But why - Four Minutes..?

That's how long it took, having driven off the forecourt, for the engine warning light to show, accompanied by a dramatic loss of power.

Handover had been delayed by a week, getting the car moved to the dealership; it finally arrived at midday on the Friday (a very, very long week). The handover was subsequently moved from the Saturday morning to late afternoon, allowing more time to get the car prepared.

Saturday afternoon arrived, a gloriously sunny afternoon. Handover complete, and we drove off the forecourt just as the dealership was closing.

Four minutes down the road and the dreaded yellow engine warning light lit up, accompanied by an almost complete loss of power. Too late to return to the dealer, and the service centre was closed anyway, so the car was limped the one hour journey home.

Alfa Romeo assistance was very helpful, as too was the RAC. Not so much the contracted haulage firm that should have delivered the car back to the dealership on the Monday morning; car collected late, locked up locally overnight and then delivered the following day. An Alfa Romeo senior technician had been waiting at the dealership all day on the Monday to examine the car - day wasted.

Problem identified as a clip and spring having failed/not been fitted correctly, connecting the actuator and the turbo wastegate. Half the parts arrived on the Thursday, final part arrived and fitted on the Friday.

Car delivered back to me early Friday evening, driven by one of the dealership team; Quattro Minuti being needed for a holiday trip three days later.