RE: Alfa Romeo 159 JTDM | Shed of the Week
Discussion
Arsecati said:
Absolutely gorgeous - still genuinely better looking than any NEW model from the German 3, I can't believe that car is 13 years old. Sure, people may go on about the 'reliability', but is any £1200 3-Series, C-Class or A4 going to be any more reliable? I strongly doubt it!
If that's all I had to spend on a motor, I don't think I'd feel short-changed at all, you'd still look back at it as you walked away - top, top shed!
Oh, and let this finally FOREVER put to bed any wayward thoughts of increasing the limit to £2k again...... this absolutely proves bang on that quality sheds are more than alive and kicking below £1500!
I've had my 17 year old 170k 320cd for 3 years now and apart from a new radiator in the first 2 weeks of ownership it has been genuinely faultless. That said a 159 in Ti spec looks the dogs.If that's all I had to spend on a motor, I don't think I'd feel short-changed at all, you'd still look back at it as you walked away - top, top shed!
Oh, and let this finally FOREVER put to bed any wayward thoughts of increasing the limit to £2k again...... this absolutely proves bang on that quality sheds are more than alive and kicking below £1500!
Peppka said:
728 days later said:
Handsome shed always liked these. I’d love the 1.75 TBi at some point
Alfa Workshop always said the 1.75 TBi was the one to have same with the Brera, the V6's were a disappointment in the 159 and Brera compared with the Busso V6's in the GTV, GT, 156 and 147 gta's. The 159 is one of the cars I credit with first getting me into cars. I remember on a beautiful summer day riding my pony past someone polishing an almost new one on their drive, and it stirred something within me which seemed to say "you need one of those" before I really knew anything about cars. It was in almost the exact same spec as this shed, too. The black really does suit them well.
I've just replaced a 159 JTDm at 107K, great car but... I had the cam-belt (water pump seized) go, lots of EGR/DPF issues and the gearbox went. At that mileage I'd be very wary of the gearbox, 6th gear goes as it's not properly lubricated a long drive using cruise control did for mine.
It was one of the few cars that when I parked it I'd almost always glance back at it...
It was one of the few cars that when I parked it I'd almost always glance back at it...
apm142001 said:
I’ve thought fairly seriously about the V6 but have also heard that - not a very interesting sound plus not very fast. Always interested to hear any owners’ inputs on the sound; the performance figures certainly aren’t too impressive...but then the 159 is weirdly heavy.
The V6 in the Brera/159 was not the Classic Busso engine. It was sourced from GM and I believe it’s lineage can be traced back to a Holden V6. Certainly didn’t have the same revvy characteristics and great sound that the Busso did....remedy said:
I've got a 2.4 TI with the auto box remapped to 260 and I've had no real probs in 2 years. For my first Alfa, it's been great. Only 76k on it too.
It's going into Autocasa in Cov at the end of the month for a service and front brake change as its had a very squeaky wheel/brake since I've had it but that's it.
Oh, my brake lights stopped working but that was just a connector opening up. I crimped it back together and it's been fine since.
Pulls like a train, looks awesome and drives lovely. Not frugal on fuel though but I don't drive it enough to care.
As has been said, that is really fIt's going into Autocasa in Cov at the end of the month for a service and front brake change as its had a very squeaky wheel/brake since I've had it but that's it.
Oh, my brake lights stopped working but that was just a connector opening up. I crimped it back together and it's been fine since.
Pulls like a train, looks awesome and drives lovely. Not frugal on fuel though but I don't drive it enough to care.
king pretty! I think I’d even take the 2.4 over any of the petrol offerings...love a 5 pot. A1VDY said:
Not bad cars but better with the 1.9 which provides more than enough power/torque and there's less chance of lunching the M32 gearbox than with the 2.4.
Comfort of 156/9/147 seats always leaves something to be desired though..
The 2.4 doesnt have the M32 gearbox, it has the F40 which is a much heavier duty unit and problems are rare.Comfort of 156/9/147 seats always leaves something to be desired though..
On the original post here, it talks about the Ti, but it wasn’t launched till later, so this Lusso is the top model.
My personal concerns on these are the M32 and corrosion on the front subframe, other than that they are at least as durable as anything else out there and a lot better looking.
I've had a 2011 2.0 JTDM Ti Sportwagon for the last three years. I'm now in the processes of trading it in for a new car, as it is getting on, and needs some work doing to it.
Personally, I think they are very good cars. Stunning looks, and comfortable. Decent performance, and very good economy - here in Guernsey I get mid-30's mpg. Mixed driving in the UK achieves 45 - 50mpg.
The good - stunning looks, especially the Ti Sportwagons, comfortable, as reliable as most cars, decent handling, Alfa Romeo Owners Club have been helpful, and there's lots of information available on the FB forums
The bad - interior is understandably aging now, sub-frame rot - it should be checked regularly, worn front suspension components, ponderous factory fitted double-din satnav and media unit. Diesels over time suffer dpf, swirl flap, egr valve, and maf sensor issues, but this is not unusual for diesels, especially here in Guernsey where driving is stop-start and speeds are low.
Its only let me down once - the starter motor died a couple of years ago and had to be replaced. Ironically, it's German! The later 159's have the M40 gearbox, which is far more reliable than the M32 gearbox. Most owners of 159's with the M32 gearbox have preobably had the repair work done by now, so this shouldn't be much of an issue when buying one.
The time has come to say goodbye to it now. Next car will be either a BMW M240i Coupe or Alfa Guilia Veloce. I suspect that the BMW may well be the one though . . . . . .
Personally, I think they are very good cars. Stunning looks, and comfortable. Decent performance, and very good economy - here in Guernsey I get mid-30's mpg. Mixed driving in the UK achieves 45 - 50mpg.
The good - stunning looks, especially the Ti Sportwagons, comfortable, as reliable as most cars, decent handling, Alfa Romeo Owners Club have been helpful, and there's lots of information available on the FB forums
The bad - interior is understandably aging now, sub-frame rot - it should be checked regularly, worn front suspension components, ponderous factory fitted double-din satnav and media unit. Diesels over time suffer dpf, swirl flap, egr valve, and maf sensor issues, but this is not unusual for diesels, especially here in Guernsey where driving is stop-start and speeds are low.
Its only let me down once - the starter motor died a couple of years ago and had to be replaced. Ironically, it's German! The later 159's have the M40 gearbox, which is far more reliable than the M32 gearbox. Most owners of 159's with the M32 gearbox have preobably had the repair work done by now, so this shouldn't be much of an issue when buying one.
The time has come to say goodbye to it now. Next car will be either a BMW M240i Coupe or Alfa Guilia Veloce. I suspect that the BMW may well be the one though . . . . . .
I had a 159 2.4 Lusso as my commuter, it was a lovely place to be and with a remap, a great drive. It was totally trouble free and I offloaded it at 130k as I felt bills were looming. According to the MOT checker 8 years later it’s on 268k and and the advisories are nothing exciting, what do I know? A good friend has a 2.4 on 210k and other than a suspension refresh has been faultless for 200k.
Brilliant cars (particularly the 2.4), one that you turn to admire and tarred by those that haven’t had one.
Brilliant cars (particularly the 2.4), one that you turn to admire and tarred by those that haven’t had one.
Edited by Dunk130TC on Friday 10th July 08:40
My wife had one of these for 9 years, same as the example in the article but with black leather. It was bought cheap with high miles as an interim car but we like it so much it stayed. We took it from 100k to 180k in our ownership and it couldn't have been more reliable. Apart from a new turbo It never needed anything other than consumables. They are really underrated cars and look fantastic. I will say it wasn't the most engaging car to drive, it was nose heavy and I hated the gearbox.
We ended up traded it in last year after it became a pain to get through MOT, it could only pass the emissions tests if it was completely warmed up.
We ended up traded it in last year after it became a pain to get through MOT, it could only pass the emissions tests if it was completely warmed up.
Rozzers said:
My personal concerns on these are the M32 and corrosion on the front subframe, other than that they are at least as durable as anything else out there and a lot better looking.
Indeed those are the main issues on these, very solid cars as built under the time where an ex BMW chap was leading the engineering/construction.Although there is also chain stretch issues on the GM petrol units, the 2.2 if I remember correctly. However BMW/Audi have their own raft of issues.
It unfortunately also inherited a few GM bits including the unfinished chassis (or so the story goes) and the petrol units are GM with different heads to make them sound like an Alfa.
Ultimately they drive like a slightly more polished Audi with quick steering (or my old Brera certainly did). It doesn't have the playfulness of the older cars i.e 156/GT or the newer cars (Giulia/Stelvio)
However you do get vast amounts of style, reliability which would make me look towards the Alfa over any Audi of the same vintage.
apm142001 said:
I’ve thought fairly seriously about the V6 but have also heard that - not a very interesting sound plus not very fast. Always interested to hear any owners’ inputs on the sound; the performance figures certainly aren’t too impressive...but then the 159 is weirdly heavy.
V6 owner here: Q4 Qtronic TI - one of just 4 on the roads in the UK I believe. Bought for looks rather than performance. Engine likes to rev and a few people - literally strangers in the street - have said how nice it sounds and that's on standard exhausts. The engine and 4wd and auto box make it a heavy car but it doesn't feel weighty, more planted. Economy averages out at around 23mpg but I don't do many long journeys - on a cruise that can be in the 30s.It's fast enough; 260bhp when new was adequate and while I'm no boy racer it does pick up rapidly when overtaking.
Ironically for an old Alfa it's one of the least troublesome cars I've owned. Other than consumables it's been faultless.
Loads of quirks; namely no handle to open to the boot; the Bluetooth system has a mind of it's own and is rubbish (but there is a USB input which works well); the petrol tank is nearly impossible to properly fill due to the shape of it; and you can't use the cup holder, ashtray or 12v socket at the same time - it's one or the other.
Pluses are it looks drop-dead gorgeous & the boot is surprisingly large and larger still with the rear seats down. You'll look back at it in a car-park time and time again.
Edited to add: timing-chain stretch affects the 3.2 as well. Just ensure the oil is changed at service time and the gullies that feed the chain should be clean and clear of gunk. If the chain has a decent supply of oil you can stave off any issues.
Edited by DrSteveBrule on Friday 10th July 08:52
Love these, remember someone getting one on the next road over and had obviously just got it delivered and he was faffing around it, I stopped and had a look and the owner clocked me, I am not one for accosting folk but I said I hadn't seen one and it has to be the best looking car I have seen in ages which he seemed to appreciate, it was around for ages but went fairly recently. The front at the time it came out was just a complete surprise, time and familiarity dulls it but was up there with seeing a TT in the flesh for the first time.
Still think of them as fairly new cars but that was 15 years ago.
Lovely shed, seems bad calling them a shed, bit plain compared to the two other examples of PHers examples but nothing some decent OEM alloys wouldn't cure, even like the interior and could live with the engine as you arent getting a nice V6 at shed money.
Still think of them as fairly new cars but that was 15 years ago.
Lovely shed, seems bad calling them a shed, bit plain compared to the two other examples of PHers examples but nothing some decent OEM alloys wouldn't cure, even like the interior and could live with the engine as you arent getting a nice V6 at shed money.
remedy said:
I've got a 2.4 TI with the auto box remapped to 260 and I've had no real probs in 2 years. For my first Alfa, it's been great. Only 76k on it too.
It's going into Autocasa in Cov at the end of the month for a service and front brake change as its had a very squeaky wheel/brake since I've had it but that's it.
Oh, my brake lights stopped working but that was just a connector opening up. I crimped it back together and it's been fine since.
Pulls like a train, looks awesome and drives lovely. Not frugal on fuel though but I don't drive it enough to care.
That’s a smarter version of ours - which has been battered by 180k miles of dog and children ferrying duties. The interior is very tough - we have 2 German Shepherds in there, and it scrubs up just fine if needed. The engine is an animal when mapped, we’ve needed a turbo and inlet manifold (neither are cheap) but it does get used hard.It's going into Autocasa in Cov at the end of the month for a service and front brake change as its had a very squeaky wheel/brake since I've had it but that's it.
Oh, my brake lights stopped working but that was just a connector opening up. I crimped it back together and it's been fine since.
Pulls like a train, looks awesome and drives lovely. Not frugal on fuel though but I don't drive it enough to care.
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