Faults:

Glovebox started popping open over bumps

CV joint failed

Coil pack burned out

Clutch failed (no warning)

Gearbox oil leak

Noisy tappets

Intermittent rev counter failure

Air conditioning compressor failed

Gear linkage went out of adjustment

Uneven front tyre wear.

General Comments:

I could go on and on about the tale of woe this car inflicted on me, but the list above should give you an idea. This all happened within 11 months and 13,000 miles. The car had none of these faults when I first got it.

The 2.5 V6 is one of the best sounding engines ever built and has a fantastic top end rush. Over 5,000 RPM it just howls, the car squats and hot hatches go backwards, quickly. The car also handles neatly, looks fantastic and has a definite sense of occasion that rivals such as the 3-series and Mondeo just can't get near.

Trouble is, and being brutally honest, my 156 turned out to be a cheaply built, fragile pile of junk. It always seemed to need something doing to it. I was fooled by the surprisingly good quality interior which is actually very nicely finished. Sadly though, the engine, trim, electrics and ancillaries are all as fragile and temperamental as you might think in even your most cynical moments.

Dealers are shocking too. They never carry the right spares in stock, close down/move at random and charge the earth. Sadly, you still have to buy something boring like a 3 series if you need your car to actually get you where you want to go. Alfa Romeo, despite claims to the contrary, still seem incapable of making cars that work, and that stay in one piece. In this day and age, that is completely inexcusable.

Faults:

Immobilizer problems after 20,000miles. New receiver is required to allow the immobiliser to talk to the engine management system.

Three replacement keys required.

Rattles within cabin begin.

Cam belt snapped at 57,000 miles. Covered by warranty, but took several weeks for the return of the car.

Major engine problem at 65,000 miles. Engine lost all of it's oil within 100 miles - deemed driver responsibility - checking the oil every 1000 miles or so not frequent enough! Small noise became a major rattle - finally engine needed replacing for reconditioned unit.

At the same time all brake disc's and two calipers are also replaced due to corrosion - perhaps because it has spent so much of it's life sitting at the dealers being repaired.

General Comments:

Beautifully different, but do not buy. Luckily mine is a company vehicle.