Alfa Romeo 159 - talk me out of it

[Bennyjames28]

Alfa Romeo 159 must be one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. In saloon form they are stunning, and even the sport wagon are attractive.

I currently drive a Toyota avensis shed, it's serving me well and is pretty much fault free and saving me money.

Now....the Alfa's, if anyone has any experience please let me know. From a quick search on auto trader diess seem to be cheaper, a few grand will bag you one. The petrols are around 3 grand upwards for decent ones. I would want a 2.2 petrol, the road tax on the v6 is too much for me to justify just for a nice sound.

I'm very interested in maintenance costs, parts etc... Benefit of my AVEnsis is that everything is available cheap as chips as long as I avoid Toyota main dealers that is. eBay is filled with breakers and parts, they are also pretty easy to work on.

Depreciation isn't a big factor considering I only want to spend 3 grand or so anyway.

Feedback and opinions welcome, if there's anything I'm missing please let me know. I would love a beautiful car to polish and wonder around in, but I can't justify wasting thousands.

[jamies30]

Bennyjames28 said:

I would want a 2.2 petrol

Try one, extensively, before you buy. The 2.2 is by far the least good petrol engine I've ever tried in an Alfa. In fact, a big part of the reason I bought the 1.9 diesel was because the 2.2 petrol is so poor.

Engine choice aside, there's nothing much to be afraid of - I happily ran a 159 ti Sportwagon for three years.

[Bennyjames28]

jamies30 said:

Try one, extensively, before you buy. The 2.2 is by far the least good petrol engine I've ever tried in an Alfa. In fact, a big part of the reason I bought the 1.9 diesel was because the 2.2 petrol is so poor.

Engine choice aside, there's nothing much to be afraid of - I happily ran a 159 ti Sportwagon for three years.

I'm looking at the 06 plate mark so the diesels should be without dpf right?

I do mostly short journeys so don't need a diesel. It I've ran them before without issue. I would just expect something as beautiful as a 159 to feel better with a nice petrol engine.

But I've no experience with a Alfa 2.2 unit. But I will take your word for it.

[jamies30]

All the diesels had DPFs - a lot will have had them removed, but I'm not sure how the new MOT rules work with that.

Bennyjames28 said:

I would just expect something as beautiful as a 159 to feel better with a nice petrol engine.

You're exactly right, but the 2.2 isn't one.

[Bennyjames28]

Bugger.

So your saying either live with the dpf or go v6 petrol?

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for the 2.4d it's a cracker & lasts well either that or go for either the 1.8TBI or the V6.
I know it's still money but the V6 is only £200 more a year to tax than the 2.2 which wasn't one of Alfa's best (I think it's similar to the 2.2 found in the Vectra) engine.

I would say hunt down a TBI it's a much better engine & is basically the same the one found in the 4C/Giulietta.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.4JDM

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Jag_NE]

speaking practically, a 12 year old alfa used as a daily will quickly become an expensive ball ache that you will quickly grow to resent. id stick with your toyota unless you are going to garage the alfa and deal with bits and pieces as they need doing at your own pace.

[Bennyjames28]

Jag_NE said:

speaking practically, a 12 year old alfa used as a daily will quickly become an expensive ball ache that you will quickly grow to resent. id stick with your toyota unless you are going to garage the alfa and deal with bits and pieces as they need doing at your own pace.

I didn't think newer Alfas were as bad as the older ones.

Suppose it's something to think about. I am in no rush anyway. Need to wait for a nice one to come up local enough to go look.

So either 1.8 petrol or 2.4 diesel. Petrol would certainly be my choice, black or red with tan interior.

Stunning motors.

[dhutch]

What's so bad about the 2.2 petrol?

Never had an Alfa, least not a 159, but I have always thought they were a very fine looking car, maybe even best as an estate.

How bad can reliability and running costs get? Compared to say my 17yo 330ci BMW?

Daniel