Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark Review

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Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark
4.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.2 out of 5

From 7 ratings and 28 reviews

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Rick Hough's Review of Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark

25th Sep 2007

Overall Rating

5 stars
  • Value for money
    5 stars
  • Length of ownership
    6 months
  • Performance
    4.5 stars
  • Reliability
    5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    1999
  • Doors
    4
  • Practicality
    3.5 stars
Good Points

Lovely interior (Momo leather and wood rim wheel) well put together (for an Alfa!) and easy to drive fast. When you have learned where the power is (3500 rpm and upwards) it really covers ground fast. The car has been reliable (low mileage very well cared for example) and I can't find anything wrong with it mechanically. Excellent fade free brakes and sharp handling let you drive it like a small sports car. Looks better than any other four door on the road apart from a Maserati in my opinion. Good economy if you don't use all the performance, bearable if you do (and my other car is a diesel Citroen!).


Bad Points

Paintwork is a bit delicate but has responded well to T-cut and Auto-Glym. The front tyres seem to be wearing fast, but then that could be the driver. Boot is a bit small, but not that bad really (I'm used to big hatchbacks) and the stereo isn't brilliant. These are minor issues. Aircon is rubbish but I'm hoping a re-gas might cure that.


General Comments

The Alfa Romeo 156 was amazing value or money at £1700 (April 2007) and has been very reliable, probably because it has been properly serviced and covered only 65k miles. The car is well put together and nothing like older Alfas I've owned. Everything works perfectly, not so much as a blown bulb.

Interior comfort is good and the car is comfy for medium range journeys - I take my Citroen C5 if I'm driving to Bordeaux, the Alfa for a 100 mile sprint around North Wales. Even though she's an old bus the Alfa looks good in the company car park (better than the rows of brand new German stuff!) and the cabin is quiet. I love the eight hole alloys as they are easy to keep clean and look good.

I had to put a new radiator in after a stone went through the grille and holed it, but that was cheap (£80 for the part) and pretty easy to do. The car will need a cam belt next summer but I've found a dealer who does them for £170 so no fears there and the Fiat derived engine isn't using any oil, even when given plenty of stick.

I've owned 60 plus cars over the last 25 years (just sold a gorgeous and near perfect heavily tuned MGB GT) and I would put this car in the top three for performance, value and comfort. All great cars are good at compromising, and this a great compromise car. It won't out drag a Caterham of course, nor does it have the comfort of my C5, and the boot can't hold as much as the Xantia Estates I have owned, but it does what I need it to do very well and I look forward to driving it every time I get in.

When I change this car I will probably get the 2.4 diesel, possibly an estate. I can highly recommend the 156, it wasn't car of the year 1998 for nothing. Ignore the mechanically uneducated who slate the Alfa 156. They are nowhere near as bad as they as if they have been looked after properly, like any car.

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Members' Comments onRick Hough's Review

  • junkC5 Rank: Lance Corporal on 14th Nov 2008

    I also have a C5 and an alfa 156 2.0 TS give me the Alfa anyday the Citroen C5 has only covered 27k miles because it spends so much time at the repair centre and on the back of recovery vehicles. The Alfa never misses a beat and is fun to drive, unlike the Citroen.