Anyone have any experience of these? Thinking of one in 1.9jtdm flavour (will be doing 20k / year motorway miles)

I’m aware the front wishbones can be a bit sh1t, and the timing belt / water pump need replacing more frequently than on other marques. Anything else?

Am I mad to be wanting to own an Alfa?

Had one a couple of years back in the 1.9 jtd flavour, great engine, and would have another. as you say timing belts and water pumps need regular maintenance, and ours had a slight leak from the aircon drain, but nothing major. As far a I can see they’re a lot of car for the money nowadays…

If it helps we used to get two bikes in the back in soft bags easily, even did a week in scotland for the two of us with it, worked a treat, and a comfy palce to be 🙂

Yep. I had one for about three years. Same type you’re thinking of. It was a classic Alfa really – it had a few erratic electrical issues and a battery problem that meant it went flat if not driven for a few days (even with a new battery). However, the engine was great and I could get 700 motorway miles on a tank, it was a joy to drive and I loved having it. It is also surprisingly practical with useable rear seats and a decent sized boot.

Wouldn’t have another now though 🙂

I have a 2010 Alfa 159 Sportwagen with a 1.9 JTDM engine and the TI spec.
It’s (touch wood) perfect.
It’s done 28k miles now and hasn’t missed a beat. I have it serviced every 10k miles to keep the oil clean and ensure no issues go unnoticed but so far (mechanically) it’s been faultless.

Of course, it’s an Alfa so the interior light falls out after a bit, the fuel cap says ‘petrol only’ on it and the alarm is a bit dicky but I believe that’s what Alfa owners call ‘character’ 🙂

Its also quite rapid. When I took it to Germany recently i wound it up to 145mph.

I’ve had a 146 & a 156. I’d have another Alfa if I could find a relatively new one with a decent sized boot

John – the boot in the GT is surprisingly good with the rear seats down. Get a bike in there, that’s for certain – I’ve done it.

Rachel

I had a Giulietta as a hire car for a few weeks – amazing car – I’d have one in a flash if a) I didn’t have to pay for maintenance, and b) someone else bought the depreciation…

Had one for about 2 years, would probably still have it if it hadn’t been significantly shortened 🙁 Anyway very practical car I used a towbar mounted bike rack and did biking weekends with 2 or 3 of us in it with all our kit. You can get 2 bikes in the back with the seats down, 45mpg on trips and between 500 and 600 miles on a tank of fuel.

Watch out for the Dual Mass Flywheel thats expensive £400 and if the clutch is tired will probably have to be done, if the cam belts been done great but make sure the water pump was also done at the same time.

But its a great car and everyone should do the Alfa thing at some point 🙂

bike is a minor problem, I regularly carried 2 bikes on the back seat of the 156 saloon, wheels in the boot.

It’s the drumkit that’s the problem…

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/

the wife’s niece has a 58 plate Brera 2.4 JTDM….she had a few little problems with the engine management system when she got it but those issues have been resolved….its a real beauty of a car and she loves driving it…she’s certainly impressed me with her taste in cars as i’ve been after an alfa for a while but the wife wont let me have one…

mate has a 2nd hand 156 1.6ts, 9 days after he got it the timing belt snapped.
after a little research, it seems the original recommendation of 72k before replacement was changed to 36k.
his was replaced under warranty, and to be fair, its a lovely car, the diesel engines are GM units, similar to many modern fiats, vauxhalls, opels etc.
i would buy one.

Boot of the GT looked very similar (floorspace-wise, obviously shorter in height) to my 156 wagon. It’s a hatchback with folding seats so well suited for bike carrying.

The front wishbone thing is just that bushes wear fairly fast, and you can only buy them attached to a new wishbone. I got mine done after 60k miles and cost about £240 fitted, so not a big concern really.

Diesels don’t have the short cambelt life of the TS petrols – they’re on 72k or 5 years.

I ran my diesel 156 for a few years, from just below 60k to past 100k. Only stuff it needed out of the ordinary was the wishbones, new handbrake cables and a split turbo hose. Good car all round really. The pub bores who’ve never owned one will harp on about poor reliability but modern Alfas are no better or worse than anything else IME. Issues with DMFs, injectors, turbos, etc are not uncommon on all modern diesels of all marques, and the 1.9 Fiat/GM unit is better than many.

I’ve got a 159SW Ti like richiethesilverfish and other than a dodgy electric window switch (yep, who’d have thought it, dodgy alfa electronics) it’s been trouble free. I think the days of Alfas being total lemons are over. They have some quirks but I’m very happy with mine.

the wife’s niece has a 58 plate Brera 2.4 JTDM….she had a few little problems with the engine management system

Has the engine bay ever been power-washed? A friend was warned from ever power-washing the engine bay (as with any car really) but due to the electrics especially on a Alfa. So he avoided this….

He took his car to a main dealer for some mechanical issue…..they powerwashed his engine bay in their courtesy clean/service and hey presto an engine light/electrical issue and the dealer denying it was due to them and the now clean engine bay.

(One reason to avoid Alfa main dealers)

The GT is AFAIK based on the old 156 technology rather than the newer stuff.

But if you actually just need a car to do +20k pa, are paying yourself plus and contemplating one – you have to be aware of that and just accept it’ll cost.

In your position I wouldn’t, unless you can buy cheap enough to be able to walk away when something big/expensive happens.

I’ve had a 156 and a 147 Selespeed 2ltr.
Both great fun and as well made as any other cars I have owned (I own a new Merc now!)
Go like stink and corner great for the BHP. Also sound really good, particulalrly the 156.
Lots of rubbish talked about reliability etc and they used to be awful but the more modern ones are fine which makes them a good second hand buy.
You dont skimp on servicing and make sure you change the belts and check the oil/tyres regularly. Neither of mine used a drop of oil between services BTW.

I have a 2.0l GT, and had two 156 2.0l before it.

The GT is AFAIK based on the old 156 technology rather than the newer stuff.

I think it is based on a 147 floorpan, not the 156. It is stiffer than the 156, although that might not be such a good thing as my 2nd 2.0l sportpack 156 was like a limpet on the road and my 2.0l GT isn’t as good.

Find a specialist for servicing, not a main dealer.

Consider wheel size. Mine has 17inch alloys and the wife doesn’t like the comfort, on 18 she really didn’t like it and I have ssen complaints about comfort and tramlining from 18inch alloy wheels.

My sp 156 had 16inch alloys, handled better and was more comfortable.

my 1st 156 had 16inch alloys which were wider than standard (it was non-sportspack) and handled well (not as good as the 2nd one) but was very comfortable for the passenger.

I swapped out the Pirellis that were on mine for Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrics which are much nicer – seem to consistently dislike Pirellis on the alfas and didn’t much like the bridgestone potenzas so3s either. Dunlop Sports were better.

I prefer the petrol engines – the 2.0l in the GT is better than the twinspark in the 156, although maybe doesn’t sound as good. More torque at low revs, which the 156 was poor at. Get about 390 out of a tank of V+.

My Alfas have used oil, so you need to keep an eye on it. Apparently not a fault, as Ferrari engines are built to use oil, I hear.

the wife’s niece has a 58 plate Brera 2.4 JTDM….she had a few little problems with the engine management system

the car was running fine but the engine management light would stay lit…eventually she got round to getting it checked…turned out it was an old fault code that had previously been repaired but the code had not been wiped off…its running perfectly now…that is until she breaks it…to be honest i’m surprised she can even afford to drive it considering how much her insurance is!!

bikes on roof. I like mine, goes vroooom, does a high milage and is no trouble whatsoever.

Cheers guys, useful stuff.

Not adverse to keeping cars well maintained, so dont mind having to lift the bonnet more than i would on some othwr cars. my trusty 1.6 focus has been nursed to 147k miles but its getting a bit tired now 🙂

Edit: from what I’ve read the 156, 147 and GT all use the same floor pan.
Would love a brera, but the 2.4 diesel is thirsty and I can’t see the point of the potential bork of a diesel if you’re not getting the mpg.

Also note that you can’t put a roof rack on a GT…

I remember a friends navy blue Alfa 156 sportswagon with beige corduroy interior. I actually gasped alittle. It was a beautiful combination.

Also note that you can’t put a roof rack on a GT…

…

you’d want to????

atlaz – Member
Also note that you can’t put a roof rack on a GT…
…

you’d want to?

Rumour has it one or two I’m these parts ride mountain bikes. Not me tho. Haven’t put the bike in the car to ride anywhere in over a year 😕

I had a Giulietta as a hire car for a few weeks – amazing car – I’d have one in a flash if a) I didn’t have to pay for maintenance, and b) someone else bought the depreciation…

Maintenance costs not bad at all – especially with 21k service intervals & unlimited mileage warranty for 3 years. That, combined with a cracking deal, I just couldn’t resist 😀

The other half has a 159 2.4 JTDM TI, ’tis a lovely car and a nice change from the Volkswagen’s we had over the years. Ours is pretty high mileage for it’s age (80k and 2009) but it runs perfect. Not the best on fuel though, the 1.9 is definitely better for economy.

As already mentioned, the 1.9 is a GM lump, so easy to service and get parts for.

Fancy a GT myself, they’re excellent value for money compared to like for like cars.. don’t need the economy so tempted by the V6 😛

the lump is the same one that is fitted tot he vectra sri 150 bhp !

everyone slates it when fitted to the veccy??

renton – Member
the lump is the same one that is fitted tot he vectra sri 150 bhp !

everyone slates it when fitted to the veccy??

It may the the same start point but it depends both on how it’s mapped and what it’s actually driving – you could put a powerful 3.0 V6 in a Veccy & it’d still be shite cumbersome. 😉

I had a 2.4 JTD 156- Lovely, but started needing a lot of corrosion work done. Could get 54mpg to work down the A68 easily. And the 5-pot sounded EPIC.

Replaced with a Civic i-CDTi. Doesn’t feel as fast, but newer, more toys etc. Not as good on fuel, either, but that could be me not used to the 6 speed box.

Recently became an Alfa owner but in the 159 ti sportwagon flavour… Love it to bits the bikes only go on the outside haha… It has the slightly newer 2.0 170bhp instead of the 1.9 or 2.4…. Better gear box and (touchwood) a lot less reports of issues with the DPF which the 1.9 does suffer!!!

Alfa forum is also a great place for finding common fault to look out for when buying etc!!

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/

Very tidy Stu. 🙂

Yep, if we move back to somewhere that actually has roads to most places I’d want to go, I’d definitely have an Alpha. That Giulietta was simply the best ‘reasonably normal’ car I’ve driven.

Nobby – Member

renton – Member
the lump is the same one that is fitted tot he vectra sri 150 bhp !

everyone slates it when fitted to the veccy??

It may the the same start point but it depends both on how it’s mapped and what it’s actually driving – you could put a powerful 3.0 V6 in a Veccy & it’d still be shite cumbersome.

This maybe but its the same lump and going to suffer the same problems i.e inlet manifold,egr valve,possible thermostat etc etc.

I thought the 1.9 CDTi lump in the Vauxhalls and Saabs was a Fiat 1.9 JTD lump, not the other wat round – just manufacturer-specific mapping and certain anciliaries to make it fit in a different engine bay.

yep they are all the same lump made by fiat.