Agree with a lot of stuff already said, but here's my 2p worth:
(based on my 3 months with a 2.4 JTD)
Good:
The looks - in red with beige leather... lots of admiring glances, which is nice, but the main thing is that I like it.
Performance - OK, it's a deisel, there's turbo lag, I'm still getting used to both of these... but when you get it right and boot it, it's fun. As one review said it's going to be very easy to get into licence confiscation territory in the 2.4 especially.
Handling - I'm not sure what the other posters are comparing it to, perhaps compared to a true sports car the handling isn't all that, but compared to previous cars I've driven (golfs, mondeos and the like and more recently a 156) I'm pretty happy. Plenty of grip, happy in horrendous downpours, great braking (the 2.4 has larger front discs like the 3.2V6 has, I think these are great - not sure if they are an option on the JTS and 1.9JTD but worth checking out I''d say).
Bad:
Not too keen on the gear box, feels pretty "clunky" to me, prefered my 156 in this respect.
Indifferent:
Cabin is great but a little more storage space would be good.
Boot is big, but high sill and fairly small opening are a bit of a pain - that's the price of the styling.
Economy - I'd expected more from a deisel... on big long motorway journeys it's OK, but when people talk of getting 50mpg from their deisels I know they aren't talking about a 159:-(
Road noise - it's not a big deal, but it could be better.
If you activate the "autofold" function
(hold the fold button 'til it beeps)
then the mirrors fold when you
lock the car and unfold when you
put the key in it's slot.
Dunno about everyone else but I've a tin dashboard on my 159 and the reception is fine from the standard stereo. Fitted the 10 CD changer on Saturday too no problems...
Look like this thread is going to sleep
Had my 159 Lusso, black/red leather for just over a month (2300m)
Still getting into it really. Previously had an A4/Auto which I was impressed with right up to the I sold it.
Good points:
Gob-smacking Looks
Torquie as hell!
Beautiful Cabin (my good lady sat in the showroom model and said 'it's similar to the A4.' When she sat back in the A4 she said 'Oh no, the Alfa's much better than this!')
More for your money
Bad Points:
I find the 159 not quite as good on the bends. The grip is there but the body lunges too much compared with the A4.
I had an Alpine Sat/Nav in the A4 wich was a dream to use. The Nav-C***p in the 159 is a total 'bag 0f spanners' and will soon be replaced with a Kenwood or Pioneer! Can'y ub=nderstand why Alfa would fit such utter rubbish to a car they are trying to compete with the Germans.
Fuel consumption not as good as expected. Only getting 34/35mpg after 2000m. Had a courtesy car last week doing 40+mpg on 10,000m so hope it will improve.
My thoughts on my 19 are all positive with the following exceptions:-
1) I never get much more than 38 mpg (2.4 diesel)
2) The character of the sensors on wipers took some getting used to (to quote my daughter they are random!!)
Hi, my biggest concern in my 159 2.5 JTDM is the gearbox. The car has done around 1K miles now and it's not getting better, notchy and difficult to get through the gates. I went back to the dealer and he said suggested they are 'all a little agricultural'!! It's not what I expected from my first Alfa and it has spoilt the experience somewhat.
OK so my good and bad:
GOOD:
Got a BOSE setup - blinding. Pavarotti, Portishead, Prince and Propellerheads. All splendid.
Parking sensors all round. Love that graphic map. my parking is so lazy now i am embarassed!
Blue & me. insane not to have it.
Beige interior. about 20% bigger on the inside it feels like.
Q-Tronic box (made by Lexus apparently) is a joy.
Handling - at speed (frankly too fast) is excellent.
Steering - very nice, the fast lock to lock is great.
Heated seats - mmmmmmmm. cold mornings are almost looked forward to!
BAD:
in my case - and I feel I am an extreme - reliability. It has been a disaster. I have had 6 different loan cars. SIX!
I still love it. Smile every time I get in.
Economy sucks. But with a 2.4 engine and an automatic what did i expect.
the rear wash wipe switch is silly. On or off please rather than a silly reset thing. daft.
The view from all angles.
Long distance comfort.
Cross country agility for such a big car.
The sound of the 5-pot
The build quality and reliability.
The smiles.
Bad points.
Fuel economy (but who cares)
The high mileage (because I love driving it)
Cleaning the wheels.
The auto wipers (but they're still better than manuals).
People constantly carping about the weight.
Just passed the 41,000 mile mark this week and she's running the best she ever has. Ever since Alfa changed the front steering rack all suspension creaks, bumps and thumps have totally disappeared and the ride is smooth.
So my list of good and bad points is:
Bad
Fuel! Average of 27mpg best I've ever had is 32
Interior cubby holes - no room for anything
Original Radio and sound quality - too much bass and poor signal quality - swapped it for an Alpine double din DVD, iPod, MP3 player - fantastic!
Lack of low end power - I've found that if you keep it around 3000rpm you have the best fuel economy and also fairly good pickup
Good:
Looks - Everyone comments on it
Build quality - Solid and quality materials
Handling - now the steerings been sorted
Boot space - I use it everyday for work and you would not believe what I've had in it
Everything else!
I was looking to upgrade to the 3.2 but the fuel consumption has put me off so I'm going to wait to see what future engines Alfa puts in it and decide then.
So the considered view is that the gearbox may be a little clunky, but bearabl? This being the case, I think mine must have some issue with the selector or ???? as it spoils the driving experience. Off to the dealer me thinks.
Depends what mileage is on your car, Lauxy. The notchiness in mine is barely noticeable now (9,600 miles) except in to first when cold. It was only ever a problem on first and second though, and only for the first 2,000 miles or so.
Chaps just to put things in perspective, my post on this thread was 15-09-2006! :lol:
Since then I've rejected the 1st 159 for brake failure and now have a MUCH better replacement 159
Mine is a 2.2 JTS Lusso
Good points: nice engine (torquey for a petrol, pulls almost from 0 revs!), great handling (corners taken around 15% quicker than my old 156 2.0 JTS), very comfortable and nice interior, good ride, no issues with oil consumption (not like the 156!), good quality stereo
Bad points: unnecessarily short 6th gear (70 mph at 3150 rpm), fuel consumption (atlhough it is doing 32 mpg but this involves 80 miles daily commute), rattle from the glovebox lid.
Good points - handling, comfort, ride, interior, exterior, build quality, Blue and Me, driveability, direct steering, cruising comfort.
Bad points: windscreen rattle (now fixed), fuel consumption, road noise (on some surfaces), Blue and Me telephone call-out level (B&M unit to be replaced), front tyre wear.
I agree about the lack of low end torque but you soon learn to compensate with higher revs, & get to 2000 rpm where it really kicks in !
Speaking as a person who suffers back trouble in every car i've owned the seats are supremely well shaped and comfortable.
The ride is a good balance of comfort and control, which makes my previous car ( honda Accord ) feel like a barge !
I have a Bose upgrade audio system which i find excellent.
I agree that the rear seats should be folding as standard & not £250 extra !
As for the looks .....well what can i say stunning..well gone Alfa......just sort out build quality issues & you've got a BMW beater !
Would have preferred a Red one but they'd all gone. Stromboli looks the mutts nuts though
I have to say, the Stromboli is absolutely stunning, your car looks top class, no-one with at least one eye can possibly say a bad word about it's appearance!:thumbs:
Well i'm up to 5500 miles now and more than happy Got the windscreen creak, and now got the spray but not tried it yet.MPG not up to Alfa figures but i'm loving everything minute of the car and just look forward to driving it
Anybody had this. The passenger mirror hits the door window when folding in and sometimes only folds back out halfway. Pretty peeed off only had the car 2 days.
To clarify...the mention of the auto folding mirrors function, is this so on a 159? I cant find it in the user book and have tried the 'hold till it beeps' thing, no joy. I assume this doesnt work on 159?
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