Alfa Romeo 159 JTD Sportivo

RoboRat

Hi,

Looking at getting a good diesel car as I will be commuting about 170km a day (motorway). We need something a bit bigger as we have a child on the way so we have been looking at the usual pretenders, VW Passat, Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia, Mazda 6 & Audi A4. I came across an Alfa 159 2.4L JTD Sportivo and it looks IMMENSE! I had a Fiat Brava before and I promised myself that I would never touch a Fiat again as it was a heap of **** plus I have heard some horror stories about Alpha's but I was just wondering have they sorted their game out? What is this car like and would you recommend it?

Cheers
RoboRat

Ardennes1944

the 2.4 engine is a great engine and the 159 is relatively hassle free compared to earlier alfas. just be sure to check the usual timing belt and suspension worries.

RoboRat

Damn you! I was hoping for someone to tell me they are crap! I absolutely love the car and I know if I test drive it I won't want anything else but I also know that the wife will want something 'more practical' :-(

Ardennes1944

theyre not a huge car so your wife may be right. it just depends how much stuff you will be carrying in the boot. the 2.4 are rare enough here.if you want it, and the timing belt was changed when it needed it (39k afaik) and the suspension has no creaking etc...get it

Matt Simis

RoboRat wrote: »

Damn you! I was hoping for someone to tell me they are crap! I absolutely love the car and I know if I test drive it I won't want anything else but I also know that the wife will want something 'more practical' :-(

Then buy the 159 Sportwagon, which looks even nicer!?

Citroen2cv

with the 159, alfa seriously upped their game quality wise. Reliability is good too. But despite the size of the 159, its not huge inside, rear legroom isnt great, although probably no worse than some of the competitors you listed. For the length of the 159 , a lot of it is bonnet.

pred racer

I personally say, go for it! But be aware the best mpg you can hope for with that engine is about 35 motorway and high twenties in town.

As matt said, buy the sw, its lovely.

Ps ive got a 1.9 its great, not the most frugal car either, but its great fun:D

pred racer

pred racer wrote: »

........... But be aware the best mpg you can hope for with that engine is about 35 motorway.....................

...... surely it returns better than that on the motorway?

Ardennes1944

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

............. and the timing belt was changed when it needed it (39k afaik) and the suspension has no creaking etc...get it

The 72k interval initially quoted by Alfa was changed to 36k miles (by Alfa) for the petrols (not the V6I believe), I don't think it applied to the diesels either.

pred racer

RoverJames wrote: »

...... surely it returns better than that on the motorway?

Not according to the folks on alfaforums,


http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/119891-159-brera-2-4-fuel-consumption.html

Seems the 210hp version is better than the 200 but still not great.

Personally i would buy a 1.9 and a remap!

Tea 1000

RoboRat wrote: »

Damn you! I was hoping for someone to tell me they are crap! I absolutely love the car and I know if I test drive it I won't want anything else but I also know that the wife will want something 'more practical' :-(

It's bearly any less practical than anything else on your list...
Was your Brava the 1.4 model? They weren't great, but the facelift ones with the 1.2 were very reliable.

pred racer

pred racer wrote: »

Not according to the folks on alfaforums,....................

Some of them got 42, 51 and 38mpg on actual long runs, the low to mid 30s lads seem to be mixed driving predominantly .....

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/119891-159-brera-2-4-fuel-consumption-11.html

I'm not going to go through the entire thread of course :pac:

Matt Simis

RoverJames wrote: »

...... surely it returns better than that on the motorway?

We have the earlier 10v version in a 156 2.4JTD Sportwagon, remapped to 200bhp. We get about 45mpg on daily long commutes. 35mpg would be heavy intra-urban commuting IMO. The 159 has the advantage of a 6speed gearbox unlike the 5speed in the earlier 156's, so its well into the 40s MPG wise on the motorway IMO.

The Tyre Dude

Make sure you get on with the Alfas seats, not everyone does, especially the lower back support.

Padraig Mor

Fantastic looking car. Neighbour has a Ti spec with all the bells and whistles. Be aware that if it's running on 18"s, they are meant to munch through tyres like nobody's business.

The Tyre Dude

Not an ideal family car either, a pals 1.8 (lighter than the diesel) on 17" wheels was bottoming out all over country roads with 2 adults and 2 babies.

RoboRat

Was your Brava the 1.4 model?

Yep, absolute heap of dirt. Used to cut out going around corners disabling the power steering and brakes, the spark plug blew off 3 times.. all sorts of problems.

That sportwagon looks amazing, might see if I can find one.

The mpg does worry me though, I was looking at the 2.4L as I thought that doing all motorway and with the 6th gear it would be more economical. I thought it would make more sense to have a bigger engine running lower revs.

Not an ideal family car either, a pals 1.8 (lighter than the diesel) on 17" wheels was bottoming out all over country roads with 2 adults and 2 babies.

Seriously? I'm not a small bloke so that kind of worries me... although wifey is tiny and its our first baby but we are hoping for more so thats a bit worrying.

Colts

Would you not consider the 1.9 and getting it remapped? I have a GT remapped with the 1.9 JTDM and I love it. A good friend of mine has the 1.9 in the 159 and mapped it too and he has never had any problems in 3 years. Bring one for a spin, see what you think, and if it feels right, get it.

Timmaay

There are a few 2.4JTD 159s for sale for well less then equivalent 1.9 jtds, the difference in tax is 300quid (960 against 660), so factor in this and the extra fuel bill of a 2.4 over the 1.9. If you do get a 2.4, just be prepared to be married to it, it will be almost worthless in a few years to be honest, with tax at almost 1000quid.

Redsoxfan

If looking at a 159 diesel, then I'd seriously look at the 2.0. It's a much smoother engine than the 1.9 and also benefits from lower tax.

I looked at a 2.4 Brera earlier this year. The fuel consumption figures were shocking - it seems that the DPF is the main issue - DPF removal and a remap seems to be a must.

kc66

Redsoxfan wrote: »

If looking at a 159 diesel, then I'd seriously look at the 2.0. It's a much smoother engine than the 1.9 and also benefits from lower tax.

I've been keeping an eye out for a 159 myself. Haven't noticed any of the 2l on carzone or donedeal. I think I read they came out in 2008?

Redsoxfan

kc66 wrote: »

I've been keeping an eye out for a 159 myself. Haven't noticed any of the 2l on carzone or donedeal. I think I read they came out in 2008?

Yeah, and hard to find - not sure when or if they were sold in Ireland. Available in UK. I have a remapped 1.9 GT and would seriously hold out for the 2.0 159 if changing (assuming you want to get some sort of reasonable efficiency/value, otherwise get the 2.4....)