Alfa 159

[digit]

Seriously thinking about splashing out on a diesel 159. Had a drive of one earlier today and thought it was frankly fantastic couldn't fault it at all. Any reason why I shouldn't? I had a drive of a 320d earlier as an alternative and really didn't get on with the offset pedals and thought the suspension was very spongy.

[Shad]

Sex on wheels. Do it

[handscombmp]

One reason. Alfa.

They're still unreliable unfortunately (if getting better).

Must admit though they do look nice cars though.

Have you tried an Audi A4 out?

[Madafwo]

One reason. Alfa.

They're still unreliable unfortunately (if getting better).

Must admit though they do look nice cars though.

Have you tried an Audi A4 out?

I've been looking at the both of them as well. Head says A4 Quattro TDI, heart says Alfa 159 Q4.

The 159 does look stunning but my mates A4 is such a nice car to drive.

[handscombmp]

Just another car to throw in which is a bit of an odd shot, but bear with me.

The VW Passat CC

Is a very pretty car (i think, well i have got one) if not quite as good as a 159. Pictures don't do the car justice unfortunately.
Clarkson described it as

The sort of pretty you don’t really notice until it’s pointed out to you. And then you can’t get its prettiness out of your head.

I've got the GT V6 but the 2.0TDI 170 is meant to be good.

They are a bit different which is why i went for it and don't let the badge put you off. The quality of it inside is just as good as any Audi.
The best advice i can offer you is to go and have a look at one and sit in it.

[digit]

Sex on wheels. Do it

I've been looking at the both of them as well. Head says A4 Quattro TDI, heart says Alfa 159 Q4.

The 159 does look stunning but my mates A4 is such a nice car to drive.

This is the thing, I love the looks of the 159. I know its value is going to plummet compared to its german rivals... That said I do need to have a look at an A4 and a Passat. I don't know why i didnt even look at the passat the 05 onwards model is within budget, I wonder why they scrapped the 2.5 V6 TDI from the previous Passat?

Just another car to throw in which is a bit of an odd shot, but bear with me.

The VW Passat CC

Is a very pretty car (i think, well i have got one) if not quite as good as a 159. Pictures don't do the car justice unfortunately.
Clarkson described it as

I've got the GT V6 but the 2.0TDI 170 is meant to be good.

They are a bit different which is why i went for it and don't let the badge put you off. The quality of it inside is just as good as any Audi.
The best advice i can offer you is to go and have a look at one and sit in it.

I agree they are very nice looking and I see many in the car park at work and on my travels on the m4, but from what I can see on autotrader they are well out my price range I'm willing to spend a max of 7k really.

[Barakka]

I'm willing to spend a max of 7k really.

You're looking at a 3-4 year old 159 I presume, in which case what you need to find is a good independent Alfa specialist (there's a lot around). The diesel can be chipped quite hard (to 195bhp for <£300), and they all benefit greatly from the Q2 LSD which can be fitted for a few hundred by a decent specialist. Good Service History would be essential. The Audi would be more solid, but will be a couple of years older ?

I once had a boss with a 156 2.4JTD and it was nothing but trouble, always breaking down, cutting out while driving, the works. He got fed up and got a 5 series, I had the Alfa for a few weeks, no troubles at all, then another manager took it, and she drove it for 2 years without a single fault, I swear Italian cars can tell if you like them or not.

[malfunction]

Find a local Alfa specialist first? Maybe they'd be willing to tell you what to look out for, how much trouble it might or might not be and may even know of someone that wants to shift a good example.

(Oh and are you sure you can't afford the V6 petrol...? Bet it sounds *lovely*)

[Andy3536]

Buy it

Insurance will cost an awfull lot.
Servicing costs an awfull lot.
Depreciation will be alot more than anything similar.

Looks fantastic

Doesn't matter where you get it serviced it will cost alot more than other normal cars. I have an 02 Alfa 147 and for 4 years it hasn't put a foot wrong. Can't not not buy a car on the premis it 'might' be unreliable.
Just a warning though i am paying £700 for insurace on a 1.6 and i'm 29 with no accidents.

[digit]

You're looking at a 3-4 year old 159 I presume, in which case what you need to find is a good independent Alfa specialist (there's a lot around). The diesel can be chipped quite hard (to 195bhp for <£300), and they all benefit greatly from the Q2 LSD which can be fitted for a few hundred by a decent specialist. Good Service History would be essential. The Audi would be more solid, but will be a couple of years older ?

I once had a boss with a 156 2.4JTD and it was nothing but trouble, always breaking down, cutting out while driving, the works. He got fed up and got a 5 series, I had the Alfa for a few weeks, no troubles at all, then another manager took it, and she drove it for 2 years without a single fault, I swear Italian cars can tell if you like them or not.

Thats right i've found a late red 2006 and an early black 2007 that will both cost about 6k to grab with 66k and 63k millage respectively. I would I think have a look at a remap for just a bit more poke across the range. Will the gearbox, clutch and brakes handle the extra power? Seems to the luck of the draw as you say my mums 147 had a problem with suspension and the engine cut out. She still loves driving and owning it though!

Find a local Alfa specialist first? Maybe they'd be willing to tell you what to look out for, how much trouble it might or might not be and may even know of someone that wants to shift a good example.

(Oh and are you sure you can't afford the V6 petrol...? Bet it sounds *lovely*)

Good advice on the alfa specialist it would be a plan to get the lowdown on what could potentially go wrong and when. I could get the v6 and I've read a lot on pistonheads in particular about how nice it sounds, but I really desire great economy on my next car after suffering with my mondeo v6 on that front

Buy it

Insurance will cost an awfull lot.
Servicing costs an awfull lot.
Depreciation will be alot more than anything similar.

Looks fantastic

Doesn't matter where you get it serviced it will cost alot more than other normal cars. I have an 02 Alfa 147 and for 4 years it hasn't put a foot wrong. Can't not not buy a car on the premis it 'might' be unreliable.
Just a warning though i am paying £700 for insurace on a 1.6 and i'm 29 with no accidents.

Well I've looked into insurance and was going to give my current insurance (aviva) a ring to see what they say. Confused comes back at about £700 for a year of cover which is slightly more then I pay atm. I know servicing may cost a bit but hopefully I shall be eligible for a car allowance at work in a few months which should cover the cost. I know its price will drop big time over the years but thats not to much of a worry for me

[Barakka]

Thats right i've found a late red 2006 and an early black 2007 that will both cost about 6k to grab with 66k and 63k millage respectively. I would I think have a look at a remap for just a bit more poke across the range. Will the gearbox, clutch and brakes handle the extra power?

I would recommend speaking to Angel Tuning it was started by (and still owned by) a guy called Nigel who is a Fiat/Alfa nut through and through, and if it was me i'd be taking it to him. I looked into the Alfa GT myself a few year back in the 1.9 variant and IIRC the most recommended upgrade is the Q2 LSD for around £500, 200bhp is a lot of power to put down in a FWD turbo-diesel and the Q2 is supposed to make it a dream to drive. I know some places offer the GTA brakes (305mm disc Brembo's) as an upgrade but it's not cheap at all - around a grand. Any thoughts on the 2.4 JTDm ? - the 156 I drove had that engine and it was Very nice - the 159 version starts with 200bhp as standard and chips to 250 !!

[digit]

Thanks for the tip i'll look into it if i do go for it! The 2.4 is a bit of a push on finances I'd be set back till feb pay day to pay the extra. The longer I leave it the worse the trade in value on my mondeo will get, as the miles rapidly increase, i've lost £1700 as it is at the moment from what i originally paid for it. There are plently of affordable 156's with that engine at the moment, problem is the looks don't do it for me like the 159. I do like the look of the gt perhaps worth a spin as an alternative?

[digit]

I've made my mind up now and I'm going to barter down the price of the red 06 plate one I looked at, really in my mind its the colour to go for! It was also in better condition then the black one at cargaint I looked at yesterday.

[Guy]

I havent ever used them for work (obviously as I dont have an Alfa!) but I went to look at a car there once, and they seem to have a fairly good reputation for Alfa specialists.

Not too far away either.

http://www.blackandwhitegarage.com/about.php

[burble]

Absolutely gorgeous cars but no way I'd have one if I were paying the bills. I know some people who swear that Alfa have got the build quality thing sorted but when I had a Spider as a hire car while my R32 was being fixed I found that the quality niggles are still there.

In the month that I had it (it had 800 miles on the clock when I got it) I had to have Alfa Recovery (or the AA as they're otherwise known) out 5 times. 4 times to replace a sensor in the pedal box that senses when either the clutch or brake pedal are down which is necessary for the engine to start.

The fifth time was when I got a low oil pressure warning light. I assumed it was low on oil but after checking it wasn't. It needed a new oil pump.

I wasn't that keen on the engine either, it was the 2.4 diesel 5 pot which for a diesel sounded pretty good but there wasn't as much power as I'd like at the bottom end and it tailed off very quickly as you went up the rev range.

[digit]

I havent ever used them for work (obviously as I dont have an Alfa!) but I went to look at a car there once, and they seem to have a fairly good reputation for Alfa specialists.

Not too far away either.

http://www.blackandwhitegarage.com/about.php

Indeed, my dad actually had a few alfa company cars with them back when I was very little! I believe there is also an alfa specialist in Maidenhead to. I do need to enquire about how much a 72k service + cambelt + water pump would be.

Absolutely gorgeous cars but no way I'd have one if I were paying the bills. I know some people who swear that Alfa have got the build quality thing sorted but when I had a Spider as a hire car while my R32 was being fixed I found that the quality niggles are still there.

In the month that I had it (it had 800 miles on the clock when I got it) I had to have Alfa Recovery (or the AA as they're otherwise known) out 5 times. 4 times to replace a sensor in the pedal box that senses when either the clutch or brake pedal are down which is necessary for the engine to start.

The fifth time was when I got a low oil pressure warning light. I assumed it was low on oil but after checking it wasn't. It needed a new oil pump.

I wasn't that keen on the engine either, it was the 2.4 diesel 5 pot which for a diesel sounded pretty good but there wasn't as much power as I'd like at the bottom end and it tailed off very quickly as you went up the rev range.

Some fair points I'm also smitten by the looks, its very different and quite rare in my travels to actually see one. Unless they are all in garages being fixed