Is the Alfa 159 sportwagon the prettiest estate ever?

[RemyMartin]

So there I was coming back to my car in train station and parked next to it was a black 159 sportwagon. Wow! It suddenly dawned on me that I couldnt think of a better looking estate.

Perfect stance,wheels, interior (which was lovely) and shape.

Straight onto auto trader and was disappointed to find most are diesels in fact I could t find a single hot variant. That said I'd have a diesel one, in black, in a heartbeat.

Question is, would you own a pretty car that was a nice place to be but not quick or indeed name a prettier estate.

Edited by RemyMartin on Tuesday 20th May 09:50

[trashbat]

There's a GM-derived 3.2 V6 but it drinks fuel much faster than it actually goes. They never made anything hotter unfortunately, but it's not really a very raw car; quite refined and more comparable with the 166 luxobarge that preceded it, rather than the 156 that people associate with it.

I think the XF Sportbrake is the only thing that comes close in visual terms.

[dibblecorse]

Great car, makes the Audi and BMW offerings look awful.

They are a great steer although a tad heavy on tyres/front suspension, a good friend had one identical to your pic full Ti spec, 2.4 diesel and we did Le Mans in it, was great ....

As much as I love an S4 / RS4 type mental estate I don't think I'd drive one like it deserved to be driven so one of these 159's would be ideal ...... add a towbar and a bike trailer and I'd be a happy bunny .....

[DoubleSix]

Sits high for my liking, needs a 20mm drop to really win aesthetically imo.

[RemyMartin]

trashbat said:

There's a GM-derived 3.2 V6 but it drinks fuel much faster than it actually goes. They never made anything hotter unfortunately, but it's not really a very raw car; quite refined and more comparable with the 166 luxobarge that preceded it, rather than the 156 that people associate with it.

I think the XF Sportbrake is the only thing that comes close in visual terms.

XF sport brake is a lovely car if not completely massive!

[RicksAlfas]

The 159 is too butch to be pretty. I'd describe it as handsome!

I still think the 156 was the prettier car. I loved the tapering windows and roof line.

This was my much missed 156:

[Hugo a Gogo]

lovely car, but not much of an estate car in any meaningful 'carrying stuff' sense

[RicksAlfas]

Hugo a Gogo said:

lovely car, but not much of an estate car in any meaningful 'carrying stuff' sense

This isn't the "what's the prettiest van" thread.

[RemyMartin]

RicksAlfas said:

This isn't the "what's the prettiest van" thread.

Mk1 transit.

/endthread.

[Hugo a Gogo]

[CampDavid]

?

[Jacobyte]

CampDavid said:

?

That's interesting to look at, but only because it's based on a DB5. The "estate" part of it is sadly just a crudely tacked-on aesthetic disaster.

[RicksAlfas]

Hugo a Gogo said:

[r11co]

Jacobyte said:

CampDavid said:

?

That's interesting to look at, but only because it's based on a DB5. The "estate" part of it is sadly just a crudely tacked-on aesthetic disaster.

Agreed.

I despair sometimes at the lack of proper thought some people put into their suggestions.

[Barchettaman]

Old-shape C-class wins for me:

[hornetrider]

Barchettaman said:

Old-shape C-class wins for me:

Ahead of a 159? I think I know where you should have gone

[r11co]

Barchettaman said:

Old-shape C-class wins for me:

No chance. A bit too much of the 'squatting dog' going on at the rear.

[Chicane-UK]

Have to say, the 159 is a lovely looking car especially on those alloys.. but the estate one does look even better. Very nice indeed.

[BUG4LIFE]

The new Merc CLS Sportbrake thing, and the Jag XF Sportbrake are 2 pretty good looking estates but I agree, the 159 in Ti spec is gorgeous!

[djdestiny]

Best looking estate in my eyes: