Lexus IS 220d or Alfa 159 1.9JTDM

pburns · 16-05-2009 05:28PM

vectra wrote: »

Why?

I think what he's saying is that it's not worth €9500 more than the base model.

That bodykit is a bit heavy-handed as well. Personally I'd go for the base model with bigger wheels and a nice dark metallic paint-job (Subaru's silver is luverly). Along with the bonnet-scoop this makes it look pretty purposeful without descending into chav. The RS just seems a bit OTT (both in value and looks) and conjures up the old scuzball image of older Imprezas for me.

Biro · 16-05-2009 06:34PM

Exactly. Think about it. 9,500 would buy you a hell of a lot of car these days. Handing it over to your Subaru dealer for a body kit and a few heated seats and small bits and bobs seems very wasteful. You still end up with the very same car from a driving point of view. Same engine, same handling.

pburns · 17-05-2009 11:13AM

Biro wrote: »

Exactly. Think about it. 9,500 would buy you a hell of a lot of car these days. Handing it over to your Subaru dealer for a body kit and a few heated seats and small bits and bobs seems very wasteful. You still end up with the very same car from a driving point of view. Same engine, same handling.

I have heated seats and never use them (although I did try the Clarkson trick of sneakily switching it on for an unsuspecting passenger:o:D).

Talking to a guy last night who was raving about an X-type he drove. He reckoned it blew a 3 series into the weeds for interior ambiance and electrical goodies. I'm not mocking, I think the X-type is an under-rated and great value car s/h. However it struck me how people get carried away with so-called luxuries (myself included to an extent).

Power seats for example are nice for the 3.4 secs it takes to get a comfy driving position but after that you'll never use of get 'value' from them especially if you're the only one driving the car...

If you love the look of the RS bits though, just go for it. It's just the spec is not great value...

vectra · 17-05-2009 01:22PM

pburns wrote: »

Power seats for example are nice for the 3.4 secs it takes to get a comfy driving position but after that you'll never use of get 'value' from them especially if you're the only one driving the car...

If you love the look of the RS bits though, just go for it. It's just the spec is not great value...

True about the powered seats. Use them once to adjust driving position then never again touch the button as I am the only driver.
Hmm.
Maybe go for the R version then?

Biro · 17-05-2009 09:45PM

vectra wrote: »

True about the powered seats. Use them once to adjust driving position then never again touch the button as I am the only driver.
Hmm.
Maybe go for the R version then?

The R version is something like 5k more though, isn't it? Extra's aren't worth that much. You'd get a 3rd party company to fit a kit and you'd get nice alloys all for less than 3k if you really wanted to, and you wouldn't notice the difference. The base model has 150bhp diesel engine, 4WD and air con. What more would you want? By all means go for extras if they're reasonably priced, but unfortunately while Subaru priced the Impreza diesel excellently well, they failed to put the extra's in a proper pricing bracket. Even the dealers will tell you that.

Sqaull20 · 17-05-2009 10:39PM

Base is the way to go alrite, its only the alloys that really stand out in the sporty versions.I must go for a spin in one of them, my brother took a demo one out and he says it puts my Fabia vrs to shame in every area, especially handling and power wise.How he knows that from a 10 min spin I dont know, but he was really impressed.Says he didn't even notice turbo lag in first gear!! which is dreadful in my yoke.

I find it weird that no one is bigging up these cars, I cant find any decent videos on youtube on them for example, compared to say a Scirocco :rolleyes:

bbability · 17-05-2009 10:42PM

A friend of mine has an Alfa 159 Jtd M 1.9 with red leather seats. Its a bloody good car and I wish I had one. He's got 90,000klm done in 18months and its never let him down. Now considering he nearly bought a passat tdi (and the trouble my one has given me over the last 6 months which now includes gearbox) he's considering holding on to it after the lease is up he's so happy with it.

vectra · 17-05-2009 11:54PM

Biro wrote: »

The R version is something like 5k more though, isn't it? Extra's aren't worth that much. You'd get a 3rd party company to fit a kit and you'd get nice alloys all for less than 3k if you really wanted to, and you wouldn't notice the difference. The base model has 150bhp diesel engine, 4WD and air con. What more would you want? By all means go for extras if they're reasonably priced, but unfortunately while Subaru priced the Impreza diesel excellently well, they failed to put the extra's in a proper pricing bracket. Even the dealers will tell you that.

Hmm.
You see I love cars with the extras "RS" "Zetec" "Vrs" etc.
ah.
Now on saying that
Octavia 2.0 Tdi Vrs Vs Subaru Rs ??

Biro · 18-05-2009 10:54AM

vectra wrote: »

Hmm.
You see I love cars with the extras "RS" "Zetec" "Vrs" etc.
ah.
Now on saying that
Octavia 2.0 Tdi Vrs Vs Subaru Rs ??

VRS isn't really "extras" though as opposed to a top end model. You're getting upgraded brakes, suspension and engine for that as well as the toys. Which is where your money is going.
I'd still have the Impreza base and the 9,500 in my pocket.

vectra · 18-05-2009 11:09AM

Biro wrote: »

VRS isn't really "extras" though as opposed to a top end model. You're getting upgraded brakes, suspension and engine for that as well as the toys. Which is where your money is going.
I'd still have the Impreza base and the 9,500 in my pocket.

I suppose
Imprezza Base ( remapped :rolleyes: )
Nice set of Aloys.

miju · 18-05-2009 12:22PM

CharlieCroker wrote: »

head says lexus
heart says alfa (have a 156 myself)

Quality on the 159 is a massive jump on the 156 though.

+1

poreilly101 wrote: »

The Lexus is a Toyota masked ( sorry if I offend anyone )

I wouldnt go there when talking about Fiats sorry I mean Alfas

Flat2dmat · 19-05-2009 07:05PM

I drove the 159 JDTM and loved it. It's gorgeous inside and out. the Lexus wouldn't do it for me at all. what's all the talk abt Heads going for Lexus and hearts going for Alfas? are people too afraid to drive the Alfa? Reliability is no longer an issue and once you take care of your car there won't be a problem.
The diesel Fiat engines have recently gone into Volvos, Opels and Alfas - the first two wouldn't be cars which people avoid due to reliability, so why single out the Alfa?!!

Hotwheels · 19-05-2009 08:02PM

are people too afraid to drive the Alfa?

Ahhh nope

I'm on my second JTDm and will buy another :cool:

Lex Luthor · 20-05-2009 07:13AM

get the 2.4JTDm 159....I have one for the last 24hrs on demo and love it

pburns · 20-05-2009 09:36AM

Lex Luthor wrote: »

get the 2.4JTDm 159....I have one for the last 24hrs on demo and love it

Sorry to be boring but the Irish are notoriously suspicious of big engines and the CO2 tax system has swung things maybe even further towards miserly engines. There might be a fair bit of sucking-of-teeth if you go in trying to p/x a 2.4 Alfa a couple of years down the road, diesel or not. Plus it's 159s/Breras etc are terrible for CO2 because of their weight.

Lex Luthor · 20-05-2009 02:57PM

pburns wrote: »

There might be a fair bit of sucking-of-teeth if you go in trying to p/x a 2.4 Alfa a couple of years down the road, diesel or not. Plus it's 159s/Breras etc are terrible for CO2 because of their weight.

I have to totally agree, but if you are prepapred to take the hit in advance, then its worth it. There is only €16/annum difference between the car tax I am currently paying for the 07 1.9JTDm and a 08 2.4JTDm

Lexus IS 220d or Alfa 159 1.9JTDM

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