1997 Alfa Romeo 155 1.8 twin spark 16v

Summary:

It rattles and parts are not cheap, but it goes like Thrust SSC and handles like a rabbit on velcro!

Faults:

CAM Variator. This is what causes the rattle at start-up and low revs. £400 to fix. Happens on all 155 twin sparks. Does not harm the engine, just annoying when people think you have a diesel.

Rear door solenoid broken. Have not fixed it yet.

Blown rear exhaust box. Lovely sound though!

Handbrake cable froze in the winter, locking the rear wheels. This is due to a U bend in the cable holder near the rear discs. A friend had the same problem.

Light behind the interior clock.

Wiring loom to tail lights. This twists every time you open the boot. Eventually the wire to the fog light broke.

General Comments:

An fantastic car with blistering performance and handling at a cheap price.

Have to rev it high to get the best results, but the result is amazing.

As an Alfa you get little annoying niggles such as rattles in the interior and electrics that don't always behave the way they are supposed to.

The wipers occasionally stick and judder, and only have one speed. This is also common to all 155's.

I would recommend buying one. Fast, handles like it's stuck to the road, amazing steering rack, close pedals, all round discs and anti-lock brakes means you can stop on a coin.

As Alfa said in the brochures "Alfa 155, the pleasure of driving".

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th September, 2001

26th Jun 2008, 17:32

Hi can you help just wanted to know if the CAM Variator is the same part as the camshaft variator because I have an alfa 155 1.8TS 16v 97-P plate and after reading the reviews this seems to be common failure part? Thanks.

10th Sep 2015, 05:22

Ah yessssss.

1997 Alfa Romeo 155 TS 1.8

Summary:

Italy's best kept secret - don't tell the Escort boys!

Faults:

Cam variator - replaced under warranty by the dealer.

Exhaust after 3 years - pricey!

General Comments:

Great to drive.

Everyone looks as it's an uncommon sight, and it looks fantastic. Better looking than almost anything else on the road.

Handling is superb - you can really feel what it's doing!

I'd have another without question!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th December, 2000

4th Sep 2004, 04:50

Everyone looks because it's the most hideous lump of metal ever to have been seen on planet earth. I can't believe how anyone finds this car attractive. It's nose is a mish-mash of various shapes & styles, it's entire body looks like a sausage of wax that has been left next to a radiator for too long & to be quite frank, it's about as beautiful as a bulldog with toothache!

24th Mar 2005, 09:49

Re; above comments.

If you hate the 155 so much, why are you reading the reviews for it???

Closet 155 lover me thinks!!!

13th Feb 2012, 14:09

What about the Nash Metropolitan - now THERE goes an ugly car...

13th Jun 2013, 11:09

An Alfa Romeo 155 is just amazing. If you hate it, it's your problem. It's all about class, taste and the sudden urge to rev it up to 7000, just to annoy a guy in a VW Citi Golf.

I live in South Africa, I'm only 19, but I will stand by my Alfa 155 all the way, because it's more than most cars today could ever dream to be.

7th Jan 2014, 03:08

I have 2 Alfa 155s, narrow body and wide body, same engine (1.8 t-spark). This is the ultimate car... only a real petrol head will understand this car... it drives, handles and roars like a real Italian sports-car.

Only a person that understand its character will appreciate it. In my country Malaysia, on a tropical climate roadway, it drives perfectly and grips the B road confidently. When it takes the curvy roads, and climbs uphill, like the Cameron Highlands and Gentings, it will never let you down... Just be careful of the ravine by your side.

Some Alfas will have a temperature problem... but with a modification on the radiator 'fan', it will cure the problem.

Overall I will always drive the Alfa by rotating it... always keep maintenance on time... check and refill the water expansion tank, and also make sure the engine oil is checked before driving it for a long distance.

Enjoy driving fast...