RE: Alfa Romeo 159 JTDM | Shed of the Week
Discussion
My sole 159 experience was by best mate owning one for 10 years; his was the 1.8; the runt powerwise, but ok. His used to blow a halogen headlight bulb on a monthly basis, and he once had a sticky brake caliper that was expensive to sort (why, I'm not sure, I think there was a parts availability issue at the time). But that was it. No rattles, no engine issues, nothing else outside periodic maintenance.
I know people will say this one drinks from the wrong pump, but it's not a bad engine at all. It would have to be the 2.4 5 cyl Diesel for me though; it's a relation of the engine I had in my 156, and it was like a breath of fresh air (ironically) after the Passat V5 it replaced.
I know people will say this one drinks from the wrong pump, but it's not a bad engine at all. It would have to be the 2.4 5 cyl Diesel for me though; it's a relation of the engine I had in my 156, and it was like a breath of fresh air (ironically) after the Passat V5 it replaced.
TI spec 159’s are the best looking saloon car in the last 20 years in my opinion.
I test drove a 2.4jtdm a few years back, and my opinion on it at the time was that it felt a bit Lardy. I suspect that was simply newer car comparison syndrome, after a few years of owning bigger cars ( I have an a6 currently), that wouldn’t be an issue.
A manual 2.4jtdm TI estate would be perfect, but they are seemingly like rocking horse poo. Still really covert them from a looks perspective.
I test drove a 2.4jtdm a few years back, and my opinion on it at the time was that it felt a bit Lardy. I suspect that was simply newer car comparison syndrome, after a few years of owning bigger cars ( I have an a6 currently), that wouldn’t be an issue.
A manual 2.4jtdm TI estate would be perfect, but they are seemingly like rocking horse poo. Still really covert them from a looks perspective.
I had two 156s, never had a 159. I did book a test drive on a used 1750Ti, but when I turned up the salesman said "oh, it's been sold. But you can take it out anyway, he might change his mind". Er, no thanks, and a 60 second phone call would have saved me a 60 mile round trip. Bloody A-R dealership was its own worst enemy.
Shame on A-R for caving in to consumer research and adding conventional rear door handles.
Shame on A-R for caving in to consumer research and adding conventional rear door handles.
I do very little commenting on here as I use it as source of info generally and only occasionally post. However I couldn't let this one slip by...
I had a 159 1.9JTDm lusso as a company car for about 2.5 years (late 2008 until April 2011). Its the only car of the last 20 years I get doey eyed about and I have had many supposedly more desirable cars since. It had a great feel good factor and I never had any issues with it at all in spite of John Greatorix at Mangoletsi making sure it had over 200bhp, It is the only car I've had in the last 15 years that hasn't had some kind of issue needing fixing under warranty. Mine was white (Ghiaccio I think) with red leather interior and was nicknamed the tampon by some.
I had a 159 1.9JTDm lusso as a company car for about 2.5 years (late 2008 until April 2011). Its the only car of the last 20 years I get doey eyed about and I have had many supposedly more desirable cars since. It had a great feel good factor and I never had any issues with it at all in spite of John Greatorix at Mangoletsi making sure it had over 200bhp, It is the only car I've had in the last 15 years that hasn't had some kind of issue needing fixing under warranty. Mine was white (Ghiaccio I think) with red leather interior and was nicknamed the tampon by some.
Edited by RUSSB1972 on Friday 10th July 10:11
to3m said:
Love the interior. Used to walk past a GTV each day with similar light-coloured ribbed seats, and I always admired it just on that basis. Looked really tasty. It had the proper Alfa Romeo ring-y alloys, too.
But that's not to say I'd buy this one, not even with your money. Everybody I know that's had an Alfa Romeo has had a terrible experience with it. "They're not THAT bad", people say - well, OK, I do admit I don't know anybody whose Alfa Romeo has paid somebody to kill their spouse and children.
10 months of Alfa ownership, 14k miles, 1.75TBi, Giulietta Cloverleaf, no issues, no oil use, no problem.But that's not to say I'd buy this one, not even with your money. Everybody I know that's had an Alfa Romeo has had a terrible experience with it. "They're not THAT bad", people say - well, OK, I do admit I don't know anybody whose Alfa Romeo has paid somebody to kill their spouse and children.
Edited by to3m on Friday 10th July 01:37
DrSteveBrule said:
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
Have yet to own an Alfa but I know to expect 'quirks' so I don't think any of those would be a deal breaker.
Incidentally my 330Ci (late model, low mileage and pampered) had plenty of quirks/annoyances too, such as the CD changer jamming on a weekly basis (no bluetooth and a built-in - pixellated - screen sat-nav that severely limited any stereo upgrading options), interior trim around the door falling off just to keep itself entertained, and such an appetite for suspension components that I really should have been getting Christmas cards from Lemforder.
to3m said:
Everybody I know that's had an Alfa Romeo has had a terrible experience with it.
I've had 10 Alfas and done about 300,000 miles in them in total and the only time one failed to get me home was when the battery (German) failed. Loved them all.Edited by to3m on Friday 10th July 01:37
I'd happily have another... though not in black (which extends to any car for that matter, never a black car ever again). While it looked great in the Ti spec/silver alloys/Red Brembro calipers (with the 1.9JDTm engine) keeping the thing clean was a major ball ache (it'd have to be red/Ti spec).
As for the EGR valve, I had a tendency to take it off and scrape the built up soot out, reduced the the potential for it screwing up and kept the throttle response pin sharp, something which, while subtle, you could feel... typing that it's something I should done to the C class that I had before the Alfa (all of 8 months vs the 2.5 years of the Alfa, the longest I've ever owned a diesel) as the throttle response on that POS was rather unpredictable/borderline dangerous, sometimes it'd be fine other times damned near nothing (usually on roundabouts).
Suspension had a tendency to be a service item, the front upper wishbone being the main culprit for me (passenger side x2) though other than that (and a whining gearbox bearing) very little issue though I'd avoid Bosch glow plugs which didn't last long (I replaced them with NGK just before selling).
As for the EGR valve, I had a tendency to take it off and scrape the built up soot out, reduced the the potential for it screwing up and kept the throttle response pin sharp, something which, while subtle, you could feel... typing that it's something I should done to the C class that I had before the Alfa (all of 8 months vs the 2.5 years of the Alfa, the longest I've ever owned a diesel) as the throttle response on that POS was rather unpredictable/borderline dangerous, sometimes it'd be fine other times damned near nothing (usually on roundabouts).
Suspension had a tendency to be a service item, the front upper wishbone being the main culprit for me (passenger side x2) though other than that (and a whining gearbox bearing) very little issue though I'd avoid Bosch glow plugs which didn't last long (I replaced them with NGK just before selling).
I had a 2.4 jtdm until about 4/5 years ago or so...black with black leather.
Was remapped to 250-260, had a DPF & EGR delete and went like a train, with relatively decent fuel economy (considering how I drove it
)
It did go through water pumps though... happened twice to me, luckily first time the timing belt didn't break, second time I wasn't so lucky, although I was told the rockers were sacrificial so the damage wasn't catastrophic.
I had it repaired then moved it on... and got a BMW 123D Coupe instead (dull)
Missed it like crazy until I was able to get myself a Giulia Veloce a couple of years ago.
Was remapped to 250-260, had a DPF & EGR delete and went like a train, with relatively decent fuel economy (considering how I drove it
)It did go through water pumps though... happened twice to me, luckily first time the timing belt didn't break, second time I wasn't so lucky, although I was told the rockers were sacrificial so the damage wasn't catastrophic.
I had it repaired then moved it on... and got a BMW 123D Coupe instead (dull)
Missed it like crazy until I was able to get myself a Giulia Veloce a couple of years ago.
Owned 13 Alfa's in various guises and never had to repair one of them only consumables. The three 159 variants (2.2 JTS Estate / 1.75 TB Saloon / 2.2 JTS Brera) I have owned all proved extremely reliable but it pays to have a local specialist on tap i.e. the subframe corrosion is usually down to the aircon dripping onto the back of the subframe, a 5 minute fix re-routes the water. £250 gets the subframe brushed down and anit-corrosion paint applied - that's for both ends of the car. Changing the gearbox oil helps the gear change enormously on the M32 box and is buttons to get done.
These are special cars to own, you might think it's just another car but once you own one for period of time, I absolutely assure you you will get very protective of it and cherish it. The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!) and you never get tired of the design...from the rear three quarter angle, the lines on the bonnet, the little lip on the boot edge all come together and make a seriously attractive little car. The seating position is excellent and all the dials are screwed to face the driver with all the writing in Italian!
For the gentleman considering the Giulia Veloce or 3 series...I have the Veloce and am totally smitten. Points to note, the steering on the Giulia is superb, the speed of it is great (despite the 4 pot not sounding like a V6) and best of all, when you set everything in the car i.e. lane departure, headlight dipping, brake assist blah blah it remembers it all and you don't have to fiddle with it ever again. I would love the Quadrifoglio but I know there would be a Giulia shaped hole in a hedge very quickly. When's it wet and the roads are twisty (nearly everywhere around where I live in Scotland) the Veloce has more than enough poke to keep you on your toes!
These are special cars to own, you might think it's just another car but once you own one for period of time, I absolutely assure you you will get very protective of it and cherish it. The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!) and you never get tired of the design...from the rear three quarter angle, the lines on the bonnet, the little lip on the boot edge all come together and make a seriously attractive little car. The seating position is excellent and all the dials are screwed to face the driver with all the writing in Italian!
For the gentleman considering the Giulia Veloce or 3 series...I have the Veloce and am totally smitten. Points to note, the steering on the Giulia is superb, the speed of it is great (despite the 4 pot not sounding like a V6) and best of all, when you set everything in the car i.e. lane departure, headlight dipping, brake assist blah blah it remembers it all and you don't have to fiddle with it ever again. I would love the Quadrifoglio but I know there would be a Giulia shaped hole in a hedge very quickly. When's it wet and the roads are twisty (nearly everywhere around where I live in Scotland) the Veloce has more than enough poke to keep you on your toes!
michaeldouglas72 said:
For the gentleman considering the Giulia Veloce or 3 series...I have the Veloce and am totally smitten. Points to note, the steering on the Giulia is superb, the speed of it is great (despite the 4 pot not sounding like a V6) and best of all, when you set everything in the car i.e. lane departure, headlight dipping, brake assist blah blah it remembers it all and you don't have to fiddle with it ever again. I would love the Quadrifoglio but I know there would be a Giulia shaped hole in a hedge very quickly. When's it wet and the roads are twisty (nearly everywhere around where I live in Scotland) the Veloce has more than enough poke to keep you on your toes!
My Veloce just went back (2 year lease was up) and unfortunately there wasn't a satisfactory deal out there for another 
I completely agree on the steering comment... takes a little getting used to, but is fantastic.
I like you would love a quad, but that isn't happening any time soon
Currently in a Volvo S90 (deal was too good to turn down) lovely car in it's own right, but a very different car to the Veloce.
I will have another!
michaeldouglas72 said:
The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!)
I thought it would be but it's a 5 min job? The back pops off with a twist, unclip the bulb holder, replace and refit. I've done it several times and I was dreading it the first time, I thought it would be a nightmare.DrSteveBrule said:
michaeldouglas72 said:
The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!)
I thought it would be but it's a 5 min job? The back pops off with a twist, unclip the bulb holder, replace and refit. I've done it several times and I was dreading it the first time, I thought it would be a nightmare.DrSteveBrule said:
michaeldouglas72 said:
The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!)
I thought it would be but it's a 5 min job? The back pops off with a twist, unclip the bulb holder, replace and refit. I've done it several times and I was dreading it the first time, I thought it would be a nightmare.Blackpuddin said:
DrSteveBrule said:
michaeldouglas72 said:
The headlight arrangement is stunning (although changing a bulb is tricky!)
I thought it would be but it's a 5 min job? The back pops off with a twist, unclip the bulb holder, replace and refit. I've done it several times and I was dreading it the first time, I thought it would be a nightmare.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff