Fella at my work drives a red 159 sportwagon with the 3.2; he often parks right next to my E46 330d touring and the two just look utterly fantastic next to eachother! I daresay im a bit jealous...
@@asimmalik6378 even tough its one of the last BMW with a good design, it would take a lot more for a XXI century BMW (and a diesel even more), to compete with a 159 whatsoever, especially in terms of looks.
I bought one of these back in 2010 because I was sick of driving around in Mini courtesy cars while my BMW M6 was being repaired every other week. Absolutely loved it. Kept the Alfa much longer than the M6 and years later bought another 159 because I missed my original one so much. They had the highest torsional rigidity in their class, I used to love hanging onto the back of my mates S4 in it, with some good tyres it was more than a match in the corners (the S4 would leave it on the straights obviously). In all the time I owned both of mine I never had a single fault or issue. Tyres were pricey was the only negative I recall. I drive a Mercedes CLS now and every time I see a 159 I sort of want one again.
I think the last tyres I had for mine were a bit over £160 each for Pirelli P Zero Nero's but everyone says the Michelin Pilots are better on it. I finally discovered Alfa revised the toe settings for the front to zero so they don't scrub the inner edges as rapidly which might cut my tyre costs.
Had the 159 Sports wagon as a rental car in 2007 in Italy! As I recall it was a turbo diesel with a 6 speed manual! I fit my two children , my wife and 7 pieces of luggage in it! Had it for 3 weeks and drove it from Rome to Milan over to Venice and down into southern Italy! Great fuel economy, awesome handling and solid as a rock at speeds of up to 110 mph! Just an amazing car! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I have a weird relationship with my 3.2 159. Seems to always find a new issue and burns a whole in your wallet for parts. Have considered selling it many times, but every time I do she runs perfectly and drives a dream. Almost like she knows
I bought a 159 ti Sportwagon with the 2.4 diesel for my wife about 5 years ago. I agree with everything James says about the looks, especially with those 19” wheels. We’ve done about 120,000km in it and had a remap done and it’s still spectacularly good to drive. My wife absolutely loves it and our dilemma is what to replace it with when the time comes. There’s nothing newer out there that catches her eye at all. I’m very tempted just to keep an eye out in case a low km example hits the market and grab that. And ours has zero rust. We have 4 Alfas and not a speck of rust between them. The beauty of living in Australia, I guess. Must suck being a car owner in damp old England.
I have the 1750 Tbi version of the Alfa 159, and its much lighter at 1500kg fueled up. So far it's been perfectly reliable, very comfy and fun to drive. Still attracts eyes too.
Had a 3.2 159 manual 4wd. Lovely but be warned - front subframes go rusty and the subframe for the 4wd as opposed to the 2wd is unique and therefore unobtainium
159 owner here. she's my first and only car for now. and even though I didn't need a car I wanted my first car to be special. and she really is! first of all, I think she is the sexiest car of the last tens of years(supercars beside). also she gives you pleasure of turning the wheel, which is what a car should do. of course I can't ger lower than 12 l/100 km in town driving very gently, and I really need to control myself not to push the throttle too hard because I know she can and asks for that thank you for the review, James. greetings from Kyiv, Ukraine
I am biased because I own one, but my view is that the 2.4 is the best engine, unless you can find a rare 1750TB. The 2.4 JTDm has heaps of torque which helps with the weight, is well proven and durable, doesn't have cam chain issues like the 2.2 and 3.2 petrol, and while not an eco-car, it is much less thirsty than the V6... The auto gearbox also works well with it.
@@markbattley8515 I can get 600-700 miles out of my tank if I'm conservative and just on the motorways. Hell if I'm doing 50 in an average speed check in 5th gear (not 6th) I can get 60-65mpg. Feel like those who complain about rubbish economy have dirty engines.
I don't know of a nicer car in this segment from that era. Even today it's a beautiful car, it doesn't look dated at all. There are a lot of people who know how to maintain ALfa properly, so fixes are not a problem. As far as reliability is concerned there is no indication that the 159 breaks down any more than the 3 series. When you park an Alfa next to a BMW or a Volvo or a Mercedes, 8 out of 10 people will say that the 159 is the prettiest, the designers just nailed it with this model.
The sweet spot in the 159 range is most definitely the Tbi version; 1.75 litre turbo had all the torque of the V6 petrol with a significantly lighter front end. I had a manual version and it was sensational. 100% reliable. It’s was so good, it convinced me to upgrade to the Guilia quatrroformagio. I am now a certified Alfaholic.
@@akmzd6938 yeah the tbi fuel consumption is surprisingly poor for a modern turbo petrol. I get about 30-32mpg. Still better than any of the other petrols, and probably nicer to drive too
@@TheBeansta The best one for fuel was the 2.0 JTDM Ti - i had that model and despite driving it like a rally car it stil returned 40+ mpg on the dual carriageways and 30+ on A/B roads... great car all round and no matter what anyone says about electronic problems on italian cars, just replacing the battery for a new uprated one cures pretty much everything, incuding slow pulling away in the 2.0 JTDM for some reason! TUrns out Alfa under specced the standard battery and fitting a bigger one was a simple and effective upgrade
I think I remember reading a test between the 159 JTDM, 320d and Lexus IS220d in Autocar (granted it was a Japanese edition of Autocar but still). The Alfa, even in grey, looks magnificent. That was my first exposure of the Alfa 159, and I love it.
It was also one of my dream cars ever since I've watched Top Gear's review of it, and I've finally bought myself a 159 1.9JTDm last year. Sure it feels vastly different from the nimble 156, everything just feels heavier and more German car-ish, but I still quite enjoyed driving and looking at it, and there's not a single problem even with 230k kilometres
Picked up a 159 for cheap because the gearbox was shifting in grenade mode, topped up the fluid and it has been bulletproof since, whole car just needed top ups and every scary issue was sorted
@@eluberopaullo I know of V70 D5 with 275 HP and 550Nm, the car is at around 700K km and still going strong. Just regular oil changes, every 60K km, to the box. People that have problems w/ these Aisins just usually have one w/ zero service done to it
I had one - the 2.4 5-cyl diesel - for 11 years. Did over 200,000 km in it and it was very reliable. It was fun to drive and comfortable on long trips, and I never got tired of the admiring looks.
I had a 159 1750tbi ti in Stromboli grey metallic over black leather and somebody blindly pulled out of a side road as I passed the car slowing down in front of them (inside lane on a one way city centre bit of road) and hit me side on setting off all the airbags and writing off the car. I was heartbroken but unharmed. The car was so rock solid I drove it home and it felt no different despite the entire drivers side being caved in. Maybe I should have had it repaired but I moved on and have stuck with Alfas to this day. I admit the 159 did feel heavy and I used to break nice and early approaching roundabouts on unrestricted roads but I'd imagine the smaller 1750 engine was the pick of the bunch in that regard and felt quick enough for me. They are achingly handsome in ti spec with those wheels and Brembos. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Greetings from Russia! Happy owner of 2007 3.2 159 here. This used to be my dream car since 2010. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed it in 2006 and his words are echoing to these days in the minds and hearts of Alfa owners and fans. This very car cost me something like 8.5 grand + half of it to maintain it due to the lack of attention from previous owners. Quite a demanding car but it's 17 years old now. If you have a courage buy it now or never. These cars are from the golden era and it is ending right in front of our eyes.
I'd owned several Alfas over the years, including Sud Sprint Veloce, Alfetta GTV6, 156 2.0 and V6 and even a 166 V6. So I test drove a V6 Q4 when they came out. You are right about the weight, more than a contemporary aluminium Jaguar XJ, and you could feel it! Also the old GM/Buick V6 was certainly not as fun as the Busso, even if the Holden guys did a great job on the tune.
My friend works for a crash test lab where exotic sports cars are crashed, but a lot of the engineers there come out of the lab after work and compliment his black estate 159 diesel
I picked up a 159 v6 Ti SW as our family car over a year ago. You really can feel the weight of it but it's a very safe car. Ti spec the car is very low, lowest car I've owned so you do have to be careful in parking garages, I've lost an o2 sensor to a ramp at our local cinema already. I'm sure you've mentioned the timing chain issue before in a Brera video but there won't be a v6 159 left on the roads today with either a stretched chain or a price premium as the owner had it replaced already. Being in NZ it's actually easy to get parts for the timing chain repair since the block was made by Holden in Australia. My mechanic had another v6 159 in for months for the timing chain job though, because as you mentioned, the alfa specific top end parts (namely the cam phasers) are like hens teeth at this stage. Love the car though, gets some compliments and never fails the look back test after you parked up. Wish the baby seat fit in the back easier, wish the rain sensing wiper mode actually worked, wish it didn't chew through bushings. Wish it never leaves us
I have a 159 Ti with the 1750 Tbi engine, had it two years now and still love it like the day i got it, which is something as I'm normally bored with a car after a year, been remapped to 240 so goes well, a bit lighter that the 3.2, no cam chain worries and cheaper road tax. Cant see myself parting with it for a while.
@@TC-lk2ev Don't know, one of the previous owners had it done, i found a receipt for the remap in the paperwork, was done in 2019 at a place in Hampshire, was a Stage 1 map, cost was about £400 from memory.
Nice video! And so true, I owned two diesels. Expensive to run, a lot of visits to the workshop but so beautiful. When parked somewhere I always looked back when walking away from it.
Have absolutely been in love with Alfas since I was a teen in the 80’s. And the 159 is absolutely fantastic even though I’ve never seen one in person here in the USA. Great review as always.
159 is not released for US market back then. Im planning to go there to live soon because of family i gave there for decades now and that's exactly my problem is, how to buy here 159 and transport there and it is even possible to drive... because i want my lady to go wich me in best condition can be 😔
Hi James, I think I'm probably the only weirdo in the world who has done it but you can swap the autos shift direction to the proper (BMW) way with a little wiring and even swap positions of the + and - symbols so its looks factory too! They are a piece of art. I have a 2.4 JTD sportwagon and like it despite its flaws.... Heavy steering, not much rear leg room, maintenance bills and front end creaks and clunks are a constant headache
Beautiful looking car both inside and out. I remember in 2004 wondering how Alfa could make something look so good and distinctive when everyone else was turning out pretty mundane designs. Those triple lamps, the big grille, that line that runs from the underneath the fogs right up and into the bodyline. The proportion of it all. You can forgive a car a lot for that. And then came the Sportwagon and you feel for it all over again...
I had Alfa Romeo 159 Ti brand new in 2008. The car was amazing. I did 80k miles. The only thing that kept failing was the windscreen washers. Other than that it was faultless. Many experts out there that have never owned one....
i still remember seeing one of these ti spec at a roundabout when i was about 16 in 2008 and was blown away by it , never had the balls to pull the plug but they were on my shortlist last time round
Just like you, I've looked at classifieds for these countless times over the years. And I still consider it one of the very best looking cars of modern times.
If you watch the Alfa Romeo tecnical backstage video, the head, pistons, design, HTS all designed by Alfa & Alfa had a great input into rectifying many engine faults from GM, so mainly still an Alfa Designed engine,only bottom end by GM
As an American with a love for Italian cars (I can’t afford most Italian cars sold here), I desperately yearn for one of these or a Brera with a manual. Drop dead gorgeous.
Wooop love love love this one!! I had one for a couple years. Rust was an issue with the subframes, but mechanically it felt solid. Horrible on gas, 12.5-13.5 l / 100 km depending on season. Sounded great stock. Lovely car in the winter!!
I brought a 4 year old 159 (got it re-mapped) and kept it for just over 10 years and i LOVED IT. Had no problems whatsoever. Gave it to my brother as i brought an Alfa GT 3.2 V6(The Busso engine) and already had a second car (ALFA GTV) so 3 cars was too many. He kept it another 4 problem-free years and had to sell it because of the ULEZ in London otherwise he'd still have it as he loved it too. At the tender age of 18 years old the car was still getting comments from strangers on it's good looks. One time i even had a stranger follow me into an ASDA carpark just to ask what it was because he thought it was gorgeous...weird but understandable lol
Weirdly, despite the hefty £700+ road tax on the 3.2, it is ULEZ compliant....tells you something about the whole charging based on emissions system's contradiction between the two methods of defining what's bad.
I am an Alfa nut and I always enjoy your videos on the brand. Like you, I am fortunate that I am able to have cars that I enjoy driving and not need to have for any particular reason. I currently have my eighth Alfa a 916 spider phase 1 alongside my F type and my speedster clinic 356. I owned 2 156’s and loved them both but never had a 159. So I was really interested to see this as like you it is sort of still on the radar as I feel it is beautiful car. Sadly, though my opinion is marred by my ownership of a Brera 3.2 which I sold my 996 Carrera for! I absolutely hated it. It did nothing well and cost me a fortune. I got rid of it for a 350 Z, which did everything so much better, and which became a 370 Z Nismo which became an Evora and then the F type. But I always have to have an Alfa in the stable, so I shall be looking much more closely at the 159. Thanks to you and potentially switch the 916 into. Thank you for another great video and keep up the good work..
Gorgeous looking cars, inside and out. After owning a few 156's though I never got a 159. The reasons being that it was too heavy, too thirsty, and didn't have the lovely Busso V6.
Great review as ever; I know you had recommended this as a sub 10K wildcard Dadcar if memory serves, wonder if this changed your mind on it! Keep them coming James.
Re Selespeed - I've seen the rear-end of a disassembled Ferrari 360 F1 - and guess what was there ? A pair of Selespeed actuators, complete with Alfa Romeo badges on the parts. The more you know ... and proof that Ferrari and Alfa both continue to share parts with each other exclusively
Thumbs up from Israel on connecting the spiritual-mystical with the driving experience evoking emotional response & making them coherently one. Not everything is just numbers. The Italians refuse to dial out the soul component in engineering & I salute them for that. It's really about fusion of engineering & art.
I always thought that the 159 was what happened when the 156 got a bit middle-aged and used to its comforts. In fairness, I formed this view when I owned an old but still sprightly 156...
You’re not wrong, GM made a platform for luxury cars, the 156 chassis was basically a reworked Fiat platform, but designed by Italians who are keen on driving small cars slightly too fast on narrow, twisty roads
I have a 1750tbi manual - with a remap it makes more torque and nearly as much power as the 3.2, and thanks to being only 2wd and with a smaller engine its about 350kg lighter - i love it to bits Definitely not as sonorous as the big V6, but a lot better on fuel, reliability and in the bends!
I have the Tbi too, had it two years now, spent quite a bit on it, had to get the injectors cleaned and the gearbox rebuilt, absolutely love it though, best car i've owned.
I had 2 159s, the second was a 3.2 Q4 Ti SW, with manual box - apparently one of only 5 in the UK - it was a delight to drive and own. I also had Eibach springs, primarily as I had subsequent MoT fails due to busted OEM springs. I found the Eibachs to be huge improvement dynamically, body control was much better and I didn't keep scraping the chin spoiler going over speedbumps - no weird noises either. It did demand some big bills sometimes but as you said, I didn't stay sore for too long - because Alfa. Good video!
I have an alfa 159, but it's the 2,2 ti model and it's a love hate relationship. Looks absolutely stunning, Drives perfect then a few niggles set in, repair them, get a few weeks of perfect driving, then something else, have had her a number of years now and it is as you say, eyes wide open, it is an old Alfa Romeo,. There is only one thing missing from the 159, and it's the beautiful Busso engine. so for my v6 fix, I went for a GT 3.2 v6.
I had a 159 as a courtesy car once. It only had a few thousand miles on it, less than a year old, and it already had several electrical issues and significant carpet wear in the driver side. I found it supremely comfortable to sit in though and really liked how it drove, a good used one never turned up at the right time for me.
My brother had a wagon with the 2.4 diesel. I think he rates the Alfa as the best car driver’s car he had. The engine was very eager, revy, quite unlike a diesel. And the handling was superb. Service, though, was not good. Later he noticed a tiny dead spot in the engine map that, once you discover it, it is always there! It was later revised in an update. Otherwise, rock solid. And those looks! Still top notch.
I had a 1.9 diesel . Fantastic car to drive and drop dead gorgeous to look at. I often found myself admiring it from my upstairs window. Sad but true . Like J I still check autotrader .
As soon as I saw this car back in 04 I fell in love. Then when I saw it in 08 in Quantum of Solace I was jumping up and down in my seat telling my cousin it's a 159! It's a 159! We live in America so he was like what the hell is a 159?
I had a 1.9 jtdm Ti saloon in black. It drove well enough, and I never ever tired of the way it looked. I would stare at it in the company car park. It hasn't aged a bit in my eyes. This test car is pretty much perfect apart from the slush box. Even though it'll shag the front tyres in 3,000 miles unless you mess with the toe, and spare parts are like rocking horse shit, I'd have one in a heartbeat if I didn't have the company car.
I'm on my third one and constantly checking the classifieds for any low km examples for decent money. South Africa has a few 3.2 Front wheel drive manuals for sale in its classifieds . My current one has a dark blue leather inerior which is pretty rare
Loved my Ti. Owned a Red over Tan leather '09 model - classic Italian spec. Had it from 2010 until 2016. Loved the spec and those wheels were the icing on the cake. When it was clean and shiny I'd find myself just looking staring at it. Other than requiring a new gearbox (a GM part known to fail) it was incredibly realible. Would happily have a Brera or Spider with the V6 if not a 159 Sportwagon.
The best mod we made was ditching the 19" 40 section wheels for 18" Prodrive telephone dial wheels that were 45 section. They much better suited Oxfordshire roads
I own a 1.9 jtdm Ti saloon 159 and good lord its the best car I’ve ever owned. Coming from the VAG group it was a totally unique experience. Ive covered 20k miles in the almost 3 years I’ve owned it and although its had its problems, and looks a little rough round the edges its never let me down. Amazing and beautiful car (minus the M32 gearbox)🤣
Lovely car. I had a 159 2.4 JTDm. For a diesel the 5 pot when you mashed the pedal did sound quite good. I’m always tempted for a Brera or more so a Spider.
James, had a few, in UK came out on a 55 05 or 55 06, but started EU earlier in 05, not quite an 04 ( 2004 ); I see 04 04 and 54 Reg cars as older and a 55 or 06 as relatively new, odd, I know !!! The Alfa Romeo 159 was announced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in the UK in February 2006. It was produced by Alfa Romeo until 2011.
I have a 159 3.2 Q4 Lusso in black with the white leather seats. Looks fantastic and I think it works better overall than the ti version. It’s a bit softer on the road and feels like a comfy tourer. Plus, it’s also a manual👌
From South Africa here. Friend of mine has the 3.2 Ti. It is a gorgeous immaculate vehicle. He recently sent me the quote to get the cam chain and tensioners replaced. It will cost more than half of the price he paid for the car at 4000 quid! I thought he was joking or somehow faked the quote, until another friend told me that he indeed spent that amount to get it done. Maybe it has something to do with living in South Africa? I don't know what it costs elsewhere in the world to replace. Usually the cam chain lasts quite long. You only have to worry once it starts to become noisy. Still, I'd sell it before having to fork out that kind of money. At those prices I guess I'm not the Alfa afficionado I thought I was compared to some of my Alfisti friends. I'll stick to driving my Abarth which is cheap as chips to maintain in comparison. A car I know Jay raved about on multiple occasions!🤣🤣😂
The timing chains come up for change at about £80k miles, mine did just over that at about 84K miles and my first indication was it throws the camshaft/crankshaft phasing fault code rather than any noise. In the car it's a hard job to do and I imagine dropping the engine is easier but makes the job bigger hence the price. I've done mine but if you have to pay someone, who does this work as their business, it won't be cheap. Alfa specialists can probably keep the price down through familiarity with the job increasing their speed but at least like you say it's only once in every 80k miles. Good luck to your friends who are trying to get theirs done if they haven't already.
Nice and honest review review (as ever!) The 159 is indeed a pretty car and going for very little money these days at £5/6k for the 3.2. For another 10k+ though, you can get a Giulia Veloce which is possibly even prettier, way lighter, brisker with 280HP through a better box into a lighter car, and handles sublimely. Personal choice and budget of course, but given the age/rust/parts issues, feel the Giulia may not only be the (far) better car but may even have comparable all-in running costs
Knew a guy who went to buy a new car and came home with an older red 159 Sportwagon. Now that is the Alfa version of man maths. It was achingly gorgeous though in all of its Twin Spark wonderment.
159 sportwagon diesel was one of the few cars I regret selling. Did not live up to the 'Alfa Reputation' at all. 300,000km with zero mechanical or electrical failures. Never had a tow or roadside assist. Every single thing still worked perfectly with no squeaks or rattles, no paint issues, no loose or cracked interior. Here in Au they are getting harder to find and the price is going up not down. Really wish Alfa made more wagon models.
Love the 159, parents had one for a short period of time in a car swap situation back in 2012 and it was amazing. Made me buy my giulietta at 17 and as soon as I could comfortably afford one I bought a 159 TBI a couple months later at 18. I know the 3.2 is the “one to have” but the huge running costs of the 3.2 are a bit of a turn off when you can get the 1750 TBI which has much lower running costs and just sounds unbelievable too.
No you made the right choice with the 1750 TBI. I have had one for 11 years, second owner and it’s been very reliable providing it’s look after correctly. I’ve heard the 3.2 costs a mint to run from owners especially in fuel and tyres plus service and repairs.
Had a Brera 2.2 Prodrive for 5 years. Deeply regret selling it. A beautiful car, it felt special even at over 10 years old and with well over 100k miles on the clock. Zero reliability issues. No car I’ve owned since has been as fun to drive or given me so much joy.
You certainly love an underdog James 🙂 I must admit, I always wanted a GTV, such a good looking car, but the massive issues and flaws just put me off. I'd have one as a 3rd or 4th car if I had the funds though. Oh, love the shirt !
the 159 sportswagon had me drooling for too many years and over here 🇦🇺 down under they were mostly the five cylinder diesel, they were just lovely but in the end reliability was paramount so a recent Subaru Outback 3.5L six well specced and comfortable became my ride but 159’s do continue catch my eye and make wonder . . . 🇮🇹
The platform was also used for the Spider. The 2.2 JTS version of which was 1.5 tons. I'm biased because I've had one for 4 years, but I think they are the best Italian manual convertable this side of a 360.
Glad you filled in the details re the platform. I knew it was built on something meant for a luxobarge type car. Its a shame, as its over all a decent car....would it be 200kgs lighter, then it would be much more appealing. Still, it is simply the best looking modern saloon that's around. Simply gorgeous
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Thank you for this video 🙂 I just failed to buy one of these 159 in this summer 😞 Maybe next year i will 🙂 Greetings from old Eu 🙂
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Fella at my work drives a red 159 sportwagon with the 3.2; he often parks right next to my E46 330d touring and the two just look utterly fantastic next to eachother! I daresay im a bit jealous...
@@SHRFFWDDY yeah that would bey dream parking situation with addition of e61 535d in top spec
Oh that's cool, shame I don't work there.. I'd straight up jam my Audi A4 between you both to spoil the fun 😂
Don't be. You have the far superior car, I've owned both.
@@asimmalik6378 even tough its one of the last BMW with a good design, it would take a lot more for a XXI century BMW (and a diesel even more), to compete with a 159 whatsoever, especially in terms of looks.
Men of culture!
Boggles me that people go out and get into debt for modern dross when you can buy cars like these for the price of a good holiday.
The 159 in the right external spec is probably one of the best looking saloons ever made.
SW is great looking too, especially with the Ti rims and side skirts.
Mercedes 500E, Maserati Quattroporte, E39 M5, E38 7 Series… On a short list with great company to say the least. Absolutely spectacular looking car.
YESSS
I bought one of these back in 2010 because I was sick of driving around in Mini courtesy cars while my BMW M6 was being repaired every other week. Absolutely loved it. Kept the Alfa much longer than the M6 and years later bought another 159 because I missed my original one so much.
They had the highest torsional rigidity in their class, I used to love hanging onto the back of my mates S4 in it, with some good tyres it was more than a match in the corners (the S4 would leave it on the straights obviously).
In all the time I owned both of mine I never had a single fault or issue. Tyres were pricey was the only negative I recall.
I drive a Mercedes CLS now and every time I see a 159 I sort of want one again.
I think the last tyres I had for mine were a bit over £160 each for Pirelli P Zero Nero's but everyone says the Michelin Pilots are better on it. I finally discovered Alfa revised the toe settings for the front to zero so they don't scrub the inner edges as rapidly which might cut my tyre costs.
Nothing better than a Jay Emm Alfa Romeo video
One of the best-looking cars ever made, IMHO.
I agree.
feels weird to see my fav car reviewer, reviewing my car
@@euronymous93 burzum
But we all thank you for taking the trouble and expense to allow us to watch james review it for free.
Lovely car. Saw one a few days ago and they look so nice in person
Less drony exhaust, and full powerflex is good for it. If you want more torque, Make the 3.6 conversion. Same power, but more torque
Same when he did my exiga
159 Ti wagon (with the 19s) is one of the best looking estates ever made.
Yes, a black one, and those side skirts too...
Had the 159 Sports wagon as a rental car in 2007 in Italy! As I recall it was a turbo diesel with a 6 speed manual! I fit my two children , my wife and 7 pieces of luggage in it! Had it for 3 weeks and drove it from Rome to Milan over to Venice and down into southern Italy! Great fuel economy, awesome handling and solid as a rock at speeds of up to 110 mph! Just an amazing car! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I had this exact spec but in saoon form - loved that car
Yeah I have this spec (1.9 Jtdm), it is such an underated car it's crazy!
I had no idea these were a Saab/ gm leftover project... Genuinely a fascinating tidbit of information.
I have a weird relationship with my 3.2 159. Seems to always find a new issue and burns a whole in your wallet for parts. Have considered selling it many times, but every time I do she runs perfectly and drives a dream. Almost like she knows
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I had exactly the same issue with my girlfriend.
Oh, she definitely knows
@@abulmamodo5241 they run on compliments, if it doesn't get one it will act up. At least that's how mine works
Exactly the same with my 159 SW 1750 ...
I bought a 159 ti Sportwagon with the 2.4 diesel for my wife about 5 years ago. I agree with everything James says about the looks, especially with those 19” wheels. We’ve done about 120,000km in it and had a remap done and it’s still spectacularly good to drive. My wife absolutely loves it and our dilemma is what to replace it with when the time comes. There’s nothing newer out there that catches her eye at all. I’m very tempted just to keep an eye out in case a low km example hits the market and grab that. And ours has zero rust. We have 4 Alfas and not a speck of rust between them. The beauty of living in Australia, I guess. Must suck being a car owner in damp old England.
I have the 1750 Tbi version of the Alfa 159, and its much lighter at 1500kg fueled up. So far it's been perfectly reliable, very comfy and fun to drive. Still attracts eyes too.
I'd imagine a 1750 TBi with Q4 & manual would be a hoot
@@Suprahampton sadly the Tbi didn't come with Q4. The manual gearbox is a Getrag M32 and is very notchy. But yes it's a hoot and a half.
Its the best engine in their lineup. A true Alfa developed engine, that feels like an Alfa. Good choice
Had a 3.2 159 manual 4wd. Lovely but be warned - front subframes go rusty and the subframe for the 4wd as opposed to the 2wd is unique and therefore unobtainium
159 owner here. she's my first and only car for now. and even though I didn't need a car I wanted my first car to be special. and she really is! first of all, I think she is the sexiest car of the last tens of years(supercars beside). also she gives you pleasure of turning the wheel, which is what a car should do. of course I can't ger lower than 12 l/100 km in town driving very gently, and I really need to control myself not to push the throttle too hard because I know she can and asks for that
thank you for the review, James. greetings from Kyiv, Ukraine
The front view of this car is the best ever.
A sculpture. I drove the 2,4 diesel some years, a really great engine.
I am biased because I own one, but my view is that the 2.4 is the best engine, unless you can find a rare 1750TB. The 2.4 JTDm has heaps of torque which helps with the weight, is well proven and durable, doesn't have cam chain issues like the 2.2 and 3.2 petrol, and while not an eco-car, it is much less thirsty than the V6... The auto gearbox also works well with it.
@@markbattley8515 I can get 600-700 miles out of my tank if I'm conservative and just on the motorways. Hell if I'm doing 50 in an average speed check in 5th gear (not 6th) I can get 60-65mpg.
Feel like those who complain about rubbish economy have dirty engines.
I cycle past the ‘estate’ version in dark blue and regularly stop to admire how beautiful the thing is.
The Sportwagon was gorgeous.
Got one 2 years ago, still look back every time i get out of it
@@WendenWarriorMe too.
Cant name any stationwagon released since that is more pretty than the 159
Best looking estate ever
Still is, I've had mine in Blue Oltremare over Cream for a few months now... Never get bored of looking at it
I don't know of a nicer car in this segment from that era. Even today it's a beautiful car, it doesn't look dated at all. There are a lot of people who know how to maintain ALfa properly, so fixes are not a problem. As far as reliability is concerned there is no indication that the 159 breaks down any more than the 3 series. When you park an Alfa next to a BMW or a Volvo or a Mercedes, 8 out of 10 people will say that the 159 is the prettiest, the designers just nailed it with this model.
The sweet spot in the 159 range is most definitely the Tbi version; 1.75 litre turbo had all the torque of the V6 petrol with a significantly lighter front end.
I had a manual version and it was sensational. 100% reliable.
It’s was so good, it convinced me to upgrade to the Guilia quatrroformagio.
I am now a certified Alfaholic.
Those 10(?) spoke wheels that came in with the Tbi on the TI model were stunning.
Did you pick the Mascarpone edition?
I've heard the fuel consumption wasn't much good, but that's hearsay. How was your experience?
@@akmzd6938 yeah the tbi fuel consumption is surprisingly poor for a modern turbo petrol. I get about 30-32mpg. Still better than any of the other petrols, and probably nicer to drive too
@@TheBeansta The best one for fuel was the 2.0 JTDM Ti - i had that model and despite driving it like a rally car it stil returned 40+ mpg on the dual carriageways and 30+ on A/B roads... great car all round and no matter what anyone says about electronic problems on italian cars, just replacing the battery for a new uprated one cures pretty much everything, incuding slow pulling away in the 2.0 JTDM for some reason! TUrns out Alfa under specced the standard battery and fitting a bigger one was a simple and effective upgrade
I think I remember reading a test between the 159 JTDM, 320d and Lexus IS220d in Autocar (granted it was a Japanese edition of Autocar but still). The Alfa, even in grey, looks magnificent. That was my first exposure of the Alfa 159, and I love it.
I often slip complete strangers 20 quid and say .. "Forget that you ever heard of the name Nigel Adkins!"
It was also one of my dream cars ever since I've watched Top Gear's review of it, and I've finally bought myself a 159 1.9JTDm last year. Sure it feels vastly different from the nimble 156, everything just feels heavier and more German car-ish, but I still quite enjoyed driving and looking at it, and there's not a single problem even with 230k kilometres
Have to say. It does sound boomy inside with that exhaust. That would drive me nuts. Would have one OEM. It still looks sooooooo good
I always look back at my sw when I leave it in the car park .
The gearbox is an AisinWarner TF-80 SC. With proper and timely oil changes they outlast the sun of earth in Volvos and Saabs, even in tuned ones.
What about the sun of Alpha Centauri?
@@teppouotinen9136 my Volvo has one with 430 000km. I know those go for 700 000km+ if you change oil
Picked up a 159 for cheap because the gearbox was shifting in grenade mode, topped up the fluid and it has been bulletproof since, whole car just needed top ups and every scary issue was sorted
@@eluberopaullo I know of V70 D5 with 275 HP and 550Nm, the car is at around 700K km and still going strong. Just regular oil changes, every 60K km, to the box. People that have problems w/ these Aisins just usually have one w/ zero service done to it
My 2.8 93 with its JZW 320hp remap could not hurt this transmission in the 4 years & 4 sets of front tyres I got through. 🤣
I had one - the 2.4 5-cyl diesel - for 11 years. Did over 200,000 km in it and it was very reliable. It was fun to drive and comfortable on long trips, and I never got tired of the admiring looks.
Had a 159 1750 manual and a 2.2 JTS Selespeed. Both great cars and amazing value for money.
I had a 159 1750tbi ti in Stromboli grey metallic over black leather and somebody blindly pulled out of a side road as I passed the car slowing down in front of them (inside lane on a one way city centre bit of road) and hit me side on setting off all the airbags and writing off the car. I was heartbroken but unharmed. The car was so rock solid I drove it home and it felt no different despite the entire drivers side being caved in. Maybe I should have had it repaired but I moved on and have stuck with Alfas to this day. I admit the 159 did feel heavy and I used to break nice and early approaching roundabouts on unrestricted roads but I'd imagine the smaller 1750 engine was the pick of the bunch in that regard and felt quick enough for me. They are achingly handsome in ti spec with those wheels and Brembos. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Greetings from Russia! Happy owner of 2007 3.2 159 here. This used to be my dream car since 2010. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed it in 2006 and his words are echoing to these days in the minds and hearts of Alfa owners and fans. This very car cost me something like 8.5 grand + half of it to maintain it due to the lack of attention from previous owners. Quite a demanding car but it's 17 years old now. If you have a courage buy it now or never. These cars are from the golden era and it is ending right in front of our eyes.
As an American who has never seen one of these in person, this genuinely might be the greatest looking sedan ever made. Absolutely stunning
I'd owned several Alfas over the years, including Sud Sprint Veloce, Alfetta GTV6, 156 2.0 and V6 and even a 166 V6. So I test drove a V6 Q4 when they came out. You are right about the weight, more than a contemporary aluminium Jaguar XJ, and you could feel it! Also the old GM/Buick V6 was certainly not as fun as the Busso, even if the Holden guys did a great job on the tune.
My friend works for a crash test lab where exotic sports cars are crashed, but a lot of the engineers there come out of the lab after work and compliment his black estate 159 diesel
I picked up a 159 v6 Ti SW as our family car over a year ago. You really can feel the weight of it but it's a very safe car. Ti spec the car is very low, lowest car I've owned so you do have to be careful in parking garages, I've lost an o2 sensor to a ramp at our local cinema already. I'm sure you've mentioned the timing chain issue before in a Brera video but there won't be a v6 159 left on the roads today with either a stretched chain or a price premium as the owner had it replaced already.
Being in NZ it's actually easy to get parts for the timing chain repair since the block was made by Holden in Australia. My mechanic had another v6 159 in for months for the timing chain job though, because as you mentioned, the alfa specific top end parts (namely the cam phasers) are like hens teeth at this stage.
Love the car though, gets some compliments and never fails the look back test after you parked up. Wish the baby seat fit in the back easier, wish the rain sensing wiper mode actually worked, wish it didn't chew through bushings. Wish it never leaves us
Yes, the baby seat fit is quite a challange, you've got to be a sniper to get it right for the first try :-)
I have a 159 Ti with the 1750 Tbi engine, had it two years now and still love it like the day i got it, which is something as I'm normally bored with a car after a year, been remapped to 240 so goes well, a bit lighter that the 3.2, no cam chain worries and cheaper road tax. Cant see myself parting with it for a while.
Hey - I'm actually thinking about getting that exact car. How did you go about remapping it? Thanks
@@TC-lk2ev Don't know, one of the previous owners had it done, i found a receipt for the remap in the paperwork, was done in 2019 at a place in Hampshire, was a Stage 1 map, cost was about £400 from memory.
@@Markycarandbikestuff Okay well thanks anyway haha. Good to know its possible. You have great taste in cars btw!
@@TC-lk2evif you think about getting it look into Celtic tuning they do some decent Alfa remaps
@@Bigmanflynnjim Will do, thanks mate!
Nice video! And so true, I owned two diesels. Expensive to run, a lot of visits to the workshop but so beautiful. When parked somewhere I always looked back when walking away from it.
Timeless car the 159 👌🏻 Especially in Ti spec 💚🤍❤️
Have absolutely been in love with Alfas since I was a teen in the 80’s. And the 159 is absolutely fantastic even though I’ve never seen one in person here in the USA.
Great review as always.
159 is not released for US market back then. Im planning to go there to live soon because of family i gave there for decades now and that's exactly my problem is, how to buy here 159 and transport there and it is even possible to drive... because i want my lady to go wich me in best condition can be 😔
2.4 5 cylinder diesel with a juicy exhaust/ induction mods and a remap are where my loyalties lie, oh and manual of course. Red or black is fine.
Great engine but why tune the exhaust? Even as a I5 it will still sound like a tractor on coke.
Had a 2.0 JTDM Ti, was stunning to look at, drove really well. Complemented my lotus perfectly!
Hi James, I think I'm probably the only weirdo in the world who has done it but you can swap the autos shift direction to the proper (BMW) way with a little wiring and even swap positions of the + and - symbols so its looks factory too!
They are a piece of art. I have a 2.4 JTD sportwagon and like it despite its flaws.... Heavy steering, not much rear leg room, maintenance bills and front end creaks and clunks are a constant headache
I daily drive a 159 2.4 diesel and it has never gone wrong
Beautiful looking car both inside and out. I remember in 2004 wondering how Alfa could make something look so good and distinctive when everyone else was turning out pretty mundane designs. Those triple lamps, the big grille, that line that runs from the underneath the fogs right up and into the bodyline. The proportion of it all. You can forgive a car a lot for that.
And then came the Sportwagon and you feel for it all over again...
I have an Alfa Romeo 165 1.6 TS 1998, as my first car and absolutely love it. Great first car!
I had Alfa Romeo 159 Ti brand new in 2008. The car was amazing. I did 80k miles. The only thing that kept failing was the windscreen washers. Other than that it was faultless. Many experts out there that have never owned one....
i still remember seeing one of these ti spec at a roundabout when i was about 16 in 2008 and was blown away by it , never had the balls to pull the plug but they were on my shortlist last time round
Just like you, I've looked at classifieds for these countless times over the years. And I still consider it one of the very best looking cars of modern times.
I always loved these. Such a great looking car. The triple lights are something they need to bring back.
Flawed cars are always more interesting to drive and own!
Hubba hubba, i was in love with the 159 like no other.
Been waiting for the 159 ti, stunning car 🤤
One of the prettiest cars in recent years,I have always wanted a 159.
I had a 1,9 Diesel in Lusso trim, dark blue with beige leather, loved it
I had a 156 Veloce and was in the garage so often i almost thought i worked there., but i love the look of the 159.
Just got myself a really cheap 159 2.4 jtdm Q4 SW as a winter car. Beautiful cars and actually great to drive.
You forgot to mention the 3.2 v6 was built at the Holden Fishermans Bend Plant in Melbourne
If you watch the Alfa Romeo tecnical backstage video, the head, pistons, design, HTS all designed by Alfa & Alfa had a great input into rectifying many engine faults from GM, so mainly still an Alfa Designed engine,only bottom end by GM
I find myself looking at exactly these every other week or so. Can't afford one. But that doesn't stop me
i drove one for a year (Company Car) it was in the shop at least once every 3 months i absolutely loved it.
As an American with a love for Italian cars (I can’t afford most Italian cars sold here), I desperately yearn for one of these or a Brera with a manual. Drop dead gorgeous.
Fiat?
@ in terms of enthusiast vehicles we only get the 500 Abarth. I don’t find that car that appealing since I’m 6’5” tall
A few more years and you can import one
Wooop love love love this one!! I had one for a couple years. Rust was an issue with the subframes, but mechanically it felt solid. Horrible on gas, 12.5-13.5 l / 100 km depending on season. Sounded great stock. Lovely car in the winter!!
I brought a 4 year old 159 (got it re-mapped) and kept it for just over 10 years and i LOVED IT. Had no problems whatsoever. Gave it to my brother as i brought an Alfa GT 3.2 V6(The Busso engine) and already had a second car (ALFA GTV) so 3 cars was too many. He kept it another 4 problem-free years and had to sell it because of the ULEZ in London otherwise he'd still have it as he loved it too. At the tender age of 18 years old the car was still getting comments from strangers on it's good looks. One time i even had a stranger follow me into an ASDA carpark just to ask what it was because he thought it was gorgeous...weird but understandable lol
Weirdly, despite the hefty £700+ road tax on the 3.2, it is ULEZ compliant....tells you something about the whole charging based on emissions system's contradiction between the two methods of defining what's bad.
nice video of perhaps one of the best sounding v6 motors og all time
Doesn’t this have the GM lump they doesn’t sound anywhere near as nice as the Busso
I am an Alfa nut and I always enjoy your videos on the brand. Like you, I am fortunate that I am able to have cars that I enjoy driving and not need to have for any particular reason. I currently have my eighth Alfa a 916 spider phase 1 alongside my F type and my speedster clinic 356. I owned 2 156’s and loved them both but never had a 159. So I was really interested to see this as like you it is sort of still on the radar as I feel it is beautiful car. Sadly, though my opinion is marred by my ownership of a Brera 3.2 which I sold my 996 Carrera for! I absolutely hated it. It did nothing well and cost me a fortune. I got rid of it for a 350 Z, which did everything so much better, and which became a 370 Z Nismo which became an Evora and then the F type. But I always have to have an Alfa in the stable, so I shall be looking much more closely at the 159. Thanks to you and potentially switch the 916 into. Thank you for another great video and keep up the good work..
I had one and really enjoyed it. One of the best long distance cruisers I have owned.
I have a 159 v6 Q4 ti manual sportwagon in black, I love it beyond words
Gorgeous looking cars, inside and out. After owning a few 156's though I never got a 159. The reasons being that it was too heavy, too thirsty, and didn't have the lovely Busso V6.
Great review as ever; I know you had recommended this as a sub 10K wildcard Dadcar if memory serves, wonder if this changed your mind on it! Keep them coming James.
Re Selespeed - I've seen the rear-end of a disassembled Ferrari 360 F1 - and guess what was there ? A pair of Selespeed actuators, complete with Alfa Romeo badges on the parts. The more you know ... and proof that Ferrari and Alfa both continue to share parts with each other exclusively
Thumbs up from Israel on connecting the spiritual-mystical with the driving experience evoking emotional response & making them coherently one. Not everything is just numbers. The Italians refuse to dial out the soul component in engineering & I salute them for that. It's really about fusion of engineering & art.
I have this with the 2.4 - honestly the perfect long commuter it’s such a good balance of fun and sensibility - not bad in terms of quality either
I always thought that the 159 was what happened when the 156 got a bit middle-aged and used to its comforts. In fairness, I formed this view when I owned an old but still sprightly 156...
You’re not wrong, GM made a platform for luxury cars, the 156 chassis was basically a reworked Fiat platform, but designed by Italians who are keen on driving small cars slightly too fast on narrow, twisty roads
I have a 1750tbi manual - with a remap it makes more torque and nearly as much power as the 3.2, and thanks to being only 2wd and with a smaller engine its about 350kg lighter - i love it to bits
Definitely not as sonorous as the big V6, but a lot better on fuel, reliability and in the bends!
I had one as well. Definitely the sweet spot in the range.
Congrats!
Agreed. Have the same here, but in the TI Sportswagon.
Tuned with Giulietta turbo and downpipe, it's a fantastic everything car.
I have the Tbi too, had it two years now, spent quite a bit on it, had to get the injectors cleaned and the gearbox rebuilt, absolutely love it though, best car i've owned.
I had 2 159s, the second was a 3.2 Q4 Ti SW, with manual box - apparently one of only 5 in the UK - it was a delight to drive and own. I also had Eibach springs, primarily as I had subsequent MoT fails due to busted OEM springs. I found the Eibachs to be huge improvement dynamically, body control was much better and I didn't keep scraping the chin spoiler going over speedbumps - no weird noises either. It did demand some big bills sometimes but as you said, I didn't stay sore for too long - because Alfa. Good video!
I have an alfa 159, but it's the 2,2 ti model and it's a love hate relationship. Looks absolutely stunning, Drives perfect then a few niggles set in, repair them, get a few weeks of perfect driving, then something else, have had her a number of years now and it is as you say, eyes wide open, it is an old Alfa Romeo,. There is only one thing missing from the 159, and it's the beautiful Busso engine. so for my v6 fix, I went for a GT 3.2 v6.
You even had on your finest shirt for the occasion. Excellent film, thanks.
I had a 159 as a courtesy car once. It only had a few thousand miles on it, less than a year old, and it already had several electrical issues and significant carpet wear in the driver side. I found it supremely comfortable to sit in though and really liked how it drove, a good used one never turned up at the right time for me.
My brother had a wagon with the 2.4 diesel.
I think he rates the Alfa as the best car driver’s car he had. The engine was very eager, revy, quite unlike a diesel. And the handling was superb.
Service, though, was not good. Later he noticed a tiny dead spot in the engine map that, once you discover it, it is always there! It was later revised in an update. Otherwise, rock solid. And those looks! Still top notch.
I had a 1.9 diesel . Fantastic car to drive and drop dead gorgeous to look at. I often found myself admiring it from my upstairs window. Sad but true . Like J I still check autotrader .
As soon as I saw this car back in 04 I fell in love. Then when I saw it in 08 in Quantum of Solace I was jumping up and down in my seat telling my cousin it's a 159! It's a 159! We live in America so he was like what the hell is a 159?
I had a 1.9 jtdm Ti saloon in black. It drove well enough, and I never ever tired of the way it looked. I would stare at it in the company car park. It hasn't aged a bit in my eyes.
This test car is pretty much perfect apart from the slush box.
Even though it'll shag the front tyres in 3,000 miles unless you mess with the toe, and spare parts are like rocking horse shit, I'd have one in a heartbeat if I didn't have the company car.
I'm on my third one and constantly checking the classifieds for any low km examples for decent money. South Africa has a few 3.2 Front wheel drive manuals for sale in its classifieds . My current one has a dark blue leather inerior which is pretty rare
Loved my Ti. Owned a Red over Tan leather '09 model - classic Italian spec. Had it from 2010 until 2016. Loved the spec and those wheels were the icing on the cake. When it was clean and shiny I'd find myself just looking staring at it. Other than requiring a new gearbox (a GM part known to fail) it was incredibly realible.
Would happily have a Brera or Spider with the V6 if not a 159 Sportwagon.
The best mod we made was ditching the 19" 40 section wheels for 18" Prodrive telephone dial wheels that were 45 section. They much better suited Oxfordshire roads
I own a 1.9 jtdm Ti saloon 159 and good lord its the best car I’ve ever owned. Coming from the VAG group it was a totally unique experience. Ive covered 20k miles in the almost 3 years I’ve owned it and although its had its problems, and looks a little rough round the edges its never let me down. Amazing and beautiful car (minus the M32 gearbox)🤣
The 159, especially in wagon form, is the car none of us needs yet it's all we want!
Lovely car. I had a 159 2.4 JTDm. For a diesel the 5 pot when you mashed the pedal did sound quite good.
I’m always tempted for a Brera or more so a Spider.
James, had a few, in UK came out on a 55 05 or 55 06, but started EU earlier in 05, not quite an 04 ( 2004 ); I see 04 04 and 54 Reg cars as older and a 55 or 06 as relatively new, odd, I know !!!
The Alfa Romeo 159 was announced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in the UK in February 2006. It was produced by Alfa Romeo until 2011.
I have a 159 3.2 Q4 Lusso in black with the white leather seats. Looks fantastic and I think it works better overall than the ti version. It’s a bit softer on the road and feels like a comfy tourer. Plus, it’s also a manual👌
Good interesting video as usual. I am a bmw owner & fan but also love & hanker for an Alfa. I was perving 147 coupes recently 😊
From South Africa here. Friend of mine has the 3.2 Ti. It is a gorgeous immaculate vehicle. He recently sent me the quote to get the cam chain and tensioners replaced. It will cost more than half of the price he paid for the car at 4000 quid! I thought he was joking or somehow faked the quote, until another friend told me that he indeed spent that amount to get it done. Maybe it has something to do with living in South Africa? I don't know what it costs elsewhere in the world to replace. Usually the cam chain lasts quite long. You only have to worry once it starts to become noisy. Still, I'd sell it before having to fork out that kind of money. At those prices I guess I'm not the Alfa afficionado I thought I was compared to some of my Alfisti friends. I'll stick to driving my Abarth which is cheap as chips to maintain in comparison. A car I know Jay raved about on multiple occasions!🤣🤣😂
The timing chains come up for change at about £80k miles, mine did just over that at about 84K miles and my first indication was it throws the camshaft/crankshaft phasing fault code rather than any noise. In the car it's a hard job to do and I imagine dropping the engine is easier but makes the job bigger hence the price. I've done mine but if you have to pay someone, who does this work as their business, it won't be cheap. Alfa specialists can probably keep the price down through familiarity with the job increasing their speed but at least like you say it's only once in every 80k miles. Good luck to your friends who are trying to get theirs done if they haven't already.
I miss my 159 Ti. Deeply flawed but so beautiful and interesting. I had a black one with the 2.4 5 pot diesel, which ate 2 of its pistons one day.
Nice and honest review review (as ever!) The 159 is indeed a pretty car and going for very little money these days at £5/6k for the 3.2. For another 10k+ though, you can get a Giulia Veloce which is possibly even prettier, way lighter, brisker with 280HP through a better box into a lighter car, and handles sublimely. Personal choice and budget of course, but given the age/rust/parts issues, feel the Giulia may not only be the (far) better car but may even have comparable all-in running costs
Knew a guy who went to buy a new car and came home with an older red 159 Sportwagon. Now that is the Alfa version of man maths. It was achingly gorgeous though in all of its Twin Spark wonderment.
159 sportwagon diesel was one of the few cars I regret selling. Did not live up to the 'Alfa Reputation' at all. 300,000km with zero mechanical or electrical failures. Never had a tow or roadside assist. Every single thing still worked perfectly with no squeaks or rattles, no paint issues, no loose or cracked interior. Here in Au they are getting harder to find and the price is going up not down. Really wish Alfa made more wagon models.
Love the 159, parents had one for a short period of time in a car swap situation back in 2012 and it was amazing. Made me buy my giulietta at 17 and as soon as I could comfortably afford one I bought a 159 TBI a couple months later at 18. I know the 3.2 is the “one to have” but the huge running costs of the 3.2 are a bit of a turn off when you can get the 1750 TBI which has much lower running costs and just sounds unbelievable too.
No you made the right choice with the 1750 TBI. I have had one for 11 years, second owner and it’s been very reliable providing it’s look after correctly. I’ve heard the 3.2 costs a mint to run from owners especially in fuel and tyres plus service and repairs.
Had a Brera 2.2 Prodrive for 5 years. Deeply regret selling it. A beautiful car, it felt special even at over 10 years old and with well over 100k miles on the clock. Zero reliability issues. No car I’ve owned since has been as fun to drive or given me so much joy.
You certainly love an underdog James 🙂
I must admit, I always wanted a GTV, such a good looking car, but the massive issues and flaws just put me off.
I'd have one as a 3rd or 4th car if I had the funds though.
Oh, love the shirt !
the 159 sportswagon had me drooling for too many years and over here 🇦🇺 down under they were mostly the five cylinder diesel, they were just lovely but in the end reliability was paramount so a recent Subaru Outback 3.5L six well specced and comfortable became my ride but 159’s do continue catch my eye and make wonder . . . 🇮🇹
The 1750ti is absolute perfection
All the best to everyone
The platform was also used for the Spider. The 2.2 JTS version of which was 1.5 tons. I'm biased because I've had one for 4 years, but I think they are the best Italian manual convertable this side of a 360.
Glad you filled in the details re the platform. I knew it was built on something meant for a luxobarge type car.
Its a shame, as its over all a decent car....would it be 200kgs lighter, then it would be much more appealing.
Still, it is simply the best looking modern saloon that's around. Simply gorgeous
The 1750Tbi is 350KG lighter than the Q4 V6, not much less power with a simple remap, they are pretty scarce though and carry a premium.