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159 replacement!!

34K views 253 replies 74 participants last post by  cornclose 
#1 ·
What have previous 159 owners replaced there cars with.Are you happy with your new purchase? How does it compare ? Will you return to alfa ?

I,ve recently replaced my 159 with a audi a5 coupe 2.0 tfsi like for like the audi is quicker,more fuel efficient does'nt suffer from stone chipping, alloy's better quality.The alfa was just as planted on the road but not as refined, new for new price the audi is more expensive so should be better in certain departments so value for money alfa is ahead,i do miss the exclusitivity of the alfa but i have to admit the audi put's a big smile on my face the same way that the alfa did.I almost went for the gullietta but the front view just did not do it for me Will i be back to alfa ? most def if they get the 159 replacement right !!I do miss the 159 but the a5 is the only car i looked at that pulled the heart strings the same way, curiously enough it was apparently the same car designer for both cars.:thumbs:
 
#98 ·
First drive review: Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Review | Autocar

The Panamera Sport Turismo concept is what Porsche should have made the original Panamera look like IMO instead of the bloated one on the roads today!

I also just read that the Ghibli engines have been designed by Paulo Martinelli who was powertrain manager at Ferrari F1 in the Schumacher days. Ferrari are even going to make the diesel engine -first step to a diesel Ferrari? :wow:
 
#101 ·
I'm just waving goodbye to my 2.4 SW (with remap)... and as the missus has a 9-3Aero SW I don't need a load lugger. But do need something where 2 young kids can get into the back. Looked into 8/9 yo Quattroporte (which I'd have in a sec if I could manage the MPG costs), Infiniti G37 Coupe, even some Rx8's, and XF.

Needed something with at least the power of the Alfa and have ended up stepping into the Dark side and going for a blue-propeller 6-series.
 
#102 · (Edited)
It is an interesting question because im in the same predicament. The 159 is starting to show its age, and since im on the road often for work i need something with a decent boot. The Giulietta just doesnt appeal, but its the only consierdable Alfa. The Mito is too small, the 159 TBI is not available anymore in Australia, the stock has been completely sold. The 4C if i bought one wont suit my work needs which means id probably keep the 159 for work and the 4C for the weekends, mind you 3 cars to maintain isnt exactly appealing.

I have looked at the new Merc C-Class coupe, which is both refined and well built. Even the new CLA seems interesting..... Wouldnt buy a Beema and an Audi my brother is getting so im not too thrilled.

Saluti, Giordano.
 
#108 ·
It is an interesting question because im in the same predicament. The 159 is starting to show its age, and since im on the road often for work i need something with a decent boot. The Giulietta just doesnt appeal, but its the only consierdable Alfa. The Mito is too small, the 159 TBI is not available anymore in Australia, the stock has been completely sold. The 4C if i bought one wont suit my work needs which means id probably keep the 159 for work and the 4C for the weekends, mind you 3 cars to maintain isnt exactly appealing.

I have looked at the new Merc C-Class coupe, which is both refined and well built. Even the new CLA seems interesting..... Wouldnt buy a Beema and an Audi my brother is getting so im not to thrilled.

Saluti, Giordano.
There are a number of brand new 2011 build 159's for sale in Australia atm that were brought over from South Africa. Check out Carsales.com.au . Ranging from 3.2's to the 1750:)
 
#103 ·
Looks like my 159 is going to get replaced with a brand new Focus ST-2 in black..

Looks: 159 obviously :D
Power: Focus (250PS) 0-62 in 6.3
Reliability: Focus
Practicality: About the same
Cost: Focus
MPG: Focus, which is shocking to say mines a diesel
Weight: Focus
Handling: Focus

Such a shame..
 
#111 ·
I just chopped my BMW in for a 159 as it was just too boring. I had zero emotional attachement to it. Ive only ever owned german cars (mainly VW and Audi) and from what I can see the Alfa is not that far behind.

Newer Audi's and VW's are overpriced IMO and as said the have similar issues. Its just down to modern diesels Im afriad. Paint wise Audi's have been quite bad for rust and what they called paint inclusions. Same for some newer VW's i.e. Mk5 Golf.

For the same money (most people on here are speaking about a lot more expensive cars) I dont think there is a lot of difference in what you buy these days so it comes down to what your really want to drive and a little bit of exclusivity.
 
#140 ·
Not quite sure what you are saying here but to put things straight, the Lancia Thema uses either the 3.6 litre Chrysler Pentastar petrol engine at 286bhp, or the 3 litre Diesel in two outputs 190 and 236bhp, manufactured by VM Motori in Italy. (VM is now jointly owned by GM and FPT)

To date, none of these engines has ever been used in an Alfa Romeo. And the current Lancia Thema does NOT have an Alfa Romeo engine.

Alfa Romeo have not themselves manufactured a V6 engine since the famous "Busso" 2.5, 3.0 and 3.2 litre engines used in the 156/166/156GTA etc. Production stopped in 2005 when the Arese plant was closed although a stock of engines allowed some models to be fitted with the engine up to about 2006.

The 3.2 petrol V6 used in the 159/Brera and Series 2 166 was of course the GM sourced Holden engine.
 
#119 ·
Its a tough one to predict, but assuming that a C250 has list price of 34K, and depreciation is around 40% in the first 2 years, you would loose around 14K if you bought it cash, therefore the lease offer of 10K for 2 years is an attractive alternative to buy and sell, especially if you are a sub 10K miles per annum driver as that keeps the leases low.

PS, I based the depreciation on the E class as couldn't see obvious data for the new C's but most cars in that class will drop 30-40% in the first 2 years before they settle into a lower depreciation curve. I am sure MB have done the proper math
 
#120 ·
I do 15k miles a year and this is the mileage allowance on my lease package.

My 2.4 Spider was getting on for six years old and was costing £265 per month on finance.

It wasn't particularly frugal and in the 18 months i owned it probably cost me £3k - £4k in maintenance and repairs, whilst depreciating all the time.

The Merc is more frugal so fuel savings will probably amount to circa £50 a month.

Then there is the fact that there should be no hidden surprises - in two years all it should really need are tyres and a service or two. Anything major should be covered by warranty.

Okay there is the initial payment to fund, but overall I think it should only cost marginally more to run a brand new Merc than it cost me running a six year old Alfa. Then at the end of the lease I can just give the keys back with zero depreciation.

Seems a no brainer to me.
 
#121 ·
I have just leased for the first time. Chopped my Alfa GT in for a new BMW 114i Sport who I have leased direct from the dealer. My monthly payment is the same to the pound as my car loan on the GT was, only a small deposit (£700), service is included for 60K, no MOT for 3 years(when it is returned to dealer anyway) and hopefully better reliability. I also cover a lot of miles +24K, this was covered in the lease arrangement.

I agree with you James, was a no brainer for me in the end, although I do admit I miss the Alfa :thumbs:
 
#122 ·
I just thought £10.5K seemed very high for 2years of depreciation on a Merc.

Just to show how buying cars can work - I paid £17.5K for a brand new pre-reg 1.9TI, it's cost me £100 in out of warranty repairs, it's done 20K miles and in great nick so could expect still to get £10K back for it after 4years of ownership

There was no finance so it's effectively cost me £7.6K in depreciation over 4years or £1900 a year.

It's never about selling price it's allways about the buying price....people who pay rrp for cars are always going to lose a lot of money.

However if i'd put my purchase money into Barclays shares and leased as i considered at the time i'd now be a very wealthy chap :) .....hindsight is such a wonderful thing....
 
#124 ·
I just thought £10.5K seemed very high for 2years of depreciation on a Merc.

Just to show how buying cars can work - I paid £17.5K for a brand new pre-reg 1.9TI, it's cost me £100 in out of warranty repairs, it's done 20K miles and in great nick so could expect still to get £10K back for it after 4years of ownership
Dream on, more like £7000 if you find a dealer in a good mood on a sunny day, and that's today, not in a year or two. I swapped my low mileage almost as new 159 for a far more expensive Mercedes about 18 months ago, the MB dealer phoned everyone in the area, and the best he could get was hundreds under book from the Alfa dealer who'd sold it me in the first place. You could get more from a private sale, but have you tried doing that recently? When I bought my 159 I knew what I was letting myself in for, so the figures didn't surprise me, it was a lovely car and a rewarding experience, though not cheap. 10k for a car (an Alfa!!!) that you paid £17.5 for four years previously? like I said, dream on.
 
#123 ·
Wow, £17.5K for a new Ti? That's a deal and a half Mike. Your right about the important bit being the purchase price, depreciation is the same for any two like for like cars with similar mileage, condition etc, but if you pay 2K less than me at purchase, your quids in!
 
#125 ·
^what he said... doesn't half scare me too!!!

the current crop of mercs are really nice cars, improved a lot over the last 10yrs I'd say, they are far outside my budget though. the stop start diesels are very tidy and if driven wisely can give you amazing mpg, probably what I get from my honda insight, if not better.
 
#127 ·
+2 Kayem. Exactly the same experience here. The only offer for my low mileage 2.0Ti, 32 months old was from the dealer that I bought if from 10 months earlier -£6000!!!! I eventually got a better deal elsewhere but still £4500 depreciation over 10 months. I'm quite happy to have a new BMW 318d sat outside for £340/month, with a relatively small deposit, I can afford the monthly payment, but no way could I afford the £29000 to buy the car!!!
 
#136 ·
I'm not sure that you can really calculate the depreciation by comparing what you bought the car for and what you sold it for, it's more the difference between the price you paid and what the next person pays the dealer you sold it to. probably £3000 at a guess, which isn't too bad
 
#131 ·
I lost circa £9500 on mine - 2007 (57) 2.4 SW Lusso having owned the car for 43 months. I figure that wasn't bad. In real terms I got around £1500 more for a 6 1/2 yo 159 than I did for a 2.4 156 at 4yo. Sure... I could have got more had I hung out for it, but when I decide to sell I want it gone, the car gets priced realistically (I use Glass's as a guide) and all 3 of our Alfa's have found new homes within 1wk.

The issue with selling an Alfa is that you generally need someone who wants an Alfa, not someone who is looking for a a saloon/estate (as with the 159) who is open to any marque as long as the car ticks boxes; whether we like it or not, whether it's our experience or not, one of the first comments when you say you drive an Alfa will usually be "when are you getting a reliable car?" or something along those lines. The wider perception is one of poor build, suspect reliability, dodgy electrics, etc. May not be real, but that's still the opinion of most.

...and I still can't believe Alfa have nothing to offer me, other than the same car with TI trimmings and a less characterful engine. I'll always look enviously at the 159 but I may never return to Alfa having turned to the Darkside.

... I've not gone for a new Beemer, a used 6-series instead, but the deal was good and 3 year unlimited mileage service plan is just £600!
 
#135 ·
I have had 6 Alfas and currently have a Brera, I have decided to change it for a C Class Sport. I think I may have finally fallen out of love with the Italians :-( The finish and build quality is just not good enough in my opinion. The C Class is faster, more fuel efficient and above all is finished properly. I also personally think the C Class sport looks better and has more on road presence than the 159.

I had a TT before the Brera and even though it was 2 years older than my Brera it was far more solid and the paintwork and interior looked newer.
 
#137 ·
I've had a quick look this morning on Trader and nothing similiar to mine local for under £10K - ok these may be overpriced examples but it's an indication of what people are aiming for.

Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16V TI 4dr Diesel Saloon£10,000
2009 (09 reg), SaloonPrivate seller
42,000 miles
Manual
1.9L
Diesel

It's all very hypothetical as i'm not selling but i'd put my house on getting £9K minimum. I guess where you live in the country is a factor as well on what you can achieve. Low mileage really does increase the car's value.
 
#139 ·
You may be lucky but it sounds more like cloud cuckoo land. Those 159s are on Auto Trader because nobody has bought them.

It is 3 years ago that I traded my 159 with a similar spec to yours, only the car was only 2 years old and 38,000 miles. It was sold on at £10,995 advertised price - so probably £10,500 tops. Since then, the car has gone out of production, nobody seems to want them other than other Alfa fans and the recession has bitten deeply.

Don't bet your house on the 9 grand just in case you find yourself living in a cardboard box.
 
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