Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon Q4 V6: Spotted
An ex-Fiat UK Alfa 159 Sportwagon with a V6 for £3,500! That's amore
We at PH like most things that originate from Italy, have a great sounding engine and - this is crucial - are inexpensive to buy. So imagine our reaction when we found this rare Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon in top-of-the-range Q4 V6 guise. Well, it had us asking management if we could claim it as an expense. Unfortunately, they said no, so we've written this Spotted instead in the hopes that one of you kind readers will buy it and then kindly donate it to us. Did we not say how handsome you're looking today...
So, the 159 Sportwagon. Has there been a better-looking estate? True, the boot is hardly capacious, but then fitting a bigger one would have spoilt its pert rear end. Then there's the front, which is suitably aggressive, and the detailing within the thin chrome grill and six hooded headlamps is exquisite.
Also of excellence up front is the 3.2-litre V6 that's in this one. While many 159s were lumbered with a 1.9-litre diesel for economy reasons, this example is apparently an ex-Fiat UK car, so not only has it got a stonking great V6 but also four-wheel drive. Seeing as Alfa was still focusing on front-wheel drive, this is perhaps a good thing given the torque of a lusty bent six. Just gloss over the weight penalty it brings...
Inside, the interior is both attractive and beautifully simple to use thanks to big chunky buttons and a lack of iDrive/infotainment weirdness. Alfa did have a touchscreen sat nav as an option but, fortunately, this 159 doesn't have one. It'd be terribly outdated today, anyway. Instead, enjoy the black leather interior, aluminium trim and the fuel, water and temperature gauges in stylish sunken pods.
It hasn't even done very many miles either, although, with a low-20s thirst for unleaded, anyone would think twice about taking it out. But, the big elephant in the room is the yearly VED rate. For high polluting cars like this V6 Alfa, it's best to go for one registered before the March 23rd 2006. This is because instead of paying £555 at current prices, you'll have to spend just £315 every year. This one was registered in May. Ouch.
However, you could choose to look at the low £3,500 asking price as a way of compensating for the potentially high running costs. And the seller seems to be an upstanding member of society. Firstly, they bought a V6 Alfa in the first place. Secondly, they listen to Radio 4, and lastly, they're only getting rid of this 159 because a new Giulia is on the way. That's dedication to the cause right there.
So, do the decent thing and buy this Alfa and, if you don't fancy the running costs, we'll look after it for you, we promise.
SPECIFICATION: ALFA ROMEO 159 SPORTWAGON Q4 V6
Engine: 3,195cc, six-cylinder, N/A
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power(hp): 256@6,300rpm
Torque(lb ft): 238@4,500rpm
MPG: 21.4mpg
CO2: 314g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 64,000 miles
Price new: £31,395
Yours for: £3,500
See the full ad here.
It is now £3,500 quid!
Quite a heavy thing with all the 4wd gubbins but a lot more affordable way into an Alfa 4wd saloon than that 155 Stradale that was hoping for over £100k recently.
Did anyone bid for it or was it withdrawn?
Lovely looking thing, in fact Id go so far as to say the one I was behind was immaculate, especially as an MOT search revealed it had done 123K.
Not something I would ever want to own, but Im always pleased Alfa plough their own furrow....
Looks like an enthusiast owned it having uprated suspension and a remap, just a shame it wasn't registered a couple of months earlier as then it would have been half the price for the road tax.
My first reaction was that it was bloody good value as a cheap dog-wagon, looked sexy, looked fun...
Then I thought... not the Busso V6 (but like Salmonof doubt said, how bad can it be?)
Then I thought: it's 3 times the cost of my current dogwagon (Saab 9-5 Aero Estate), probably slower (same bhp, but nat. asp. means peakier torque curve and 4WD means more transmission loss), smaller boot and Italian electrics.
So I think I'll stick with the Scandinavian and save myself £2.5K...
• Timing chains – yes they can be an issue if servicing is neglected. Keep on top of the oil changes, use the right oil and it shouldn't be an issue. Narrow gullies clog up and starve the chain but the right oil keeps things flowing nicely.
• It's not a Busso – they would have sold loads more if it had been. From what I can gather, the block is GM sourced but everything else has been reworked by Alfa. It still has character and loves to rev and even with the factory exhausts it sounds fruity.
• Weight – the 4wd does add weight but from 2008 onwards they managed to lose a few kg.
• Electrics – should be okay, or at least no worse than any other car. The 159 was designed and built to go up against Audi and BMW, so at least Alfa tried a little harder this time.
This is well worth the money, why not add some Italian flair while doing the tip run.
ETA: If you can find one, the 1750 TBi petrol unit is highly regarded, and towards the end of the 159's life they did 2wd 3.2. Both are pretty scarce though.
Like the 2.2 JTS it was derived from a GM unit but has some Alfa Romeo 'modifications' (for instance variable valve timing and GM never offered a 3.2 version so I assume the internals are to Alfa Romeo's specification too). Its closest European relative is the Opel/Saab 2.8 turbo V6 from cars like the Vectra and Insignia VXR
Daft idea to put anything other than a Busso in but I suspect it's the old Euro emissions thing making them obsolete, tut tut.
And Gordon Browns idea of taxing cars off the road (550 quid) really works, which shows how spiteful the old b
d was...Also, just bought a Mito for my daughter, can tell you about some of the things to look for if that's the way you go...
It is now £3,500 quid!
And Gordon Browns idea of taxing cars off the road (550 quid) really works, which shows how spiteful the old b
d was...
It's funny, over the course of 5 years it's not a big chunk of extra money per annum - but the mental hurdle of paying >500pa is quite an effective one. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff