Faults:

Air conditioning failed at 4,000 miles.

Broke down completely at just over 6,000 miles. Faulty air mass meter diagnosed. 4 week wait for the part!

Rear suspension banging and knocking from 10,000 miles. After the third attempt, the dealer has quietened it massively, but it's still there over sharp bumps.

Erratic idle developed around the same time. This took four attempts to fix and the magic cure was simply to clean out a stepper motor. No parts needed.

Heater temperature adjustment dial stopped working.

Gear linkage has needed adjusting twice.

Clutch judder just rearing its ugly head.

General Comments:

Drop dead gorgeous and fantastic to drive. Makes a frankly trouser-stirring noise, goes like stink and provides its driver with a sense of occasion that 3-series and A4 buyers simply wouldn't understand. Unfortunately, it is still too unreliable and flaky to be a serious prospect as an everyday car and the dealer and spares backup is truly appalling.

The car is worth much less than the outstanding finance on it, and I refuse to continue to shell out for another 2 years on a terminally unreliable and freefall depreciating car, so I will be returning it to the finance company as soon as the payments are half over later this year and walking away.

If this were a second car I would probably live with the problems, but encouraged by a friend with an utterly reliable 156, I let my heart rule my head and bought this pristine ex-demo model. I can honestly say I've regretted it from the moment the problems kicked off.

As another reviewer has said on this site, I didn't expect Germanic reliability, but neither did I expect 12 dealer visits in the first year (several for the same thing!), and a total of 11 weeks off the road waiting for parts! I also expected a bit more than 4,000 miles before things started crapping out. I know not all 156's are like this, but it's somehow more worrying that they vary so severely. At least if they were all dogs, people who bought them would be prepared.

Despite all this, I don't dislike the car. As I said, for a second car cum weekend toy type thing, it's superb, but you can't rely on it to do anything else. Very disappointing.

Faults:

Rear wheels rub on arches when the car is fully laden.

Glovebox lid is slightly crooked.

General Comments:

Successful restyle means it's still one of the best looking saloon cars on the road. The optional 17" alloys finish it off nicely.

Italian leather seats are very special and as well as being comfy, smell and feel like no other. Interior is still very stylish, although some of the materials are on the cheap side. Built quite solidly though and surprisingly free of squeaks. Love the Lamborghini Miura style hooded dials which have the bonus of being invisible from the passenger seat - great if you have a backseat driving wife who goes into whinge mode when you exceed the speed limit. As I do.

New "Multijet" 2.4 five cylinder turbodiesel engine is utterly fantastic, and I cannot believe how little exposure this amazing engine has had in the press. No diesel clatter once warm (even at idle!) and a massively impressive 175 bhp and 375 Nm of torque. No turbo lag whatsoever, and from just 1500 RPM, it boots the car up the road with sufficient thrust to squeeze you into the seat, whilst delivering an Audi Quattro-esque five pot warble as it does so. Being an Alfa, the sound is at just the right level and of just the right quality to make you grin. I don't know how Alfa did it, but they have produced an engine which is truly indistinguishable from a good petrol unit, apart from a redline at 5k instead of 7.

Handling is OK, but not as balanced as my previous Mondeo TDCi 130 and with a greater tendency to understeer. Steering is good though with lots of feel, and the gear change quality is satisfactory. Fuel economy on motorways and fast A-roads is stunning at 45 mpg, but quickly drops into the mid 30's with town and twisty B-road work. For the performance on offer, even the lower figure is deeply impressive.

This car is one of the best kept secrets on the road. I challenge even the most hardened diesel sceptic to walk away unimpressed after a test drive. Love it to pieces!