Faults:

Two sets of front tyres had to be replaced within a year. The insides had been scrubbed clean due to poor tracking.

The bonnet release sensor was replaced at 30,000 miles due to a fault.

The timing belt was replaced at 58,000 miles.

New front brake discs at 48,000 miles.

New rear wheel bearing at 48,000 miles.

A throttle sensor was replaced at 59,000 miles to cure an intermittent fault that is still present. This will hopefully be cured at the next visit to the agent.

The steering rack, power steering pump and belt are awaiting replacement at 59,000 miles.

Cracks in the interior trim around the door pillars.

General Comments:

It looks stunning, handles like a dream and sings like an angel when revved hard.

When this car is running properly it really is a joy to drive. On a winding road it roars like a tiger and sticks like a leech. In town it's a pussycat.

Unfortunately the down-sides of owning an Alfa remain all too apparent. Dealer service is mediocre yet expensive. It always seems to take several visits to get the problems sorted out properly.

Spares are seldom in stock and cost a fortune.

The availability of body panels also seems to be a problem if you are unlucky enough to be hit by another vehicle. It took almost three months to get my car back from the repairers!

Do I still love the car? I reckon so, but some German offerings are starting to look mighty attractive alternatives.

Faults:

Regular tyre replacement - approx every 12-14,000 miles.

Windows required adjustment for fit against the door seals (twice to date).

Electrical fault with the fuel pump (after first week of ownership).

Wiper motor replacement at 38,000 miles.

Alternator replaced at 40,000 miles.

New brake discs at 36,000 miles.

General Comments:

You either love or hate the design of this car. If you love it then there is little to touch the Italian styling which never fails to turn heads and always makes me look back as I walk away.

The 3 litre engine sounds glorious and it begs you to use every cm of the rev range right up to the 7,000rpm red-line. In fact the engine revs so freely that I've bounced the car off the limiter more times than I dare to admit!!

With no traction control it's very easy to spin the wheels in anything but perfect road conditions - I've even managed to spin the wheels changing up into second gear...

The cabin is spacious enough for two and the rear seats provide the additional room needed due to the lunch-box sized boot but then, if it's space you want, buy a Ford Transit!

Niggles, well yes there have been a few...

After my BMW experience, Alfa dealers seem like rank amateurs when it comes to customer service - don't expect your car to be clean or undamaged when you pick it up.

There was a lot of wind noise from the drivers window when I got it and it was only after 6 months that I realised that a window adjustment would fix the problem.

A replacement wiper motor, alternator and brake discs might be considered steep for a car which has done only 40,000 miles.

Weekly or bi-weekly oil top-ups are a must if you don't want to be changing engines regularly. This was a real novelty as I don't think I even knew where the oil filler was in my previous BMW and Audi!!

After all of the above I would have another tomorrow. Gorgeous to look at, wonderful to drive - if you can handle the eccentricities there's not a lot else to choose from...