Yo - yes Alfa's are notorious for breaking, so are GTi Clutches, Tdi Turbo's, BMW AFM's etc.
Since I've owned my car only thing that went wrong was clutch, as you'd expect I was burning front rubber almost every weekend...
You really have to own one to really know whether its going to brake or not, only that ever brakes is the cambelt issue with dealers lying to customers as to whether it was done or not - like I said, personal taste. I used to hate the G5 GTi for what it was, EVERYWHERE, but then I uncle said I must take a drive in the thing, FRC fettled at that...man oh man was I hooked on the turbo power, the seats (not better than GTA seats though) and the lights when you open the car...joh!
Anyway Alfa FTW but GTi is close, voted best car for something I guess