Faults:

Rear wiper motor packed up, but was replaced under warranty.

Driver's heated seat requires a new element.

Exhaust heat-shield needed replacing after 54,000 miles.

Eats front tyres rather quickly, but the rears seem to last for ever.

General Comments:

A gorgeous car to look at, and I still look back at it with pride after parking it anywhere after three and a half years of ownership.

The suspension makes it a little hard at low speed - it's not really a town car - but along your favourite twisty road it's a joy.

Steering is nice and sharp, always letting you know exactly what the front wheels are doing.

The cabin is a lovely place to be and feels well bolted together, though it's starting to develop a few rattles as the miles pile on. Still, just turn up that CD player...which, incidentally, is a good one!

My local Alfa dealer is a friendly place, but maybe I'm lucky in that respect because I know Alfa dealers don't score highly in the surveys, but I have no problems with mine.

Fuel consumption isn't wonderful, but then when that sort of thing becomes important to you, you know you need to get out more!

Faults:

Selespeed system failure causing loss of gear function.

Rear Windscreen Wiper unit failure.

Handbreak cable failure.

Failure to engage reverse gear.

Failure to unlock car security/door locks.

Electronic Sunroof dial failure.

General Comments:

The Selespeed system in design and to talkabout is a work of Art. In practice it proved highly unreliable/dangerous leaving me without gearbox functionality coasting towards roundabouts etc.

The Dealer network left a lot to be desired without many answers and some plain rude! I have now (at last) found a reliable/honest dealer however.

When it works, this car is a pleasure to drive, great chassis with responsive steering and well equipped.

Recommend to anyone who buys 'a 147 lemon' that they extend the manufacturers warranty at the very least.

Faults:

Continuous pulling to the left which remains unresolved. Dealer unable to identify problem.

Rear suspension bushes worn.

Brakes grind. Checked by dealer, but problem remains.

Vibrating and whistling noise from exhaust. Dealer indicated that flexi pipe vibrates, but no problem. Third party examination stated that front pipe of exhaust required replacement. 9000 miles driven at that point.

General Comments:

Wonderful car to drive.

Handles very well.

Dealers inability to resolve problems is frustrating.

Faults:

Motor Control System Failure

ABS Failure

ASR Failure

Imobilizer Failure

Fog Light Problems

Interior Rattles

Weird Air Con Smells

Premature Seat Wear

Rear Wiper Problems

Boot Catch/Alarm Problems

Paintwork too Easily Chipped.

General Comments:

-Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and special motorcars in its league with an apparently solid build.

However I experienced so much utter frustration with my first example (bought in February 2002 at 5 months old with a low mileage). The accumulated time that it spent off the road having mechanics of dubious aptitude attend the various 'motor control system failures' (throttle potentiometer), interior rattles, immobiliser problems, fog light problems, ASR and ABS problems, weird air con smell problems, rear wiper problems, boot catch problems etc. etc. etc. etc. - ran into weeks.

Fortunately the dealer eventually provided me with an ex-demonstrator replacement car (at slight extra cost to myself) which I sincerely hope means trouble-free motoring - though even this one pulls to the left, and has interior rattles.

I would advise to only buy new. However if a used example attracts your attention - in addition to my second paragraph - make sure you carefully check the paintwork, especially around the front, as chips manifest without due reason, mainly in the darker colours. Also cloth seats wear quickly.

Also note that some examples are ex-rental, and, being Alfa Romeos, are more likely to have been thrashed.

One further warning: Alfa Romeo's customer service infrastructure is based in Milan. This unfortunately means inevitably difficult conversations based around their long, erratically placed lunchtimes.