New-style 156 opinions sought

I've had an old style 156 for the last 3 1/2 years which has just given
up on me (a week after the 72,000 mile service, new brake discs & pads
and a new battery - typical!!). The bearings went and the garage want
=A33300 for a reconditioned engine. Seeing as the car is 5 years old
with 72,000 on the clock, so only worth around =A34500, it hardly seems
worth it. My head tells me to get something else (the cam belt also
went at 55,000 miles, but Alfa paid for the repair), but my heart says
otherwise - for the price there isn't anything else that appeals to me
in the same way the 156 does.

I've seen a decently priced 1 year old new-style 156 and I just wanted
to get any opinions on them. Are they any more reliable? Do they
still drink oil? By the way, I'm open to offers on the busted one - W
Reg, leather seats, telephone dial alloys. It's currently sitting in a
garage in Amersham; best offer so far is =A31000.

Thanks
Stuart