Alfa Romeo 159 JTDM.

Duke O Smiley

Usual score; what has one to look for on viewing one of these? High enough miles, 170k+ but it looks a cracker. Timing belt & water pump are already done allegedly, and clutch & flywheel more recently so.

Edit; worth mentioning it is a 1.9

Nuw

Not much else to look out for but your usuals (t-belt, signs of rust... etc...), check (if possible) with the garage if the items mentioned have indeed been replaced. Have a trusted mechanic to look it over before any money exchange.

Alfas from that era are pretty reliable. This engine in particular doesn't come with a lot to worry about (that I'm aware of), two versions 120 or 150hp, the latter being the one to have, but both are more than decent.

166man

To summarise;

- steering racks on earlier models were a weak point

- M32 gearbox on them is also a known issue (it's an Opel Gearbox and can't handle the diesel torque) see if this has been overhauled.

- 8v engine is the one to have. No swirl flaps and more reliable. 16v engines struggle with usual injector problems

- check the air con compressor isn't making any funny noises

- suspension is good on these, so little to worry about

- they blow bulbs like there's no tomorrow.


Apart from that they're a good car and a high miler will likely have a lot replaced. They're wonderful to drive, for a diesel like!

Duke O Smiley

It's a 16v 6 speed. Hopefully having a look tomorrow. Thanks for the response!

Nuw

166man wrote: »

To summarise;

- steering racks on earlier models were a weak point

- M32 gearbox on them is also a known issue (it's an Opel Gearbox and can't handle the diesel torque) see if this has been overhauled.

- 8v engine is the one to have. No swirl flaps and more reliable. 16v engines struggle with usual injector problems

- check the air con compressor isn't making any funny noises

- suspension is good on these, so little to worry about

- they blow bulbs like there's no tomorrow.


Apart from that they're a good car and a high miler will likely have a lot replaced. They're wonderful to drive, for a diesel like!

Didn't know about the injectors issues on the 150hp version, is it really that common?

In any case, it's good to know, thanks!

ba_barabus

Never heard of the injectors issues. Suspension is worth checking carefully as the passenger side tends to go. Parts for it are expensive and none are available off the shelf. They eat front tyres also. Calipers seem to seize as they get older, again expensive and not off the shelf.

166man

ba_barabus wrote: »

Never heard of the injectors issues. Suspension is worth checking carefully as the passenger side tends to go. Parts for it are expensive and none are available off the shelf. They eat front tyres also. Calipers seem to seize as they get older, again expensive and not off the shelf.

Hows your one going? Still got the itch to change for something else? Prices have fallen out of the 159's this year I noticed. The ould fella was offered €10k for his sportwagon against a new Giulia though :cool:

ba_barabus

166man wrote: »

Hows your one going? Still got the itch to change for something else? Prices have fallen out of the 159's this year I noticed. The ould fella was offered €10k for his sportwagon against a new Giulia though :cool:

Still have that itch but I think it's more to do with it being the longest car I've ever owned. Nearly 3 years now. I'm still stuck with the same issue, I don't like anything as much as the 159

ShadowHearth

Never heard about injector issue and I have same engine in gt. 159 is very close to gt, but gt has very complicated suspension, which is really not suited for these roads.

Spot on on light bulbs, I changed 3 so far in 10 months of ownership. Its like a consumable item at this stage.

Gearboxes can be a weak link in them that's for sure, so just keep an eye on it. If it's a high milage one, then most likely sorted as issues would pop up at around 100K miles.

All in all nothing much to say, I presume they are reliable as gt just a 4 door. Just get a good example.

I am still keeping an eye on that 2.4 jtdm on donedeal, but it is way overpriced and the seller has a very bad rep even on boards.ie.

ShadowHearth

166man wrote: »

Hows your one going? Still got the itch to change for something else? Prices have fallen out of the 159's this year I noticed. The ould fella was offered €10k for his sportwagon against a new Giulia though :cool:

Prices have fallen of gt and 159 like crazy. I payed 3.2K for my one in February and I would be lucky to get 1.2K for it now. When I get new car, I might put my alfa as bangornomics here. If it did 15k miles for me already, I can see it do even more someone else without any issues.

166man

Which 2.4 JTD Shadow? Gearboxes are different and thus better on the 2.4's...:)

ShadowHearth

166man wrote: »

Which 2.4 JTD Shadow? Gearboxes are different and thus better on the 2.4's...:)

Going off topic and I don't want to screw this thread for op, but I guess we talking about 159 hehe.
There is only one 2.4 on donedeal. Red estate one. Fantastic looking thing, but for 06 7K... He is a bit of a dreamer. On top of that this trader has a few threads on boards.ie alone. Pure cowboy.

166man

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Going off topic and I don't want to screw this thread for op, but I guess we talking about 159 hehe.
There is only one 2.4 on donedeal. Red estate one. Fantastic looking thing, but for 06 7K... He is a bit of a dreamer. On top of that this trader has a few threads on boards.ie alone. Pure cowboy.

Price is strong on that car for sure. However, whatever about the dealer, I personally know the guy who owned that estate. He minded it like a baby from what I remember. I think it's a good one, just being retailed by some dodgy fish

bmwguy

I bought an 06 Alfa 156 for 5.5k back in 2010, one of the very last of the 156. Nice car, I liked it.

How anyone thinks an 06 159 now is worth 7k is beyond me.

quadrifoglio verde

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Usual score; what has one to look for on viewing one of these? High enough miles, 170k+ but it looks a cracker. Timing belt & water pump are already done allegedly, and clutch & flywheel more recently so.

Edit; worth mentioning it is a 1.9

They aren't fun to drive! Doesn't deserve the badge.

Can't wait to get a classic policy in a few weeks on the gtv and get back driving it.
Now that's an Alfa.

Don't get me wrong, they're comfortable to be in, quite solid on the road, lots of room when loaded with passengers. But so is a corolla

quadrifoglio verde

Alfa Romeo 159 JTDM

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

They aren't fun to drive! Doesn't deserve the badge.........

The fanboys won't like that :pac:

Veloce

I've driven various 159s, GTs and Breras and the 159 Ti was one of the most planted cars of the lot. It was a 16v JTDm 159 Ti - remapped to ~190 bhp. Lovely driving position - phenomenal brakes (330mm brembos) and seriously good fun on the backroads.

Alfa GT 1.8 Blackline - fun car to drive but underpowered
Alfa GT 3.2 V6 - a hoot but a little nose heavy. Under steered a lot more than 1.8 on the twisties.
Alfa Brera 3.2 V6 - didn't like this one at all - felt waay too heavy
Alfa 159 1.9 JTD 8v - 120 bhp - too under powered.

millington

166man wrote: »

To summarise;

- steering racks on earlier models were a weak point

- M32 gearbox on them is also a known issue (it's an Opel Gearbox and can't handle the diesel torque) see if this has been overhauled.

- 8v engine is the one to have. No swirl flaps and more reliable. 16v engines struggle with usual injector problems

- check the air con compressor isn't making any funny noises

- suspension is good on these, so little to worry about

- they blow bulbs like there's no tomorrow.


Apart from that they're a good car and a high miler will likely have a lot replaced. They're wonderful to drive, for a diesel like!

Are these not the same engines as the old Vectras? In those, everyone says the 150bhp 16v is by far the better engine

166man

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

They aren't fun to drive! Doesn't deserve the badge.

Can't wait to get a classic policy in a few weeks on the gtv and get back driving it.
Now that's an Alfa.

Don't get me wrong, they're comfortable to be in, quite solid on the road, lots of room when loaded with passengers. But so is a corolla

Any car can be fun to drive if you drive it properly! They're nowhere near as bad as you make them out to be! They're solid on the road and very planted in the corners. :cool:

millington wrote: »

Are these not the same engines as the old Vectras? In those, everyone says the 150bhp 16v is by far the better engine

But the 150bhp has swirl flaps as well as injector issues from what I have heard. Dad has the 120bhp 8v remapped to 150 and in 193k km the engine hasn't set a foot wrong. Gearbox was done 10k km ago though :pac:

Duke O Smiley

Aaaaanyway, it was lovely. But more expensive to insure than a 2.0 TDI A6

bmwguy

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Aaaaanyway, it was lovely. But more expensive to insure than a 2.0 TDI A6

I know it's gas, I had a 1.9 3 series a while back and was looking at a 2.0 Alfa 156, insurance went up about 30% if I was to change.

How am I 30% more likely to have a claim in one car than the other, shows the nonsense of insurance. I refuse to believe I should be bracketed with claims of other drivers in the same car, what they do is independent of what I do. My history should be what counts.

Same driver, same behaviour, same journeys, same times, same speed, vastly different premium

ba_barabus

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Aaaaanyway, it was lovely. But more expensive to insure than a 2.0 TDI A6

Mine is fine but I've made that choice that it's worth paying for.

AMKC

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Aaaaanyway, it was lovely. But more expensive to insure than a 2.0 TDI A6

At least with the Alfa your car will be a car with a soul it will be more exclusive and a lot nicer looking. Audi,s are everywhere they are boring and ugly thats just my opinion do.

Beadyeye

166man wrote: »

Hows your one going? Still got the itch to change for something else? Prices have fallen out of the 159's this year I noticed. The ould fella was offered €10k for his sportwagon against a new Giulia though :cool:

That's a great price your father was offered! What year and spec 159 is it? Ha, and more importantly, is he gonna buy a Giulia?

I'd be tempted to part with my 159 to step into a Giulia......

166man

Beadyeye wrote: »

That's a great price your father was offered! What year and spec 159 is it? Ha, and more importantly, is he gonna buy a Giulia?

I'd be tempted to part with my 159 to step into a Giulia......

I actually checked with him and that was €9k they offered, as well as being midway through 2016 when that was offered. I'm not sure what the value would be a year later!

He likes the Giulia, but he's so used to the estate that I don't know if he'd go back to the saloon. The Stelvio SUV will be launched before the estate Giulia so reckon that may be the one to go for.