Faults:

Diesel sending unit needing replacing 1 month into ownership after breakdown.

Aux belt needed replacing 1 month into ownership - after another breakdown!

Suspension arms needed replacing.

Wiper motor needed replacing.

Usual brake discs and tyres to get it through MOTs.

General Comments:

Lovely cars to drive. The 2.4 is very swift - yet fairly economical. You can go on a lengthy journey, and the fuel gauge hasn't gone down too much.

Turns heads, especially Nuvola blue with pepperpot alloys.

Would much rather have one of these than a predictable BMW or Audi.

Good car if you're hands on; quite easy to do your own servicing, if you know what to do.

Ultimately - change the oil regularly, stick to service intervals, don't hammer it too much, and it'll keep you right for years..

Faults:

ABS light and Engine Management light occasionally come on, but always reset on start-up.

General Comments:

I drive 60 miles a day on the motorway, and this car simply eats it up. For a 1.8 the performance is exceptional, and the handling is superb. I can return over 30mpg even at motorway speeds, the comfort and ride quality being great.

My last car was a BMW 325i, which was good, but this is so much more fun, with sleek looks and a quirky style.

So far it's been totally reliable; everything works fine, and a local garage has all the gear to service and maintain it for the same costs as any other car.

A comfortable family saloon that drives like a sports car, highly recommended.

Faults:

The timing belt went.

The car then started losing one litre of oil for every 300 miles and the engine was then replaced.

The door button sticks in wet conditions.

The electric sunroof needed to be replaced twice.

The sun visor needed to be replaced.

Occasionally the car will not go into reverse.

The battery needed to be replaced. After the car was jump started, the airbag failed and the car stalled in every gear. The engine turned off several times while driving.

General Comments:

The car has a great sporty sound.

The car is very comfortable.

Although the Alfa Romeo 156 is a very attractive car and has great performance, it has caused too many problems.

Faults:

Squeaks started to come from front tyres after 3000 miles, dealer checked could not find, but the squeaks stayed.

Stereo stopped working after 6000 had to go to dealer, costing £250 to repair.

Clutch pedal died at 9000 miles dealer explained that it was the hydraulic pump at the clutch. had to wait 3 weeks for parts to be shipped from Italy.

Bushes needed replacement at 12000.

Power steering pipes - both of them - burst at 17000 not covered by the guarantee cost me £550 to fix. Again 3 weeks wait in the dealer due to parts coming from Italy.

And all kinds of trim rattles.

General Comments:

It is really fun to drive it.

It looks great.

Reliability is not there and the dealers are not good.

Faults:

Head Gasket blew 2 months after purchasing this car! Worst car experience ever, this has ultimately put me off for life.

Guzzles oil incredibly, up to now have used 3 litres in the last 3 months!

I hardly ever check my mini Mirca!

General Comments:

Noticed suspension has started to make a whole host of squeaking noises!

Brakes/clutch are on their way, bearing in mind only had it recently serviced!

Apart from the bling appearance and plush interior, they are proving to be all looks and class with no real backbone!