159, Brera & new Spider Experiences

IN the light of some of the bad experiences some have had with their 159 / Brera / new Spider, I thought it would be useful to post a definitive poll about your experiences to date. So, all 159, Brera & new Spider owners please give us your opinions.

Post your opinion and summarise any problems you have had.

As for me - my car is a delight with one very minor Blue and Me related issue.

Other - I don't have a 159 or Brera

Mine are well-documented and ongoing.

Awful experience I have to say. Very sad as you all know how much I love Alfas and have done for many years. Shocking.

Had mine for a month now. Booked it in to sort out the following:

1. Rocking drivers seat
2. Occasional 'rumbling' noise from dash upon start up and when stationary
3. Driver's window sometimes doesnt close all the way when locking the car
4. Rattle from rear seats/parcel shelf

I have to say that despite these problems I have no regrets about the purchase. It drives well and has enough power as far as I'm concerned.

Major water leak sorted under warranty. Errant warning lights also fixed. Rocking seat due to be fixed.
These minor flaws can't disguise it's beauty.

I'd like to vote in a category between the last two.

After 1 year:

Rocking Seat. (Fixed although getting a bit wobbly again.)
Alarm. (Still not fixed)
Boot lid trim loose. (New problem)
Panel lighting fading in/out. (Fixed)
Fogged up rear light cluster. (Not present in the summer.)

Rattles and buzzes, holes in the carpet, rust, missing trim, spec not as brochure, clunky rear suspension, aqs sensor faulty, split trim, faulty switch pad, holds back severley and intermittently when warming up, transmission clonk, creaky seat....

i.e more than the 156 and loads more issues than the 147.

I'm in the moderate...

I'm not happy that a 30K plus car can have a continual stream of niggling little faults...

I just love driving her...

I'd probably go between the middle two...

Simes.

11 months of Brera ownership - 6 months with me 5 months in the garage. Not good. Not happy. Expected some problems with a new model to the market but the faults on delivery were shocking!!! Some problems have taken ages to be sorted; only just got the driver's seat fixedish. Love the car, the style and the looks I get from other drivers. Real headturner!!
I would mark her between the top two.

As for the wife's 159, had it 6 months, not that many issues but still too many. Still a beauty to look at. Needs to lose some flab but still a joy to drive. Vote for moderate.

Ooooops I meant minor.

No problems. The car is wonderful.
OK, I had a failed electric seat switch, quickly replaced. But so far, 15,500miles of glorious motoring.

Mines getting to be an old lady now being one of the first ones to arrive in the country. In the first week I had a faulty boot release solenoid that caused the battery to flatten completely necessitating a jump-start from the AA which immediately trashed the main CPU.

It all got sorted pretty quickly but I think one minor electromechanical failure on a car as complex and new as the Brera isn't that bad. To be honest, I expected more problems but touch wood they just haven't materialised.

I've done 19k now and I'm as happy as a pig in muck! The 2.2 isn't that quick but those that beat me away from the lights don’t know that and assume I’m just not trying. At least I'm averaging the best part of 30mpg or more albeit a lot of motorway miles and have still got bags of rubber left on the tyres!

Bill <- That's not a smiley, it really is me!

After almost a year, and many weeks in the garage, faults still outstanding, etc, mine is going back. However, ARUK recognise it's a duffer and are providing me with a new one. It remains to be seen if number 2 is any better, of course, but you can't argue with that commitment to the customer (me!).

I should vote twice because Ive had one shocker (a new 159 saloon) and one star (159SW). The latter is a joy to drive and hasn't given me a single problem. Throughout all of the problems my Alfa dealer (mervyn stewart's, belfast) were fantastic

PS I hope fate doesn't read this board!

Originally Posted by mhollywood

PS I hope fate doesn't read this board!

Me too

My search results in the other thread here....

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/1149429-post63.html

Originally Posted by mhollywood

I should vote twice because Ive had one shocker (a new 159 saloon) and one star (159SW). The latter is a joy to drive and hasn't given me a single problem. Throughout all of the problems my Alfa dealer (mervyn stewart's, belfast) were fantastic

PS I hope fate doesn't read this board!

Just goes to show there is some major differences out there...

Really pleased you're happy now

Minor !!

1. Rocking Driver's Seat
2. Alarm
3. Erratic Auto Wipers
4. Auto Lights not switching on early enough for my liking
5. Rear Wiper inteferring with Radio Reception (in other than perfect reception conditions)

There's a rattle/wind noise from the passenger door above 50 mph but have gotten used to it and the passenger window doesn't like to go back up to the closed position after being open whilst the ignition has been off !!

That lot hasn't wiped the smile off my face..... although the customer service might !!

Originally Posted by Hunter

My search results in the other thread here....

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/1149429-post63.html

Hunter, cheers for that. I'll have a look at those later although I think some are more dealer related than intrinsic car problems. For those that are relevant I'll see if there is some way I can update the poll with the results.

No worries. I just want things to improve for the sake of our resale values and the future of Alfa Romeo and Fiat in the UK market.

Originally Posted by Hunter

I just want things to improve for the sake of our resale values .......

Dang right