FS: Alfa 156 TSpark

Well I've never really looked at the JD Power survey, but I'd drive a car I like in preference to one I didn't like as much. Then if it breaks, well, s*it happens and it can be fixed. The S2000 is usually near the top isn't it? I wouldn't buy one of those either because despite the reliability and how nice it was to sit in, comfort wise, I didn't like how it drove really. I mean, it was very fast once wound up, but the gearing was just too long and you end up in second all the time if you wanna see Vtec (doesn't kick in till 65-70iirc).

Don't get me wrong, I really like the S-Type R, but it's just not 'me'. It's bigger than I would've wanted at the moment, and I don't know this because I haven't looked, but I imagine that repairs are expensive if something goes pear shaped? Whereas there's a fairly local Alfa specialist (who incidentally had an SZ listed for sale not long ago) whose prices don't look bad at all. Also the insurance would probably be a bit OTT, quotes for the GTA were around a grand, the Vee was £850, the 197 was like £600 iirc.

It's the kind've car I'd love Mum to buy and let me drive :-)

Cheaper than Alfas, believe me, I've owned both. And there are many more independent Jag specialists than Alfa specialists. When I worked in Farnborough, there were five independent Jag garages, all of them pretty good, and one Alfa specialist that charged twice as much per hour as the Jag garages. Alfa spares also tend to be about double the cost of Jag spares.

And with (some) Jag spares one can source the Ford part for a lot less than Jag prices, or buy pattern parts from the same places that make the Jag originals.