[stonesfan]

Hi folks, first proper posting here.

Am considering a 159 diesel, probably the 1.9. I'll be totally honest and say I've never really paid the Alfa R any particular attention. Reports of build quality, reliability and servicing costs have generally been rather off putting. I totally accept that these reports could have been exaggerated in the press though! But I'm also aware that cars in general have improved, as today's market will simply not accept a 'bad' car. Reliability should be taken for granted these days. I've generally been a Honda/Toyota man, and had to think long and hard before I purchased my current MG ZT (again, due to rumours of MG build quality, reliability etc) For the record its not put a foot wrong from day one and has been 100% reliable over 2 years.

So!

Not many of the current mid sized saloons really do anything for me. All seem to be lacking character. And whilst swanning around car giant I noticed a great looking car called the 159. I simply 'like' the way it looks, although have not driven one yet. Lovely interior too.

What kind of reliability and servicing costs can I expect for the 1.9 Td? Basically, how good are they? And just to open up my options, does the 2.4 Td unit incur any extra running costs bar the obvious fuel consumption?

Thanks for any help and apologies for rambling on!

Cheers

 

[..dan..]

You wont be disappointed! I've just switched to a 159 2.0 JTDm from my GT V6 and apart from missing the glorious V6 sound the 159 is better in every respect.

Don t listen to anyone about reliability. I had my Gt for 3 years from new and had no problems with it, my work collegues Audis all seem to go back to the garage more than mine did!

Regards to costs, well on my '59 plate Ti, I only have to service it once every two years which is amazing and as its Euro 5 the road tax is just £120, thats music to my ears after paying £400 with the GT! The 2.4 is I think £170 a year on road tax.

Basically if you look after your 159, it will look after you!

 

[stonesfan]

What is the ride like on a 159? Thats the only reason whilst I'm contemplating selling my current ZT, because the stiff suspension, and the 18" wheels contribute to a pretty harsh,( but extremely grippy) ride.

 

[159john]

Go for it Stonesfan! Honda and Toyota reliability are legendary, but Alfa are nowhere near as bad as the press/general public's conception. Yes, as with any car's there are good and bad ones, but generally the Brera/159/Spider platform was a big step forward for Alfa in build quality; and really is up to BMW and Merc standards now. As always, full service history is a must.

My 2.4 has had to have a new Clutch Master Cylinder (under warranty), but other than that has run faultlessly for the 9 months I've had it (bought second-hand - now done 33k on a 57 plate). I've actually just posted that my 36k Service was £180 at an Alfa Specialist, as opposed to £505 from a Main Dealer (the Specialist used Alfa Parts and oil); so servicing doesn't need to be expensive if you can find a good specialist.

35mpg is achievable from the 2.4, but will be much lower if you use it around town a lot. EGR and DPF problems can occur - in common with most modern diesel engines; I always use Millers additive when I refuel to try and keep the fuel system clean, and have had no problems at all.

At full pelt, the 2.4 sounds very undiesel like - sometimes likened to the old Audi 5 pot petrol engines. You need to drive one though, and make your own assessment. The perfomance of the 2.4 is.......addictive!

I, like you, was a bit sceptical when I bought mine - but have absolutely no regrets and still look forward to every opportunity to drive it

 

[159john]

Ride quality on my Lusso spec (17 inch wheels) is quite firm but very comfortable - a good compromise between handling and ride comfort. You gotta go drive one - I think if you do, you'll buy it.

 

[BeggarsBanquet]

I drive a Brera, so no specific 159 experience, but can comment on the 2.4 JTDM: it's a peach of an engine, with a great spread of torque and it's very happy to rev-out through the gears. If you drive a VAG diesel for comparison, the torque band seems incredibly narrow, barring the big capacity models.

I did have a 159 courtesy car for three days whilst the Brera was in for a service and it was a great car. Fine-handling, well put together and really comfortable. I got over 42mpg from the 1.9 JTDM in mixed driving.

The build quality on the new generation of Alfas is very good indeed, and nothing whatsover has caused me trouble in the last 20,000 miles. I'm at 34,000 miles now and it still feels tight and is devoid of rattles and squeaks.

Beyond this, AR's also look like nothing else (as you noticed in Car Giant!) and do have a certain something that I've not personally found elsewhere. I am quite into cars and enjoy looking around at what's new; I can't think of anything I'd switch to at present.

 

[Nev]

Had mine about a month now:


No rocking seat, no hesitation, no alarm issues (no alarm. ), no windows
rolling down on their own.


Just a missing spare wheel and sunblind rolleyes
and a dodgily fitted side indicator. (Fixed with a pair of pliers in 5 minutes.)


Scale of 1-to-10 I give it an 9.

(Brera was a 8 and 147 a 7.)

 

[stonesfan]

All sounds promising so far.

Am going to pop down to Car Giant and have a test drive shortly. I know this question isnt alfa specific, but has anyone bought from this particular vendor? I do believe you can purchase a good value warranty to cover the entire period if you take the car on credit. At least if anything does break, then you are covered.

 

[159stu]

i bought an 06 159 2.4 lusso in november with 32k and have covered nearly 6000 miles of hard driving in the extreme weather we have had this past few months.
apart from the known fuel economy issue (grumbles its a bit like throwing buns at a bear!) I can honestly say that its the best car ive had for a long time
I say this after a string of "reliable" cars such as toyota avensis (2x dual mass flywheels in 90k and dreadful headlights and incureable squealing brakes) vw passat (inexplicable engine management problems so extensive i gave up on vw dealers and hoped the samaritans could help!) peugeot 407 (2 turbos and intercooler) and citroen c5 (reliable enough bar particle filter but certainly not pretty) and a vectra which rolled off down a hill and wrote itself off due to a handbrake fault (i got a recall letter about 6 months after it was written off for rectifacation of same!)

The 159 is an excellent handling car, the 2.4 engine sounds much meatier than anything else out there and the seats are great. id strongly reccommend one to anyone, apart from being reliable theyre also a fit looking car, i just wish my missus looked as sexy in black and red leather...

piece of advice tho... if youre buying from carcraft id suggest checking what rates your own bank would offer to fund the car and when they go on the sales pitch of paint and fabric protection (not worth a fig on a used car) gap insurance (you can buy cheaper online) thier warranties (again you can generally buy cheaper online) and thier finance packages... compare all these to the other options on moneysupermarket.co.uk and with your own bank.

good luck and happy motoring.

 

[Smee Agen]

I've got a 159 1.9Td. It can sound a bit rattly when cold but its got plenty of go and a six speed box that gets you great fuel economy on the motorway to boot. I've got a couple of niggly faults but don't believe the unreliabilty stories. I traded in a 11 year old 156 with 158,000 mile on the clock that still worked fine every day.

I'd look at what trim level options are fitted. I went for the Lusso spec which has leather, and the front and rear parking sensors come in handy. Didn't have Blue & Me , but then I don't like using the phone on the move.

 

[159Bob]

I have just bought a 159 with the new 2.0Jtdm engine, its my second 159 (1.9Jtdm last time) great cars with 100% reliability. can get in the area of 52MPG at 70! i would recommend one to anybody a highly underestimated car.

Problems: 1st 159, very squeaky clutch pedal, new master cylinder fitted. Creaking/cracking sounds from the windscreen area, this is also on the new one??

rear lamp units misting up, both models!

thats it, great motoring along with a large smerk on the face

 

[ACAPULCO AL]

stonesfan, drive it and see what you think :thumbs:

i've got a 1.9 jtdm lusso. i've only put 5000 miles on mine since i bought it (used) so can't really comment on reliability etc but i haven't had a single niggle so far. it did, however, have the egr valve replaced under warranty before i picked it up. the 1.9 jtdm diesel has been round long enough now for most niggles to have been resolved at the manufacturing stage so i would've thought it will be no less reliable than any other manufacturer

fuel economy is good (i'm averaging 38mpg and 80% of my driving is the manchester rush hour into the city centre). longer runs (eg. anglesey and back over christmas) gave me 50 to the gallon without driving like a carvanist

servicing costs haven't had it serviced yet but main dealers are not the cheapest. dearer than ford, vauxhall etc but probably similar prices to vw or mazda. service interval is 18,000 on models up to (i think) 08 plate, 21,000 on later models

performance splendid mine's been modified so is noticeably quicker than the standard 150bhp. i had it standard for the first 3 weeks of ownership and it felt just fine. plenty of wallop as you expect from a decent diesel. the engine can be a bit rattly on cold start-up but fine once warmed up. brakes are fine, haven't found myself needing any extra stopping power yet. all models come with abs, traction control and vdc (vehicle dynamic control) - same kind of thing as esp as its called by ze germans

driving experience there's no getting away from the fact that it's a big car, and therefore no lightweight. my previous car was a 156 2.0 petrol and felt way lighter and responsive. grip, however is MASSIVE. i've never known a car sink its claws into the road like the 159. my brother in law drives a lexus is220d and he was amazed at the 159. whilst i'm on that, lexus are meant to be extremely refined but the vibration through the gear stick is unacceptable on the 220d. comfort-wise, the 159 is good. mine is a lusso spec so has leather and standard suspension which is reasonably firm but way better controlled than my old 156 which had suspension made from solid granite. i opted for 18" alloys on mine and still it's perfectly comfortable

interior/toys etc brilliant. quality is superb, and i love the design. standard stereo is very very good. lusso comes with full leather as standard, although i would prefer sportier shaped seats myself. got cruise control, parking sensors, air-con'd drink cubbyhole, very good air con & ventilation. rear legroom and boot size isn't great for a car of its size though. models from 08-onward (as far as i know) come with bluetooth and ipod socket as standard


but as i say, go drive it and see what you think.

 

[stonesfan]

Thanks for the info so far.

A black Lusso which caught my eye did seem to have a high pitched 'whining' noise on revving the engine between about 1500-2500 rpm. None of the other models appeared to have this. Thats one advantage of a car supermarket I guess. The fact you can compare the cars for possible issues. I'd guesstimate my favoured black lusso had a noisy/worn turbo, as the turbo gauge was moving slightly in accordance with this noise. Although I thought the turbo only spinned up when a load was put under the engine?

But it does seem to be one of the few modern cars I actually like. Most do absolutely nothing for me!

 

[Vromm]

Have a read of this ...
Jeremy Clarkson Alfa Romeo 159 review | Driving - Times Online

 

[cp76]

i would recommend one to anybody a highly underestimated car.

I think you've hit the nail on the head, for the money (especially second hand) i can't think of a better everyday comfortable car. An equivalent BMW/Audi is more expensive which you see everyday as the sheep have ticked this box on the company car order form. I only picked up mine this week and really do like it and it's on a par with most BMW's i reckon for build quality and ride. Oh and it looks great!

Let us know what you think of the drive :thumbs:

 

[jsfletcher159]

Funnily enough, like you my last car was an MG ZT (V6 though) and I had the similar dilemma about Rovers supposedly being unreliable, etc but I ended up buying 2 so I was a real convert.

When it came to changing I road tested several cars and the only one that came close to it in character and driveability was the 159.

I have the 2.2 JTS which is probably no better on fuel than my ZT but I would say the 159 is definitely nippier.

The MG was supposedly heavy on tyres but my 159ti is definitely worse so the cost of 19 inch tyres hurts :wow: even more than the ZT's 18 inchers.

It is too early to say on servicing costs as it hasn't been serviced yet but I have found a local independant who are loads cheaper than franchised dealers.

It does have its foibles such as the notchy gearbox (which improves when warm) and the infamous hesitancy problem (rectified with a re-map) but I really like it and will probably go for another one with the new 1750tbi engine next time (I'm a petrolhead you see!)

I also get loads of positive comments about the looks of the 159 whereas the MG ZT was an acquired taste that I liked as I think it was more of a "bruiser" in the looks department but it is all down to personal opinion.

 

[stonesfan]

Jsfletcher, how does interior noise levels compare in the 159 to the ZT? One fundamental issue with quite a few ZT's is that wind noise, interior rattles and dashboard vibrations can be apparent. I've fixed most of my annoyances, but would just like to know whether the 159 diesels suffer in this dept.

 

[159john]

My 159 has 33k on the clock and absolutely no squeaks or rattles. Occassionally I get some wind noise from around the drivers window at about 70MPH; but it seems to come and go, so must just be how well the window glass seated the last time it was raised. My only complaint noise-wise is that the tyres do seem to generate a lot of 'roar' - I understand this varies dependant on what make of tyres are fitted.

 

[alif]

To put it simply, if I needed to replace my 159, I'd choose another 159. No other saloon on the market is as enjoyable.

 

[Viking Dad]

We have two of them, both 2.4 diesels. I had another one before that - a 1.9 diesel.

We looked into swapping one for a Brera V6, but we like the 159s tooooooooooo much!!!!!