159, Brera & new Spider Experiences

Originally Posted by RSK

2 - Regular late night alarm going off likewise for my neighbour !

There is no known cure. Although mine have got less frequent over time.

Originally Posted by RSK

3 - Terrible (and getting worse) sound from what I think is the PAS at low speeds needs fixing.

Sounds like you have a pressure problem in the steering fluid system. Probably on the low pressure side (otherwise you'd really know about it). Most likely caused by a punctured or split hose.

Originally Posted by RSK

1 - Seat squeak is now close to sending me mad !

I had exactly the same problem, the seat sounded more like on old worn-out bedstead at a cheap hotel!

However the dealer sorted out and its been quiet as a mouse since!

Just a few miles short of 40,000/ 64,000 Km...
Passenger side top arm is to be replaced, it started squeaking at around 30,000 so expect them to only last that. Depending on road conditions and driving style.
Its been replaced under warranty, front pads also need replacing, but again this is down partly to the weight of the car, and late braking.

MPG is still around 42-45MPG mixed driving, and she still does not use any oil between services..

About once a month when you start the car from cold I get the warning message telling me its over heating. When you turn off and turn on again its gone. They tested everything but found nothing wrong, and no error codes are logged.

She really is like a super model!! There are times she feels sluggish, and other times mad to get going...
Over all she's an excellent machine and a joy to drive...

Just picked my 159 2.4JTDm Lusso on Friday.

All was well, nothing to report

Today however: peeling front bonnet Alfa badge, squeeking front LH brake and rattle at low speed over bumps from either B pillar, door or seat on the drivers side - the drivers seat does move more laterally than the passenger one (I checked) so it could be this

Other than that it is great. Well the fuel economy is rubbish after 5 days - 31mpg - my old 1.8TS 156 would give 33-34 over a week.

The car has done 14000 miles and had swirl valves checked before I got it.

2 problems so far that I was bothered about:

"Have engine checked" warning - took it to Mangoletsis today, apparently the lambda sensor wires had been crossed over at the factory when the car was built. They fixced it in less than an hour - well done.

Passenger side mirror folds out too far. They have ordered a new mirror for next week and it should take less than an hour to fix.

There are a few small problems that I am not too fussed about. Misted up rear lights, rattle from dash for example. These are minor things that don't cause me too much stress! If they get any worse or start bugging me I'll get them sorted at the service.


Banny

I look forward to be able to post one here, once I get my 159 2.2 Ti

I have a major problem in the tailshaft or the rear diff ;every gear change gives a vibration and audible cluncking sound at the back of the car.Another minor irritation is the silver trim that's on the dash that is supposed to line up with the doors doesn't line up at all,in fact it is about 1 centimeter lower.There is also noise on the drivers side window rubber.However I love the car and expect the problem with the diff to be fixed,the silver trim problem may well be a different matter.

Desira Norwich still haven't sorted any of my problems and I've heard feck all from them for a month !!

Apart from the warranty work the Brera won't be visiting them for anything.... EVER !!

Oh and for anyone that's 'listening' at Desira... if I buy another Alfa it won't be from you !!

Originally Posted by nomad

Desira Norwich still haven't sorted any of my problems and I've heard feck all from them for a month !!

Apart from the warranty work the Brera won't be visiting them for anything.... EVER !!

Oh and for anyone that's 'listening' at Desira... if I buy another Alfa it won't be from you !!

Music to my ears - bought my 159 2.4 JTDM second hand from Desira Norwich in April this year. 10 months old, 20,000 miles and driven by their MD. Car was delivered with:

1) Badly fouling and sticking front passenger door due to misaligned rubber seal (had to kick it open from the inside!!)

2) Terrible water leak in front footwell (coming from the door, where they had obviously taken the panel off to fix an awkward ding but didn't replace the waterproof sheath properly). Literally flooded the footwell and I couldn't drive the car in the rain until the part was in. Good job we had a cracking April weather wise...

3) Car EOBD light went on + limp mode 10 minutes after taking delivery. Straight back to the garage where they said it was dirt in the airflow valves. Kept doing it on and off for weeks. So boll**ks - the airflow valves were defective from the word go and all the faults were still in the diagnostic memory when my local and very excellent dealer (Northgate, Canterbury) got to it and replaced the whole unit under warranty.

4) Leaking and whistling windscreen due to a defective seal in the top right hand corner. Again replaced by Northgate under warranty.

Desira Norwich = super showroom with vaneer-thin attention to detail. I hated the car for the first few weeks until, one by one, Northgate worked their way through the faults and fixed them with minimum inconvenience or cost to me. Surely Desira's MD, the previous driver, was aware of these faults...?

"To hell with it" - is clearly their attitude - "let his local dealer sort the problems out under warranty and in his time not ours" can be the only basis on which I was sold the car and that sucks!

Was waiting till I'd had my Brera for a few months before commenting in this thread - four months and 4,000 miles in I am still delighted with the car.

Couple of niggles

1) Seat is creaky - sounds like a 15 year old sofa - noted the comments above however - will have a go at the dealer and see if they can sort it out.

2) alarm has gone off on about 5 or 6 occasions in the 4 months for no reason (it even manages to go off in my garage. Obviously this is a common complaint and I dont seem to have it as bad as most. FWIW my 156 used to do the same thing occasionally.

3) Paint seems quite soft - made a few light scratches frustratingly enough while washing it - I have amended my washing technique to accomodate this but it's a bit annoying.

Aside from that it's brilliant, a great car to drive, certainly heavier and a bit more detached from the road than the old 156 but it feels so much better made.

MPG has levelled out at a fairly consistent 38.

Overall a few niggles but nothing that would prevent me from recommending the Brera wholeheartedly.


Oh and those blasted 18" multispoke wheels are hell on earth to wash (I guessed that when i specced them so I've only got myself to blame )

I think from all that i can read I am the most happy AR owner....: I only have an annoying noise from the dashboard, had a problem on my right front window and a noise from the somewher in the front.. and thats only in 3 months that i own my 159...
oo my old 146 1.4 boxer was so much better

I've taken delivery of a 159SW 1.9JTDM in August and till now has 1.7K on the clock..I've alway wanted an Alfa every since I was a teen.. Overall the car is great. I voted for Minor Problems..

Pros:
1) Beautiful looks.
2) relatively rare sight on the roads.
3) Have noticed other drivers checking out the car
4) Its got soul, unlike an audi or bmw
5) My first car with leather seats.. Can't beat the smell of new leather
6) Blue+me works great
7) Overall built quality is better than I expected.
8) Dealer (Mangos) service seems good

Cons:
1) Rain sensor wipers doesnt seem to work as well as my Golf.
2) Found a piece of trim under the dashboard hanging loose upon delivery..
3) boot open button on the roof.. Very odd place for it.
4) The paint finish could be better.. Found a small patch of black stipple marks with near the roof bars. Also on some panels, the paint finish isn't smooth.. a little uneven near the edges.
5) Squeaky seats.. Dealer has kinda fixed it by lubrication the hinges.. But it's still there.
6) ABS/VDC/Hillholder failure - dealer fixed by swapping the ABS sensors around.
7) Difficult to clean the 17" multispoke wheels and around the headlights..too many nooks and crannys..

Current mpg on my daily commute of 15 miles (mostly dual carriageways) is 35mpg. On longer journeys on motorways, mpg about 43.

Overall, very happy

As some of you may know (I am afraid I may keep on bringing this up, see for example http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...-2-no-2-a.html), I am on my second Brera. I've not had it too long yet - but long enough to know already it's a damn sight better than No.1.

So far I have no problems with the alarm, no rocking seat, no braking system problems, etc., nothing at all. The carpets also all fit properly.

The electric seats are great - very adjustable. The FPF leather is luxurios. The rain sensors work better than I'd expected. The standard lights are fine. The, albeit primitive, SatNav does its job without complaint (haven't tested the phone yet). etc., etc... You get the picture, I'm sure.

Okay, if I am to nit-pick, the radio reception isn't as good (I only listen to Radio 4), the SatNav display can't make up its mind on intensity in low-light conditions and the (Blaupunkt) Autochanger sometimes skips (maybe it doesn't like my CD-Rs?).

But all in all I am very happy with this one.

Perhaps the lesson to be learnt is to avoid new models for at least a year. Plenty of people told me this - but I just couldn't wait, once I'd seen the Brera in the flesh!!!!

Pleased you're happier ARTG
The Brera/159 has actually been on general release since its launch in March 2005 at Geneva Motor Show. But yes, I have to agree that at least 12-18months into a new launch is the earliest time to buy. Both you and I have 1st hand experience of these 'teething problems'...

Mine is finally booked in for it's new seat base and carpet and apparently a fix for the alarm too !!
Nowt said about the rear wiper/radio inference but hopefully that'll get sorted too !!
Lately though I've noticed that when turning left - yes I know I shouldn't brake while cornering but sh1t happens !! *cough* traffic lights on the roundabout at the A414/A1 junction - that the brake pedal is rock hard and there's very reduced braking power
Not sure if to mention this this the dealer I've already used or to try somewhere else
Mines a Dec '06 BTW

Try somewhere else Nigel ...

Bearing in mind the things that are happening on AO at the moment with rogue posters and people with zero post able to influence certain aspects of threads/polls, and multiple logins etc etc, could one of the mods do a quick IP address check/votes on the results thus far.

Call me suspicious, but there are strange things afoot are here at the moment... and I would hazard a guess that perhaps some of them aint all above board... (lets just say a littl birdy told me something at the weekend that made me sit up and listen to )

I think we ALL want to make sure that the figures in this fairly long running and important poll are as fair to ALL sides as possible.

Worth sending a PM to Ian or Hans, Hunter?