Alfa Romeo 159 – The Time is Now

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Chris Pollitt

Your daily driver can be something special. You don’t need to buy something bland and completely lacking any form of soul. You can, if you buy the right car, have something that is cool, something dripping with style and something that’s retro, but also modern enough to be safe and used all the time. Yes, we are of course suggesting an Alfa Romeo, namely a 159. Because if there is one thing TTIN loves, it’s an old Alfa. They represent astonishing value if you buy the right one, and there is of course the reality that comes from being able to say you have “an Alfa Romeo”. Alfas are for people like us; people who want something with a bit of soul and passion behind it.

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The Alfa Romeo 159 will be, and we’re sorry to do this to you, twenty years old next year. Yes, we know, that doesn’t seem right but we checked and it is. That makes it a bona fide modern classic. It also, somewhat sadly, means the 159 is getting a bit thin on the ground these days. Alfas always suffer as the years go on. They’re fragile things and need an understanding and proactive owner behind the wheel, otherwise they end up going in the crusher. On the one hand, this does mean they’re quite the exclusive proposition. Plus, it tends to mean that like the 156 before it, the cars that exist today have been and are being cared for by passionate owners. This makes many of them a great buy.

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The 159 is just the perfect daily driver in many respects. Okay, so it needs a bit more care and vigilance than, say, a Mondeo or Insignia. But also, you won’t feel yourself aging when you drive a 159, unlike the other two. In fact, the chassis on the 159 is sublime, the steering tight and communicative, the brakes sharp and the power – if you get the right engine – plentiful. It’s also pleasingly practical if you get your 159 in Sportwagon estate guise. Easily one of the best looking load-luggers to ever be made.

An Introduction to the Alfa Romeo 159

The Alfa Romeo 156 was and still is a stunning machine, even the softened facelift had its charms. This meant it was going to be a very hard act to follow, yet somehow Alfa Romeo managed it with the 159. Legendary pencil-wielding designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro leaned into presence rather than out and out style, when sketching the 159. He gave it a chiselled, expressive but angry face complete with a baffling six lights – three either side. The saloon featured a high, poised rear, akin to an animal ready to pounce. The wings were keenly pronounced while key body lines were incorporated in such a way to be seen, but not to distract. It was, and still is, a work of art.

Of course, the 159 wasn’t just a styling exercise. Like any good Alfa Romeo, it had some serious on-road ability, too. Thanks in no small part to a vast range of engines. At launch, there was a 1.8 petrol, but with only 140bhp it was best ignored. The 2.2 JTS was nicer, with 185bhp, while the 3.2 V6 with 260bhp was the cream of the crop. And of course, the 159 comes from a time when we were told with gusto that diesel was good, and the 159 capitalised on this. There was a 1.9 and a 2.4 diesel, with 150 and 200bhp respectively. Things changed within the engine range. For example, there would soon be the petrol 1750TBi, with 200bhp care of a turbocharger, while a later 2.0 diesel came along too. As for transmissions, five or six-speed manual depending on trim, or six-speed Selespeed or Q-Tronic. The 159 was also available in all-wheel drive via the Q4 model, which boasted a Torsen Type-C twin-differential.

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Inside, it was the usual affair of being made to feel special. Dials and gauges, deep-set in the dash, but angled at the driver. A practical, yet stylish layout and design, comfy seats and lots of toys across the range. It wasn’t perfect though, with limited rear seat legroom, and while the interior was indeed stylish, it wasn’t perhaps as hard-wearing as that of its rivals. The Sportwagon is of course the pick of the bunch, what with it being more practical than the saloon. Though with a high entry point, it’s not a machine for lugging heavy loads.

On the road, the 159 was a stunning proposition, even with a small engine. The chassis was tight and alert, with plenty of feedback available for the driver. The wide stance of the suspension meant it was a big car that would be giddily thrown about the place. With well cared for brakes, suspension and tyres, the 159 is still a hard car to beat in terms of driver engagement.

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What Should I Look Out For? 

It’s an old Alfa Romeo, so… a lot. There are some 159 things, and some general things you need to be aware of. Firstly, let’s look at what’s specific to the 159. Things like the suspension are worth investigating. Get on a test drive and try and lean on the car a bit. You want the steering to be true, and you want to make sure there are no bumps or creaks, as this could mean worn out components like the upper wishbones or other bushes, which the 159 has an appetite for. If it feels really ‘off’ it could be something more serious, like a heavily corroded subframe. Again, something the 159 is known for. In fact, even if it drives well, check the subframe. It’s a known issue.

Being an Alfa, electricity, or the retention of it can be a problem. The looms fitted by Alfa have never been given an award for being high quality, so make sure everything works as it should. Check things like the windows, too. Regulators can and do fail. If you have one, bring a code reader and plug it into the OBD port and make sure there are no fault codes hiding.

Then you have the drivetrain. You really need to be looking for a car with full specialist or main dealer service history. The 159 doesn’t respond well to neglect, and water pumps can fail, timing chains can have issues, EGR valves on diesels are a problem, as are inlet manifold flaps on the petrol engines. This is why a test drive is key. The transmission, if manual, should be sharp and direct with no fight between gears. If there is any grumbling, it could be the dual mass flywheel – expensive.

Finally, you need to avoid cars that haven’t been treated well. For any car, upkeep is important. For a 159 it is vital. Regular servicing, good quality parts and fluids, all that stuff. A 159 that has been run on a shoestring is a 159 to avoid. You want full history, you want a car that hasn’t had a million owners and you want one that hasn’t been modified. Trust us, those cars that fall outside of that will be pain and they will taint your Alfa experience irreparably.

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What Are Prices Like?

You can have your own Alfa Romeo 159 for the LOW LOW PRICE of about £1,000. But you would be a loon to do so. That’s proper bottom of the barrel stuff, and will almost certainly explode or fall apart or otherwise ruin your life. If you look to spend £2,000 or so, that will get you a low-spec, but honest example. If you want something a bit more sporty, and with more equipment and leather and the like – a Ti for example – you’ll need to budge upwards of £3,000. £5,000 will get you the best of the best in terms of traditional spec cars, while £7,000 on will put you in Q4 territory, if you can find one, that is. Owners seldom want to part with them.

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Why Should I Buy One?

It’s an Alfa Romeo, that’s why. It’s the kind of car that will forever captivate you, that you will look back on as you walk away after parking. It will be a joy and it will make you happy. Plus, it’s different, it’s standout and it’s exciting. Sure, you need to look after a 159, but you need to look after any old car. And with numbers of 159s on the road dropping, there has never been a better time to buy one. Prices are going to start climbing soon, because the market is going to wake up to just how good this car is. Buy one now. A good one. You won’t regret it.

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