2001 Alfa Romeo 156 TS Veloce 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A dynamic if unreliable performer

Faults:

I am impressed with the sweet engine, road-holding, interior comfort and styling.

Two weeks later and 827 miles (from new) and the engine sounds like it belongs in a tractor.

The problem - no.3 crankshaft bearing is in pieces, after being starved of oil, due to a manufacturing fault in the engine block.

The result - one wrecked engine, with none in the UK, as a result of a spate of no.3 crankshaft bearing failures.

41 days later - the car is still at the dealers. The engine has arrived, but some gaskets are on back-order. However, I am hopeful of getting it back for my summer holidays.

General Comments:

Lovely car, both in terms of style and performance.

Shame about my emerging reliability worries.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd May, 2001

14th Jan 2002, 06:17

Sell it NOW, or you will come to regret it, as I did.

Same engine problem, lasted 4,500 miles.

Also watch out for: erattic idling due to faulty engine chip; self-engaging rear child locks; failed starter motor; rusty sunroof; boot leaks (especially if rear spoiler fitted) ; failed handbrake (water gets into the mechanism, freezes and applies the rear brakes - usually on the motorway) ; freefall depreciation - I resold my 156 16 months after I bought it, and got just over half what I paid.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

5th Aug 2002, 05:55

Alfa 156 Reliability.

I have owned my Alfa 156 for 2 years and have covered 31,000 miles in it from new. I have had absolutely no problems with it. My car is a 2.0 T.S. and it has a superb engine, well balanced handling and very sharp steering. I find the ride poor on broken road surfaces - which are all too common in the UK. I find the combination of soft springs and stiff dampers does not make for a good load carrying car. Its fine 2 up, but with four people and luggage in the car, it can hit the rear bump stops and gives a very firm ride at the rear. That's my only quibble - the car has otherwise been a joy to own.

2001 Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Italian flair without German engineering

Faults:

2.4 JTD with Sports Pack One.

I have only had the car 1 week!!!

While driving during the weekend on some secondary roads I realised that the suspension was really soft. So soft at 50 mph if you are going over smooth but hilling roads she will hit the bottom and scrape... In addition, I have since realised that the suspension is so soft it will jump the CD player...

Note: The roads are really just regular roads... not a dirt track.

I have rang the dealer and he says that the Alfa's are soft and that's that...

Is anyone else having this problem or is it a 2.4 JTD only problem. Can anything even be done like detach the sports pack one improved suspension!!!

It gots to a point now where I am worried to even come of the motor and drive above bloody forty!!!

Your advice is greatly appreciated...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th April, 2001

18th Apr 2001, 15:45

I have a 1.8TS with sportpack - I've never grounded it! Perhaps it's the extra weight of the diesel engine...?

22nd Apr 2001, 07:44

I remember reading an owner's similar experience of a 156JTD grounding in a recent edition of 'What Car' (last 12 months). The cause is due to the much heavier weight of diesel 156's compared to the petrol version. I believe that Alfa Romeo were persuaded to replace the suspension.

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