Alfa 159 Sportwagon

[forzaminardi]

Hey,

I'm in the market for a 159 V6 Sportwagon (auto). I'd be interested to hear real, personal experiences of the car and, from any Alfisti out there, answers to the specific questions....

- I understand for the 2009 model year the car was lightened and revamped with little visual change (an invisible facelift if you like..!). Is there anything obvious to tell at a glance whether a specific example is pre- or post-revamp?

- I'm interested in the Ti version. Aside from the looks, are the Ti's spec upgrades and suspension changes worth having? Also it looks pretty low to the ground - any experience of speedbumps as I have to deal with about 3 billion of them every day?

PS I am based in Oz but happy to hear from UK PHers!

Thanks

[Kolbenkopp]

Never owned a 159, but if weight is a concern, the 1750TB should be on the short list? The late V6 is not really as great as the busso, in the 159 it always comes with the heavy Q4 AWD system, and torque wise the turbo and V6 are equal. That's before a remap which should find some 50 horses and more NMs on the 1750TB. IIRC the turbo cars also were all made after the weight saving measures.

That said, not sure on the last point and would also be interested a) how that weight was actually saved and b) how to tell they are the later model.

PS: nice username, OP -- I do miss that team .

[forzaminardi]

Kolbenkopp said:

Never owned a 159, but if weight is a concern, the 1750TB should be on the short list? The late V6 is not really as great as the busso, in the 159 it always comes with the heavy Q4 AWD system, and torque wise the turbo and V6 are equal. That's before a remap which should find some 50 horses and more NMs on the 1750TB. IIRC the turbo cars also were all made after the weight saving measures.

That said, not sure on the last point and would also be interested a) how that weight was actually saved and b) how to tell they are the later model.

PS: nice username, OP -- I do miss that team .

Thanks Kolbenkopp, I was thinking of the TB but they are super-rare in Oz in saloon format let alone estate (not that there are billions of 159s of any species around anyway!). Anyway the 4 wheel drive is part of the appeal, as is the V6 even if its not a 'real' Alfa V6, simply for being 4 wheel drive and V6.

Odd how "Minardi" have a win, some podiums and a works Honda engine these days but it's not quite as right as they used to be....

[Kolbenkopp]

forzaminardi said:

Thanks Kolbenkopp, I was thinking of the TB but they are super-rare in Oz in saloon format let alone estate (not that there are billions of 159s of any species around anyway!). Anyway the 4 wheel drive is part of the appeal, as is the V6 even if its not a 'real' Alfa V6, simply for being 4 wheel drive and V6.

Odd how "Minardi" have a win, some podiums and a works Honda engine these days but it's not quite as right as they used to be....

Ok -- I'll shut up on the 159 then, someone on here must have first hand experience with a V6... But what really strikes me, independent of engines, is how *good* these things still look today. Sometimes wonder what the Giulia could have done if it had the looks of the 159 or 156...

Toro Rosso? Some brief interest during the transistion while (fellow country man) Berger was on board. But after that? Nah, not the same....

Good luck with the Alfa!

[forzaminardi]

Kolbenkopp said:

Ok -- I'll shut up on the 159 then, someone on here must have first hand experience with a V6... But what really strikes me, independent of engines, is how *good* these things still look today. Sometimes wonder what the Giulia could have done if it had the looks of the 159 or 156...

Toro Rosso? Some brief interest during the transistion while (fellow country man) Berger was on board. But after that? Nah, not the same....

Good luck with the Alfa!

Yeah, stunning looking cars. A proper QV version would have been amazing...

[mitch_]

In ‘Ti’ trim it was a good looker. I had a few 159’s as daily users back when I was still an Alfa dealer. Best powertrains were the 2.4 diesel and the 1750 TBi. The V6 is rather unexciting and the auto transmission didn’t help either.

Can’t say I ever drove one and felt the four wheel drive doing anything so that would never have been on my shopping list.

[forzaminardi]

mitch_ said:

In ‘Ti’ trim it was a good looker. I had a few 159’s as daily users back when I was still an Alfa dealer. Best powertrains were the 2.4 diesel and the 1750 TBi. The V6 is rather unexciting and the auto transmission didn’t help either.

Can’t say I ever drove one and felt the four wheel drive doing anything so that would never have been on my shopping list.

I've heard good things about the 2.4 diesel, that's probably an option I dismissed too quickly simply for being a diesel. And I admit the four wheel drive is mainly appealing for vanity rather than having much purpose in a suburban setting. Auto is a must for commuting and SWMBO purposes.

Interestingly I have a black V6 and the preferred Alfa Red colour in 2.4 diesel form on watch locally so I might see if I can try them both.

[rodericb]

I say, a black '08 model with low k's would be very tempting................ I've got one in my Carsales.com.au favourites right now!

[forzaminardi]

rodericb said:

I say, a black '08 model with low k's would be very tempting................ I've got one in my Carsales.com.au favourites right now!

Probably the same one I do...!