Are alfa romeo reliable cars to buy or do they suffer electrical problems?

I bought an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD sportwagon, it is the best car I have ever owned and I am 58 years old and I have owned many really good top of the range cars. A Porsche 3 litre Targa, that made a lot of fuss getting up to speed but a glorious drive. My latest sojourn was with BMW, 2, 320s anf a 318i and a 733i, great cars but very expensive to keep on the road. I worked in the motor trade for a few years and drove just about every motor going and enjoyed a lot of them but I didn't own them. I was warned off ther Alfas for all the talk going around about them. I have had mechanics refuse to work on mine simply because it's an Alfa, madness! I drive my lovely Alfa and a diesel to boot like I stole it, it will do 140mph if pushed but 120mph is no sweat and it gets there in good time too. I drive it from Southampton to Frome regularly to visit my daughter and those roads are pure magic for the Alfa, sod the idiots who have never owned one but seem to know what they are talking about. The 156 is the best second hand deal on the market at the moment, get one and live a little, petrol, diesel, it makes no odds. I've done 30,000 miles in a year in mine, the alternator fell off once, in that mileage I don't mind, I've had a new turbo as the other one was whining, no bother but remember a turbo must be taken care of when turning off the engine after a high speed run. Do not start the engine when the A/C is switched on, all cars need that attention. The main problem with people who buy Alfas is they do not look after them properly and drive them to destruction as they are so driveable, they do not change the oil at regular intervals and they will not look for a decent mechanic to help them out when things go wrong. This is a performance car and that requires some indulgence from the owner, if you look after it you will have the drive you want, they are not for everyone but if it takes your fancy buy a reasonable used model and do all the usual checks and make sure you take it for a good long test drive first, get all the bits working and the fluids warmed up, you know the drill. I chuck mine around all over the place and it is very willing, don't go into bends too fast etc etc ad infinitum, buy one mate. Here's the best bit, I'm averaging 39mpg, try that with a selespeed!

Italians can't do electrics on any of their cars or motorbikes, if you want reliable look at german made cars

I have driven only Alfa Romeo for over 20 years and the only electrical problems I have ever had have been with German Bosch electrics. Other problems are due solely to pathetic dealerships.

I've owned three and loved them all but you should not buy an Alfa for reliability. Get a Toyota instead. But if you want to smile and live, get the Alfa!

Old alfas, like 156 not reliable. If you want an alfa go for 159

Everything is unreliable, not just the electrics. There's a reason they sell for $50,000 brand new and are worth $10,000 after 3 years.

Gearbox failures and rust, something to look forward to.