2002 Alfa Romeo 156 Sportswagon from Luxembourg - Comments

Nothing serious. Front anti roll bar bushes replaced at 40000 service.

I just love it!! Comfy, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anybody taller than myself (I'm 6'1'') or to people with kids in need of leg space.

No quality issues apart from paint (many little scratches). Handling and gearbox are great, engine good, consumption varying between 7 and 10 l/100 km depending on usage. This is seriously the best car I've ever owned. It's stylish, it's never let me down in 3 and 1/2 years of driving and at a price of barely 20,000 Euros it's good value compared to the Audi's and BMW's. What else do you need?

Congrats on having no real problems with your Alfa. As a reader of "Car" magazine here in the States, I'm always reading about how unreliable Italian autos are. I've heard rumors of Alfa making a reappearance in North America. Here's hoping.

Have you only had your bushes or the complete anti roll bar replaced? I have a 147 and as many owners know the (dreaded) anti roll bar bushes (and the front lower wishbones) are a main issue on these cars (147 and 156). Up to now Alfa propose to change the complete anti roll bar instead of the (far less expensive) bushes since "the bushes cannot be taken apart".

2nd comment: You're right, the complete bars have been replaced. It seems to be a commom problem.

1st comment: I have a few fellow Alfisti among my acquaintances. While some have been extremely disappointed others developed a true love for these cars, so quality and reliability is inconsistent to say the least. Have you ever heard the story behind the appalling rust of some of the Alfasud from the 80's? Apparently they would leave the body of unpainted cars for weeks outside the factory buildings exposed to wind and weather while the workers were on strike and get them back in to the paintshop afterwards without treatment or any further ado.

I've had two other Italian cars so far. My first was a 1983 Lancia Delta and that was a nightmare. Second was a 1999 Fiat Bravo: good, but not outstanding.

Here's an update on my previous posts:

Car has now 48000 km on the clock and still a joy to drive.

With the hot weather right now in Western Europe I use the A/C everyday. When the car has been in the sunshine for some time the dashboard starts cracking upon switching on the A/C. But apart from that still no major complaints quality-wise. All in all I'd say build quality is above average although not in the Audi/Mercedes range.

Leather seats are probably the best I've ever had in any car and came at a very reasonable extra cost of +/- 1000 Euros at the time.

Suspension is a tad stiff, but on the other hand it handles just great.

Service and parts aren't exactly cheap: 216 Euros plus VAT for a complete rearview mirror (painting and fitting included). 709 Euros plus VAT for 40000 km service which included replacement of front roll bars and front brake pads.

And I forgot to mention: it came with a fuel cap that reads DIESEL although it is a petrol engine...