Alfa Romeo 156 Review - Reliability and Cost

My Alfa Romeo 156 has cost me £21,900 to run in 4 years and I have nothing to show for it, apart from this blog, a few photos and a near death experience.

I’ve owned an Alfa Romeo 156 since 9/9/02 to 26/12/06 – approximately just over 4 years of troubled motoring. My total mileage was 32,000 miles.

After several months of looking for the perfect car, I purchased my Alfa Romeo 156 on 9/9/02 with 27,500 miles on the clock; the car was in excellent condition, not even a stone chip from being driven too fast. It cost £7,495 with a warranty.

Six months later on 31/3/03 with 28,416 on the clock I had a service and was billed for £950.00 as the Alfa had some knocking from the front suspension and needed the top suspension arms replacing.

On 8/12/04 with 41,274 on the clock I had another service costing £549.19 and had the top suspension arm replaced again.

On 31/08/05 with 47,000 miles on the clock one of the spark plugs blew out of the engine whilst of the M27 driving to Southampton. A part of the spark plug dropped into the engine and chewed it up. £3,527.99 later and a new recon engine I was back on the road.

I’m now thinking why on earth did I buy an Alfa Romeo 156.

A few more trips to garages to get brakes, tyres, more suspension arms, a new key and exhaust replacement - I was a further £1,625.00 lighter.

The summer of 06 was the hottest on record with temperature reaching 32oC and guess what? my air con packed up. I went to Halfords to see if they could fix it – but it was terminal. We spent the summer overheating in my car. There was no way I was going to spend more money on this car – it was time to think about selling it. I had chucked so much money at it there was no way I was going to get it back.

The Alfa also started to fall apart from the day I got it – an ill fitting stereo, interior parts falling off, loud vibrations from the air heater when it was cold.

Then finally on the 27th December 2006, which just over 60,000 miles on the close I almost lost my life thanks to a faulty Alfa 156 Bonnet Catch – the car is a write off.

Here are the running costs of my Alfa Romeo 156, over 4 years driving a total of 32000 miles. The car was purchased in 09/02 with 27500 on the clock:

Depreciation £7495 (Purchase Price) – £0 (Value Now) = £7,495.00
28416 miles Service 3/4/03 = £950.00
41274 miles Service 13/12/04 = £546.19
47000 miles New Engine 31/08/05 = £3,527.99
Miscellaneous Servicing, MOT’s and Parts = £1,625.00
Fuel Cost 36000 miles @ 36 mile a gallon, £4 per gallon = £4,000.00
Car Insurance = £3,600.00
Car Tax = £660.00

Total Running Cost = £21,904.18

These cost don’t include:

Replacing the broken air conditioning unit
Replacing boot lock and badge
Fixing of loud fan noise from the internal heating system
Fixing the ill fitting stereo
Getting the fuse box cover remounted
Fixing the sticky petrol cap flap that wouldn't open
Loss of No Claims Bonus
Hire Car whilst I find a replacement

If we include them the cost would be more like £26,000 plus.