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Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark
by Jonny_L
The words Alfa Romeo spark 2 thoughts in most people's minds. 1: Good looking Italian number with great performance, and 2: Unreliablility.
The 156 was Alfa's attempt to quash the latter. Released in 1998, the 156 stayed in the model range as good as unchanged until it was replaced by the 159 in 2005. There is a faster ... 2.5 V6 version, but for the purists, this is the one to have due to the lighter engine giving the car better handling. The car is pretty quick, 155bhp gives you 0-60 in under 8 seconds, and it's very good fun in the twisty bits.
The Suspension is set up perfectly, giving a comfortable ride and sporty handling in one. The only drawback is that it does tend to bottom out when pushed really hard. There is an optional sports pack, which might be a good idea.
Inside the car is pure Alfa Romeo. It has a beautiful dashboard with all the white dials facing the driver, it feels like a real driver's car. Climate control is great and simple to use, and some did come with a Bose speaker system which is great.
Leather is the way forward on these, nice big comfy chairs that hug you in the bends. You can get it in black, grey, white, blue, red or my personal favorite, tan. Don't be put off by the red though, in a black car this looks stunning. There's ample leg room in the back, and the front is spacious yet confined, so you feel like you're in something a bit sporty. It is in here that you find little telltail signs of alfa-ness, like the glove compartment that occasionally won't open all the way, and the odd rattle from the dash on a hot day, but these really are little niggles, and are easily sorted or forgotten about.
The Alfa has loads of warning lights to tell you which door is open, which bulb has gone and which brake pads are wearing. This is a nice touch, and while mine's never had a problem, Alfa's electrics aren't renound for being that reliable, so perhaps they've over-reached with this.
The boot is ample, with a ski hatch if required. You can open it from the remote control, doing away with any unsightly handles that'd ruin the styling. Unfortunately the back seats don't fold down, which is a bit of a pain.
This is a 4 door car, though the rear handles are tucked away up by the window, which looks great but you have to explain it every time someone new gets in the back!
The worst part of this car is parking it. The turn circle is truly the worst I've ever seen, and you really can't see where the car ends from any angle. It's a real matter of getting used to it.
Mine hasn't given me too much bother and I can rely on it, so to me I feel that Alfa's have caught up with the rest of the world with reliability. I think it's more a matter of looking after it well, keeping the services up to date, checking the levels etc. It's like having a beautiful Italian girlfriend, Looks great, is good fun and reliable, but a little bit high maintenance!
The fact that these can be picked up for as little as £2000 for a good one these days, is quite frankly appauling. You'd think it's worth at least double, if not triple that. But then that's our little secret. What a bargain!
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Alfa Romeo 147
by Mary Varnham
I purchased a new Alfa Romeo 147 in 2001. The car drives brilliantly and has some great features but I would advise anyone to run a mile rather than buy one. I have had constant electronic problems, especially with lights, and it sometimes seems to be more often at the Alfa service garage than in my own garage.
However, the ... real nightmare arrived 4 weeks ago, when, the day after a full service (the car has been faithfully maintained), it conked out on a remote country road. The cam belt had gone and caused an estimated NZ$9,000 damage to valves etc. The car had done 110,000 kms, and despite Alfa apparently (I have since learned) having issued a warming about cam belts needing to be replaced after 3 years (!!), in my car's many service checks the cam belt had not been replaced. If you are thinking of buying an Alfa 147, be sure to check out the service facilities in your area, and the trustworthiness of the staff. I have had nothing but evasive answers, attempts to blame me for the problem - and no action!
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Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Twin Spark
by tornado_pilot
The Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 T.Spark has some lovely lines that will undoubtedly make this car a classic in years to come.
If you are looking for a car with which to enjoy driving then this is a good option, it has a very sporty stance and the driving position is very comfortable. The 2 litre Twin Spark engine is responsive and the ... top end is very impressive.
Cornering is solid with the GTV offering loads of grip.
Depending on the way the car is driven the fuel consumption can either be reasonable or "where did that full tank go?!!".
The finishing of the car is equally impressive, it was designed by a Ferrari designer and this is evident when you look at the lines on the exterior and the interior.
A good second hand GTV 2.0 TS should cost you £3999 or more depending on the servicability of the vehicle, personally I would avoid cars priced lower than this as it would probably reflect on how the car has been driven in the past.
GTV's are usually pretty rust-free, but if they are going to show then the rear arches will be where it is.
Check the front bumper trim with the bonnet up as the paint is prone to bubbling and peeling in this area.
The trick to buying a GTV is to buy one with as little mileage as possible and try not to buy the cheapest one you can find, there will be a reason it's a low price. A high milage GTV with little or no Alfa service history is just asking for trouble, after all, it's an Alfa Romeo, you HAVE to expect maintenance bills on average of £500 per year.
The gearbox in the GTV is very good and problems with them are very rare. Take the car on a test drive and if it feels strange at all then leave well alone.
GTV 2.0 TS cars sometime have problems with the rear suspension, on the test drive, listen for any grinding or knocking from the rear of the car, and if you hear any, steer clear!
So, what else can you expect from a GTV?
If you are over 6ft then you may find the headroom a little low for you, it is a compact coupe and space is at a premium.
The windscreen is small and if you are claustrophobic then you may want to think again as it does feel very tight inside the cabin.
Boot space?...... forget it!! A very small boot in the GTV is made even smaller by a spare wheel that sits in the boot itself, to free up more room you can buy an emergency tyre repair kit and dump the spare completely.
All in all it is not a practical car, it is a driver's car. Enjoy driving it and it will offer you a great experience, buy it as an everyday family car and you may well regret it!!
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