Any reason I shouldn't buy a 2.2 159?
Discussion
OK, I need another car to commute in, occasionally carry a bike and occasionally carry the dog. It would be nice if it was something a little bit interesting, didn't have intergalactic mileage, was not likely to go pop without warning and was at least "useful" in terms of performance and handling while also being a decent place to do a long journey in.
This will be something so that I can "retire" my wife's SLK from daily duties (03, owned since new but mileage racking up now I am using it for a 45mile roundtrip most days). I also have a C class estate that my wife mostly has as she's at home with the dog more than me and a Quattroporte for high days and holidays so I'm am more than "used" to italians!
Always loved the look of the 159 and nearly bought a 2.4 when they first arrived but I wanted an auto at the time (not fussed now) and those were slightly behind the manuals. While a sportwagon isn't a full on flat loading area estate it will happily do what I want and they seem cheaper than the ubiquitous german equivalents. A diesel would be OK but I have found a nice, low miles 2.2 that is going for a decent price. Spec not ideal in being lusso rather than veloce but you can't have it all and it does have everything you'd "need". I know they're a little thirsty but that isn't any worse than the SLK, I know about the slightly lurchy low speed behaviour but Alfatune who do the remaps are only up the road from me and I know they can stretch cam chains but this one is low miles and looks to have had a gentle life.
So, given my criteria can any of you lot think of any reason I shouldn't buy it?
This will be something so that I can "retire" my wife's SLK from daily duties (03, owned since new but mileage racking up now I am using it for a 45mile roundtrip most days). I also have a C class estate that my wife mostly has as she's at home with the dog more than me and a Quattroporte for high days and holidays so I'm am more than "used" to italians!
Always loved the look of the 159 and nearly bought a 2.4 when they first arrived but I wanted an auto at the time (not fussed now) and those were slightly behind the manuals. While a sportwagon isn't a full on flat loading area estate it will happily do what I want and they seem cheaper than the ubiquitous german equivalents. A diesel would be OK but I have found a nice, low miles 2.2 that is going for a decent price. Spec not ideal in being lusso rather than veloce but you can't have it all and it does have everything you'd "need". I know they're a little thirsty but that isn't any worse than the SLK, I know about the slightly lurchy low speed behaviour but Alfatune who do the remaps are only up the road from me and I know they can stretch cam chains but this one is low miles and looks to have had a gentle life.
So, given my criteria can any of you lot think of any reason I shouldn't buy it?
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