159 back on the shopping list
Discussion
alfaspiderman2 said:
in the nick of time, the 159 has appeared on my company car list.....fantastic news
is the 3.2 V6 worth having or is the 2.4 JTDm entertaining enough?
is the 3.2 V6 worth having or is the 2.4 JTDm entertaining enough?
I would definately, definately have the 2.4. Performance and fuel efficiency. Not forgeting it's quicker than the V6.
the first time Alfas have been on my list in over 5 years!
economy is not an issue as fuel is paid for
however, lease cost + tax effect mean JTDm is £200/cheaper
it's a lot to pay for the v6 noise but I really really hate my current A3 2.0 TDi - the awful diesel noise and the nose heavy front drive handling!
loving the 18" alloys that are on the options list!
economy is not an issue as fuel is paid for
however, lease cost + tax effect mean JTDm is £200/cheaper
it's a lot to pay for the v6 noise but I really really hate my current A3 2.0 TDi - the awful diesel noise and the nose heavy front drive handling!
loving the 18" alloys that are on the options list!
Edited by alfaspiderman2 on Tuesday 9th January 16:32
I doubt the 2.4 is quicker than the V6 in outright terms (what are the comparative 30-70 through the gears and 0-100 times?) but if you can stand a diesel, then on the road there is likely to be little in it.
If you pay for your own fuel, then the jtd makes a pretty good case for itself. As you don't, I'd get the V6 for sure, apart from anything else it has 4WD.
In fact if it were my car I'd get the V6 anyway, but I don't like diesels. The fact that the 159 I'm considering for my wife at some stage will be the 2.4 jtd shows that I can see the benefits.
If you pay for your own fuel, then the jtd makes a pretty good case for itself. As you don't, I'd get the V6 for sure, apart from anything else it has 4WD.
In fact if it were my car I'd get the V6 anyway, but I don't like diesels. The fact that the 159 I'm considering for my wife at some stage will be the 2.4 jtd shows that I can see the benefits.
Edited by jwyatt on Tuesday 9th January 16:58
thanks james
tend to agree with you that the V6 is worth the money...even then it's still cheaper than the equivalent BMW or Audi so I'm justifying on that basis
I was tempted by opting out with a GTA like yourself but I really do like the 159 and my lease prices seem pretty competitive....hope the fleet manager doesn't change his min
tend to agree with you that the V6 is worth the money...even then it's still cheaper than the equivalent BMW or Audi so I'm justifying on that basis
I was tempted by opting out with a GTA like yourself but I really do like the 159 and my lease prices seem pretty competitive....hope the fleet manager doesn't change his min
The GTA's and GT V6 slaughter it in a straight line but the 159 is a very different sort of car, more refined by far.
I'm suprised the lease on the V6 is OK - perhaps they take into account the real vs list price, you can get huge savings on the V6 159's (as you can on petrol V6 Passats and the like - they are not flavour of the month).
If I had a trackday car in the garage and did not try and make my GTA my sunny sunday blat car and refined cruiser all in one, a 159 V6 SW would suit me very nicely thank you, albeit the Autodelta supercharger upgrade would be a constant source of concern to my wallet....
Let us know what you think if you drive them both!
I'm suprised the lease on the V6 is OK - perhaps they take into account the real vs list price, you can get huge savings on the V6 159's (as you can on petrol V6 Passats and the like - they are not flavour of the month).
If I had a trackday car in the garage and did not try and make my GTA my sunny sunday blat car and refined cruiser all in one, a 159 V6 SW would suit me very nicely thank you, albeit the Autodelta supercharger upgrade would be a constant source of concern to my wallet....
Let us know what you think if you drive them both!
Its a similar equation for me. If I opted for the 159 JTDm then I could spend the saving over the V6 on a toy for the weekend (e.g. Elise)as well.
I just fancy having that V6 warble accompanying me all week on my trecks around the county.
Any views on how much better the 4WD is than the FWD in the 159 as that's obviously another major differentiator between the v6 and JTD?
I just fancy having that V6 warble accompanying me all week on my trecks around the county.
Any views on how much better the 4WD is than the FWD in the 159 as that's obviously another major differentiator between the v6 and JTD?
alfaspiderman2 said:
I just fancy having that V6 warble accompanying me all week on my trecks around the county.
See if you can get a drive in them both. The Co2 on the V6 is horrendous and it will make a big difference to your tax bill! Personally I couldn't justify all that money for a different noise, and I'm glad of the extra cash for my hobby car!
The JTDm is a wonderful engine - I'm on my second (had a Sportwagon before the Brera). The new V6 has been met with lukewarm reviews. I know it has a hard act to follow as the old V6 was one of the finest engines ever, but as it stands at the minute, the new V6 is only available with the power sapping and heavy 4WD system and the JTDm with less weight and 25% more torque is quicker in the mid-range. Once warmed up it sounds good and meaty and if you wring it out it will rev without feeling lazy. One thing though, they are very tight when new, so if you drive a brand new one it isn't quite the same as one with a few thousand on the clock.
Anyway, it's a very personal thing isn't it, so see if you can swing a drive in them.
bob1179 said:
V6 The only thing I read was that because of the 4WD system, its quiet a heavy car and not as quick as you would expect it to be.
Yeah, everything I read is telling me that and, to be honest, that'd be the only thing that would hold me back for choosing the V6. 0-60 in 7 secs is hardly blistering for 256bhp is it? I'm hoping that the car will actually feel quicker than that when it's up and running and that the 'slow' tim is merely down to getting the thing actually 'launched'.
If I could swing a 'hobby car' then I'd get a JTDm, in fact, sod it I'd probably get a company Mondeo.
However, with 2 very young kids and an imminent huge house extension I've not got the time to devote to a hobby of any sort and a wife who will spend 'spare' cash on the house.
So, although the V6 is much more costly, at least I can enjoy myself fully on my drive to work.
I will drive both though just to be on the safe side. Anyone know what the delivery lead times will be like? (I will be wanting a very specific spec)
However, with 2 very young kids and an imminent huge house extension I've not got the time to devote to a hobby of any sort and a wife who will spend 'spare' cash on the house.
So, although the V6 is much more costly, at least I can enjoy myself fully on my drive to work.
I will drive both though just to be on the safe side. Anyone know what the delivery lead times will be like? (I will be wanting a very specific spec)
I believe the sat nav is very poor.
The Blue & Me system is excellent (Bluetooth handsfree plus USB port in glovebox for music).
18" 7 hole horseshoe design alloys look great.
Sportwagon (without roofbars) looks much better than the saloon.
Red leather looks great with a dark colour, as does the Tan. (Not biege).
Bose very good but quite expensive I thought - especially when it used to be standard on 156s!
Your choice, but what a nice choice to have!
The Blue & Me system is excellent (Bluetooth handsfree plus USB port in glovebox for music).
18" 7 hole horseshoe design alloys look great.
Sportwagon (without roofbars) looks much better than the saloon.
Red leather looks great with a dark colour, as does the Tan. (Not biege).
Bose very good but quite expensive I thought - especially when it used to be standard on 156s!
Your choice, but what a nice choice to have!
alfaspiderman2 said:
any views on spec?
I'm thinking 3.2 Sportwagon, black pearl, red leather, 18" wheels, bose, mp3, xenons
I'd listen carefully to Rick. I'm thinking 3.2 Sportwagon, black pearl, red leather, 18" wheels, bose, mp3, xenons
I've driven both engines (albeit in the Brera/Spider, not in the 159) and I think the 2.4 is the better of them. The 3.2 needs to be worked fairly hard to get the best from it, where the 2.4 just gets on and goes. In extreme performance testing the 3.2 might be quicker, but for day-to-day I reckon the torque of the 2.4 makes it an easier fast drive, if that makes sense.
Otherwise, black with red leather?
The best combination for any Alfa...my Spider was black with red so it'll be a little bit of nostalgia for me
I will try the JTDm as I said. It'll have to be 100% nicer to drive than my Audi diesel -the reason I chose the Audi was that I bought all the hype about it being 'quicker in the real world than the petrol'...whether or not that's true, it's nosier, handles less well and has an awful narrow power band.
I will try the JTDm as I said. It'll have to be 100% nicer to drive than my Audi diesel -the reason I chose the Audi was that I bought all the hype about it being 'quicker in the real world than the petrol'...whether or not that's true, it's nosier, handles less well and has an awful narrow power band.
[quote=alfaspiderman2Yeah, everything I read is telling me that and, to be honest, that'd be the only thing that would hold me back for choosing the V6. 0-60 in 7 secs is hardly blistering for 256bhp is it? I'm hoping that the car will actually feel quicker than that when it's up and running and that the 'slow' tim is merely down to getting the thing actually 'launched'.[/quote]
Thing is, the V6 is full-time, rear biased 4WD - so despite the weight you'd expect it to launch well! As standing starts are so irrelevent I look at 0-100 and 30-70 through the gears. In each increment th standarde 156 2.5 V6 beats the 159 V6, despite 190bhp playing 260. The 159 has lost the close-ration gearing as well as gained weight. Personally this is borderline acceptable performance, but the handling balance under power is supposed to be very good, given how often it rains here and that the FWD V6 cars can struggle under power in the first couple of gears even in the dry, I'd expect it to be a good drive - but I've never driven a RWD Alfa, just FWD and RWD ones, so I'll reserve judgement!
The owners club magazine people liked the new V6 - not as charismatic as the old one but they liked the handling and the car overall, preferring it to the (shorter wheelbase) Brera V6.
Thing is, the V6 is full-time, rear biased 4WD - so despite the weight you'd expect it to launch well! As standing starts are so irrelevent I look at 0-100 and 30-70 through the gears. In each increment th standarde 156 2.5 V6 beats the 159 V6, despite 190bhp playing 260. The 159 has lost the close-ration gearing as well as gained weight. Personally this is borderline acceptable performance, but the handling balance under power is supposed to be very good, given how often it rains here and that the FWD V6 cars can struggle under power in the first couple of gears even in the dry, I'd expect it to be a good drive - but I've never driven a RWD Alfa, just FWD and RWD ones, so I'll reserve judgement!
The owners club magazine people liked the new V6 - not as charismatic as the old one but they liked the handling and the car overall, preferring it to the (shorter wheelbase) Brera V6.
Edited by jwyatt on Wednesday 10th January 16:58
I drove a 3.2V6 and a 2.4JTDm back to back, admittedly only for a short while, on one of the Alfa experiance days. The 4WD system is brilliant from the point of view of grip and balance, but the car just felt too slow to be exciting enough compared to my GTA.
In the real world I would go for the JTD, it's almost as fast still handles well and will cost you a substantial amount less, considering co car tax I reckon it would be enough less to run a cheap toy (like a 205Gti perhaps) for fun.
You need to test them both, while your at it have a go in a Gt 1.9JTD with the Q2 diff in it, that might well be the bargain of the Alfa range at the moment.
In the real world I would go for the JTD, it's almost as fast still handles well and will cost you a substantial amount less, considering co car tax I reckon it would be enough less to run a cheap toy (like a 205Gti perhaps) for fun.
You need to test them both, while your at it have a go in a Gt 1.9JTD with the Q2 diff in it, that might well be the bargain of the Alfa range at the moment.
I reckon the 2.4 diesel is the way to go. The V6 just has'nt got the performance ( or the noise ) to justify the fuel cost. It's also too heavy to handle properly. I shall be changing from my V6 Brera to a 2.4 ti 159 in the spring.
By far the best advice is to drive them all, & for a long time
By far the best advice is to drive them all, & for a long time
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