Alfa - idiocy to consider one?

[Blown2CV]

This in particular, but he question is really about all Alfas of this vintage

Mate at work had a 06-plate 159 same engine and it broke down literally every week, with some recurring manifold issue that Alfa refused to issue a recall for. All very well if you have a warranty (ish), but if buying used and you either have no warranty (private purchase) or may-as-well-be-no-warranty (Baz's used car hypermarket, or similar) then it doesn't fill me with confidence...

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Alfas these days are generally speaking reliable as any other marque lets not forget bmw and their td issues.

Lovely looking thing go for it.

[jamieboy]

Not sure about your budget, but later cars (Mar '08 onwards-ish) were a bit lighter and are generally held to be dynamically better.

Also the 2.4 engine came in 200bhp and later (although before the '08 facelift) 210bhp versions - I think the 210bhp versions haven't had the same issues as some of the 200bhp ones had.

[edo]

Looks nice. Just buy one with alfa warranty / from an alfa dealer IMHO.

[edo]

How about this one - same price, 13,000 less miles and alfa warranty....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[edo]

jamieboy said:

Not sure about your budget, but later cars (Mar '08 onwards-ish) were a bit lighter and are generally held to be dynamically better.

Also the 2.4 engine came in 200bhp and later (although before the '08 facelift) 210bhp versions - I think the 210bhp versions haven't had the same issues as some of the 200bhp ones had.

Diesel
Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Comp. Ratio Years

2.4 JTDM I5 2387 cc 147 kW (200 PS) @4000 rpm 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) @2000 rpm 17,0:1 2005–2006
2.4 JTDM I5 2387 cc 154 kW (210 PS) @4000 rpm 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) @1500 rpm 17,0:1 2007-

Edited by edo on Monday 19th April 17:55

[V6Alfisti]

The 159 has received positive reliability reviews via independents DEKRA.

http://www.dekra-faultsreport.com/

[Blown2CV]

V6Alfisti said:

The 159 has received positive reliability reviews via independents DEKRA.

... and is cheaper... food for thought!

[Deluded]

The Alfa JTDs are actually very reliable motors. Fiat engines and Fiat do make a good diesel.

Partners cousin bought a 156 JTD on my advice (we went through loads of cars) and he's done around 10k in it over the last month or two without any hitch and loves every minute of it.

Edited by Deluded on Tuesday 20th April 07:15

[DaveyS]

Just a point to make, you may want to find out how much servicing will cost you. At the Alfa dealer itself the 'main' service costs £950.

[Blown2CV]

DaveyS said:

Just a point to make, you may want to find out how much servicing will cost you. At the Alfa dealer itself the 'main' service costs £950.

................WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

[Carfiend]

That is for a cambelt, all filters and fluids. So yeah go to an indy. Problem with the cambelt is that it takes a good 1/2 day to do it at best and you need to change the tensioners and probably the water pump at the same time.

[S3_Graham]

my old GTV has been incredibly reliable having only needed tyres!

[T350 Al]

DaveyS said:

Just a point to make, you may want to find out how much servicing will cost you. At the Alfa dealer itself the 'main' service costs £950.

That's not far off the mark, however; find yourself a good Indie and it can easily be less than half of that for the cambelt and service.

As with many cars, the people who've had bad experiences tend to shout the loudest so don't believe all you hear. In 4 years of ownership our 147 has been fantastic, the largest bill being for the cambelt change. Go into it with your sensible hat on and you'll find Alfa ownership to be something quite special!

[alfaeagle]

Don't take your Alfa to a main dealer if you don't have to, there are plenty of Alfa independents dotted around the place and a quick consultation of AO will turn up a trusted one near you.

As far as reliability is concerned, the only issues I've had with the engine in my 20V diesel 156 are a split hose on the turbo and a knackered thermostat. It's never broken down and never failed to start.

(The 20V diesel is an awesome engine, even a diesel hater might actually like it if you actually tried one...)

I've had two Alfas before this one, both 16V twinnies, and didn't have a single issue with either of them.

I know that some people have horror stories to tell, but I guess it's the luck of the draw. Tread warily, check everything as much as you can and you won't go far wrong.

I'm planning to replace the 156 with a 159 ti 20V diesel at some point, if I don't swerve at the last minute and accidentally buy a V6 instead, I wouldn't be thinking of doing that if I thought they were a mobile horror show.

[Carfiend]

alfaeagle said:

(The 20V diesel is an awesome engine, even a diesel hater might actually like it if you actually tried one...)

I like the noise of mine...

[HellDiver]

Deluded said:

The Alfa JTDs are actually very reliable motors. Fiat engines and Fiat do make a good diesel.

Apart from the 1.9 which is a heap of ste - recurring manifold issues, EGR issues, and particulate filters. Same crappy engine used in the Astra and Vectra which are plain crap there too.

[p1doc]

T350 Al said:

DaveyS said:

Just a point to make, you may want to find out how much servicing will cost you. At the Alfa dealer itself the 'main' service costs £950.

That's not far off the mark, however; find yourself a good Indie and it can easily be less than half of that for the cambelt and service.

As with many cars, the people who've had bad experiences tend to shout the loudest so don't believe all you hear. In 4 years of ownership our 147 has been fantastic, the largest bill being for the cambelt change. Go into it with your sensible hat on and you'll find Alfa ownership to be something quite special!

my 147 is 2 1/2 yrs old 25,000 miles on the clock had to replace discs and pads twice due to corrosion and binding caliper and has been back for warranty work 3 times so far lovely drive but paint seems very thin,i am sure the rear bushes need replacing as well
martin

[alfaeagle]

Carfiend said:

alfaeagle said:

(The 20V diesel is an awesome engine, even a diesel hater might actually like it if you actually tried one...)

I like the noise of mine...

Yes, that 5-cylinder burble is very nice.

Mine's in for a service and MOT today, so I might change my mind later on

[jamieboy]

HellDiver said:

Deluded said:

The Alfa JTDs are actually very reliable motors. Fiat engines and Fiat do make a good diesel.

Apart from the 1.9 which is a heap of ste - recurring manifold issues, EGR issues, and particulate filters. Same crappy engine used in the Astra and Vectra which are plain crap there too.

And yet relatively few of those issues in Alfas. Don't know what is different in the GM cars - whether it's the map, installation, ancilliaries, whatever.