Alfa Romeo's have always had a bad reputation for reliability etc, but looking at a new supermini/hatchback and find myself drawn towards the new Mito, should I be put off?

yes

no

The cars are great. I've had two and even had a look at the MiTo – can't decide between that and a new Fiesta which seems to drive better to be honest.

The dealers, however, are truly dreadful. I'm convinced that the cars are no more or less reliable than any other car but once it does go wrong, you are in for a whole world of hurt – simply resign yourself to the fact that tehy will never, ever actually fix it…

Alfa's suffer from their deservedly bad rep from the 80's, it only had to rain andyour car was a rusting wreck lol.

I have an Alfa 156….rust no, as its galvanised panels now, had it 2 years no real probs just a new exhaust box and starter motor but it is10 yrs old though.

What you will benefit from though is a car that is a bit different, is gorgeous to look at and value for money as Alfa used prices are good due to the effect of the 80's reputation. Parts andservicing is reasonable too with many independant Alfa specialists about and there are some good Alfa forums around.

Go for it.

Alfas are rubbish
Alfas are rubbish
Alfas are rubbish
Alfas are rubbish

Keep repeating this and then perpetuate the bad reputation.

That way the second hand values are in the toilet and people like me can pick them up cheap as chips!!!!

Great drive but remember they are built from Pasta

Definitely rubbish, Fix…..It ….Again ….Tomorrow

I've had 4.

An Alfa 33 green cloverleaf (doesn't that make "GTI" sound so vulgar!"

An Alfasud Sprint 1,5 GC

An Alfa 2000GTV (like the one in octopussy – from the early 80's)

An Alfa 75 Veloce.

Each was a great pleasure to drive, when working, and a whole world of pain when not. Quirky, individual, entertaining, soulful, a little expensive and unreliable at times.

You do get more "comedy" breakdowns with old Alfa's. My GTV threw a conrod at 120 mph uphill on the Brighton Bypass, and still took me 3/4 mile to stop. It also used to pour water in through the sunroof. The electrics on my 75 caused the onboard computer to basically function like xmas lights around my fir tree air freshner, with a sunroof that never worked. My 33 had electric windows that stuck shut, meaning getting tickets from car park barrier machines was a quick door open job, ect ect.

Buy an old alfa. if you can cope with it, it will reward you in spades. A really old alfa like a 75 or GTV, might even introduce you to really cheap racing via the very active owners club. If you crave cheap and reliable, buy a Toyota Carina. If nothing else, life will seem longer driving a Carina, even if isn't really.

I am now cured of my alfa fix, but only by getting into even older MG's and motorbikes. I would still love an old alfa, but really, old alfa's are like young women. Once you get to a certain age, its a foolish past time that will end in tears.

TBH don't waste money on any new car, buy something far better secondhand.

And if you buy decent (big/expensive) enough, you won't actually save any money, but you'll far more enjoy driving it. I've a 535i 😆

But I guess 156 V6 is easily affordable, along with an old Jap car – to make sure you'll always have a car that will start…

I've had three BMW's they were rubbish reliability wise and the dealers were unhelpful. I successfully rejected one and got my money back it was so bad.

I got a new Alfa GT last year, and it's been reliable and joy to own.

Neighbour has new Brera, again reliable and he is really happy with it.

Neighbour has an 8 year 156, and it never goes wrong and he is happy with it.

That Mito is a rebadged Punto – Avoid at all costs

I had a 145 cloverleaf. Still the most fun car I've had. just brilliant handing on windy back roads. No less reliable than any other car I've had. I used a good independent for service and repair.

Collecting a 156 estate on Saturday. Fast diesel with all the toys. 🙂

New 159 looks ace but, I guess it's not the super mini / hatchback your after..

BITD I had an Alfasud 1.5ti Green cloverleaf. Loved it to bits untill it fell to bits (in a very short space of time)

My 145 was a P reg, about 5 years old when I got it. It was well screwed together, nothing broke or fell off. Tyres didn't last long though. 🙂

I had a 146 & then a 156.

I traded the 146 in for the 156 after 133,000 miles. It had some issues with the electrics, but that was down to water getting in the radio aerial & dripping down to the fusebox, eventually. Great to drive though. Mine was a P-plate too.

The 156 had a broken cambelt just inside the warranty period (I mean less than 1000 miles from expiry), but got fixed under warranty. But then the head gasket went about 3 months later. Hmm, result of the cambelt job not getting done properly? Anyway, the garage fixed that under the terms of the warranty from the cambelt job.

I then traded it in before the third strike…
for a BMW 320d Touring. Which was great, but too small really. I had that for over 100,000 miles, and now I have a Saab 9-3 Sport Tourer. Not as quick off the mark as the BMW, or even the 156, but quick enough for me.

Alfas then. I'd have another but not as my main car. I couldn't get my drums in the Sportwagon

never owned one, but have driven a few, 145, 147, 157 and 164

drove a MiTo around Italy this summer, unfortunately a diesel, but still plenty fun to drive – although I had it in sport mode all the time otherwise it was slow

It depends – like anything really. I've had two, a 156 and a 147. The 156 was a great drive, but the Magnetti Marelli electrics were an abomination. The Great God of Italian Cars will find any excuse to exclaim "Ma-ma Mi-a!" before having an extended whizz in your fusebox.

Mine went through air mass meters, usually within days of the part warranty expiring.

Later 156s have Bosch electrics and are electrically as reliable as a VW, Audi or any Bosch equipped car.

To put it in perspective, the Volkswagen Golf I had before my 156 was reliable in that it went wrong, expensively every three months without fail, despite me throwing a pot of money at it. Would I own another Alfa? You bet I would, especially if they sharpened the driving dynamics.

Had a couple of Alfas here in the past, you'll love the cars, but stick to the (free) owners clubs rather than the dealers.