Am I being sensible?
Discussion
Hi all, I'd just like a bit of verification. Am I being sensible in changing my car, an '07 Merc C200CDi for an Alfa 159Ti with the 1.9JTDm power unit? I can think of any number of reasons to ditch the Merc, too heavy, and boy does it feel it sometimes, not particularly good feel when driving, moron magnet, etc... the up shot is general reliability, I get the feeling it's not going to throw a spanner in my commute.
The 159 is the opposite, I love the looks, in and out (though the tyres on those 19's make me wince at the cost of their replacements), a bit more individual in the looks department (I've seen only two in the past fifteen months and one of them was when I was on my way home from looking at it), it's more powerful (150hp vs 136hp in the Merc), it's a nicer place to sit with it having sport seats (and the full leather with the red Alfa logo looks fantastic), it's marginally smaller as well. The one thing that gives me pause is the potential reliability (though I'll be doing the water pump/belt as soon as I get it as it's sitting on 52,000 miles and it's yet to be done, a bargaining chip here).
So thoughts? I'm aware that I shouldn't pay heed to the nay sayers as everyone knows that you only ever hear the bad things, but still...
The 159 is the opposite, I love the looks, in and out (though the tyres on those 19's make me wince at the cost of their replacements), a bit more individual in the looks department (I've seen only two in the past fifteen months and one of them was when I was on my way home from looking at it), it's more powerful (150hp vs 136hp in the Merc), it's a nicer place to sit with it having sport seats (and the full leather with the red Alfa logo looks fantastic), it's marginally smaller as well. The one thing that gives me pause is the potential reliability (though I'll be doing the water pump/belt as soon as I get it as it's sitting on 52,000 miles and it's yet to be done, a bargaining chip here).
So thoughts? I'm aware that I shouldn't pay heed to the nay sayers as everyone knows that you only ever hear the bad things, but still...
Krikkit said:
I'm not sure the 1.9 is the engine of choice really - lots of talk about various diesel-type problems going on it, especially the swirl flaps breaking up (which is an inlet-off job that needs the HP fuel pump and cambelt removing).
Is it not the same lump used in the Insignia, Astra, etc? Or have Alfa bolted on their own bits that fall apart. 
I do know that it's a damn sight smoother sounding than the 2.1 lump in the Merc, I think it is the same unit found in the Astra et al, something to do with an engine deal between GM and Alfa that see's the V6 GM unit plonked in Alfa's and Alfa's Diesel units in GM cars, If I remember correctly.
I was going to have a look at a Alfa GT Cloverleaf with the same engine... I'm beginning to rethink that idea. What are the petrols like (namely the 2.2JTS)? can't say I've ever heard anything majorly bad about them but I can't say I've really looked though.
I was going to have a look at a Alfa GT Cloverleaf with the same engine... I'm beginning to rethink that idea. What are the petrols like (namely the 2.2JTS)? can't say I've ever heard anything majorly bad about them but I can't say I've really looked though.
Edited by alpha channel on Friday 3rd January 11:39
Out of the 1.9 diesel, 2.2 petrol and 2.4 diesel, the 2.2 is definitely the most reliable, albeit not totally trouble free. I came close to buying a 159 last year, and after a lot of research I decided the engine I wanted was the 2.4 diesel with a remap - the 1.9 and the 2.2 just didn't feel quick enough to me.
I didn't realise these engines had so many potential issues.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff