[Guest]

OK - I will rephrase it.

Sales are poor in comparisson to other marques and servicing IS expensive (£197 for 48k sce for a 1.6 Lusso 147), which is little more than an oil and filter change.

Running costs for mt 145 have been expensive over the last 6 months....

Cambelt +Aux £300, two Pirelli's £170 (front rubber wears very quickly indeed), new radiator £180, new discs and pads all round, £2250, new exhaust £210 - there's £1085 excluding the last service of £150.

£1085 - I would call that expensive.

 

[jamieboy]

OK - I will rephrase it.

Sales are poor in comparisson to other marques

Still disagree - Alfa UK sales up 20%, total UK car sales up 2%. Alfa has increased its market share, which means that Alfa sales are outperforming sales of other marques.

They're still a small player compared to some, but you could argue that equally as a curse or a blessing.

 

[EuroSag]

I think you'll find residuals pretty good on 159, Brera and Spider. Obviously, you have to choose the right spec, but with a Ti your 95% of the way there anyway. If I was going for a Ti, I'd personally go for the 2.4JTDm. Avoid the 2.2 JTS, as it's not as good in reality as what it appears on paper.

In terms of build quality, the cars have come on leaps and bounds. I previously owned a 156 which I thought was good, but the 159 is miles better.

After care for me has always been courtesy of Perrys in Amersham and I have to say that they are A1, I would even go so far as to say they are probably better than any of the BMW or Audi dealerships that I have been to in the past few years. Ok, so the showroom and service centre aesthetics are no match for the corporate image offered by most BMW and Audi centres, but hey the people who work there more than make up for it:thumbs:

 

[Mitch916]

Running costs for mt 145 have been expensive over the last 6 months....

Cambelt +Aux £300, two Pirelli's £170 (front rubber wears very quickly indeed), new radiator £180, new discs and pads all round, £2250, new exhaust £210 - there's £1085 excluding the last service of £150.

£1085 - I would call that expensive.

But with respect you are talking about an older car here. It's a bit unfair to say a car has high running costs and then throw in discs pads exhaust and radiator!

As for tyres, all cars need them and all cars ware them out

 

[Guest]

Not in under 3k miles they dont!

Mr wife drives an older car than mine and it's cost her nothing over the past 18 months, apart from servicing.

£1085 - £0 = £1085 running costs in 6 months. That in my book, is expensive.

With due respect too, of course! Having said that, I really, really like my 145 so who cares, ultimatelty - nobody made me buy it !

 

[stevew]

Thanks for all the replies guys, pretty much the answers I was expecting.I have an Italian car as a toy so I know all about the passion and Idiosynchrisies that goes with owning any car made in Italy.
The 159 would be an everyday car so, although it needs to be fun to drive and an experience to own it also needs to do the job in a reliable way and not kick my backside too much in the depreciation department.I grasp what has been said about BM's, Audi etc being sterile and souless and if counting the pennies is the major factor then this is probably the route to go down, but they do not float my boat at all.The only other Marque that has the same sort of passion and heritage as Alfa is Jaguar.I have an X Type at the moment and that is just not a Jaguar so the other option could be a S Type, but they don't look anywhere near as good as the 159TI.
I have never ever considered buying any new car before last week when I saw the TI, I have always waited for someone else to take the kicking financially, maybe this is the way to go.

Went to Mangoletsi yesterday and drove the 2.2 TI and a 2.4 Lusso(to get an idea of the engine)both went very well and I was pleasantly surprised at the build quality.
Negatives were the cruise control sticking in my leg and my left knee resting on the console which seemed quite uncomfortable.
Also are the gearbox always that notchy??????
All in all I was quite impressed with the car and Mangoletsi.

Thanks again for everyones input.

 

[NZBrera]

The gearbox is a bit notchy at first but gets much better (a) once the oil's warmed up properly and (b) all the time after the first 2000k. At 6000k my Brera's gearchange is delightful.

 

[stevew]

The gearbox is a bit notchy at first but gets much better (a) once the oil's warmed up properly and (b) all the time after the first 2000k. At 6000k my Brera's gearchange is delightful.

Thanks, did wonder wether that might be the case.

 

[Simes]

Oh and the engines keep getting better...

My 3.2 I think has nearly run itself in at 18K, certainly noticably getting better up to 12K frome new....

The diesels need some serious mileage as well to bed in properly.

Simes.

 

[ransoman]

OK - I will rephrase it.

Running costs for mt 145 have been expensive over the last 6 months....

Cambelt +Aux £300, two Pirelli's £170 (front rubber wears very quickly indeed), new radiator £180, new discs and pads all round, £2250, new exhaust £210 - there's £1085 excluding the last service of £150.

£1085 - I would call that expensive.

Did you do any of that yourself?

Just did a full service (oil, flush, filter, air filter, sparkplugs) for £30.... Granted the spark plugs where free.

 

[Fraser]

Also are the gearbox always that notchy??????

No - they improve with mileage. Mine was particularly bad putting it into first in the early days, now it's pretty much as sweet as a nut.

I was telling a friend this who has had two saabs in the past (not the current model) and he said that the sales team told him that the first to second shift would be a real pain for the first 1,000 miles or so but just to put up with it as it would ease off. It did in the case of both cars.

 

[Guest]

Ranson man - No, I'm not a mecahanic.

Self service counts for nothing.

 

[Guest]

I forgot the idle actuator valve - that was another £200, so that's £1285 in 6 months.

 

[xxxxOliver]

Cruise control stalk in the knee I had until I lowered the seat properly. Gears do need to be 'placed' a bit I agree.

I had a look at the Jags too before I went for the 159 but the X is a Mondeo in disguise and the S looks so old fashioned and about to be replaced, although both can be picked up at great prices now.

I think the quality is as good as Jags, or any premier make, I just hope its as robust as needs be.

Oliver

 

[Fraser]

Negatives were the cruise control sticking in my leg

Cruise control stalk in the knee I had until I lowered the seat properly.

You guys must either be monsters or sit very close to the steering wheel. I know I'm a bit of a short@rse rolleyes: ) but my knees don't even come close to the cruise control stalk.

 

[stevew]

Cruise control stalk in the knee I had until I lowered the seat properly. Gears do need to be 'placed' a bit I agree.

I had a look at the Jags too before I went for the 159 but the X is a Mondeo in disguise and the S looks so old fashioned and about to be replaced, although both can be picked up at great prices now.

I think the quality is as good as Jags, or any premier make, I just hope its as robust as needs be.

Oliver

The X isn't IMO a proper Jag.

Had the seat quite low and it still got in the way of the cruise.Worst bit was the sharpness of the console when my knee was resting on it, only a minor thing I know but it's what it would be like on a daily basis.

 

[stevew]

You guys must either be monsters or sit very close to the steering wheel. I know I'm a bit of a short@rse rolleyes: ) but my knees don't even come close to the cruise control stalk.

6'2" and tried the seat in a posistion that someone could sit in the back with some legroom.

 

[Simes]

Steve,

Mango's are one of the better UK Alfa Dealers and the sales guys do have a passion for the brand, they can get away with a lot more being an independant (i.e. not part of a chain unlike reg vardy, Caledonia, Lythgoes or others).. they also unlike most joint franchises sell 2-3 times as many alfa's as fiat's.

Come along to one of the North west section meets - there's one tonight in the whipping stocks near mango's keep an eye on the north west section for info..

Simes

 

[ststorey]

Hi Steve,

I will also have to agree with Acapulco - If you feel that you love the car then buy it.
As for the problems you "might" or "might not" face / running costs = at the end of the day, it really depends from the use and abuse you will give your car. As many of you agree, many cars around us these days do need a fare amount of cash to run.

I my self was never an Alfa owner - I only recently got the Alfa Bug. At first i was looking to purchase a 147 but my wife beat me there first. So i considered the next available option and have now ordered a 159! Expect the car to be delivered next month.
Would had loved the 159 TI – however at the time of ordering I was already above my limits.

So my friend, just make up your mind and go for it! Good luck!

 

[AlfistaUK]

It's simple. Get one!

If you need a reason, watch the current 159 ad on TV.