simply would never understand the appeal of an Alfa, and to me that adds to the appeal of ownership. Any clod can go out and buy a conservative German car that every magazine test tells you is fabulous, but for those who crave something a bit different, and a bit more exciting, that appeals about as much as having your teeth extracted with a pair of molegrips. As I sit in my Italian leather seats, look at that evocative badge on the wheel boss, hear that engine sing its heart out, and feel the steering weight changing with road surface conditions, I realise I at last "get" Alfas. I have no interest in bland, cloned boxes (German or otherwise) any more, and I am converted.

Nice to read a quality review on the 156. I have driven the 20v multijet and it has to be one of the very best diesel engines around. I drive a 156 gta and love this to bits too. so that's two very happy people with a 156. great.

It is great to hear someone tell the TRUTH about Alfas. Also the Fiat/Alfa diesel engines are probably the best available. I feel sorry for people who drive bland, boring cars (german, japanese etc. I myself have an Italian car. They are fantastic.

Hate to say this, seeing ho2w much you like the car. but you have only covered 8400 miles and have already had one major failure.

If you do not consider the heater to be a major failure try driving to work without one during the winter.

I have just decided to buy a 156 2.0 ts Lusso on the second hand market. I am the also the owner of a 'Bland' German car. I am taking a risk buying 'Italian' but what else is expected the car is just like the people, fast, fashionable, attention seeking and last, but not least to concious of the latter to be worried if it has a long life or not!!!

Don't we just love it, I pick up mine tomorrow, I really do.

Thank you all for your comments.

I wouldn't exactly call a heater fan switch failure a "major failure". Yes it was inconvenient, and had to be resolved quickly, but the car still worked and got me from A to B. As I said, that was early on, and I've had no trouble since.

All motor manufacturers suffer from duff components. My boss's Mercedes SL55 AMG lost the Tiptronic function on its gearbox on his first drive into the office after collecting it. Arguably more serious than a duff heater, but it was sorted without any hassles, has never reoccurred and he still loves the car to bits.

You can't put thousands of mechanical and electrical parts together time and time again and expect nothing to go wrong on any of them. Almost as important as what goes wrong is how the dealer / manufacturer resolves it, and in this case Alfa Romeo and the local dealer couldn't have been more apologetic and eager to resolve the problem.

It is good to hear the dealer has been supportive, but I wonder if you would like the car as much if they were less so.

A heater failure is major because in cold conditions it would make the car undriveable, even if it was caused by the failure of a relatively simple component such as the switch (although again, I think you might get a nasty financial shock if you asked Alfa Romeo to sell you this part).

Having owned an Alfa Romeo (a 147) which I traded 18 months ago for a premium-priced German saloon I have to agree with the author of this review. I miss my Alfa, despite the fact that my experience of Alfa Romeo dealers was that I had to visit them frequently and found them to be almost comically incompetent - the car had a sense of style, of heritage, of joy, which is notably absent from my Audi.

Fantastic car - I've had the same model for coming on two years now, and apart from a duff driveshaft in the first couple of month, she's been glorious. Would highly recommend one to anyone who wants a motor with a personality and passion about it. The dealers are, I agree, an utter shambles.

Instead of Alfa official dealerships try some very good independents out there if you're out of warranty. These people are there because they love Alfa's and in my experience know them back-to-front!

Sadly, just written off my GTV. But have just purchased a late 2004 156 JTD 2.4 20v ti and so far very impressed. Recently driven new Audi A4 TDi and BMW 3 series diesel and there is absolutely no comparison to the Alfa. I challenge any German diesel lover to try one of the Alfa range and then tell me the German car is more responsive, more passionate or more glamorous...

I can't believe such hopelessly outdated views such as the one above still exist.

Alfas might not be up to Japanese standards yet, but they're no more likely to let you down than any other European marque.

I owned an Alfa 156 petrol model previously and wanted to go for a diesel car. So I decided for a german beemer. But to my fate.. I found a gorgeous looking face lift version alfa 156 JTDM parked next to the BMW 3 series diesel I was about to take.. I asked the dealer for a test drive of some cars.. did drove the BMW, Honda accord and finally the alfa.. couldnt care.. just bought the alfa again... felt peaceful.. oh yes,.. the price was half of what the german and japanese brand were... as they are overpriced due to demand and opinion based market..