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Alfa 159s

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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:10 PM
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Default Alfa 159s

Who's had one? Got one? Worked on them?

Know there's a lot of stigma attached to them but I'm thinking if a v6 diesel one with a remap for Daily use as I only do about 600 miles a month
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:15 PM
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With that kind of mileage I would not consider driving a diesel.
You will get problems with the DPF and EGR.
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:22 PM
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You mean specifically the alfas or just in general as I have a diesel now and it's alright? I rearly do more than 600/800 but I do use it every day

Only want a diesel as there powerful with a remap and I'm tight lol

Last edited by marky_g; Oct 22, 2013 at 12:24 PM.
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:48 PM
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I assume you'd delete the DPF when mapping, so that shouldn't be an issue... I'm not sure on the exact model it is (" ti" rings a bell?!), but there's a specific model that I think looks epic since it comes already lowered on big wheels. According to the guy who mapped my 123d and has experience working with Alfas too... they are FAR better than previous generation Alfas. So I assume they're now just mildly unreliable?!


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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 01:02 PM
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I've also been looking at these I'm looking a ti in white they look gorgeous

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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 02:39 PM
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Yep it's the 2.4 ti I'm looking at

With a remap 260bhp and 400ftlb!

Read a few reviews everyone says the same not up to German spec build quality

but it's not a German car and I'm used to old fords anyway

Servicing seems to be reasonable too about 250 all in
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 02:47 PM
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Haven't looked at 2.4's just 1.9 jtdm

Is the 2.4 petrol?

They are so nice inside too I was torn between one if these or a 7 series bmw but I think il go for the alfa, I've not seen many about either on the road
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 02:58 PM
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Fantastic cars, I know ts not the same but I drove a 147 Q2 around Europe and the nuburgring this year and loved every second of it.

There really is something addictive about these cars, and they really aren't as unreliable as they used to be/ are said to be.

Go for it - that white one looks sex

Jordan
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 03:19 PM
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There stunning imo.

I heard they were the same as a Vauxhall Vectra underneath.
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Glenn_
There stunning imo.

I heard they were the same as a Vauxhall Vectra underneath.
Agreed ! They look lovely !
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 07:55 PM
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That's the one, it's a 'ti' that I like then. Would be black or bright red for me, with wheels done anthracite and a dpf-free map too... even the estate version looks stunning IMO.


Cheers,
Grant
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 08:09 PM
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The estate versions remind of the original B5 Audi RS4 with the arches
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 01:19 AM
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cracking motors are alfas these days, they're pretty reliable if you look after them.
depreciation is a concern if you buy one that's fairly new, but become reasonable money and don't drop off the radar like a ford or vauxhall does.
i'd have one, got to be a diesel for sure, jtd is very good, fairly refined for an oil burner.
not got the same interior quality and design they once had, but the 159 isn't a horrible place to be.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 04:25 AM
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I still like the look of the 156 Alfas. The 156 GTAs were a nice looking car.I used to work on Alfa about 8 years ago.They were easy to work on too.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 08:02 AM
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The 2.4 is diesel, they do a 1.9 a 2.0 and 2.4 in 196 and 206 versions

No one ever knows what power the car there selling has been even the 196 makes impressive gains with just a remap the torque figure if 400lb is what's sold me and the fact there such a good looking car

You can find 07/57 plate 2.4 Ti's for about 5k

But as said it looks like basic ones like the se and lusso drop right town in value and petrol cars are being given away!

Hoping by buying a good colour low mileage Ti with the right engine it'll hold some value

You just get Lot more car than a similar ages mondeo (which has no large Diesel engine choices)or much older audi, bmw, merc

Last edited by marky_g; Oct 23, 2013 at 08:04 AM.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 03:32 PM
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I love the look of them. Has to be one of the best looking saloons out there. Also, pretty rare which is nice.

I've had a few older Alfa's, (147, 156, GTV, Spider), for what they may lack in perceived build quality they make up for in style. Compare the interior in a 159 to a Passat or something. So much nicer.

Go for it, I bet you won't be disappointed.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 06:48 PM
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Been talking to a guy at the gym he's has one for a few years now and loves it I think I need to make a visit to the bank lol
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 07:01 PM
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I think they're lovely looking cars! Certainly nicer to look at than an equivalent BMW or Audi IMO!!

I don't think they are unreliable either, certainly no worse than anything else out the road, I go out to broken down cars every day and I don't get called out to many Alfas!
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 08:21 PM
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I think they're properly sexy cars, I fancy a sportswagon version BUT.... it's an Alfa and repairing it and looking after it scares me. Rather buy somet else.
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 04:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Shings
I think they're properly sexy cars, I fancy a sportswagon version BUT.... it's an Alfa and repairing it and looking after it scares me. Rather buy somet else.
Why does it scare you.You could go out and buy a BMW and have problems.


Like ive said above I used to work on Alfa for nearly 6 years and I dont think there as bad as everyone says/thinks they are.At the time left Alfa to go and work on Toyota and the Alfas were a piece of piss to work on compared to Jap crapy Toyota.
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Glenn_
There stunning imo.

I heard they were the same as a Vauxhall Vectra underneath.
Vauxhall Insignia.

There's very little "Alfa" in there- it's almost entirely GM-badged stuff, not that it's necessarily a bad thing as you can shop around for parts between Dealers (Vauxhall EGR's are cheaper than Fiat/Alfa IIRC, despite being the same part).

159's chew through front tyres, especially with the bigger engines like the 2.4- many people were going through them in 10,000 miles/6 months!
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 04:14 AM
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The v6 156s were the same the front end it to heavy.
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 06:50 PM
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not quite the same league but ive got an 04 plate 147 jtd 1.9 remapped with an 'eco' map and its 178bhp lovely car to drive and will do over 6-mpg on a motorway and 50+ around town
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 06:55 PM
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They look great. A fella at work has a black one with dark grey alloys. It's weird, because you approach it from the front and think it be a 2 door coupe. I don't see many on the road at all.
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 07:28 PM
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The 147 is just a short version of a 156.
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Old Oct 25, 2013 | 07:39 PM
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shit clutch pedal feel, and that eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek when you press it. "FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK OFF" after a few miles you will scream lol

lovely interior otherwise.

i hope you like knocks and rattles, lower arms, droplinks, and yes, shitty electrics.

otherwise should be all good.

Get RAC/AA when you buy it, nationwide recovery should be Ł60ish

i love them, done a cambelt and waterpump on a 150bhp 1.9d on thursday, loved it except the clutch.


and Alfa owners are all..........well.........weird as fuck lol!
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Old Oct 26, 2013 | 06:58 AM
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ive had my 147 for 2 years i had a 2.4 156 before that for just over a year and ive had no elec issues with either, in fact barring a clutch in the 156 the only time the bonnet gets opened is to clean it or for a service.
mines the lusso model so has full heated leather, cruise control climate comtrol, bose stereo etc and i paid Ł3200 2 years ago from the 1st owner having done only 58k

so they depreciate fast compared to bm's and vw's but much better looking, and you have to own one to appreciate them,
even the trim in mine is still all where alfa intended it to be!
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Old Oct 26, 2013 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Cossie Sean
shit clutch pedal feel, and that eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek when you press it. "FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK OFF" after a few miles you will scream lol

lovely interior otherwise.

i hope you like knocks and rattles, lower arms, droplinks, and yes, shitty electrics.

otherwise should be all good.

Get RAC/AA when you buy it, nationwide recovery should be Ł60ish

i love them, done a cambelt and waterpump on a 150bhp 1.9d on thursday, loved it except the clutch.


and Alfa owners are all..........well.........weird as fuck lol!
Ha ha you driven an early mk3 mondeo they rattle like fuk lol
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Old Oct 26, 2013 | 07:39 PM
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The 2.4 JTD were a good engine.When I worked on Alfas I hardly did any work on these engines.Changed loads of cylinder heads on the twin spark engines cause the timing belts used to snap and the pistons used to clag the valves.It was easier to change a complete head than it was to lap 16 valves in.
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 10:19 AM
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2.4 diesel is a Fiat engine? There was a white estate in the garage last time my daily went for a service, good looking car for an estate and has plenty of character, guy at the garage said the 2.4diesel is a Fiat engine... correct me if im wrong/
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by chris85uk1
2.4 diesel is a Fiat engine? There was a white estate in the garage last time my daily went for a service, good looking car for an estate and has plenty of character, guy at the garage said the 2.4diesel is a Fiat engine... correct me if im wrong/
fiat, alfa, same factory/company different titles.
nowt wrong with the 2.4 jtd engines, solid buggers.

on the twinspark engine as mentioned, variators and tensioners dance about and shine the valves with the pistons. i've done a few engines, only once i did the valve changes, replacing head was much easier, i have three under my bench in the garage lol!
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 10:00 PM
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I'd think all the engines would be fiats? Work on ducatos every day and really have engine issues
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Old Oct 27, 2013 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by marky_g
I'd think all the engines would be fiats? Work on ducatos every day and really have engine issues
know how you feel, we work on transits every day and they're the same

Jordan
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by T.E.D. Jordan
know how you feel, we work on transits every day and they're the same

Jordan
I get the odd transit it's only ever engine battery's and there such a fukker!
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 09:17 AM
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The Alfa customers who had the twin spark engines always got told to check there oil regularly. Some Bloke who was well up in Alfa told us its they use oil so much is because the exhaust is so close to rhe sump and it boiled the engine oil???
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