Alfa 159 - Should I?!
Discussion
Well I've had mine from new for 4.5 years 1.9Jtdm Lusso, black with red leather, covered 55k (choose diesel over 2.2 petrol as albeit only £500 difference on price to buy, worked out approx £10k difference on company car tax... really wanted the petrol one, but it was just a no brainer)
got one parking dent :fume: at Tesco's a few months ago,
coil packs failed 2 days after it's last service, a bit of a pain
got some play in the clutch pedal, which appaerently is to do with the linkage being partially siezed...there was some mutterings about this being issue with the cars being manufactured to suit the UK market (might just be dealership talk to appease me)
average 32mpg (daily drive from Knebworth to Soho in traffic... so pretty good IMHO)
still have mainy comments on how nice it looks (infact I think I've had more strangers comment on it then on my TVR)
I'm so glad I didn't go for the BMW my boss was trying to tempt with. Time for the car to be changed soon and nothing of this size now in the Alfa range so guess I need to find the next stylish affordable car.
got one parking dent :fume: at Tesco's a few months ago,
coil packs failed 2 days after it's last service, a bit of a pain
got some play in the clutch pedal, which appaerently is to do with the linkage being partially siezed...there was some mutterings about this being issue with the cars being manufactured to suit the UK market (might just be dealership talk to appease me)
average 32mpg (daily drive from Knebworth to Soho in traffic... so pretty good IMHO)
still have mainy comments on how nice it looks (infact I think I've had more strangers comment on it then on my TVR)
I'm so glad I didn't go for the BMW my boss was trying to tempt with. Time for the car to be changed soon and nothing of this size now in the Alfa range so guess I need to find the next stylish affordable car.
90 B said:
Danesgate said:
Well, I've gone and done it.
This isn't mine, but (other thsn missing the silver coloured mirrors mine has) it is the same.
And by god it is a good looking car!
Is that portifino red or something. Deep red. This isn't mine, but (other thsn missing the silver coloured mirrors mine has) it is the same.
And by god it is a good looking car!
If so, that is the perfect 159.
90 B said:
...that is the perfect 159.
Yup! 
jamieandthemagic said:
Mines been good as gold.
I've got a 2008 1.9 Lusso stromboli grey sportwagon wearing 18's - now done 70k miles, will be selling it next summer (company opt out rules apply).
I've had it since 12k miles.
servicing not a problem.
Did have a remap by red dot for a while which took it from 160bhp to 210bhp - but I had probs with the dpf, which meant trips to the garage under warrenty, & trips back to red dot to get remap re-instated - under many trips back & forth, I just said "feck it" & returned the car to normal.
18's are nice, not harsh & just the right side of expensive. though they only last around 12k on the front.
theres lots of hidden extras on the car, that are not on any spec sheet, which are just nice touches.
Most 2008 159 lussos on the market are ex Hertz cars, as they bought a glut of them under a good deal with Alfa, although Alfa owned them & leased them to Hertz, so 1st owner is registered as Alfa UK.
TI's tend to be a bit later 2009 on, & command about £1k extra, but for the sake of sillier wheels, chrome mirrors & slightly different seats, I could justify it.
I just spent £400 for the 4th year warenty extension, just for the peace of mind.
Apart from the remap/DPF issues, nothings broken, nothings gone silly.
looking at my colleagues 2011 A4, the 159 has better interior build quality
will be selling this beloved alfa in about 2 to 3 months, when the new Co car arrives.......... will miss it. if your interested drop me a mail at j.yates@trilux.co.ukI've got a 2008 1.9 Lusso stromboli grey sportwagon wearing 18's - now done 70k miles, will be selling it next summer (company opt out rules apply).
I've had it since 12k miles.
servicing not a problem.
Did have a remap by red dot for a while which took it from 160bhp to 210bhp - but I had probs with the dpf, which meant trips to the garage under warrenty, & trips back to red dot to get remap re-instated - under many trips back & forth, I just said "feck it" & returned the car to normal.
18's are nice, not harsh & just the right side of expensive. though they only last around 12k on the front.
theres lots of hidden extras on the car, that are not on any spec sheet, which are just nice touches.
Most 2008 159 lussos on the market are ex Hertz cars, as they bought a glut of them under a good deal with Alfa, although Alfa owned them & leased them to Hertz, so 1st owner is registered as Alfa UK.
TI's tend to be a bit later 2009 on, & command about £1k extra, but for the sake of sillier wheels, chrome mirrors & slightly different seats, I could justify it.
I just spent £400 for the 4th year warenty extension, just for the peace of mind.
Apart from the remap/DPF issues, nothings broken, nothings gone silly.
looking at my colleagues 2011 A4, the 159 has better interior build quality
I've just bought myself a 2009 159 2.4 jtdm ti in Alfa red and absolutely love it. Mileage is 46,000 miles . All these comments regarding cam belt change needing engine out scares me though !!! Also the oil change undertray issues I've been hearing about ----------------- still love it though , just getting a towbar fitted ready to tow the minno and Sprint car.
no 159/147/156/GTV Alfa needs engine out for a cambelt change. Even the V6's can be done in situ. I done a 159 2.4 belt/waterpump in 3 hours the other day with the engine left in the car. Also the 159 suspension is very reliable. The best 2.4 engine for reliabilty is the old 10v in the 156.
Anyone have any experience of a four wheel drive 159? To me it sounds like it an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous Quattro Audis, but there are not many about - is this for a reason? I'd like to know PH wisdom about the driving experience and also about general ownership costs when compared to front wheel drive.
Sortie 10 said:
Anyone have any experience of a four wheel drive 159? To me it sounds like it an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous Quattro Audis, but there are not many about - is this for a reason? I'd like to know PH wisdom about the driving experience and also about general ownership costs when compared to front wheel drive.
I think the reason there are so few about are due to the 159's overall sales not being massive, and 4 wheel drive big saloons (inc Audi) generally sell a fraction compared to its FWD equivalent in the UK. Those that have the Q4 generally seem to keep them (well at least until the Giulia finally comes out 
)Some interesting info here, apparently it is the "good stuff".
"Torsen is the company who hold the Torsen diff design that Alfa and Audi use.
The Q4 diff setup is the same as the top Audi RS line use.
It cant really be compared to the part-time Haldex 4WD system used further down the VW range."
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-...
Plus owner comments here.. http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-...
Edited by V6Alfisti on Friday 11th January 15:00
Hi guys,
I've just joined the 159 club, bought is yesterday and so far so good. Total change from my last day to day car which was a full fat Range Rover, initial impressions are that the 159 has pretty terrible rear visability and I have no idea where the corners are (but I suppose I just need to get used to it), going to miss some of the RR toys like heated steering wheel etc, but otherwise the 159 cabin is a nice place to be and I much prefer seeing average MPG in the 30s rather than the teens!! Hoping as I get tuned into driving it I can get it over 40 (it's the 1.9 JDTM).
Anyway here is a pic alongside the less practical weekend car! Not quite as pretty as the newer TI models, but I'm still very pleased with it!
I've just joined the 159 club, bought is yesterday and so far so good. Total change from my last day to day car which was a full fat Range Rover, initial impressions are that the 159 has pretty terrible rear visability and I have no idea where the corners are (but I suppose I just need to get used to it), going to miss some of the RR toys like heated steering wheel etc, but otherwise the 159 cabin is a nice place to be and I much prefer seeing average MPG in the 30s rather than the teens!! Hoping as I get tuned into driving it I can get it over 40 (it's the 1.9 JDTM).
Anyway here is a pic alongside the less practical weekend car! Not quite as pretty as the newer TI models, but I'm still very pleased with it!
I am still feeling the love for my 2.4 159 after exactly 1 year of first time Alfa ownership. Know what you mean about knowing where the corners are, even after a year. I find it impossible to park it straight and nicely close to the kerb. 
Now due a service and probably a set of tyres. Need to do some investigations into my options in that regard.
Still get a thrill though when it gets admiring glances.
Now due a service and probably a set of tyres. Need to do some investigations into my options in that regard.
Still get a thrill though when it gets admiring glances.
stylussprinter said:
I've just bought myself a 2009 159 2.4 jtdm ti in Alfa red and absolutely love it. Mileage is 46,000 miles . All these comments regarding cam belt change needing engine out scares me though !!! Also the oil change undertray issues I've been hearing about ----------------- still love it though , just getting a towbar fitted ready to tow the minno and Sprint car.
I've owned this 2.4ti in Alfa red since Sept 2012 , had it remapped to 252bhp 355lbft plus EGR delete DPF gutted . Regarding the cambelt job , it's not frightening at all , in fact mine's going in at 49,670 miles next week to AFORALFA in Aylesbury -- cambelt/water pump/tensioner etc at 265 all in , engine not coming out. Undertray is fine now because days after buying the car , although it had been seviced at 42,000 miles , I did it myself . Yes , it was a bugger to get off due to some of the screws spinning around in their threaded inserts BUT I clean them all up with a wire brush and dipped them in copper grease before re-fitting --- so it'll be ok next time . I'll be servicing at 8,000 miles not 18,000 miles as per book.Only thing happened since last Sept is that two rear springs have cracked , right at the bottom coil of the springs , still ok to drive carefully but am shocked at the new spring cost of 100 each !!!!
To that end , I've searched the net to find a company called ALFISTI.NET . They can supply all four springs but uprated EIBACH'S at 135 euro's --- you can see why Germany is successful can't you -- like it or lump it , I can't buy in the UK although I'd like to. Seeing as they're so cheap I asked their shocks deals too ---- I can get delivered 4 BILSTEIN B6 plus 4 EIBACH uprated springs at 665 Euro's , that's 571-90p to my door .
So that's what's going to happen then I'll fit Powerflex adjustable bushes to the front end and get it aligned .
Still really pleased with it , turn around to view it whenever I walk away from it plus now remapped , it goes like Alfa intend their cars to go and the 5 pots sound awesome , just not like diesel at all. The 2.4ti JUST BLOWS AWAY THE 1.9 and have test driven both.
Just insured it with GREENLIGHT and declared the remap etc 368-50p !!!
Edited by stylussprinter on Friday 15th March 12:15
Just had my belt/pump done and a big service at AlfaAid in Maidenhead. It was 5 years old in Jan and has done 37k. Had a broken wishbone done as well and it was really very tempting to have a remap at the same time. Just the gentle remap rather than the DPF removal etc.
They showed me the pipe they use to replace the DPF and it's apparently an Alfa part as having a DPF is an option over the channel. Looked nice, but I didn't ask the price! Left there and had a set of Pirelli P7s put on it. Expensive day!
Almost 15 months into 159 ownership (Alfa come to that)and the love hasn't diminished whatsoever. I have had loads of cars over the years but none have had this effect. Terrific isn't it!
They showed me the pipe they use to replace the DPF and it's apparently an Alfa part as having a DPF is an option over the channel. Looked nice, but I didn't ask the price! Left there and had a set of Pirelli P7s put on it. Expensive day!
Almost 15 months into 159 ownership (Alfa come to that)and the love hasn't diminished whatsoever. I have had loads of cars over the years but none have had this effect. Terrific isn't it!
(Longtime lurker, new poster...;))
I've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
Still, great car, goes like stink, leaves my 147 standing and looks EVIL in your rear view mirror.
I've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
Still, great car, goes like stink, leaves my 147 standing and looks EVIL in your rear view mirror.
egon said:
(Longtime lurker, new poster...;))
I've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
Top info, cheers for letting us knowI've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
HebdenHedgehog said:
egon said:
(Longtime lurker, new poster...;))
I've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
Top info, cheers for letting us knowI've just replaced the steering rack on my wifes 65,000 m 159 1.9 Jtdm. Quite a simple job, but i thought i'd shout about the power steering fluid and resoviour.
At some point in june 2007 some little italian bloke at the factory read the instructions and worked out that the power steering fluid that him and his mates were putting in, was infact the wrong stuff. They should have opened that big box from opel and used the green fluid thats used in the vectra c.
From this point forward they did exactly that. Only, they forgot to pass on this info to the dealers who are most of the time clueless about this fact...and will then bung in the red stuff and its all gonna go wrong from this point forward...
...I sold my Audi A4 saloon TDI and wanted something a little different from
everyone else on the motorway. So I got this....
Done over 3,000 miles in the car now. Totally reliable and the only
expese has been two new front wipers. If you are thinking of getting
a 159 I can really recomend it.
everyone else on the motorway. So I got this....
Done over 3,000 miles in the car now. Totally reliable and the only
expese has been two new front wipers. If you are thinking of getting
a 159 I can really recomend it.
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