Alfa 159 Sportwagon arrives
Estate version bigger inside and out
   Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon |
The new Alfa 159 Sportwagon has just gone on sale in the UK, along with 260bhp V6 Q4 versions of the Alfa Brera, Alfa 159 and 159 Sportwagon. We covered much of the details of the new range earlier this year (see link below), so what follows here is specifically related to the Sportwagon estate.
Seven versions of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon, priced from £21,095 to £29,350 on-the-road will be available from launch, with a choice of five powerplants. Three petrol engines – 1.9 litre 160bhp and 2.2 litre 185bhp 4-cylinder units, and a 3.2 litre 260bhp V6 – combine Alfa Romeo’s JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection technology with continuously variable valve timing. They offer specific power outputs of between 81 and 85 bhp/litre, and almost 90 per cent of maximum torque available at 2,000rpm.
The two diesel engine options consist of a 1.9 litre 16 valve 150bhp 4-cylinder unit, and a 2.4 litre 20 valve 200bhp 5-cylinder powerplant, both of which feature the company’s JTDM (MultiJet) common rail direct injection technology.
Both units also feature variable geometry turbocharging, and incorporate a ‘for life’, maintenance-free particulate trap (DPF) in anticipation of Euro 5 emissions regulations. Alfa Romeo’s twin overhead camshaft 1.9 JTDM 16v unit combines a power delivery of 150bhp with 236lb-ft of torque.
All five engines are mated to six-speed manual gearboxes, with six-speed automatic available on the 1.9 JTDM Lusso version of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon later in 2006.
Dimensions and load-lugging
The Sportwagon is 225mm longer and 85mm wider than the outgoing Alfa 156 Sportwagon it replaces, but identical in length to the Alfa 159 saloon. It has a wheelbase 105mm longer than its predecessor, improving both front and rear passenger legroom. Despite being lower than the Alfa 156 Sportwagon, the new Alfa Romeo offers improved front and rear door access and an increase in interior headroom, particularly in the rear, according to Alfa.
Accessed via a full-width, top hinged tailgate, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon offers 445 litres of loadspace below the retractable luggage cover. The 60:40 split/folding rear seat features an integral armrest and ski hatch, and allows for the rapid expansion of the luggage compartment into a robust, practical, flat-floored load platform offering 850 litres of stowage below the window line, and 1,235 litres overall.
macdeb said:
Why anyone buys a BMW 3 series when you could have something like this is beyond me.
In 3 years the BMW will be worth over 50% of it's new cost. The Alfa Romeo will be worth half of f**k all. This will only get worse when the Alfa is 5 years old and is worth one eighth of f**k all. And this is from a huge Alfa fan. They make no sense new at all unless someone else is picking up the tab.
macdeb said:
Why anyone buys a BMW 3 series when you could have something like this is beyond me.
Why? Better build quality, better engines, better electronics, Rear wheel drive dynamics, better value for money. Need I go on?
Taste is purely personal. Sure, the Alfa looks nice in some folks eyes, but I just see a money pit. A HUGE money pit.
What do I drive? A BMW 330i Sport Touring. Have I even owned an Alfa? Yes, I have, and lived to regret it.
droptheclutch said:
Why anyone buys a BMW 3 series when you could have something like this is beyond me.
Why? Better build quality, better engines, better electronics, Rear wheel drive dynamics, better value for money. Need I go on?
Taste is purely personal. Sure, the Alfa looks nice in some folks eyes, but I just see a money pit. A HUGE money pit.
What do I drive? A BMW 330i Sport Touring. Have I even owned an Alfa? Yes, I have, and lived to regret it.
Interesting. I'm currently looking for a mid-sized estate for between 10-15K. So far I've narrowed it down to BMW 330i, Alfa 156 3.2 V6 GTA and the 4.0 W8 Passat. BMW looks good value for money, Alfa looks lovely (especially under the bonnet) and Passat is near impossible to find as a manual. Tempted to plump for the Alfa to be a bit different and the noise.
droptheclutch said:Have you had one other than the 75? I'm just thinking that things have moved on a bit since then - our new 147 is miles ahead of my old 33, for example.
Have I even owned an Alfa? Yes, I have, and lived to regret it.
You've got your 3-series and you like it, and that's great - each to their own. But I'm not sure you can write off a brand-new Alfa based on your experiences of one designed over 20 years ago.
If you've had a more recent Alfa than the 75, then fair enough - but it's not on your profile.I guess it depends on whether you're the type to buy a car as a necessary evil and try to minimise the cost or the other sort (petrolhead?) that buys something that floats their boat?
The 156SW is well thought of, despite a relatively miserly boot and the 159SW seems to have it beat on all counts.
IMO the 159SW is the best looking car currently produced by Alfa.
The Alfa just looks so much better. Would i buy one from new.....NO! to much depreciation would i buy one second hand.....FOR SURE!!!
Given the choice of a company car between a BMW and the Alfa..... the Alfa wins all the time, so much more style plus not everything things you are a W@nker for driving them.
D
Daftlad said:Perfectly nice car - it's a bit cheaper, same sort of pace on paper (without having driven either of them, I couldn't comment), styling is a matter of personal taste.
Boring. Which mid-sized estate would you choose instead?
V50 T5 SE Sport?
But I don't see anything about it that makes it less 'boring' than the 159. I just thought it was an odd description, that's all.
jamieboy said:
Boring.
V50 T5 SE Sport?
But I don't see anything about it that makes it less 'boring' than the 159. I just thought it was an odd description, that's all.
I agree jamieboy.
We bought a Volvo V50 T5. After buying it, we saw the new Alfa. My wife, who owns the Volvo but loves her Alfas, wished we'd still been looking for an estate.
Not sure my accountant or our finances, could handle two almost new Alfas dropping like stones.......
Nice car on your profile by the way.
Which mid-sized estate would you choose instead?Subaru Legacy, Passat V6 4motion (in black), Mazda6. Look to be honest I don't really mind the Alfa at all, but compared to their past efforts it looks quite bland - past the B-pillar its very ordinary. Much prefered the last iteration of the 156, though this one will probably be more practicle.
Ali.
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