Alfa 147

Alfa’s current smallest car has well put away all the negatives surrounding its predecessors in ergonomics, reliability and comfort. And it has taken on board the best of the brands’s most successful car of modern times, the 156, particularly in engine and drivetrain matters. Its underpinnings, as it is the last car to be built on the Bravo/Brava platform, show just how much high performance potential there was in it. Brilliant on a long twisting fast road. If you don’t see the distinctive front first, it can look a little understated and if you’re allergic to black interiors it isn’t for you. But it does look well from the rear with a deep V in the back window. Best version is the 1.6 Sportivo. Engines 1.6- and 2-litre petrol, and there’s a JTD and a GTA (above) upcoming in 2003. Selespeed works fine in manual, but automatic mode is rather crude. Stars: 7/10

Alfa 156

It was classically gorgeous when they introduced it and the beauty hasn’t diminished with maturity of years. They don’t come much more satisfying to drive, particularly the 2-litre JTS introduced during the year. You can have these in either saloon or Sportwagon form, but we’d suggest the saloon has the strong styling edge and even more useful luggage management. There’s a 1.6-litre entry level that is surprisingly adequate, but you can go all the way up to a 2.5- or even a howling 3.2-litre GTA (above) in petrol versions, or a 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel that still allows it to be a decent sports car. Don’t know why they haven’t brought the more Ireland-friendly 2-litre JTD in yet - I’ve driven it and it is more than adequate. Same views on Selespeed as above apply, but the Sport Q-System is good. Stars: 8/10

Alfa 166

We’ve often wondered why they bothered, except that the Godfather should always be driving something a little more salubrious than his button men. Very comfortable, reeks of added value, and has a rather more svelte styling than the 156, which it cannot match in the driving dynamics department though. Still, that’s not the point, is it? And it has its hidden charms, because if you have the top-end 3-litre V6 under the hood, it will surprise most of the competition in its class without even breathing hard. The chauffeur will enjoy it too, and it does have a rarity distinctiviness in the luxury car lists. The other engines are 2-litre and 2.5-litre, the latter which might be the best buy if you’re a manual man. There’s no diesel here. Stars: 6/10

Alfa GTV/Spider

The real sporty end of the Alfa Range is still strongly luxurious, and the GTV coupe has the addition of a 3-litre V6 to poke it along if you feel the 2-litre base is wanting. The ‘wow’ fast wedge shape is perhaps becoming a little worn-looking and there’ll no doubt be something fresh on the cards soon for this more successful end of the Fiat motor empire. Hope they’ll deal with the problem of tall people then, because I can’t drive it for any distance, though the Spider is OK as long as I can keep the top down. I’ve noticed a few women professionals driving them lately, and they suit the required image there. Due for some changes soon, I expect. Pity they dropped the sibling Fiat Coupe, which was everything the GTV isn’t. And I could sit comfortably in it. Stars: 7/10