Alfa Romeo 159: PH Carpool
The Giulia may be on the way but this PHer is more than happy with its predecessor
Car: Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD Ti
Owned since: August 2014
Previously owned: Lexus IS200, Mk1 Ford Focus 2.0, Ford Fiesta 1.4 (we all start somewhere!)
Do four-door saloons get any prettier?
"I needed to replace the thirsty (and aging) Focus, and wanted something a little bit different, bit quicker, bit more upmarket. I wanted rear doors but wasn't ready for an estate, I didn't want another hatchback, so it had to be a saloon with folding rear seats - not so easy to find in my budget.
"I looked at all the usual suspects (3 Series, C-Class, A4) but I couldn't get anywhere near the spec or mileage for the money. Also very few of the aforementioned German contingent came with folding seats, let alone anything like the heated leather, electric folding mirrors, Xenons, Bluetooth and 'proper' split zone air-con. I also wanted to own something I didn't see a hundred of every day, and totally fell in love with the Alfa. I drove one locally, but it wasn't the right spec. After seeing the ad for 'my' Alfa and spending a long time on the phone I'd bought my train tickets from Bristol to view the car the next day. Everything was as described, so a deal was struck there and then."
What I wish I'd known:
"The boot is awkward to open - you have to try and cram your fingers under the shutline and prise it open. It also seems to get through tyres very quickly!"
Italian style and Italian quirks too!
"The seats are exceptional. This being the top spec Ti model it gets the usual body kit and a few sporty touches like more heavily bolstered sport seats, a nicely sculpted steering wheel and brushed aluminium trim inside. The interior is a really nice place to be - far nicer than the photos suggested.
"The suspension is very firm, but I like it that way. The Ti is lower and has 19-inch wheels which don't help things, but it never verges into uncomfortable and personally I love the way it looks and feels.
"I absolutely love the sound from the engine. Yes, it's a diesel so it's never going to be an aural delight, but it certainly has a unique character to it with five cylinders. After a remap and EGR blank the torque picks up nicely from low down, but it still has horsepower to deliver at the top end too, so it's worth hanging on. The gearchange is worthy of praise too - I was surprised to drive an S2000 and found the shift action severely lacking, which is odd because it's universally praised. It wasn't an old tatty one either.
"I nice little touch is the ability to split the air distribution (as well as temp) between passenger and driver. I like air on my feet where my fiance doesn't, so this is really useful for us and pretty cutting edge in 2007 no doubt!"
Things I hate:
"Hate is a strong word - I prefer to think of them as 'Italian quirks of design'. Some of the ergonomic decisions are laughable - whoever decided to the put the heated seat controls on the seat base clearly didn't count on passengers leaving their heater on seat on, with no easy way to see from the driver's seat.
"How on earth they signed off the position of the heating controls I'll never know - if you're in first, third or fifth the gear stick partially blocks the controls, making it quite awkward to operate!
"The displays can be quite hard to read in sunlight, and the button to open the boot in helpfully located on the roof next to the rear view mirror - kind of cool and 'fighter jet' if you're already in the car, a total PITA if you're stood outside it and just want to get in the (hard to open) boot."
Boot release button on the mirror. Of course
"I'm spending about the same on fuel as I did with the Focus (man maths fail!) but I'm driving about a lot quicker, in much more comfort with lots more toys (and style!). If I ease up I've seen (an indicated) 49.9mpg average from Bristol to Wisbech with the air-con running. Obviously this is completely wrong because nothing electrical on an Alfa works properly, but I do admire the optimism. I don't know what the true MPG is, and truthfully I don't care. I run it only on V Power Nitro+ and to be fair, I could probably save a little money every month with a change to driving habit - but where's the fun in that?
"Tax and insurance are lower than the Focus at £20 a month tax and £60 a month insurance.
"Tyres aren't cheap as they run an odd size - 235/45/R19. I only run Michelin Pilot Super Sports, as they offer phenomenal grip in all weather, but are gone in about 18,000 miles."
Where I've been:
"On an advanced driving day through Cheddar Gorge, a few trips up north and to the Silverstone Sunday Service meet."
What next?
"I've wanted an E46 M3 since I was about 15 - it's always been my 'unicorn car'. Whilst I looked at them closely when considering a replacement for the Focus, I just couldn't make the numbers work as a daily. Now I'm the right side of 30 insurance is much more reasonable, so I'll be buying one a second car to minimise the fuel costs. The Alfa is going nowhere for a long while yet."
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