Alfa Romeo 156 TS 2.0

The Alfa Romeo 156 TS 2.0 is beautiful, fun and purchased at 16 months old with 50% depreciation, it was stunning value for money but not so good for the first purchaser! So few small executive saloons around (BMW3 series now huge) with performance & a decent ride - try an Audi for backbreaking suspension.

I have had one breakdown in 85,000 miles, better than my last car, a VW. To achieve this avoid the main dealers and always fully service (costly). Don't skimp or miss a service interval. The TS engine is a lightweight highly tuned engine, so under stress (the 3.0 is more tolerant). If you check the oil (it is designed to burn oil), change the cam belt at 50,000 miles and service, you should have no trouble.

Most troubles with these cars are caused by the appalling dealer network who break more than they fix (same with all Fiats). Avoid the main dealers and you should have a great car.

I have had an Alfa 156 2.0TS for 5 years now. Three years ago the engine blew due to an oil leak. Despite the car still being within its 3-year warranty, I found Alfa Romeo's customer servicing to be awful! They eventually replaced the engine with a reconditioned one!! and only after being bombarded with numerous letters and phone calls - no wonder they now only have one main dealer left in London!! Despite this, believe it or not, the car does look and drive like a dream - though (as pointed out by another reviewer) check the oil regularly. For the price, there is no other car on the road that looks half as good. Alfa Romeo has always offered great styling, reasonably good performance and highly competitive pricing; the flip side to this is poor reliability, poor residuals and awful customer care. My advice is, if you want a family car - buy German or Japanese. If you want more of a driver's car, buy a TVR or an Alfa.

I was bored with my old car (Volvo S40), although it is as bullet-proof in reliability as any German car. The wife liked the looks of the Alfa, so we bought a second-hand (2 litre) one that was UK spec although first purchased in Germany. Starts first time, drives brilliantly and hasn't fallen to bits yet. As stated in other reviews, avoid main dealers if you have to pay for servicing yourself. Keep an eye on your oil levels and you shouldn't be caught out and have your garage inspect the cam belt *every* service. Replacements are occasionally required *before* 72k miles.

The wife likes the car so much now that if we can save up enough, we are buying the GTA version.

The Alfa Romeo 156 TS is a lovely car but build quality uneven and suffers steep depreciation.

Generally I'm very happy with my Alfa Romeo 156 TS 2.0 although it was really hard to find a 156 2 litre. Plenty of 1.8's around but as the insurance group was the same I thought I'd get the extra power. Does about the same if not more to the gallon than the Renault Laguna 1.8 I had before! Servicing is well expensive from the dealership so find a garage that really knows about the car before you buy. I'm fortunate that I've managed to do just that. My local garage has 30yrs Fiat dealership experience and 10yrs Alfa. There is a mod for an intermittent tapping behind the dash - nothing to worry about but expensive to fix outside of warranty. Ensure the rear brakes are lubed every 6000miles as they have a habit of coming on and off by themselves. But a good & honest garage will tell you this and will not charge much. My Alfa servicing costs me £65 on a minor service. Major servicing is more expensive. A set of plugs at 60K will set you back approx £100 and a cambelt change at 72K(if done right with all the pulleys changed as well) approx 480 (900 at an "official" Alfa garage). Nevertheless a great car with stunning looks and excellent accelleration.