Alfa Romeo 159

a lovely car to own & drive – Service from the current distributor Frizzelles Motors is appalling at best and overall an utter waste of time. Their claim to be able to service my 159 is completely false. Revolution motors fortunately are able to perform the work. Show details

Never to touch – I have to agree with an earlier comment, first and last time I will ever go near an Alfa Rome again. Purchased the top of the line 2011 JTD 159 Ti with 65,000km on the clock. It has spent more time in the shop then out of it and ever time you count in $1,000's. First got a chug in the engine which required several visits prior to cleaning the… Read more

head, in excess of $2k. Still didn't fix the chug. Then chewed the front tyres out, had to replace the front suspension $1.5k. Rear electric window winder, $600, Now diesel injector leak, approx $8.5k. All this in 20,000km. Don't ever, ever, ever go near them.

Perfect car – I loved my 159 diesel, I used to get 960k out of a tank with 70 freeway 30 Citi and 1100 straight freeway. The car was pretty reliable with own a couple parts needing replacement in my ownership. Show details

Absolute Luxury Bargain. Make sure you get one with the work done on it – I went from being a German nut going from Mercedes to Alfa's. Well it was a bargain. About 10% of the original sticker price so I said to myself, what have I got to lose. It just looked so beautiful and oh boy what a solid drive. Thanks to the help on the Alfa forums I was well informed to look for things like timing chain, brakes, service etc… Read more

so I made sure these were done otherwise $1200 job!! Also the great thing about the 2.2 JTS is that it uses the same engines as the Open, Vauxhall and Holden Astra. So guess what, rather than spending $38 for an Alfa filter cost $6 for a Holden one that is exactly the same! Excellent on fuel economy, especially the manual. Found it cheap to run and no issues to date to report. I guess like any car, they just have to be maintained and looks like the previous owner really looked after it. I have only praise and absolute recommendation after owning several Mercs this one is certainly less on the hip pocket.

Pleasantly surprised – Having always admired the style of this car I finally decided to take a chance on an Alfa. I've owned a number of BMW's, an Audi as well as a couple of older fords in my youth for reference. I bought from a guy moving overseas for a really low price and figured I'd need to spend a few dollars fixing whatever was wrong with it although I could not… Read more

for the life of me find anything wrong with it when I bought it. Anyhow, I had put aside $4k to fix any potential problems but after owning it for over 2 years and driven it over 40000km I'm still waiting for something to go wrong! So much for Alfa's bad reputation! None of my 4 new BMW'S gave me trouble free motoring. Love this thing.

Yay!!!! Finally an Alfa that works! – This is my third red Alfa after being burnt by very unreliable 33 and 156 models. This car is a joy to look at and undoubtedly the most stunning car on the road. I bought mine secondhand at 3 years old with 38000kms on the clock. 4 years and 100000kms later can happily say it has not broken down once or hand any glitch or malfunction that I have… Read more

had with any other Alfa. Everything works all the time. Granted it doesn't drive with the same soul that the older Alfas had. Its more like a the Toyota Camry of Alfas but its great to finally own one that is reliable and doesn't cost $1000's in repairs.

Great value Euro-Styled Gem – Bought this car second hand. Had one BIG issue which was the exhaust gas recirculation valve problem, well known with these diesels. No problems since capped off. Otherwise, inside and outside build quality and styling are superb. The car is solid and fast with 147kw and 400Nm. Downsides are poor rear seat legroom. I'm 6'3 so kids don't have much… Read more

room behind me. Also,average 9-10L/100kms which is no where near the book efficiency ( is any car?).

I love my Alfa and plan on keeping it as a second car but will need a bigger vehicle soon to fit the growing kids.

If you were thinking of trying these Italian icons, I can a sure you that not everyone has bad experiences with them. 7 years with one issue is pretty good against any comparator.

Dreaming of the new Giulia. ....

Great car to drive, to look at and reliable too – Hello, When i first bought this car I was a little concerned with Alfas reputation with reliability etc. But i loved how it drove and how it looked .... 4 years or so later and still love those things about it. NO reliability dramas at all !! But i've regularly serviced it too with Brian Foley in Sydney. (not a dealer, just Alfa specialist) … Read more

Services are cheaper than Subaru and others I've owned.

Some things of note on the downside are squeaky brakes lately and rear pass window regulator failed.

Other than those, the car has been really good and so quiet inside with road noise etc. (and the squeaky brakes just annoy everyone else :)

All makes have issues and you'd never buy anything based on review sites alone, but Alfa made a winner for me with this model.

I'm selling it soon to get a 4x4 as we are moving to some land.

So thought id write a review of my great experience with this car.

Style And Grunt That Eats Audis For Breakfast – A few fast facts on my 2.4 litre diesel Alfa. A few years back I sold an Audi Allroad V6 Diesel wagon as my kids were getting their licenses and we didn't need a big wagon anymore. But I missed driving it and went back in the market looking for a diesel wagon with good solid performance and that sublime comfort of a long distance tourer. Test… Read more

drove a few then thought I'd look at an Alfa 159 diesel.The Audi just doesn't compare.The two cars are very close in features, same size tyres,braking system, similar track and interior space,similar 8 speaker audio system, and the Alfa has most of the Audi features but then adds a swag load more.The cockpit for one is a far more impressive place to be, and the seats are so much more comfortable.But its driving the two where the Alfa eats it alive.The 5 cylinder diesel beats the Audi V6 hands down, 400 nm versus 370 nm and the gearbox with a 6 speed box with flappy paddles versus the Audi tipshift 5 speeder is a quicker and more responsive drive as well as more economical.The 5 cylinder has a growl all of its own and once past 3,000 rpm it absolutely flies.Once you compare the features and comfort of the two, look at the design and the performance the Audi is pedestrian by comparison. Here's the best bit.....they're half the price! Can't really understand why they aren't more popular, I've had a great run from mine, servicing and parts are way cheaper than my Audi and every passenger that sits in those supportive leather seats comments on how luxurious and comfortable they are.

If you are looking for a top Euro wagon dismiss the 159 at your peril. Its too much car for the money not to consider.

$ vs Experience (Excellent) – Just brought a 2007 Q4 3.2 auto JTS with 110000km. Took it to my local mechanic & could do the work required. Looks great, gets up & goes so well. Sounds superb & can be a little thirsty. (Who cares) Loving the experience especially for the price paid. Very nice  Show details

Updated review (see FUN!!) – I still have my 159 and it is now running up in distance so thought it to review it again. My 2007 159 2.2 JTS has now done over 210 000 km and is still going really well. The engine and gearbox are still perfect but it has had some significant repairs. It had a new clutch at 155 000 km ($2500), front control arms ($1200) and front shock absorbers… Read more

and brake rotors ($1200). This is all fair wear and tear in my view as I drive a lot on VERY rough, windey roads in Northern NSW and SE Qld. Do not get spares through Alfa Australia, Turin Spares in Melbourne and others get them from europe at a fraction of the price. Services are cheap, at $300 every 20 000 km since i don't have a warranty any more.The only annoying repair was an exhaust valve that connects to the engine management system and caused the dash warnings to light up nicely for which I had to go to a specialist Alfa dealer (my usual mechanic doesn't have the computer system needed) which also cost $1200!!! mostly labour. The engine mounts probably need doing and I will do the rear shocks soon, but you expect that in an older car and they aren't bad. It has been extremely reliable, the only time it let me down was when the battery died - not the car's fault. It has electric brakes and tows a boat or horse float brilliantly - firm suspension, good brakes and plenty of power. For $18000 I have a great car that does everything I need and I intend to keep it.

2012 Alfa 159Ti Unreliable – This was my second Alfa 159 (the previous one was a 2007 model 2.2JTS). After less than two years, the aircon stopped working and it took the dealer three and a half months to get it working again. I filed a claim with the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal for the unreasonable time it took to affect the repair. The MVDT concluded that the… Read more

vehicle "failed to comply with the guarantee of acceptable quality in the Consumers Guarantee Act."

It also concluded that it didn't involve a "failure of substantial character" and so refused to award me any compensation. I don't agree with that decision. To me, having a car without aircon in the middle of summer is a failure of substantial character.

Updated Review After A Few Months Of Living With It – I bought this as I was looking for a car that had a solid 5 star ancap or equivalent rating with full array of passive and active safety and this fit the bill in that respect, I also wanted leather and auto climate, reverse sensors, etc. etc. Mines the baby 2.2 jts petrol which is basically a Holden astra motor with some Alfa fiddling done to it. … Read more

I have the selespeed version which is essentially a conventional manual with the clutch being controlled by the management system, it takes some getting used to and the throttle on take off is best applied as if you were driving a manual not a conventional torque converter auto. Think carefully when buying this version as on a short drive you'll miss some problems. It's annoying in traffic, it takes too much concentration to drive smoothly far more than even a conventional manual. It's useless in "city" mode which is Alfa's automatic mode where it's too slow to down shift often leaving you in an unsuitable spot in the wrong gear whilst another car or truck is hurtling at you. The shifts are very slow at low throttle and rpm so you pull the lever or paddle and then wait for it to slur to the next gear. This is no DSG box from VW or any other competent manufacturer, it's slow, rough and primitive in operation but can be fun when actually driving to the redline and the shifts happen faster. There is a sport mode which shifts super fast at high rpm but it's so rough expect engine mounts to fail and probably the DMF at some point.

Practicality is a bit typical of Italian cars, essentially it has very little, tiny centre console which is actually a cooler big enough for 2 drink cans with a coin tray on top, one cup holder, tiny glove box for some paperwork a cd maybe and a phone charge cable, it's so lacking that my wallet, phone and bits and pieces are in the door pockets. The front legroom is great but shoulder room can be tight if 2 adults are in the front and the back seat is tiny, if your driver is 6'0 or less you could probably get a passenger back there for a short trip but it would require the driver squash forward a bit, the upside of this is the boots large for a short car as a result of the useless back seat. The car has a long overhang on the front and will scrape the bumper if you don't know how to drive up driveways slowly, worse on TI versions due to reduced suspension height.

Pros:

Amazing to look at.

Sweet interior with the best to be seen at night with everything lit up in red (mines also red leather inside).

Fuel economy is amazing 10 litres per hundred average over last 5000 kays, I often let it rev too as it's not happiest under 3000 rpm so not nannying it.

Handles well whilst retaining decent ride but suspension can't cope with big bumps and dips at speed, simply under dampened and can crash the bump stops hard enough to scrape the under tray at speed.

Alfa's bad reputation makes for great prices second hand.

Cons:

It's not practical for some, especially if you want to use as a family car I'd look elsewhere.

Both the 2.2 and 3.2 petrol motors by Gm stretch timing chains, repairs can run into the 1.5 to 2k range if you need to pay someone.

Early versions (2006-2007 mostly) had more issues with squeaks and little faults, some early 2.2 versions had a hesitation around 2000 rpm.

Rear window regulators fail a lot especially if unused, they need cleaning, regreasing, and regular use. Repair kits from $50 or full genuine regs around $200, buy your parts from the UK! Alfa Australia is a joke.

High compression motor means premium unleaded only.

Mine like many others would fail to start on the first try every single morning which unbelievably is due to it refusing to fire on Caltex branded fuel. This is a common often unresolved issue. It's ridiculous a modern car can be sensitive to fuel brand even at the correct octane rating.

Car has automatic wipers but first you have to turn the wipers on once before they work. Everytime you turn the car off the wipers need to be manually turned off then back on for the wipers to work. This is apparently so in country's with snow your wipers don't turn on automatically whilst frozen. Completely useless in Australia of course and essentially rendering the wipers manual anyway, further more they work poorly often not wiping in pouring rain then starting to wipe a dry screen and never stopping.

Automatic headlights turn on after sunset even on the most sensitive setting.

Things failed in the few months I've owned it:

Battery (first day of ownership the yard was keeping it charged for test drives).

Window regulator

Climate control module

Timing chain

Reverse park sensor

Oil leak

Gearbox bearings

Various lights (fair enough)

Ball joint

Master window switch.

Lower Control arm bushes

Engine mount

Oil

Coolant leak

7k of repairs required. 7 months of ownership.

I managed to sell this heap just yesterday even though I disclosed all this information to the new owner and made it clear it's every bit as bad as people say. Good riddance!

Best looking car ever – I have a alpha Romeo 159 2.4 turbo diesel and it is a pure delight to drive. Very sexy to look at and has a very sporty feel whilst driving. It handles beautifully and has a ton of pace. Only criticism is its a bit low to the ground so have to watch steep decent car parks. You do need find a good service centre or you can be ripped off.  Show details

Lovely car to own but headache for reliablity – The car handles well . My advise buy the manual only . Got the problem after 110k on clock. The quality material especially the leather asthonishing. After you reach more than 110k better sell it the car will cost you a lot of problem maintenance cost sometimes not worth . And the resale value drop dramaticcally over time. But dont worry about to… Read more

sell it. There's always some Italian fanatic who wants the car. I sell it for market value only 3 days. Surprise

2011 Alfa 159 1750 Ti – This would have to be one of the best vehicles I've ever driven. The comfort levels are brilliant as I'm 6'4" and that can be a problem, solved by having electric heated leather sports seats that fit both my wife an d I perfectly. The car doesn't need to be driven hard it does the job perfectly and goes plenty hard enough when needed. Its about… Read more ·  1

to go in for its 70,000k service and compared to a friends BMW325 the 159 has cost 1/5th of his service costs over the same period/mileage. Its simply been a pleasure to own.. looks great and has been a car I've loved to drive for 3 years.

Just love driving my Alfa – Had this Alfa, a JTD 159 for about 3 years now. I love this beautiful machine. i love the way it looks, the way in handles and the way it makes me feel. I haven;t had any problems except changing the glow plugs and a thermostat. It's not done 115k and i've loved every minute of it. I previously drove a VW golf diesel and I liked that too.… Read more

However it looked bland and lacked character. The 159 gets comments wherever I go. It's practical yet sporty. it has all the gadgets and functions I love. I had a ECU re-programmed and this has improved the drive even further with an incredible improvement in performance. I'm averaging about 8.5l/100kms. around town with the occasional spirited drive through the Adelaide hills on the way home.

3 Times owned – I owned Alfa 3 times in my life: First time, last time and never again. 1. It's 159 2.4 JTDm 2006. Until 150 000 km: Cracked cylinder head, blown turbocharger, cracked oil pump, broken fuel injectors-3 of 5, EGR valve, steering joints. DM Flywheel + clutch set 2. Very expensive parts and maintaining, poor waranty, poor service support … Read more

3. Very poor performance considering numbers on paper. Car is very heavy, forget about fast driving at hillroads. It's far from what Alfa Romeo should be!!! Fuel consumption very high 9-10 l/100 km

I hope someone from factory will read this review and asked themselves, what a hell are they doing? Are they even testing their cars during development phase? Design Reliability, performance, consumption, running costs

Great Car – I bought a JTS Q4 3.2 with some trepidation given the Alfa reputation on relability...... and so glad I did. My previous car was a VW R32 and one year later the alfa still puts a smile on my face in a way the VW never did. There isn't the same practicality as the VW ie internal storage/cup holders etc, but as far as reliabilty is concerned no… Read more

problem with the alfa - I had the VW back to the dealer twice in the first year. Great car, handling, performance, relabilty. Not enough cup holders.... maybe

Poor quality cars Alfa romeo – Yeah the Alfa looks great!! That's where it stops, if you want to spend your time rUnning a car to and from a service centre and giving them lots of money then I suggest you buy one. If your interested in a modern afla do yourself a favor and google Alfa DPF issues. You will find there are endless posts in forums about how bad these are. I will… Read more

never buy another Alfa again. Electrics dodgy, exhaust dodgy. These cars have an aurora of elegance and prestige but it's just show and asthetics. When it comes to the things that matter e.g getting from A to B in your Alfa then if fails. I cannot believe a car company can manufacutre such a poor quality item. Looks and the way it drives DPF filter, Headlights, plastic clips inside fall apart. Basically a poor quality build.

A very nice automobile – I recently purchased a late 2010 Alfa 159 TBI ti 1750 petrol turbo. I was impressed with this piece of automotive art since it was released but it was a bit out of my budget at the time. It has about 47K on the clock and still some warranty. My initial impressions have not been dulled. This 159 in ti form is fantastic both in looks and dynamics.… Read more ·  2

A very comfortable and stylish cabin with adequate ergonomics with all controls easy to reach. Interior storage could be better but that wasn't a priority it would seem. Performance and handling better than expected although low down torque could be better. Still it would put a lot of similar European competitors to shame. The gear shift is notchy and takes a bit of practice to get the changes just right.

Overall, fantastic value for money and in my opinion one of the best looking automobiles to ever hit the roads. So far I'm enjoying this love affair. Looks, finish, style, luxury, dynamics, driveability, history of brand (the positives) Much too quiet for an Alfa, internal storage, fuel economy could be a little better

You will just love this car – This has turned out to be a great car for me, despite people saying "don't buy an Alfa - it'll just rust out or break down in a few years". Truth is, modern Alfa's are just as good a quality car as any other reputable car these days, and the 159 is no exception. The 159, whilst sporty, functions as it is intended - a practical, family sedan. I… Read more

would definitely recommend this car to anyone who is thinking about buying one. Amazingly good looks. Good quality interior. Decent on fuel. Fun to drive! Lacking a little storage space inside. Auto wipers are a bit quirky.

FUN!! – I bought a second hand, red (YESS!!!) 2.2 JTS and it was nice to drive, went well and handled properly. It had 95000 km on it, so I got an optional 40000km warranty which I didn't use. Eighteen months and 55 000km later it has just had a new clutch ($2500) which to be honest is fair enough. Services are cheap ($250 to 400) and it tows brilliantly.… Read more ·  1

I put in electric brakes and have towed a horse float(only one horse though), 1.2 ton boat including launching and car trailers with gear - it is slightly slower in getting to 100, the susension copes brilliantly on really rough roads in northern NSW and the brakes are so good it still stops on a dime.

I love driving, it is just so much better than, well everything. It is not particularly quick, but it isn't slow and the handling is just fantasticm, driving it is just fun. The finish is superb, comfort is unbelievable on rough roads, although it gets a little jittery on corrogations and the brakes are superb.

The looks are fantastic, I actually like looking at it more now than when I bought it, a truly beautiful machine. Easily the best car I have driven let alone owned. Smooth, responsive engine which loves to rev and has awesome exhaust sounds. Pretty cheap to run. I drive far more than I need to because I love driving it and I am pretty heavy on the throttle whenever I get the chance, which costs a lot in fuel

warrantee problems – The car is without doubt a leader in the area of style and features, however don't ask about the warrantee service. Let me begin. The vehicle has travelled just over 33000 km in 18 months. About 2 months ago a low rumbling noise was discovered on start up which turned out to be a problem with the water pump which gave up the ghost shortly… Read more

afterwards, causing the cam belt to shred and damage the valves.

This was a claim under warrantee and 7 weeks later i am still waiting for the repairs to be completed.

Not alfa's problem they say. They are waiting on the supply of valves which they would have me believe there are none available in the entire world. In the meantime there is no support in the way of a replacement vehicle, no advice on the nature of the failure, no reliable, factual information when the parts will be available and endless duck-shoving of the issue to faceless men, all to avoid taking responsibility for remedy the problem.

Diesel vs Petrol – This is my first diesel after 4 petrol alfas. Quite disappointed with the lag time on take off. Nearly came to grief on a couple of roundabouts. You really need to keep the revs up. Happy with the economy and the tyre wear. Also less wear on the brakes with this one. it's not really a car, more like a work of art. slow to get moving Show details

Excellent – Stylish and responsive with world class features and reliable Alfa handling and performance. Driver position is outstanding, with all controls and options within eyesight and easy access. Awesome design! Could be lighter - a bit heavy for a car this size. Show details ·  1

Unbelievable value for a sports European – Beutiful to look at, great to drive, sensational value. I really don't know why you would pay considerably more for a bland BMW or a sole less Mercedes. Ignore the ignorant who will put down Alfa Romeo's without ever owning one. If you want to pose, buy a Mazda, worry about reliability, buy a Toyota, keep up with the Jones's, buy an Auidi, can't… Read more ·  2

drive, buy a Volvo or too old to care, by a Honda. But if you truly want to enjoy life, buy an Alfa 159 It has nothing it doesn't need and everything it does. Only regret is I never bought it sooner.

Excellent – This is my 3rd European diesel, 2 VW prior and I would not look else where for performance and finish. I bought this car over a VW Passat purely because the sales man from Alfa was willing to give me the price I wanted, but I do not regret. This is the best car to drive, if you need to accelerate, it goes, I travel about 100km per day and average… Read more

about 8 litres per 100 km for the day.

This car is not for everybody, but if you like to drive you should give this car a go.

The trip computer sometimes plays up a little, unfortunately it does not occur frequent enough o take it in for repair. As I do not drink coffee, etc it is not my problem, but my wife notices that there is no where to put a cup.

Good – This car is for those who either want a sports car but still want 4 doors and decent boot space....or.....someone who wants a car with that "something" that sets it apart from the others. If you don't believe me, watch people next time you see a 159 pull up at the lights - people just look. Remember - this is a "family" car in Italy, so it's… Read more

pretty practical. We've got a new baby and it holds all we need for him. Enjoy! Sports car in a sedan! The most beautiful car on the road at the moment. Not for the conservative in looks but Alfa Romeo are about 3-5 years ahead of the oters in car styling. Pros are beautiful sounding engine (heaps of power and quick!!), great handling, comfortable to drive, feels solid, perfect dashboard (like a cockpit) and love the leather seats! Boot is a good sizre but opening is too small. Headroom and rear leg room for tall people isn't great. Hard to see out the rear window (but parking sensors are standard)