[Stupree]

I'm a long time Alfa admirer that has recently bought a GTV for some fun future classic motoring. This still leaves me with a need for a more sensible family car that I have pride in ownership of that can subtly turn a head or two for those in the know.

All of my research and my head tells me that a BMW Alpina D3 Touring is the best option but my heart says there must be an Alfa that comes close. Is there a 159 variant that is a viable alternative?

 

[Stupree]

I am also aware of the misspelt title!!

 

[alcooker]

Alpina Touring is kind of my business model for my Sportwagon, except I don't have the power of a D3. Ever since I watched the Chris harris review, I've thought that's what i want out of a road car.

i think it's doable if you can spend a few grand on mods. Including purchase price of a 159 SW, It'd still probably be cheaper than a D3 and the Alfa is a better looking car.

Are you aware of some of the tuning threads on here? http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/tuning-andamp-upgrades/304828-clogz-brera-2-4-skunk-works-thread.html

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/tuning-andamp-upgrades/139399-f1-brera-progress-thread-formally-2-4-20v-p-box-57.html

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/tuning-andamp-upgrades/481466-project-q-another-modders-thread.htmlplenty can be done to the 2.4 diesel and obviously suspension is however deep your pockets are.

 

[Stupree]

Thanks that's interesting reading, I think its avoiding that level of work that makes the D3 such a sensible choice. The reason I haven't bought one yet is mainly down to the very basic spec'd interior and should I find one within budget with a high spec interior I think I will grab it.

 

[V8VANTAGE]

Remapped 2.4 jtdm would be a good way to go. Do you really need 345bhp like the D3 has, with the amount of potholes, slow drivers and wildlife about the 2.4jtdm is perfectly quick enough. Plus who could see you driving a d3 anyway, to anyone else it looks like a common or garden 3 series with a subtle bodykit!

 

[Stupree]

I'm looking at a 2008-2009 D3 Bi-Turbo which don't quite reach that bhp level but at around 240bhp produce a decent amount of torque and no I'd hardly ever use its full potential. It is a very practical performance car that I know I'd take a huge amount of pride in ownership which is important to me with the added bonus of very real fuel consumption of 50mpg without any tuning or mods required.

I'd love for their to be a more stylish Italian solution.

 

[goram]

A 2.4Ti remapped and dpf removed SW is extremely capable - very quick, acceptable economy, but most importantly stunning to look at and instantly lovable once you get behind the wheel.

Can't comment on the D3 - sounds an interesting car, but it won't be as beautiful as a 159. Obviously!

 

[no grip]

Fuelly figures show around 35mpg for a 123D so when lopping off 5mpg for the heavier 3 series I'd love to see how Alpina magic an extra 20mpg from the engine? :surprised: I'm not suggesting anything VW like going on but...
The 159 2.4 comes in at a very comparable 27mpg (v more likely real world 30mpg for the D3)

 

[Norph]

As an owner of a remapped 2.4 SW I can tell you I'm getting c.40MPG with a mixture of short runs and motorway driving.

I love it to pieces and don't regret buying it.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[LukeyC]

The only obvious elephant in the room is the drivetrain configuration - the D3 obviously being RWD, with the vast majority of 2.4 JTDM's FWD.

I have a remapped, DPF'd 2.4 putting 260bhp through the fronts, and have very little trouble even in the wet with Pilot Super Sports. I do love it but I'll be looking to chop it in for either a 335d touring or the B8 A4 3.0TDI S-Tronic later this year.

 

[Stupree]

What are your reasons for the change?

 

[Col 156 jtd]

I'm also considering a D3 as my next car. Not sure what to do though as I've been advised by a couple of Bmw specialist garages that a 330d Msport is a better choice due to having the 6 cyclinder engine and a better spec.

For the last couple of years I've been driving a 320d M Sport. Before that I had a 2.4 159. Compared to the Alfa the Bmw is a better car but I do miss the style of the 159 and the sound of the 5 cylinder engine. In terms of mpg the difference is about 15 mpg in the Bmws favour. The difference would not be that much smaller with a D3.

If I go back to a 159 I'd probably go for the 1.75 petrol as the Alfa diesel engines are in my opinion now way behind the competition.

 

[no grip]

In terms of mpg the difference is about 15 mpg in the BMWs favour

Fuelly drivers seem to struggle to get much better than 40mpg - the manufacturers figures are 58mpg - another missing 20mpg??

You're also comparing apples with pears a little bit :nono:

 

[Norph]

Just for context purposes...

Before remap it was consistently giving me about 37-38 MPG.

This involves my wife using it 5 days a week for child duties (she's on mat leave) and I take the train to work...

On the weekend it will get longer runs courtesy of me.

Point is the urban/highway mix is biased towards urban. But I still get those figures.

FWIW my remap cost £300 (didn't delete the dpf) and I've got 248HP and 478ft lbs.

Given that you're considering an E90 D3, I'd say that's the 159 (with a little fettling) is not a bad alternative.






Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

As an owner of a remapped 2.4 SW I can tell you I'm getting c.40MPG with a mixture of short runs and motorway driving.

I love it to pieces and don't regret buying it.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[LukeyC]

What are your reasons for the change?

Well, its a combination of a few things:

1) My car is approaching 115k now, and just starting to feel a little tired. Its a combination of lots of little things really - the air con whines a bit when it's on. You can't fully see the HVAC controls if you're in 1st, 3rd or 5th. My boot doesn't open from the fob - only from interior button etc etc.

While these are all things that make a car "an alfa", I could happily live without these little quirks in favour or something more functional (if much more boring, granted).

2) I've had my car a couple of years now, it's been great fun but I feel like I need to change it for something more modern (MMI / I-drive type thing, adaptive cruise, bluetooth that actually works properly!) I've been fortunte enough to have a couple of pay rises in those years, paid off credit cards / student loan and funded my wedding, so now I'm saving to get something a couple of years old with around 20k so I can keep it longer term that will fit (currently non-existent) kids, yet still let me have a bit of fun when I'm commuting over (often wet) A roads.

3) My time trial bike only just fits in the back of my saloon - I should have bought an estate from the off, but just didn't love it as much as the sleek looking saloon. The Alfa was bought with 80% heart and 20% sign off from my brain!

That, plus I want 300+bhp/four wheel drive and Auto/DSG, as I've only ever had manuals.

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Alfa, and don't regret buying it for a second. It's a great car - very distinctive and the ownership experience has been largely positive, at times comical, but never, ever dull!

If I could go back, I'd have gone for a 2.4 ti SW with the Q4 - that's the one I'd hold out for. Failing that same car in the Q2.