[Ricky85]

Hi everyone. New guy here.

Having spent every evening for the last few weeks looking all over the web at 159's for sale, I think I have come to the conclusion I absolutely want one.

After seeing a 1.9 JTD lusso with red leather at a dealers at the weekend, it's just made my obsession worse. I fell in love at first sight.

So I was just wondering which model you guys would recommend? I am kinda tempted by the extra power of the 2.4jtd at the moment... but the better fuel economy from the 1.9 might make it the sensible option.

Also, what are servicing and parts cost like for them? I'm not expecting it to be cheap! Just looking for some ideas about what it's gonna cost me.

Cheers,

Rick.

 

[wiggy28]

Iv had my 2.4 for a few months and love it like it's day one still. Would defiantly reccomend it. So much so my dad gets his tomorow. Its at Ahm now for a dpf egr remap today so should be even better come the weekend.
Havnt had it serviced myself yet but going through the invoices I got with the car servicing seems pretty reasonable but u will pay a huge premium for a main dealer. There is a few highly spoken of garages on here and unless your buying almost new you'd be a fool not
To use them. Enjoy

 

[Ricky85]

Cheers Wiggy,

I've had the same car for 6 years now and never seriously considered changing it until I saw a gorgeous black 159. I now have to have one.
I've seen a nice 2.4JTD on trader. But the guy lists the price of his last 2 services and they came to 1500 and then over 2000. Kinda put me off a bit!

Got no intention of buying new. I'm looking at picking something up for around the 7k mark. So definitely would rather use a recommended garage for servicing rather than a dealer. Only dealer I know of near me in West Yorkshire is Dews, and I've read a lot of bad reviews about them.

What kinda MPG do you manage to get out of it?

Rick.

 

[Quadrofoglio]

For a main service (18k or 21k depending on year) expect about £400 at an Alfa dealer, £200-£250 at an indy. If you're anywhere near Huddersfield Alfatech at Bradley Mills is good:thumbs: Dews

 

[wiggy28]

Currently getting about 34mpg and thats driving in town 80% of the time. By no means amazing but the overall experience overshadows that.

 

[Ricky85]

Cheers Quadro.
I'm in Wakefield mate, so no problems getting to huddersfield. I'll make a note of that garage, really don't wanna be going to Dews from what I've heard.

and 34mpg ain't too bad for a car like that! I get less than that in my 1.5 Ignis sport at the mo. I'm really leaning towards the 2.4 because as crazy as it seems, the 1.9 JTD will actually be slower than what I've got now, acceleration wise.

 

[MBadger]

First of all I would be careful making the obvious paper choice
I bought my first alfa 8 months ago and if you look at everything on paper then a model stands out. Power, 0-60, emissions and of course mpg.

Dont believe all you read.

I went for the 2.4 diesel as much better mpg, good power and faster than the 2.2 .
Of course there is the 3.2 but I feel that's a little bit of a let down also in terms of what you think you should get power wise.

Well the diesels do give good power but aren't earth shattering. The 2.4 is heavy and like the 1.9 sounds like a 1970's land rover. The 5 pot 2.4 does have a nice growl under acceleration and isn't bad on fuel on long journeys.

So what I am perhaps saying personally I would find the 1.9 a rather dissapointing choice as it's slower sounds worse but you get an extra few miles a gallon.

I would also make sure you factor in a dpf removal and remap for £700 as that makes the car

If I was looking again I would definitely try out the petrol 2.2 - they tend to be cheaper than the diesel so you have a grand or two savings up front for very little difference in performance and it sounds like an engine not a bag of bolts rattling about. It's not a v6 and not hugely powerful but it's an option.

If you have a dpf removal in mind the the mpg increases and the power shoots up to around 260 ish bhp on the 2.4

It's a shame they didn't have another engine in the middle or a different power form to fill the gap and give a real option. The later 1750 has great reports and is lively enough with decent mpg but not going to get one for 7 k


So I'd say get the 2.2 petrol or 2.4
Leave the 1.9 in the cold

 

[Robbo73]

Go for a 159. The driving seat is a nice place to be. I love the dials. I'd recommend the 2.4 but I am biased as I have one- a black Ti. It is my first Alfa and I can now see what the fuss is about about being a proper drivers car. They do look better than most things out there in the same league I think. A small slice of Italian exotica for sure. I test drove a 2.0 jtd before and it really underwhelmed on pulling away. The 2.4 has nice torque and pulls well and is a delight on the motorway. The 5 pot also has a little bit of character you'll never get with the 1.9. If you can get a ti I'd recommend. Sitting on 19's, the car looks fantastic to me. And ....if you ever remap this car it will produce a tidlewave of torque. I am tempted when my warranty runs out. The only negative for me is it is rather nose heavy with the heavier engine but- it is a heavy car anyway so you might aswell go for more power IMO.

Cheers,
Iain

 

[t3yls]

the 1.9 in the GT is ok, but i'd be weary of it in the 159 as such a heavy car.

It can be remapped up to 190ish bhp though for a few hundred quid.

 

[Ricky85]

Cheers Badger. Very helpful post that.

The one I've been to see is a 1.9 and it looked so good that I was really tempted. But I think in the long run I would find the lack of power a little disappointing.

Disappointing to hear that you say it sounds like a 1970's land rover, as I haven't test driven one yet and that isn't how I have been imagining it would sound!

I haven't even paid that much attention to the petrol versions so far as I assumed with it being such a heavy car that fuel consumption would be terrible on the petrol ones.

Also, the 3.2 V6 is not an option really as I think the insurance would be astronomical!

I didn't realise you could get an extra 60BHP by having the dpf removal and remap, I'm not very technically minded when it comes to cars to be honest, But that sounds like something that would definitely be worth doing. I'm guessing any alfa specialist garage would offer this service?

Thanks for your help everyone,
I'm not much of a car expert, so advice on what model would suit is gratefully received. I've just fallen in love with the sheer beauty of the thing. I saw it in the prestige row at the dealers next to the audi's, merc's and beamers and it put them all to shame. Stands out a mile, especially in black.

 

[Guest]

The 2.0 JTDm-2 sounds very smooth but even I have to say the pick up is really rather poor until you reach about 1500rpm - it just bogs down all the time and wants to stall! Other than that it's pretty quick although it never ever feels it - it's the charecter of the 159 more than anything.

Has anyone had a DPF, EGR and remap done on a 170bhp 2.0 at all?

 

[bluepowell]

Thought I’d throw my opinion in the mix.

I would recommend the 1.9 and a remap/dpf removal. I have a SW version of this and love it. Prior to the remap it was a bit sluggish of the line, but since I’ve had it done by Gus at Alfatune the car is a million times better. Lots of power in every gear. And I don’t know if it my imagination, but I think it sounds better too! I haven’t driven the 2.4, but I’ve been told that the remap and DPF removal makes the 1.9 more like a 2.4 without a remap power wise. Economy prior the remap and DPF removal I was getting about 35-38 mpg. Nearly all of my driving (90%) is short trips to work and back and to the shops etc. On longer trips I would get may be 42 mpg at a push. Since the work I’ve been getting about 44mpg on my short trips and the other weekend went to Birmingham and back and got 56mpg. So much improved! I would say that the money saved on getting a 1.9 over the 2.4 would pay for the remap and DPF removal (you’d probably still have to get this done on a 2.4 as the DPF and EGR value will probably go at some point anyway) and you’d have a great car that has the plus side of being easier on the pocket for fuel costs. I would think that insurance would be cheaper too.

 

[Ricky85]

Thought I’d throw my opinion in the mix.

I would recommend the 1.9 and a remap/dpf removal. I have a SW version of this and love it. Prior to the remap it was a bit sluggish of the line, but since I’ve had it done by Gus at Alfatune the car is a million times better. Lots of power in every gear. And I don’t know if it my imagination, but I think it sounds better too! I haven’t driven the 2.4, but I’ve been told that the remap and DPF removal makes the 1.9 more like a 2.4 without a remap power wise. Economy prior the remap and DPF removal I was getting about 35-38 mpg. Nearly all of my driving (90%) is short trips to work and back and to the shops etc. On longer trips I would get may be 42 mpg at a push. Since the work I’ve been getting about 44mpg on my short trips and the other weekend went to Birmingham and back and got 56mpg. So much improved! I would say that the money saved on getting a 1.9 over the 2.4 would pay for the remap and DPF removal (you’d probably still have to get this done on a 2.4 as the DPF and EGR value will probably go at some point anyway) and you’d have a great car that has the plus side of being easier on the pocket for fuel costs. I would think that insurance would be cheaper too.

That sounds like it might be the best thing to do then. Have the economy of the 1.9 and have some extra power. I'd be really happy to be getting 44-56MPG from a car like that! Any idea what the remap has boosted the BHP up to? and an estimate as to how much it's shaved off the 0-60 time?
Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did the remap and dpf removal set you back? as I will need to allow a bit of budget for this. I love the look of the car but it would be no good having such a fantastic looking car if its getting beat off the line by all the crappy chavmobiles!
As for the insurance, I have been quoted £800 for the 2.4, which I thought was quite reasonable as I'm only 26. So I'm guessing the 1.9 would be at least a couple of hundred quid less.

 

[David 54]

I am Wiggy 28's Dad and got my 2007 159 2.4 Sportwagon today, 70 mile journey home, computer showing 38mpg (70% of journey was motorway) will be very interested to see how my boy's 159 performs after its remap etc

 

[MBadger]

Thought I’d throw my opinion in the mix.

I would recommend the 1.9 and a remap/dpf removal. I have a SW version of this and love it. Prior to the remap it was a bit sluggish of the line, but since I’ve had it done by Gus at Alfatune the car is a million times better. Lots of power in every gear. And I don’t know if it my imagination, but I think it sounds better too! I haven’t driven the 2.4, but I’ve been told that the remap and DPF removal makes the 1.9 more like a 2.4 without a remap power wise. Economy prior the remap and DPF removal I was getting about 35-38 mpg. Nearly all of my driving (90%) is short trips to work and back and to the shops etc. On longer trips I would get may be 42 mpg at a push. Since the work I’ve been getting about 44mpg on my short trips and the other weekend went to Birmingham and back and got 56mpg. So much improved! I would say that the money saved on getting a 1.9 over the 2.4 would pay for the remap and DPF removal (you’d probably still have to get this done on a 2.4 as the DPF and EGR value will probably go at some point anyway) and you’d have a great car that has the plus side of being easier on the pocket for fuel costs. I would think that insurance would be cheaper too.

Yes good advice - if Ricky is ok with the idea and factors in £700 for a remap and dpf then it would be a much much nicer option and give decent enough performance - better mpg also.

And yes the dpf removal does improve sound a touch you can hear the turbo whistle more now
Does sound like a rattly old diesel from outside but inside always have the radio on and you'll never care .

 

[MBadger]

That sounds like it might be the best thing to do then. Have the economy of the 1.9 and have some extra power. I'd be really happy to be getting 44-56MPG from a car like that! Any idea what the remap has boosted the BHP up to? and an estimate as to how much it's shaved off the 0-60 time?
Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did the remap and dpf removal set you back? as I will need to allow a bit of budget for this. I love the look of the car but it would be no good having such a fantastic looking car if its getting beat off the line by all the crappy chavmobiles!
As for the insurance, I have been quoted £800 for the 2.4, which I thought was quite reasonable as I'm only 26. So I'm guessing the 1.9 would be at least a couple of hundred quid less.

I'd love to see a 0-60 also but I reckon I've shaved at least a second or so off and put me from 50 - 80 an it flies.

£800 very good. I'm paying £500 with 9 years nc and 37 years old

 

[MBadger]

Alfa Romeo Remaps | Performance Upgrades | ECU Remaps | DPF Removal | EGR Switch Off | BHP & Torque Increase

Bhp will be 205
There is a northern company who license from these guys and gus plenty of posts

 

[Ricky85]

I'd love to see a 0-60 also but I reckon I've shaved at least a second or so off and put me from 50 - 80 an it flies.

£800 very good. I'm paying £500 with 9 years nc and 37 years old

I've got 8 years no claims. Might even be able to knock it a bit lower than £800 with a bit of shopping around, perfectly affordable. The hardest thing seems to be getting car finance at the moment, despite being reasonably well paid.Been trying for last day or 2 and keep getting rejected. All because of some financial difficulties caused by redundancy a few years ago. Gutted. Looks like it's gona be a longer wait than I thought before I can get my hands on one. Oh well, I'll keep trying.