RE: Alfa Romeo 159 arrives
Discussion
Strangely, I saw one of these in the flesh yesterday. A Silver one pulled out at a roundabout behind me in Coventry and followed me for a bit. The front looked really nice in the flesh - real presence.
To be honest the sides and back when it went off at a different exit looked little changed. Still a good looking car though and streets ahead of the new 3 series in terms of design.
To be honest the sides and back when it went off at a different exit looked little changed. Still a good looking car though and streets ahead of the new 3 series in terms of design.
Oh, and one more thing. Anyone here who, as a child, sat in the drivers seat of a (stationary, obviously!) car and pretended they were in a plane/spaceship or something (that's most of the males here I'd imagine) will love the 159s interior; the centre-console runs at a comparatively shallow angle compared to most cars (esp. the 156, which is verticle) and is angled towards the driver to a suprising degree. As a result you, as the driver, feel cacooned, surrounded by buttons (inc. some on the roof, which is beyond cool), like you're in the cockpit of the space shuttle or something.
This, and this alone has made me want one more than any other car on the planet
This, and this alone has made me want one more than any other car on the planet
dinkel said:
Same here . . . 1.9 is the entry mill When will the new 147 (149) see light?
Sure that's not a Subaru? (Andreaaaaaaaas!!!!! - whoring himself around design houses like the new bangle that he is)
Ali.
PS: Don't worry about the demise of the Alfa V6 just yet, or at least pass judgement on the new one after driving it. I haven't, but Alfa Romeo are reengineering the heads of the GM 3.2 so hopefully it'll have some character, yet should be reliable. I saw one at the melbourne motorshow a couple of days back and it looked superb, disregard my earlier snout comment I was drunk when I wrote that. It gets the thumbs up from me.
>> Edited by FestivAli on Thursday 16th February 08:32
Love the car inside and out since Goodwood. I really think its one of the best looking cars on sale today (exotica included). 
So, got a call from Alfa UK, informing me about the launch and inviting me for a test drive, said my local dealer would be contacting me.
I expressed to Alfa UK how much I loved the car but my concerns remain in respect of dealer service.
Anyway, a week later, no contact from dealer, so I make contact my self. They confirmed that they will give me a call back to arrange invite to their launch and arrange test drive etc. Guess what? No call back from dealer, not so much a brochure through the post.
So, as a potential customer, who loves the car, how valued do I feel?
So, got a call from Alfa UK, informing me about the launch and inviting me for a test drive, said my local dealer would be contacting me.
I expressed to Alfa UK how much I loved the car but my concerns remain in respect of dealer service.
Anyway, a week later, no contact from dealer, so I make contact my self. They confirmed that they will give me a call back to arrange invite to their launch and arrange test drive etc. Guess what? No call back from dealer, not so much a brochure through the post.
So, as a potential customer, who loves the car, how valued do I feel?
I love the new car, over here in Italy there are already quite a few on the roads and I've got to say that its stunning, its got a lot of presence on the road, really aggressive snout when you see it bearing down on you at insane speeds on the motorway (typical Alfa driving style over here...). As for the reliability issues i'm not so sure, maybe we've just been lucky but our old Alfa 155 2.0 went up to 279000kms without a hitch and my dad's current 145 hasn't missed a beat in 8 years. My Golf's given me more trouble!
chickensoup said:Doesn't sound a lot, but a quick check of the BMW website shows a 320d gives 81 bhp/litre, a 320i gives 75, so it's not ridiculous for its class.
is 85 bhp per litre not a little disappointing
I'd guess (and it is a guess) all the clever stuff has more benefit for emissions than for outright power.
vinceh said:
From the pictures (i've not seen it in the flesh yet), it looks exactly the same as the 156.
So why the name/number change?
I'm with you, Witty. What a disappointment. Not that the 156 was a bad looking car, but why on earth haven't they moved things on? Can't be because they are worried about upsetting X million happy customers, a la BMW.
Oh please!
noor said:
Sort out the reliability and depreciation issues and ill buy one tomorow!!!
Reliability issues have made huge strides in recent years, the quality of the 159 is good enough to match any of the germans, go take a look. As for depreciation, with the latest alfas, if you dont buy a boggo repmobile version it has been no worse than a ford or vauxhall, although not up there with the beemers and audis etc, check out the second hand values on a gt 3.2 now for instance, holding very nicely.
Interior looks lovely and it has presence from the front (like the throwback to the 6 lights of the SZ) but I'm afraid from the rear 3/4 view it looks very much like a cross between a Mazda 6 and a Mondeo!
OK I'm biased but the 156 looked genuinly different to everything else in it's class, however this is just a bit "samey".
Yet to see one in the flesh however, so I reserve the right to change my mind!!
OK I'm biased but the 156 looked genuinly different to everything else in it's class, however this is just a bit "samey".
Yet to see one in the flesh however, so I reserve the right to change my mind!!
800 said:
Love the car inside and out since Goodwood. I really think its one of the best looking cars on sale today (exotica included).
So, got a call from Alfa UK, informing me about the launch and inviting me for a test drive, said my local dealer would be contacting me.
I expressed to Alfa UK how much I loved the car but my concerns remain in respect of dealer service.
Anyway, a week later, no contact from dealer, so I make contact my self. They confirmed that they will give me a call back to arrange invite to their launch and arrange test drive etc. Guess what? No call back from dealer, not so much a brochure through the post.
So, as a potential customer, who loves the car, how valued do I feel?
This is exactly what happened to me too! Alfa UK call me, inform me local dealer will call -well he did - a week before the launch -I told him all about my past ownership and love of alfa romeo's but the fact that I didn't buy another one due to reliability, customer service, he makes a note etc and tells me he's sending an invitation letter out. When I asked about a test drive he said when I receive the letter it would give details of what times are available should I wish to test drive etc. A week letter no letter, no phone call! End of story. That sadly still sums up most of the Alfa Romeo dealerships (and that was meant to be a NEW dealership with a new manager taken on from Jaguar!) They need to learn lessons in customer service from the Japanese...
The World would be a sad place without alfa romeo
Who else puts panache, style and character into familly cars
they may not build perfect cars,
But if you took off the badges and werent told what the car was,and you were then made to drive one
theres not many people who would be disappointed driving a 147 or a 156
I hope the 159's a great car
Who else puts panache, style and character into familly cars
they may not build perfect cars,
But if you took off the badges and werent told what the car was,and you were then made to drive one
theres not many people who would be disappointed driving a 147 or a 156
I hope the 159's a great car
errek72 said:
Yet to see one in the flesh however, so I reserve the right to change my mind!!
Take precautions; hold on to your hat, and make sure there is no Brera about because you won't be looking at the 159 when there is.
Beg to differ - Brera and 159 side by side at Goodwood, and IMO the 159 had more presence.
Probably because the Brera is "supposed" to be beautiful and falls a little short of the mark, whilst the 159 is "supposed" to be utilitarian but manages it with style...
Regarding reliabilty:i bought one in 2018 now 1 year later,
I ve had to buy 2bulbs in a year
3.2 v6 jts 08 plate 57k
My jag 4.2 v8 was double the price in petrol so no bad at all
The £50/ month road tax is a bit of a .... but its a monster on the road and goes where you point it ,sticks real well on corners rapid! I kick its guts in everywhere i go ,drank 1.5 litres of oil/ year , love it rapid!
I ve had to buy 2bulbs in a year
3.2 v6 jts 08 plate 57k
My jag 4.2 v8 was double the price in petrol so no bad at all
The £50/ month road tax is a bit of a .... but its a monster on the road and goes where you point it ,sticks real well on corners rapid! I kick its guts in everywhere i go ,drank 1.5 litres of oil/ year , love it rapid!
Edited by thefibreglassman on Sunday 10th March 15:48
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