Shifting a bad reputation can be hard work - just ask the members of Fianna Fáil - but Alfa Romeo has just taken another step in the right direction with the announcement of a new five-year, 100,000km warranty, complete with five years roadside assistance cover, which will be standard on all vehicles bought in Ireland from January 2012 onwards.
Famous for being the marque that Jeremy Clarkson says all petrolheads must own at some point in their lives (just so they can experience the sheer joy of driving in between the inevitable breakdowns) the move is, according to Adrian Walsh, managing director of Fiat Group Automobiles Ireland, "...the next stage in the resurgence of Alfa Romeo in Ireland... now we have a better warranty than any of our rivals, which should finally dispel any reservations people may have about the quality of Alfa Romeo vehicles."
Alfa Romeo says the five-year warranty package will help ensure strong resale values as the warranty can be transferred to subsequent owners provided the vehicles are maintained accordingly by authorised service agents. In addition the Italian brand also expects the new warranty to give it an edge with business users and fleet operators who will now be better able to predict the running costs and future value of Alfa Romeo vehicles.