Alfa 159 Estate - Petrol or Diesel

[marccdavison]

Hi,

Currently in the process of moving from a Diesel Grand Vitara back to an Estate, the (Fiat) engine in the suzuki has been a constant joy of mostly EGR problems. I'm guessing with a used diesel it's often more about the way the person before you drove than the way you drive.

For reference I do about 10k miles per year, mostly weekends (no commute) which are I guess longer a and b road runs (days out) with the odd shopping/garden centre/tip type run. We have a C1 for the real short trips.

I understand the Alfa 1.9 diesel is shared with the Vectra and Saab which people like HonestJohn certainly seem to rate pretty poorly, is this unfair/undeserved?

Should I steer clear of the Diesel (1.9 or 2.4) and just look at Petrol (if so which engine is best 1.9 1.8? or 2.2), or am I just being put off Diesel by my current problems and the general dpf/egr/dmf scaremongering and in reality it will be fine?

Either way, 159 estate seems to have passed spousal approval, more so than many other estates at least

[JimmyJam]

I've got a 2.4 diesel, wish I'd got the petrol. Its juicy and theres no fun to be heard when starting up or thrashing a diesel!
From what I understand the diesel only comes into its own if doing more than 14k pa.

[RicksAlfas]

I think it's unfair for the JTDs to be maligned by HJ. On the whole they are pretty robust units, but they do like hard use and decent quality fuel - to keep the EGRs and DPFs clear. Short journeys and pottering about doesn't do them any good - same with any modern diesels really.

Unlike JimmyJam I enjoyed the 2.4. It's got some real grunt and would be my choice out of any of the engines available. It is not economical though!

[Alfahorn]

OP, there is nothing wrong the 1.9, I will happily and categorically say HJ doesn't know what he's talking about!

They are robust, quite revvy for a diesel and very economical. In the 159 the 1.9 isn't going to win any races, however it is smooth and refined. If you can stretch the budget to a later car (59 plate onwards) then you've got the option of the 2.0 170 JTD which is excellent, I have this engine in my Giulietta.

[marccdavison]

if a diesel isnt asking for trouble then that makes life a little easier as finding petrol estates is not the easiest thing these days of any make other than 3 series and not really keen on them...

Economy isnt biggest concern, Suzuki only averages 30ish and I had an xc90 d5 which only managed about 28

so assuming that it's been used well by previous owner do we think diesel is an option then?

[RicksAlfas]

It might be you, not the previous owner.


EGR valve is a DIY job to remove, clean and replace. Takes a good hour. If you don't want to clean it, a new one is £100-150 or so. I'm not sure why you are having such persistent issues with your current JTD. Do you use supermarket fuels?

Anyway, regardless of that, go for a 2.4, a 2.0 or 1.9JTD. Use decent fuel and make sure you drive it properly and it will be fine.
Heart says 2.4, head says 2.0.

[marccdavison]

Hi, current car is Suzuki with a Renault F9Q engine, I run it mostly on shell v power, or normal shell diesel not super market.

EGR has been cleaned once, it's back at the dealers today for them to take a look.

[dema]

RicksAlfas said:

EGR valve is a DIY job to remove, clean and replace.

I found the 2.2JTS terrible hence only kept the car for 6 months, saying this, everyone's preference are different. I would suggest 1.9 JTD for economy or 2.4 for a bit more grunt

[briang9]

RicksAlfas said:

Do you use supermarket fuels?

maybe just me but I really imagine that being said in a very adenoidal voice!!


"According to the Petrol Retailers Association, there is no difference between the standard petrol you buy from supermarkets or franchised petrol stations. In most cases the petrol and diesel is even produced at the same refinery and delivered in the same trucks.

The exception to this is specialist fuels, such as Shell’s Optimax and BP’s Ultimate. In their case, the fuel is enhanced with additives, which produce that brand’s particular properties."

Edited by briang9 on Saturday 30th March 23:20

[RicksAlfas]

Sorry we can't all be as cool as a chap called Brian quoting from the Petrol Retailers Association website.


Anyway, the reason I was asking was because my wife's old 147 EGR valve used to clog up regularly, where as my 156 and Brera never had any bother. Hers was run almost entirely on Tesco's fuel and mine never was.

[marccdavison]

slightly off topic, but round here it's a choice of Asda or shell, quality in diesel is noticeable, when using asda the dpf warning would occasionally come on, shell normal very rarely and running on v power diesel never.

Also when running my old Saab on asda petrol it was noticeably rougher than after a couple of tanks of shell.

Search for a replacement car currently on hold whilst the current one is back at the garage again following a weekend of intermittent limp mode