Brain pick - Alfa 159 sport wagon ?

[twosmoke300]

Prob getting shot of the Saab and wife's grande punto and replacing it with one mid size hatch or estate . Need something either a bit quick or special .

Was looking at Migraine 225's or Fiat bravo 150's but saw a 159 Sportwagon and its looks incredible . Then I realised I knew bugger all about them .

[dollywobbler]

I also know sod all about them. Buy one and let us know how it went. Sorted.

[twosmoke300]

They look stunning . Gotta be peeled cow inside for me tho . The caramac interior is making me moist

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I know they look amazing.

I also know they're not much more than 2+2s, I considered one a couple of years ago until I went and saw one and realised it was too small.

[twosmoke300]

Missis only really needs a car with a bigger boot than the punto so that side of it should be fine

[SiC]

Rust iirc and in bad places too like front subframes. V6 isn't the original Alfa unit in 156, GTA, et al.

 

Why are you getting rid of the Saab?

 

If you need quicker, surely an Aero. If it's an Aero, then a remap!

[SiC]

I'm gonna guess you'll need to travel a fair bit to find one, I can't imagine they're plentiful down Cornwall.

[michael1703]

Ive heard of water ingress and ecu problems but not much else

[Dave_Q]

They're well sexytime but still a bit $$ for me, would a facelift 156 do?

 

 

Should be about half the price and the engines are a bit more old-tech for cheaper fixing if/when it goes wrong.

 

All the petrols in the 159 are direct injection JTS jobs, the majority of diesels are 16v multijet, a 156 with the old 8 valve JTD has got to be a better bet reliabilitywise IMO.

[SpareSnare]

I've been running an '09 1.9JTDM Sportwagon for eighteen months and it's been great. Totally reliable thus far and enough space for me, my other half and our one year old. I'm a serial Alfa licker so prob a bit biased. I have to admit its not the greatest drivers car, the 156 handles a bit sweeter, but to my eyes the 159 is stunning. Still go a little gooey every time I walk up to it. I may need some help.

2.2 petrol is not highly thought of, the 2.4 diesel great but a heavy old lump, V6 lots of tax are lovely. Ti‘s sought after. As ever, timing belts need changed regularly.

 

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[Honey Badger]

Late IS300 sportcross worth a look?

[stripped fred]

I've been running an '09 1.9JTDM Sportwagon for eighteen months and it's been great. Totally reliable thus far and enough space for me, my other half and our one year old. I'm a serial Alfa licker so prob a bit biased. I have to admit its not the greatest drivers car, the 156 handles a bit sweeter, but to my eyes the 159 is stunning. Still go a little gooey every time I walk up to it. I may need some help.

2.2 petrol is not highly thought of, the 2.4 diesel great but a heavy old lump, V6 lots of tax are lovely. Ti‘s sought after. As ever, timing belts need changed regularly.

 

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Do suspension bushes need changing regularly too, like with a 156?

 

I must admit they're a very good looking car. Depends on whether you buy a car with your head or your heart? I'm in the head camp at the minute which is why I drive a £200 406 but my last car was a facelift 156 s/w with the 20v jtd engine. It depreciated 50% in the 18 months I had it and cost me quite a bit but I don't regret it. It pulled like a train and was a nice place to sit but I needed more space and something cheaper to run. Maybe a 159 in a few years...

[pompei]

I had the use of a 2.4 Selespeed for a few weeks  -  nearly new and the SS box wasn't working.  I think all those warnings about them probably are true.  Otherwise, it wasn't as great as I hoped or expected. But it did look lovely.

[wuvvum]

I've been looking at these on ebay - they are a stunning looking vehicle and getting quite temptingly priced now, but I'm slightly worried that they might be a little too "Vauxhally" to drive.

[surprisingskoda]

Likewise worried. I flaunt a June '01 2.5 V6 156 SW most days, with the 6 speed box that may as well be a 4 speed for all the use 3rd and 5th are.

Have longtime thought of upgrading to the achingly pretty 159 SW when they get cheap. Not if the drive is dulled though. A lot of the "charm" is the understeery but still good handling.

Making me want to hang on to it now, 5 years in and someone just got in touch trying to swap a cruddy old BMW 330ci M Sport for it...

[twosmoke300]

Cheers guys - sounds like a late 156 may be a better bet all round .

I hadn't thought of a Lexus estate so will add that to the list .

Saab is already mapped to 235 hp and is a lovely car with nothing wrong ( for sale soon too ) but I've had it over 4 years and I'm bored . Being a saloon the missis finds it hard to judge the back and it's a long old car really . We don't need two cars so getting rid of both motors for one makes more sense

[panhard65]

Rust and more rust the front subframes are only given a coat of black paint from the factory and no rust proofing at all. They are also not covered under the corrosion warrenty. One of my customers bought one a couple of years ago and it looked lovely on the outside but the front frame was totally rotten. A new one from Alfa was about £900 and when it arrived the paint was so bad there were areas of bare metal. We had it powder coated and filled with wax before fitting. Now the rear end is starting to go as well, give it a couple of years and it will want the back end replacing so check carefully and waxoyl the shit out of it.

[srad34]

If you are going for a 159, go for a Black TI model, spec is really good and you will look like the Mafia....nice

[flat4alfa]

Rust and more rust the front subframes

 

A new one from Alfa was about £900 and when it arrived the paint was so bad there were areas of bare metal.

 

I also have seen this in person so it's not a batch thing...  both on the cars and in the parts department - truely shocking QC!

 

 

I realised I knew bugger all about them 

 

I've driven a few 159 and love looking and sitting in them but they are big and heavy compared to a 156.  I read somewhere (years ago) the chassis is one of SAABs' cast-offs, hence the bulk.  That little 'fact' might entice you further, of course

 

Far too much GM in them has also given them a rough reputation as even the specialists have no love and the Italo-trade parlance is 'GM-era'.  I've seen plenty of these GM cost cutting measures around the 2.2 and V6 engine and myriad chocolate gearbox internals.

 

 

sounds like a late 156 may be a better bet all round

 

Prefer a mid-age 156 for me.  Still got one!

 

Mind you. ....  now 159 are hitting sub-£1k at last, it is getting more and more tempting.  Very much doubt I'll be able to get as many years out of a 159 than I have out of my 156s.  Buy it > smoke it > break it.

[cort16]

They drive like any modern car. I.e. Fine but a bit dull.  Apparently it was a co-development with Saab who jumped ship near the end.  That GM 1.9 diesel engine doesn't seem that great. You see lots of them advertised with EGR deletes and DPF removals, where as I guess Insignia drivers would just drive around with the eml on. 

I also read the factory stopped the production line early days as they where so badly built. Quality improved after that.  I had a brand new one and 2008 and it was great, I totally loved it. The dash is really nice and the diesels even have a boost gauge!

 

If I was getting one I'd get a petrol.

[capsuleboy]

My mate has had one of the super rare 4 wheel drive 159 wagons,on an 07 reg, from 2 years old and loves it.

BUT its 2.4 diesel has just dropped a valve at 140,00 miles and is scrap...

just a thought.

[Slappy]

Ever since it came out I lusted after the 159. In black. in estate form just like the image up top. Even though it's just for me, and I don't need to lug much anywhere, for me it's just one of those cars that makes me smile every time I see one. It's the one car that I've periodically checked to see where prices were coming down to ever since I learned to drive 4 years ago and one day I'll get one and just plonk it down and think "Finally....". Then I'll start swearing at it the next day until it drives me crazy and I have to get rid.... Or part out all the probably-cow bits into new furniture....

[mrcitroen]

Another 159 owner here.

 

My chariot is a 58 plate 2.4 in Lusso trim. I bought it as a pre reg example.

 

I agree with all the points above, but will also add that to get the best out of this engine, you really need to block off the EGR valve. The car performs a bit better esp at lower engine speeds, but more importantly, it stops the engine taking its own farts into the intake manifold and clogging the swirl flaps. When this happens, the manifold shits itself and needs replacement which is mucho buckaroos even if you DIY.

 

Front brakes can be a bit pricey. Mine has the overly large 4 pot brembos up front. Good quality discs can cost around £70 each.. double that if you buy genuine.

 

I have replace upper wishbones, so just like the 156 really.

 

I have replaced both front and rear near side wheel bearings. Thankfully they are a doddle to change, but appear to be made from cheese.

 

There were a few odd niggles during the early part of the warranty period, but easily sorted by Western Alfa in Edinburgh.

 

Just now I have a broken exhaust. The y parts has lost one of its legs, so I'm currently running it with 1 rear box until a new centre part arrives, then I can re fit the other box. Strangely like this the exhaust is not too noisy. I think the DPF makes quite an effective silencer.

 

Basically I Love my 159. That's why I have owned it for nearly 8 years! I have always been an Alfa fan. There is just something about them.