WHEN my wife wanted a new car a couple of years ago she opted for an Alfa Romeo 156 on the basis of looks and performance - and kept her fingers crossed on the quality front.
They parted company recently, after 60,000 miles, with no shakes or rattles, nothing fallen off, never failing to start and it remained a delight to drive.
It looked just as good as the day it was delivered, without any paint blemishes, sagging seats, worn pedals or any of the many other defects that can be associated with cars covering a gruelling 30,000 miles a year.
I say this because it is, after all, just a glorified Fiat. If it was an Audi or a Saab, its quality would be taken for granted, but not in the case of an Alfa Romeo.
The company has a reputation to live down, and if the Alfa 156 is anything to go by, it seems to be doing it.
The 156 is the car that saved Alfa from the brink of disaster here, and recently it was time for a subtle mid-life facelift.
Since its introduction in 1998 the 156 has found more than three quarters of a million buyers, whilst trebling the brand's market share in the process.
There is a distinctive new nose, new interiors, a new 165bhp two-litre petrol engine, a more powerful 175bhp 2.4-litre turbodiesel and a new high performance derivative called the GTA.
The Alfa originally arrived at just the wrong time as far as advanced technology was concerned, having missed satellite navigation, steering wheel audio controls and window air bags, for example.
These are now added, together with a host of other features, such as automatic windscreen wipers and automatic interior demisting.
Cruise control becomes available, together with a voice-activated command system that automatically makes telephone calls, consults road maps and plays music.
For many buyers the most significant development is the improvement to the petrol and diesel engines.
The two-litre was already pretty sprightly, with 150bhp giving a top speed of 133mph and acceleration to 60mph in 8.8 seconds.
In its new guise the power rises to 165bhp, for a top speed of 137mph and acceleration to 60mph in just over eight seconds.
Remarkably, this extra power and perkier performance are achieved with a reduction in the all-important CO2 emissions, which fell from 207g/km to 205g/km.
This is not enough to alter the company car tax liability, which stays at 27 per cent of the car's list price, but at least it does not increase it.
With such a success on its hands, Alfa felt confident enough to raise prices slightly, with the cost of the 2.0 JTS Veloce up by about £500 to £18,780.
Add leather, a body kit, nicer alloys and headlamp washers and the price increases to £19,350.
There are two versions of the diesel, with three different power outputs. The 1.9-litre JTD comes with a choice of 115bhp and 140bhp power outputs, whilst the 2.4-litre version manages 175bhp.
The best all-rounder is the 140bhp Turismo model at £17,420, which offers a combination of 125mph performance and 48mpg economy, with a 20 per cent company car tax liability.
It may lack the depth of quality of its Audi and BMW rivals, but the Japanese have proved that this can be irrelevant when it comes to reliability and durability, as anyone who has driven a lightweight Toyota or Honda will testify.
The Italian Alfa not only looks the part, it goes as well as it looks in its own way and is potentially utterly reliable. I can vouch for that.
FAST FACTS
Alfa Romeo 156 JTD 140 Tourismo
Price: £17,420
Mechanical: 140bhp, 1,910cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 126mph
0-62mph: 9.7 secs
Combined mpg: 47.9
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 157g/km
BiK rating: 20%
Warranty: 3 yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust