Red leather interior on Alfa's – Yes or No?

At £4.5k I’d suck it up and just go buy it..

8)

You could get a 156 with a lower mileage for a lot less, might be worth considering?

Here’s a 2004 diesel with 66k for £1900: http://www.gumtree.com/p/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-156-1.9-jtd-turismo/1094876851

Yes!

Had a 2.0 147 Selespeed with Red leather. It was as a cool as a cool thing with cool bits on 😀

Had a 156 as well but with cloth 🙁

Service it on or ahead of the schedule.
Change the oil in the middle of the service intervals and use good stuff (I used to take the oil and a filter to Kwik Fit and watch them do it!)
Change the Cam belt as soon as you get it and if the previous owner tells you it has been done already its up to you if you believe him or not! You cant tell anything by a belt inspection!!!
Check the inside of the front tyres as they often wear when the outers look fine.
Then enjoy it cos they are ace 😀

Here’s a 2004 diesel

I’m looking at a 2007… with the JTDM (better) engine…

Wont the red leather clash with the AA truck 😆

You could get a 156 with a lower mileage for a lot less, might be worth considering?

Here’s a 2004 diesel with 66k for £1900: http://www.gumtree.com/p/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-156-1.9-jtd-turismo/1094876851

I loved my 156 when I had it but it’s not really comparable to a 159. The 159 is a much, much more up to date platform and feels like a modern car, the 156 chassis though capable enough has got to be getting on for 30 years old now (a development of the original FIAT Tipo I believe).

Saying that, I’d still take a 156 sw with the 5 cylinder 2.4jtd lump over the 159 4 pot diesel… if I could find a nice 4×4 v6 petrol though it’ be another matter!

OP, a black car and red leather looks great if a bit tarty. Any other dark colour go with tan and for lighter colours go for black!

You can get a 159 with the 2.4jtdm engine. The very last editions had over 210bhp. A dozen or so were also sold with the q4 drivetrain. Apart from cambelts, the harmonic crankshaft balancer pulley is apparently a consumable item on the 2.4L engines.

Alfa is a beauty, but I personally wouldn’t consider one. Just heard too many horror stories. And the hatch is tiny, would get battered by me chucking bikes in.
Some info: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/alfa-romeo/159-sportwagon-2006/?section=good

Wont the red leather clash with the AA truck

Ouch

DezB – Member
Alfa is a beauty, but I personally wouldn’t consider one. Just heard too many horror stories. And the hatch is tiny, would get battered by me chucking bikes in.
Some info: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/alfa-romeo/159-sportwagon-2006/?section=good

Crikey, thats made me think twice… 🙁

Oh, but those headlights.. they’re so perty 🙂

But hold on DezB, the equivalent lists for Audi A4 & Passats on HonestJohn are longer, so surely its all relative at that age?

Best one on there is a Laguna 😐

Audi/VW reputation vs. Alfa? No contest in my book. You might be lucky though!
Oh, that interior… so perty… 🙂

This biggest issue with all Fiat group cars is servicing. Find one with a line of dealer service stamps and you’re in trouble. Find one with a line of Kwik Fit stamps and you’re in deep trouble. The only ones to go for are those pampered by specialists, such as Alfa Aid in Maidenhead or Alfatech in Whitley Bay. Forxall-trained spanner monkeys ruin Italian-made vehicles.

Audi/vw rep? 😆

Buy Japanese.

Audi/vw rep – Rather selective quote there Hora..

Hmm, possibly back to the Volvo then. Although perhaps this:

bikebouy – Member
At £4.5k I’d suck it up and just go buy it..

Sigh.

Ah OK.

Tbh, looking at Honest John the BMW 3 Series has a list a potential faults (or means to burn a hole in your wallet) far greater than the Alfa.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/3-series-touring-e91-2005/?section=good

And back to the OP – yes to red leather 🙂

the volvo is just as bad tbh…

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v50-2004/?section=good

Absolutely stunning car. But what a strange picture. Has the fruit stall been superimposed?

Problems with 2.0 diesels include: brake problems, wheel bearing failure, EGR valve failure, aircon issues, software problems and electrical gremlins.

Yep had elec gremlins, a failed wheel bearing and suspicion the other front one is getting whiney (but could be the wife) no air con issues, software probs, but sat nav is playing up. no EGR issue, but replaced DMF at great expense £1200 and alternator £500

no probs with economy at 80mph will do 40 mpg at 90mph average

Thanks for being honest about your history rockape, I guess that prove’s bikebouys statement – at this price/just pic a car with the best looking history/condition and go for it.

And, as been said, its my chance to own an Alfa before family sensibility on the new car to come in 2 years lays down the law.

Kryton, you could spend a load of Money on a Ford based Volvo that is well known to have less problems, it’s true no one can really deny it.

Then you could buy the Alfa and all of a sudden be respected in society for having some taste.. You may have to fork out a few quid here and there, it’s true you may, you may not.
But then you’ll sink into the interior of the Alfa and all of a sudden life clicks into place. You turn the key, select first, pull off the forecourt/driveway a little, hop out, fold the rear seat down, slam your bike in, shut the boot, indicate and pull out into the flowing traffic feeling like a a QuadZillion Lira.

Of course you’ll need some new shades, something fitting, something sexy. Oakleys will not cut it like they would in the Volvo 😆

HTH’s, probably not..

8)

Bike buoy, Sold – I have a circle of Italian friends. And my non car appreciating wife liked the look of it too, quoting the Volvo as an “old mans car”

Right lets do it.

Now for a “What’s shades for an Alfa ” thread 😀

Listen to your heart.
It’ll beat just a bit faster with the Alfa.
Or find a Skoda with red leather…

Sorted !!

No

Having had 5 Alfa’s in my house and a V50 I would probably say go for the Volvo.

Our last Alfa was a remapped 147 q2 and although it was quick it always felt like it would throw you into a ditch. We had it from being a year old to just over five years old and like our previous Alfas it started to feel a bit tired. Previous cars had V6, Twin Spark and JTS engines. All require short service intervals and cambelts every 36k.

The V50 I had from new had the boring 1.6 drive engine. Very economical and the build quality was up on Alfa.

We now have two German cars. Would I get another Alfa? No, Volvo? Yes

Got red leather in my white Giullietta, looks stunning

Having had 5 Alfa’s in my house and a V50 I would probably say go for the Volvo

Let him at least own one Alfa – you’ve had more than your fair share 😛

Mine was in service today – the courtesy car was far from shabby but it reminded me how good the alfa feels to drive.

Audi/VW reputation vs. Alfa? No contest in my book. You might be lucky though!

My first 156 had a few problems but talking to the sales guy at the Sidlow garage he said that the most problematic car amongst their franchises was a VW Passat.

At my last service (at a specialist) the guy said his mate worked at a VW garage and was rebuilding 2 to 3 VW diesels a weeks that had all failed at around the 50k mark…

that the most problematic car amongst their franchises was a VW Passat.

At my last service (at a specialist) the guy said his mate worked at a VW garage and was rebuilding 2 to 3 VW diesels a weeks that had all failed at around the 50k mark…

I was looking at used high miler Passat’s but was advised to steer away from them with a virtually identical quote, they are apparantly not as robust as people would like to state.

You should read the skoda forum threads about the VAG 2.0 diesel, 1.2tfsi and 1.8tfsi engine failures. I’ve never seen so many issues with engines self-destructing.

In 27000 miles our Yeti has needed: a new ECU, a complete new rear wiring loom and I suspect the way 5th gear is becoming obstructive it’ll need a new gearbox before the warranty expires.

Mine is red, with black leather 159 1.9jtdm SW….
I have had it from 12k and year old, now ~80k and 7.

I love it…

I have had the following problems…

1) power steering noise, its common for the filter in the PS res to come off, if you sort it early, its a new res ~£30 DIY job if not you’ll need a new PS pump ~£300 fitted
2) An electric window controller went ~£120 fitted
3) The ambient temp sensor, ment that it constantly told me it was -20deg, messed up AC, ~£150 fitted cheap part, bugger to fit.
4) Needed new battery at ~6yrs old

Up to this point i was pretty happy

The biggest issues have arisen in the last month!

5) Clutch and DM flywheel ~£800 fitted
6) with the 1.9JTDM 6spd manual it uses a common gearbox with a load of vauxhalls and fiats, they are made of cheese! there is a weak bearing in it, signs are car making grinding noises in 5th, needs a re-build ~£800 done.

get the gearbox oil changed regularly with high quality stuff and you will prolong its life, but it will go sooner or later…

all cars have their problems tho, and I dont think on balance that alfas are much worse than any others I have had

all cars have their problems tho

Mine hasn’t 🙂

I bet if I Google your car make/model I can find some problems 🙂

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Grey 159 2.4JTDm SW with auto here. Red leather interior makes it feel like a special place to spend time when commuting/stuck in traffic. I love the car. Well made, refined and fast. Big diesel is not economical though

Meh, I’ve got an MX5 – one of the most fun and reliable cars on the road. Maybe I’ll put red leather seats in it.