Alfa 159. It's finally made it.

[tul66]

Why do people like Alfas?

 

They have weird, buck-toothed faces and break down all the time.

 

[Checks what website he's on]

 

Ah, OK... as you were.

Says the man with a 1991 Maserati 222!

[cort16]

You don't get a boost gauge on a diesel ford mondeo that's all I'm saying

[inconsistant]

I've got a Scalextric one. I quite like it.

 

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

When they came out, there was a twin car test to be done with a 320d (E90). BMW sorted us out a light metallic grey 320d, collected it from Bracknell for the day.

 

Alfa GB were* fucking useless and we had to borrow a demonstrator from SGT in Taplow because none of the useless twats at Alfa would return a call, email or anything for that matter.

 

The 159 wasn't a bad car. It seemed solidly built and the 2.4JTD really did go well, plus it had a very quiet idle. The handling was okay in isolation; it gripped and went where it was supposed to but they had that daft 2.3 (or thereabouts) turns lock to lock rack and all that did was exacerbate the feeling of heft and weight. The 320d flowed down a country road like quicksilver in comparison, fabulous thing to drive.

 

156's are alright I suppose but to me, a desirable Alfa is one without any Fiat input - the 75 was probably the last really good thing they made. Weird, but really, really good to drive.The 159 is like an Italian Mark 3 Mondeo tbh - for a grand it's okay I guess.

[chaseracer]

FPB7 is flogging his ex-Drum 147...

[brownnova]

I have to admit... the front end of a 159/Brera is a beautiful thing in my eyes....

 

 

I'm (just about) resisting the urge to search for cheap 159s as I need a car to commute in.... I've not resisted looking at 156s, even though I've been there and done that... and it was financially painful....

[John F]

Says the man with a 1991 Maserati 222!

 

Yep. That's how bad Alfas are.

 

[AnthonyG]

To me, the 159 isn't anything like as special as the 156, it didn't even sell very well compared to the early days of the 156. Is it related at all to the Vectra C floorpan etc, or is it just engines?

 

There was a sorry looking GT at the back of Leominster Car Auction's compound yesterday, I didn't realise these were a 147 in a sharper suit. It had crude patches on both sides of the rear sills which made me chuckle - 'heritage'. Mind you, it had survived at least 10 years. 

[cort16]

Someone told me it started a co development with SAAB but Saab pulled out after GM and Fiat fell out.

As i said they're not amazing to drive. Just the same as any modern car but there are lots of nice touches to that make them nice to own.

[Cavcraft]

Not been brave enough to try an Alfa yet I've run both Ivecos and P38s as dailys in the past...

 

Remind me to never upset you.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 Is it related at all to the Vectra C floorpan etc, or is it just engines?

 

 

 

 

No, all different. The engine is the 2.2 GM block but with different internals and Alfa's own head. The floorpan was supposed to be the next Vectra but wasn't.

[Cavcraft]

The (front of the) 159 is still one of the best looking cars of this/that era, without doubt.

[John F]

^ Subjectively, Billy.

 

I think it munts competitively at International level.

[stripped fred]

I feel I've got the 'everyone must own and Alfa' out of my system with the two 156's I had. The first 10v 2.4 was better as needed less looking after and was a reliable old thing that only died recently when my ex wife cracked the sump on a kerb. She loved that car. The second 20v 2.4 facelift version needed regular spending but I may have been unlucky acquiring it when things went wrong together, dmf, suspension and wheel bearings mainly. It wasn't cheap to run and if I'm honest looked better than it drove although it was very quick. I just think it wasn't for me as too small for my needs. I have no wish to upgrade to a 159 as I can see them being a money pit especially as I would need to use a garage to do the work. Might be cheap to buy but not to run.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

A good 2.4 JTD should march away from a 320d............something amiss with this particular example?

 

They're not a bad car - I liken them to prettier Mark 4 Mondeo tbh. The E90 is far better to drive.

[pompei]

Insurance company loaned me a 2.4 Selespeed a few years ago. It was nearly new but guess what?  The Selespeed was borked.  I do have a prediliction towards Italian stuff, especially Alfas but this particular one just didn't do it for me.

[stripped fred]

It should feel pretty quick and I'd also have thought it would be more mpg's than that. I think both the 156 and 159 are good looking but too small inside. The dash on the 156 I had wasn't ergonomically great either. They do feel a bit nose heavy as that 2.4 lump is heavy.

[Lacquer Peel]

Handsome but a bit rubbish, is that the consensus?

[flat4alfa]

Avoid the 1.9 dervs as their GM-supplied gearbox is chocolate

The swirl flap ingestion problem prevalent to 320D is there too

 

The local Alfa specialist buys up MOTd 1.9 cars and just breaks them as soon as they arrive

 

The ones to have are the 2.4 derv or 3.2 V6

 

Apart from the fact they look like nothing else on the road, they are great drive.  Folks ought not compare too much as you can't get much of an equivalent BMW for this money

[John F]

Handsome but a bit rubbish, is that the consensus?

 

I'd go for "not even handsome"... the interiors are OK, but that gormless buck-toothed face Alfa foist on their modern cars looks desperately shit IMO.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Avoid the 1.9 dervs as their GM-supplied gearbox is chocolate

The swirl flap ingestion problem prevalent to 320D is there too

 

The local Alfa specialist buys up MOTd 1.9 cars and just breaks them as soon as they arrive

 

The ones to have are the 2.4 derv or 3.2 V6

 

Apart from the fact they look like nothing else on the road, they are great drive.  Folks ought not compare too much as you can't get much of an equivalent BMW for this money

 

 

 

The GM gearbox is iffy. E90 swirl flap issues are nothing like the E46 because the revised flaps are too big to fall down the inlet ports. They were plastic and not metal on these.

 

Great drive? They're okayish, but nothing like as good as an E90. These later 3 Series are as common as muck, have an uninspiring interior (and exterior) but to drive, they run rings around the heavy, barge like 159. Not even in the same country, never mind ballpark. The 159 was hampered by that stupid quick rack and all that does is emphasise the weight and body heave in fast corners as well as the '50 pence a corner' dampers.

 

£2500 buy a decent 2006 320d, a better idea all round. A few niggles but not the long list of the 159 with the gearbox, timing chain woes, subframe rot and so on. A 159 for a grand though? WTFN?

[Cavcraft]

The 159 is like an Italian Mark 3 Mondeo tbh

 

Never before has there been a better reason not to buy a car.

[flat4alfa]

£2500 buy a decent 2006 320d, a better idea all round.

....

A 159 for a grand though? WTFN?

 

Yes, that's my point.  Immediate comparison with a much more expensive (new or old) BMW.  You'd never get a worthwhile year-11 BMW for a grand. Well, ok, not unless it's in vomit yellow, has starship mileage and got lost in Bradford for a few months.

 

By 'great drive' I meant 'a great drive for a grand', which it probably is, given as it's another big barge at Omega money.

 

Agreed, WTFN?

 

 

 

*goes off and looks for a £750 one, as the original thread has been open a few weeks*

[cort16]

In sure the 3 series is a better car to drive but they look dreary and the interior is about as inspiring as A romantic weekend in Clyde bank.

[flat4alfa]

Not only that,

 

You are hated on the road

Keyed in car parks

Gobbed on by teenagers

Look like saggy melted jelly with a massive pair of nostrils on your face

 

Probably.

 

 

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Better than being an Alfisti(ng) 

[cort16]

Does a 3 series have a boost guage? No

That's all you need to know

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Are they really that bad? My current daily is a ten year old 320d touring. I agree that the interior is a bit dull, but otherwise it's a brilliant car.

Having said all of the above, one of my colleagues has recently bought an immaculate 159 derv estate, with full leather and top spec. I can't help but stare at it...

[cort16]

I'd take a punt on one at a grand. I'd like one of the later Ones with the 200bhp 1750 tbi engine in it. You can't get these for a grand though unfortunately.