Alfa 159 2.0 JTDm - a daily for the father
Discussion
The search for a fairly cheap runabout for my dad began a few weeks ago. His current Jag XF Sportbrake has developed a plethra of electrical problems that can't seem to be fixed so he needed a new car to use as a daily ( He's a jag fan and always had Jags and it was Saabs before that - when Saab existed)
We shortlisted a few contenders :
A 159 came up locally at a good price - very limited and badly worded advert but since it was local it was worth a look. It was a 2.0 JTDM Lusso Model. The Lusso was the "comfort" spec with cruise control etc . After some research the 2.0 seems to be the pick of the diesel engines and seems to be sought after.
On arrival to viewing the car it looked in very good condition, no dents etc. However when we walked to the front the bonnet and wing had faded a lot - this wasn't evident from the advert - kind of put a downer on the viewing. However, apart from that the car was pretty mint and had full service history and a massive stack of invoices/receipts for all sorts including new clutch, exhaust and the car had recently had 4 new tyres and new pads and discs all round and a clean 12 month mot. The price was good too so we thought it was worth a punt - if the car is mechanically sound we can always get the cosmetic issues sorted - a faded bonnet isn't gonna leave him stranded at the side of the road.
Here are some pictures of the car in question once we got it home. I gave the bonnet and the wing a quick compound and polish, they came up a lot better than they were but still aren't great.
(Its cool for a diesel with not much power to have 4 pot brembo callipers)
All in all id say it was a good purchase, car drives really well and feels really tightconsidering it has 99k miles on it - everything works too.
I'm intrigued to see how it gets on - my dad does a lot of miles a year so it will be a good test for it.
Current things planned for the car are:
We shortlisted a few contenders :
- Saab 93 (2008 ish - needed to be facelift)
- Alfa 159 (Ideally the estate but the estates demand a higher premium)
- Jag X type estate (He previously had one that he got to 320k miles and my mum is now running around in one. Great cars and excellent value for money)
A 159 came up locally at a good price - very limited and badly worded advert but since it was local it was worth a look. It was a 2.0 JTDM Lusso Model. The Lusso was the "comfort" spec with cruise control etc . After some research the 2.0 seems to be the pick of the diesel engines and seems to be sought after.
On arrival to viewing the car it looked in very good condition, no dents etc. However when we walked to the front the bonnet and wing had faded a lot - this wasn't evident from the advert - kind of put a downer on the viewing. However, apart from that the car was pretty mint and had full service history and a massive stack of invoices/receipts for all sorts including new clutch, exhaust and the car had recently had 4 new tyres and new pads and discs all round and a clean 12 month mot. The price was good too so we thought it was worth a punt - if the car is mechanically sound we can always get the cosmetic issues sorted - a faded bonnet isn't gonna leave him stranded at the side of the road.
Here are some pictures of the car in question once we got it home. I gave the bonnet and the wing a quick compound and polish, they came up a lot better than they were but still aren't great.
(Its cool for a diesel with not much power to have 4 pot brembo callipers)All in all id say it was a good purchase, car drives really well and feels really tightconsidering it has 99k miles on it - everything works too.
I'm intrigued to see how it gets on - my dad does a lot of miles a year so it will be a good test for it.
Current things planned for the car are:
- Install a car play unit
- Sort the bonnet and wing out - probably a respray
- Cambelt is due on time not mileage. Apparently its easy on this engine so I might do that myself if iv got the time - along with the water pump and tensioners
- item 4 Remove the 159 badge, the 1 has fallen off. It's either leave the badge off or replace it
- item 5 Pint the calipers as they are a dull metal finish at the moment. Dads really fancying yellow calipers
- item 6 Have a look at installing heated seats. We thought the Lusso spec came with heated seats but this one doesn't - maybe they aren't the original seats as they do look in really really good condition for 99k miles - no wear on them at all.
Edited by adean22 on Monday 26th June 16:06
Edited by adean22 on Wednesday 28th June 20:21
Car has ticked over 100k miles now
Few days after purchase it embarked on a 300 mile round trip and it did it flawlessly. Some things to note are its rather quiet and refined on the motorway and eats the miles up rather nicely. Averaged 39 mpg but this was a mix of traffic and motorway and a lot of the time spent at quite a bit higher than 70.
Car is also booked in for a bonnet, front wings and bumper respray. They all polished up better but still far from perfect so the choice of a respray was made. On the bonnet it appears someone has resprayed it but not put any clear over it - guessing this was a quick blow over before a previous sale?
One really nice feature in this current heatwave weather is that the Centre armrest has aircon in it so you can use it to keep your drink cool.
On removal of the 159 badge )as the one had fallen off) the adhesive has bonded to the paint underneath so there will need to be a new 159 badge ordered and put on.
Few days after purchase it embarked on a 300 mile round trip and it did it flawlessly. Some things to note are its rather quiet and refined on the motorway and eats the miles up rather nicely. Averaged 39 mpg but this was a mix of traffic and motorway and a lot of the time spent at quite a bit higher than 70.
Car is also booked in for a bonnet, front wings and bumper respray. They all polished up better but still far from perfect so the choice of a respray was made. On the bonnet it appears someone has resprayed it but not put any clear over it - guessing this was a quick blow over before a previous sale?
One really nice feature in this current heatwave weather is that the Centre armrest has aircon in it so you can use it to keep your drink cool.
On removal of the 159 badge )as the one had fallen off) the adhesive has bonded to the paint underneath so there will need to be a new 159 badge ordered and put on.
Edited by adean22 on Wednesday 28th June 20:36
Frenchda said:
I agree with the front end, cracking looking car. I think the wagon is one of my favourite looking cars ever (do like an estate!)
We did really want a 159 wagon but they are about twice the price of the saloon. As this car is only really a stop gap for a year before he buys a Jag F type we couldn't justify the extra price for the estate Car collected from paint shop today - look great and a massive improvement. Whole frontend now has no stone chips and is pretty much like new. Will get some proper pictures when its not pouring down, going back to the body shop in two weeks too for a final polish once the paint has fully hardened.
The rain did stop for a few hours so here's pics of the newly painted front end.
( the x type is having new rear springs - hence the rock acting as a chock under the front wheel
Got to say, the car really suits no front plate. As the car has a 5 digit plate on we have a shorter plate to go on once the paint has fully cured. Its a compromise between no plate and a full size plate.
Next mod is an apple car play double din unit, should arrive soon so can be fitted at the weekend
( the x type is having new rear springs - hence the rock acting as a chock under the front wheelGot to say, the car really suits no front plate. As the car has a 5 digit plate on we have a shorter plate to go on once the paint has fully cured. Its a compromise between no plate and a full size plate.
Next mod is an apple car play double din unit, should arrive soon so can be fitted at the weekend
Got car play fitted, still need some fettling to get it sitting perfect. Brings the car right up to date.
Next up was a service including the timing belt. It was serviced just before we got it but the timing belt was due. Its a job I would hate to do myself (brings back ptsd from the MG timing belt) and I haven't had the time to do it myself either. We booked it in with a local mechanic we have used for years.
Picked up the car today and it has had a service, new timing belt, waterpump and aux belt. Has been noted there is a slight oil leak from the oil filler housing unit - apparently a common thing on these - but the mechanic struggled to source one which wasn't long delivery, that can be a job for me then.
With a new timing belt I'm a lot happier as I always had in the back of my head that the engine could go any minute if an old timing belt snaps, with a new timing belt we can also look at a remap.
The car is 136 bhp but my dad has been wanting a little bit more from it, its nippy up to 60 but seems a little slow accelerating at motorway speeds . Apparently a remap takes it to 170/180 bhp which should make it punchier. So now its time to find the best place for a remap
Next up was a service including the timing belt. It was serviced just before we got it but the timing belt was due. Its a job I would hate to do myself (brings back ptsd from the MG timing belt) and I haven't had the time to do it myself either. We booked it in with a local mechanic we have used for years.
Picked up the car today and it has had a service, new timing belt, waterpump and aux belt. Has been noted there is a slight oil leak from the oil filler housing unit - apparently a common thing on these - but the mechanic struggled to source one which wasn't long delivery, that can be a job for me then.
With a new timing belt I'm a lot happier as I always had in the back of my head that the engine could go any minute if an old timing belt snaps, with a new timing belt we can also look at a remap.
The car is 136 bhp but my dad has been wanting a little bit more from it, its nippy up to 60 but seems a little slow accelerating at motorway speeds . Apparently a remap takes it to 170/180 bhp which should make it punchier. So now its time to find the best place for a remap
First issue with the 159 today.
We had noticed a few weeks ago the battery had died, we charged it up and its been fine since but we have been expecting to need a new one at some point, especially with winter coming up.
Came to start the car today and it was dead so time for a new battery.
Gone for a Yuasa Silver battery - with trade card discount it was 87.99 from Halfords
Looking through the history that came with the car it does seem to go through battery's every 2 years and the current one has been on over two years. Does seem odd it needs a new one every other year though?
New battery will be fitted tonight and then hopefully the car is back on the road
We had noticed a few weeks ago the battery had died, we charged it up and its been fine since but we have been expecting to need a new one at some point, especially with winter coming up.
Came to start the car today and it was dead so time for a new battery.
Gone for a Yuasa Silver battery - with trade card discount it was 87.99 from Halfords
Looking through the history that came with the car it does seem to go through battery's every 2 years and the current one has been on over two years. Does seem odd it needs a new one every other year though?
New battery will be fitted tonight and then hopefully the car is back on the road
Not much to report on the car. one of the front tyres had worn down a lot on the inside so two new Michelin Primacy 4+ were installed on the front the other week - still need to get an alignment and check over suspension , just need to find the time to do so.
I did learn that the 911 works well for carrying two car wheels around - was rather surprised that they fitted
I did learn that the 911 works well for carrying two car wheels around - was rather surprised that they fitted
Edited by adean22 on Wednesday 29th November 11:27
The Alfa has run great for the last year, been very few issues which is impressive for a 13 year old Alfa.
Car is now just shy of 118k miles which is over 18k miles in our 14 month ownership.
Since I last updated this the car has needed a service, a bulb, an MOT which it passed with no advisories , a front upper suspension arm and this week a new backbox.
I noticed the exhaust wasn't sitting right at the back , it had snapped behind the backbox where the pipe joins it
I found the same make exhaust on autodoc for £67 including the clamp - cant argue with that at all.
Exhaust now all fitted an as good as new . Was very happy to see no bad rust under the car when it was jacked up as I know these are prone to rust
One very strange observation is that the car is no louder with n backbox, like no louder at all. The DPF and a front silencer must do most of the work on quietening down the exhuast
Car is now just shy of 118k miles which is over 18k miles in our 14 month ownership.
Since I last updated this the car has needed a service, a bulb, an MOT which it passed with no advisories , a front upper suspension arm and this week a new backbox.
I noticed the exhaust wasn't sitting right at the back , it had snapped behind the backbox where the pipe joins it
I found the same make exhaust on autodoc for £67 including the clamp - cant argue with that at all.
Exhaust now all fitted an as good as new . Was very happy to see no bad rust under the car when it was jacked up as I know these are prone to rust
One very strange observation is that the car is no louder with n backbox, like no louder at all. The DPF and a front silencer must do most of the work on quietening down the exhuast
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