Alfa 159 Ti SW to vRS?
Discussion
Evening!
In true petrol head fashion I am just mulling over my current situation with my car. I have quite a rare spec very nice Sportwagon 159(full leather, xenons, late run 61 plate in red with 29500 on the clock). It's 3 years old and in general am happy with it. I only do about 10000 a year. Just pondering whether I should change it now or later(car worth circa £12k I think)with £9k owed on finance, or keep it until end of finance deal which ends in 2 years 9 months, get what I can for it and use that as a deposit for a new car. The only thing that is slightly grating me about this underrated Alfa is the poor petrol economy for a 1.75. I get 26-28mpg at best combined.
As you will gather I like driving something slightly rare but not sure holding out until the end of the term with Alfa due to launch a new range next year I could see the value of my car dip significantly. Looking for something that will keep me interested until new range of Alfas are out.
There seem to be some good lease deals around at the moment with two cars interesting me- the Octavia vRS Estate petrol and diesel and maybe a Golf R.
We have two youngsters so space helps- Mrs R has just picked up a new CRV which is good for space but we both need our cars at weekends as she works for some of it and I take the boys out and about).
Views welcome. Stick with what I have for a while longer?
Many thanks.
In true petrol head fashion I am just mulling over my current situation with my car. I have quite a rare spec very nice Sportwagon 159(full leather, xenons, late run 61 plate in red with 29500 on the clock). It's 3 years old and in general am happy with it. I only do about 10000 a year. Just pondering whether I should change it now or later(car worth circa £12k I think)with £9k owed on finance, or keep it until end of finance deal which ends in 2 years 9 months, get what I can for it and use that as a deposit for a new car. The only thing that is slightly grating me about this underrated Alfa is the poor petrol economy for a 1.75. I get 26-28mpg at best combined.
As you will gather I like driving something slightly rare but not sure holding out until the end of the term with Alfa due to launch a new range next year I could see the value of my car dip significantly. Looking for something that will keep me interested until new range of Alfas are out.
There seem to be some good lease deals around at the moment with two cars interesting me- the Octavia vRS Estate petrol and diesel and maybe a Golf R.
We have two youngsters so space helps- Mrs R has just picked up a new CRV which is good for space but we both need our cars at weekends as she works for some of it and I take the boys out and about).
Views welcome. Stick with what I have for a while longer?
Many thanks.
Three arguments for keeping what you've got:
1. The 159 SW is possibly the best looking estate car on the road. I followed a black one into Donnington services on Friday and it really did look fantastic. Neither the Golf nor the VRS would have the same visual appeal.
2. The Alfa marks you out as a man who knows his cars. The Skoda looks like a rep mobile (albeit a good looking one!) and the Golf is just a Golf (albeit a very quick one).
3. Pay off the finance on the Alfa and you'll own it in less than 3 years. Lease a Skoda or Golf and in 3 years you'll have nothing to show for it.
So I vote for keeping the Alfa.
1. The 159 SW is possibly the best looking estate car on the road. I followed a black one into Donnington services on Friday and it really did look fantastic. Neither the Golf nor the VRS would have the same visual appeal.
2. The Alfa marks you out as a man who knows his cars. The Skoda looks like a rep mobile (albeit a good looking one!) and the Golf is just a Golf (albeit a very quick one).
3. Pay off the finance on the Alfa and you'll own it in less than 3 years. Lease a Skoda or Golf and in 3 years you'll have nothing to show for it.
So I vote for keeping the Alfa.
I'll chip in.
As has been said before, the 159, and your model especially is one of the best looking cars on the roads with a stunning interior. I'd have loved one but couldn't find one the right age/spec/mileage so got a 330I touring instead.
The new vRS is a nice car but ever so slightly dull. My big criticism of a lot of manufacturers these days is that their top of the range cars look virtually identical to the average joe than their boggo standard onces. VAG are a big culprit of this.
The R is a prime example. Looks boring from the outside IMHO even as a petrolhead (compare it to the new Type R!). I know some people like this under-the-radar stuff but if I was spunking upwards of £30k on a car I'd want it to look a little more special. BUT, the performance of the R is mind boggling for a car like that. I saw one pull away from the lights last night whilst I was walking home from work and in a blink of an eye it was halfway down the road.
So in summary, I'd echo everyone else and stick with the Alfa.
As has been said before, the 159, and your model especially is one of the best looking cars on the roads with a stunning interior. I'd have loved one but couldn't find one the right age/spec/mileage so got a 330I touring instead.
The new vRS is a nice car but ever so slightly dull. My big criticism of a lot of manufacturers these days is that their top of the range cars look virtually identical to the average joe than their boggo standard onces. VAG are a big culprit of this.
The R is a prime example. Looks boring from the outside IMHO even as a petrolhead (compare it to the new Type R!). I know some people like this under-the-radar stuff but if I was spunking upwards of £30k on a car I'd want it to look a little more special. BUT, the performance of the R is mind boggling for a car like that. I saw one pull away from the lights last night whilst I was walking home from work and in a blink of an eye it was halfway down the road.
So in summary, I'd echo everyone else and stick with the Alfa.
As a 159 SW Ti owner myself, I would say stick with the Alfa.
I'm not sure its replacement will be very nice to look at, and I can't see the resale prices of 159s dropping any further than normal in any case, as a result of a new range being launched.
I'm in a position where I can't actually think what I would replace mine with, when the time comes. New Jag XE estate, perhaps? I couldn't contemplate anything from the VAG stable, that's for certain.
I'm not sure its replacement will be very nice to look at, and I can't see the resale prices of 159s dropping any further than normal in any case, as a result of a new range being launched.
I'm in a position where I can't actually think what I would replace mine with, when the time comes. New Jag XE estate, perhaps? I couldn't contemplate anything from the VAG stable, that's for certain.
Another (recent) 159 1750 Ti SW owner here, think you'd be mad to change personally for a vRS.
I had a really good look at the Octavia range as it was one of the few (Alfa included) cars that had a rear seat that 3 children could use comfortably. The thing that really put me off was all of the local taxi companies use the Skoda along with the unmarked BiB, just couldn't live with the image.
An overheard conversation at my local VAG garage also said the same, maybe a South Coast thing only and a shame as the Skoda was great car otherwise. Call me shallow but didn't fancy forking out for a car that is always perceived, certainly in Portsmouth area, as a taxi.
If you are selling I think you are undervaluing your car as the spec/mileage is very good although the Alfa Red paint isn't always the best at staying on the car. I really struggled to find a TBi Ti and had to settle for a higher mileage than I would have liked but there is a market out there for the 1750 models.
Not sure the 159 replacement will be here next year and question is will it look as good, going on recent mainstream Alfa stuff I'm not so sure. I also manage to squeeze 32-34 mpg out of mine so another reason to keep yours as it isn't run in yet!
Keep the Alfa, you won't regret it.
I had a really good look at the Octavia range as it was one of the few (Alfa included) cars that had a rear seat that 3 children could use comfortably. The thing that really put me off was all of the local taxi companies use the Skoda along with the unmarked BiB, just couldn't live with the image.
An overheard conversation at my local VAG garage also said the same, maybe a South Coast thing only and a shame as the Skoda was great car otherwise. Call me shallow but didn't fancy forking out for a car that is always perceived, certainly in Portsmouth area, as a taxi.
If you are selling I think you are undervaluing your car as the spec/mileage is very good although the Alfa Red paint isn't always the best at staying on the car. I really struggled to find a TBi Ti and had to settle for a higher mileage than I would have liked but there is a market out there for the 1750 models.
Not sure the 159 replacement will be here next year and question is will it look as good, going on recent mainstream Alfa stuff I'm not so sure. I also manage to squeeze 32-34 mpg out of mine so another reason to keep yours as it isn't run in yet!
Keep the Alfa, you won't regret it.
wal 45 said:
Call me shallow but didn't fancy forking out for a car that is always perceived, certainly in Portsmouth area, as a taxi.
You're shallow. Most cars have certain perceptions associated with them. Has your Alfa been plagued with electrical faults? Did I tailgate people and neglect to use my indicators in my old BMW? Did I think people thought I was driving a taxi when I had my mk2 Octy vRS? I wouldn't let perceptions get in the way of a perfectly good car. Which the Octy is.
Agree with Rizzo above. I'm onto my second vRS, albeit my first estate, and its a cracking motor especially when specified right. However, the 159 is a thing of beauty and one with the miles and spec you have is worth keeping hold of IMHO. That said after 3,500 miles in my vRS I'm loving it.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
wal 45 said:
Call me shallow but didn't fancy forking out for a car that is always perceived, certainly in Portsmouth area, as a taxi.
You're shallow. Most cars have certain perceptions associated with them. Has your Alfa been plagued with electrical faults? Did I tailgate people and neglect to use my indicators in my old BMW? Did I think people thought I was driving a taxi when I had my mk2 Octy vRS? I wouldn't let perceptions get in the way of a perfectly good car. Which the Octy is.
You say yourself that you enjoy having an unusual car and you seem to be someone who appreciates cars for more than their rational or objective qualities, so I'd be tempted to say stick with the 159. The Golf R seems to be something of a hit and certainly is in objective terms a 'better' car, and one I'd consider if I were in the market with that kind of money - but while I'm aware this is a personal (and superficial) sentiment, while acknowledging its a great car, I don't really get any sense of it being something especially interesting. As for the other option, leaving reliability concerns aside, I can't see swapping your 159 for a Skoda really making your heart beat faster aside from the short-term novelty of having a new car. Again, it seems to be a well-regarded car, but in a very serious and logical way. Stick with the 159 to see out the finance deal and see what's on the market then would be my opinion. Assuming you don't do bonkers miles in your 159, the market for them seems to be still fairly strong; I'm always surprised how expensive even high mile 159s are. On that basis I think once you've finished the finance term, you'll have more value in the car than the difference you'd end up with if you flog it now and pay off the finance. If you put away a bit of cash between then and now you'll have a bit more to put down on a new car too.
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