Has the 159 been a failure or is too early to tell? - Page 6

jamcam23 · #**126** (**Post Link**) 12-09-2006

Just to add my two pence's worth:

Recently test drove the 2.2 out of curiosity (waiting for my 156 to be repaired) and found that performance wise it was slower, didn’t have the engine noise of a TSpark and lacked the charisma, but it felt much better built, but that can be translated as heavier.

Overall the interior is an improvement but upon doing a more detailed search found 3 or 4 defects (Trim and loose fittings etc), this could be down to it being their demonstrator though.

I feel that buying the 159 would be a move sideways, not up as it was should really be, it is a very good car and one most people would choose if the majority of us hadn't sampled a 156!

gillyalfagtv · #**127** (**Post Link**) 12-09-2006

Dax Pearce at reg vardy Stockport is a very good mate of mine. We were talking this week about what is happenning with alfa. He told me that they are going from 86 current dealers to approx 20 by the end of next year!!! he told me of very very ruthless emails and cancelled contracts with dealers in the south. He is currently Alfas top salesman outside of italy. but he told me that he is struggling this month. He on average does 35-40 new cars per month + second hand. Thats why today he signed his contract to be General sales manager at Stratstone Ferrari/Maserati.

A good day for him, a bad day for his many loyal customers, who I am sure, use this forum. Unless I win the lottery and can afford a black Quattroporte GT mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

BigFoot · #**128** (**Post Link**) 12-09-2006

Not sure how going from 86 to ~20 dealers will improve sales, but if followed up by an "expansion" plan aimed at better quality dealerships, then it may just work.

Kevin Slegg · #**129** (**Post Link**) 13-09-2006

Originally Posted by gillyalfagtv

Dax Pearce at reg vardy Stockport is a very good mate of mine. We were talking this week about what is happenning with alfa. He told me that they are going from 86 current dealers to approx 20 by the end of next year!!! he told me of very very ruthless emails and cancelled contracts with dealers in the south. He is currently Alfas top salesman outside of italy. but he told me that he is struggling this month. He on average does 35-40 new cars per month + second hand. Thats why today he signed his contract to be General sales manager at Stratstone Ferrari/Maserati.

A good day for him, a bad day for his many loyal customers, who I am sure, use this forum. Unless I win the lottery and can afford a black Quattroporte GT mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Intersting - at the beggining of the year they dropped Wilsons in Epsom as dealer. However, over the last couple of weeks Allams, also in Epsom, were appointed as dealers.

BigFoot · #**130** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Well, the new Western European car market numbers are in and they look pretty good for good ol' Alfa, surely on the back of the 159:

Alfa Romeo
7,495 sold in August 2006, +16.3% vs August 2005
100,616 sold in 2006 (to August), up 10.1% vs 2005

Gary Slegg · #**131** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Well, that's a relief, I was begining to think Alfa might go the same way as MG

Kevin Slegg · #**132** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Well, the new Western European car market numbers are in and they look pretty good for good ol' Alfa, surely on the back of the 159:

Alfa Romeo
7,495 sold in August 2006, +16.3% vs August 2005
100,616 sold in 2006 (to August), up 10.1% vs 2005

Have you got the breakdown of that by any chance?

BigFoot · #**133** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Not at the moment Kevin. Will post it if I get more details.

Nev · #**134** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Originally Posted by Gary Slegg

Well, that's a relief, I was begining to think Alfa might go the same way as MG

What, you main nailing an Alfa badge to a Fiat Panda !?!

Perish the thought !!!!!

BigFoot · #**135** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Delete it Nev, you know never, there may be Alfa marketing people lurking on the site ...

Trailbraker · #**136** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Am seeing a lot more 159's now in Dublin..

quietlife · #**137** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

159s now under £15000 from ***** dealers on Autotrader!!

Hunter · #**138** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Yep, they seems to be some nice nearly-new deals out there:

"2006 55 Reg Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDM Lusso 4dr
4 Doors, Manual, Saloon, Diesel, 4,695 miles, Alfa Silver, Red Leather. £17,995."

GTACharlie · #**139** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Seen very few 159s in Japan so far, and to tell the truth, I think the 156 is much, much more of a head-turner. Test drove two 159s so far (2.2 and 3.2), and neither sounded or felt as fast as my wife's 2.5 liter 156 SW. I agree with the comment that it feels like a step sideways rather than the leap forward that the 156 and 147 were... If Bigfoot's figures are right though, perhaps Alfa is following BMW's recent trend of making design and engineering decisions that are questionable to the faithful, but which led to much greater sales -- my wife and I used to love BMWs but, like many others of the BMW faith, left the fold when Chris Bangle started churning out those hideous "flame suraced" cars which seem to be so popular with the general public - we both joyfully joined the Alfa family with the purchase of a 156 SW and a 147 GTA, but we are now becoming quite disillusioned with the direction Alfa is going now - especially with the GM engines, the heavier weights, and less exciting body design, and wonder if our next cars will be Alfas. For now, though, I will continue to enjoy one of the most interesting cars I've ever owned...

Kevin Slegg · #**140** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

I'm sorry to say that that just shows Alfa's got the pricing totally wrong.

At the moment Newcar4me are advertising the 2.4 with nearly £3k of and the 3.2 lusso with £3.5k of - hmmm, perhaps an Autodelta supercharger is looking more and more obtainable

Frankly, I would have thought that by now I should have seen at least one 159 on the road. If they can Alfa should cut the price ASAP (and definately before I want to buy one

)

Edit : Replying to Alfa20V

Kevin Slegg · #**141** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Originally Posted by GTACharlie

Seen very few 159s in Japan so far, and to tell the truth, I think the 156 is much, much more of a head-turner. Test drove two 159s so far (2.2 and 3.2), and neither sounded or felt as fast as my wife's 2.5 liter 156 SW. I agree with the comment that it feels like a step sideways rather than the leap forward that the 156 and 147 were... If Bigfoot's figures are right though, perhaps Alfa is following BMW's recent trend of making design and engineering decisions that are questionable to the faithful, but which led to much greater sales -- my wife and I used to love BMWs but, like many others of the BMW faith, left the fold when Chris Bangle started churning out those hideous "flame suraced" cars which seem to be so popular with the general public - we both joyfully joined the Alfa family with the purchase of a 156 SW and a 147 GTA, but we are now becoming quite disillusioned with the direction Alfa is going now - especially with the GM engines, the heavier weights, and less exciting body design, and wonder if our next cars will be Alfas. For now, though, I will continue to enjoy one of the most interesting cars I've ever owned...

It would be handy, if anyone has the figures, to compare this years sales to date with the 156's in its 1st/2nd years. I seem to recall Selespeed mentioning thae fact that in 2005 Alfa's sales nosedived and therefore the 2006 sales in % terms may not be as good as they first seem.

Gary Slegg · #**142** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

ES Jones in Dobshill are advertising a secondhand 3.2Q4 Brera for sales with only 5 miles on the clock!!!

Kevin Slegg · #**143** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

Originally Posted by Gary Slegg

ES Jones in Dobshill are advertising a secondhand 3.2Q4 Brera for sales with only 5 miles on the clock!!!

How much???

Gary Slegg · #**144** (**Post Link**) 15-09-2006

£29K I think

BigFoot · #**145** (**Post Link**) 17-09-2006

Originally Posted by GTACharlie

If Bigfoot's figures are right ...

Figures are accurate, though may be quite biased since there were for Italy only. Clearly Alfa enjoys a large loyal customer base in Italy but also the car is probably more competitively priced.

Maybe the car has not had as good success in other parts of Europe.

If I get more info, I'll post them here

Kevin Slegg · #**146** (**Post Link**) 17-09-2006

Well despite travellling to an Alfa dealer yesterday and going out again today to the same vacinity I still have yet to see a 159 or Brera on the road

BigFoot · #**147** (**Post Link**) 17-09-2006

Originally Posted by GTACharlie

Seen very few 159s in Japan so far

I think that's also because they still don't have a Selespeed model and are still importing LHD cars. Once they start importing SS RHD, I am sure we'll see more of them on the road

Yesterday I saw my second Brera (in red). Lovely, lovely looking car (much better in the flesh than on pictures).

quietlife · #**148** (**Post Link**) 18-09-2006

Strangely enougth, I've seen three in the last two days. Might be because I'm looking out for them though. (Although three is hardly spectacular!)

cj romeo · #**149** (**Post Link**) 18-09-2006

I finally passed another on the road.

Previously, 3 brera's and one sportwagon were as close as I got.

AlfaRomeo 159 · #**150** (**Post Link**) 18-09-2006

Originally Posted by Kevin Slegg

Well despite travellling to an Alfa dealer yesterday and going out again today to the same vacinity I still have yet to see a 159 or Brera on the road

Okay

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