Alfa Romeo 159 is probably one of the most beautiful production cars ever built, a statement supported by the fact that Alfa Romeo Brera, the younger brother of 159, ranks in the top 5 most beautiful car designs.
Brera borrows the front in a very high percentage from 159 and the interior is almost identical, especially if we are talking about the car dashboard.
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Let’s skip the introduction and go straight to the point. We decided that through this article we can cumulate the opinions of the owners of Alfa Romeo 159 who left a review about their car, on our website.
In this material we will highlight the problems that Alfa Romeo 159 has, reliability and maintenance costs, because, to be honest, at the end of the day it matters a lot how much it costs you to maintain a car.
The first review came from Alex, who writes his opinion about the 2008 Alfa 159 1.9 JTDM:
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To the question: “How much does the maintenance of the car cost per year?”, Alex answered us: “Without considering the problems he had, somewhere at 400euro”. Now, 400 euro is not a big amount and you must be think, how many problems can a 159 1.9 JTDM have?
We do not want to generalize, so we will pass here the owner’s answer: “Reliability is not its strong point. I changed two intake and exhaust valves, together with them I rectified the cylinder head and I changed a piston and the water pump.
Besides that, the clutch gave up and 3,000 km later the gearbox gave up. The turbine lasts heroically, although it has been “whistling” since I bought the car . I understood that it was rebuilt by the company. “
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We move on to the next review and we also come to an Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM but this time, from 2005.
We also asked the owner how much it costs to maintain the car per year and he also answered us 400euros per year. We are also convinced that it doesn’t cost you much more than the two owners say, but as I wrote above, we are more interested in the problems that can occur with an Italian car that is older than 10 years.
When I asked him about the problems he had with the car so far, the owner replied: “Like any other car, apart from overhauls, I had only one problem with it, afaulty diesel pump. I took out their DPF and canceled the EGR, but I had no problems with them before. It seems to me that the car is doing much better now. “
Cornel owns an Alfa Romeo 159, also a 1.9 JTDM 150 horsepower and has more than 210,000 km on board.
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Although he bought the car at 160,000 km and drove only 50,000 km with it, the problems did not hesitate to appear. He tells us that he had problems with the EGR, the DPF or the particle filter but also with the key reader. In addition, he complains about the power of the headlights or rather, their lack of power. We also noticed this when we tested the Alfa 159, at night it is almost impossible to see something in front if you do not use the high beam. Cornel also tells us that the annual maintenance costs him somewhere at 200 euros, in any case, it seems that he is the happiest of the three owners so far.
Let’s move on to an Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM Sportwagon from 2008.
Gabriel bought it at 114,000 km and now has 180,000 km. I also asked him: “How much does it cost to maintain the car per year?” and he answered us: “Depending on the km traveled. € 500 tires and € 400/500 oil change / filters etc.
However, in 19 months I covered over 65,000 km. “ When it came to the problems he had with her in the 65,000 km, Gabriel told us: “Fortunately we did not have major problems. I changed a pivot (which broke in Romania) and I also changed 2 glass cranes. Plus I had a small incident with a cat and I had to change the fog lights and a ventilation grille, otherwise I had no mechanical problems. “
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Finally Teofil wrote a review about the Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM.
He was quite brief so we will write directly what problems he had with the car and how much it costs to maintain per year. When it comes to costs, he told us that it costs somewhere around 800euros . Related to the problems, the swirl dampers were the biggest problem of the car.
Let’s make a short parenthesis, before summarizing and passing all the problems here. The biggest problem that the Alfa Romeo 159 models have is the problem of the swirl dampers. In any case, if they are not completely eliminated, they will create problems that can reach the engine and can cost you a lot of money
In the end, based on the words of the five owners who had the time and kindness to leave a review about the Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM, we will draw some conclusions. We also want to thank them and we hope that their reviews will help you choose the perfect car.
Common problems with the Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16V
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swirl flaps;
EGR;
DPF;
headlights that do not illuminate properly at night;
pivot;
glass cranes;
turbine;
clutch;
Gearbox.
The above problems occur and will certainly occur no matter how well you maintain the car, because many of them are common problems and occur due to design errors.
In any case, the swirl dampers, EGR and DPF will create problems due to the carbon deposits that appear after the combustion of the oxygen-fuel mixture. These deposits are harmful because in the case of swirl dampers they are deposited on their surface and thicken the actual flap, until it will hit the inside of the intake manifold and twist or even break and reach the engine or lock inlet valve.
All of these issues will cost you much more than annual maintenance, so before choosing your new car, take in consideration the issues that may arise over time.
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Although, more than 10 years ago, at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo 159 (then the long-awaited successor to the 156) was the undisputed star of the show, the production of the model ceased in 2011, leaving room for the development of new models like Giulietta or Mito, able to compete with the growing market.
Alfa Romeo 159 was designed on the “Premium” platform of the Fiat group (the “mother” company of Alfa Romeo) and exists in the sedan and sportwagon version, both sharing one of the most varied engine ranges, from the “small” 1.9 JTDM ( turbo diesel engine with multi-jet technology of Fiat) that develops 120 horsepower, at the performance 3.2 JTS with 6 cylinders in “V” and 260 horsepower, available only in the top version Q4.
In any variant you choose the 159 model, it is designed to make the driver feel like in a high class car. With a particularly efficient sound insulation and a more than generous trunk (405 liters on a sedan and 445 on a sportback), Alfa is gaining ground over other competitors in its class.
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How does it drive?
For a car with such a sporty design, you would expect the driver’s position in front of the steering wheel to be so dynamic, and Alfa did not disappoint in this regard.
The interior of the 159 is designed so that you have the impression that you are in a high-class car, with quality materials that surround the driver, soft to the touch, and very good finishes on the center console. The slightly lower seat position, the design of the three-spoke steering wheel and the dashboard clocks contribute massively to the dynamic character of this sedan.
As for maneuverability, the greatest merit is the suspension (with Multilink technology on the back, with independent side and longitudinal arms) helped by the steering which is extremely precise, direct, you really feel that the car will turn exactly where you want.
Front-wheel drive variants have their advantages when it comes to fuel consumption, or consumables, but the Q4 version with permanent all-wheel drive is a work of art from Alfa Romeo, the differential dividing the torque on the two axles to 57% for rear and 43% for the front, turning this compact sedan into the favorite “toy” of any driving enthusiast.
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Engines
Both the sedan and the sportwagon variant were equipped with a wide range of engines, each with advantages and weaknesses.
The smallest in capacity is the 1.7 Tbi engine, direct injection gasoline and turbo compressor, which develops 200 horsepower at 5000 rpm, an engine that will surely satisfy anyone with a torque of 320Nm available only from 1400rpm and a fair mixed consumption for this engine, of 8.1l / 100km
An engine that was less successful on this car was the 1.8Mpi variant, of course on gasoline with multi-point injection, which develops 140hp at 6300rpm and a torque of 165Nm at 4000rpm, some slightly lower figures for a car that weighs over 1500 kg.
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For gas car enthusiasts, Alfa also proposed JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) engines in 1.9JTS variants with 160hp and 190Nm with a high consumption for its class, of 9l / 100km mixed, and the bigger brother with a capacity of 2.2 l which develops 185hp and only 230Nm with a similar consumption.
Of course the star of this category is the above mentioned engine, 3.2l V6 with 260hp, which brings the combined consumption to 11.5l, but that might be due to the increased weight of the car , 1740 kg.
Certainly the best-selling and recommended engines on this car are the diesel ones, in the JTD (Jet Turbo Diesel) and JTDM (multi-jet turbo diesel) variants
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Diesel engines have proven to be some of the most reliable on this Alpha, the smallest of which is 1.9 JTDM developing 120hp and a torque of 280Nm at only 2000rpm and a mixed consumption that can not be overlooked, 5.9l / 100km. The older brother of this diesel engine develops 150hp and 320Nm, with similar performance in terms of consumption.
Of course, for those who want higher performance, you can have the 2.4JTD engine, which is quite widespread, with 200 horsepower at 4000rpm and a fabulous torque of 400Nm at only 2000rpm, figures that are reflected in a higher consumption. large, 7l / 100km mixed.
Safety and electronic equipment
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From the first sketches of the 159, Alfa wanted to turn it into a car that would represent safety. Thus, the body is more rigid due to the vertical and transverse structural elements that cross the entire car, added with the help of laser welding.
Inside we find 8 airbags, including ones to protect the knees, but also side. Of course, the new systems introduced by Alfa on this model such as the sophisticated VDC (Dynamic Vehicle Control) but also the Anti-Skid (ASR) or Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) system that intervenes in case of sudden braking, can be accompanied by other equipment such as sensors. Rear parking or cruise control, depending on the equipment chosen.
In terms of multimedia technology, the Alfa 159 comes in some equipment accompanied by a system with GPS, voice commands, GSM phone, BOSE audio system, all controlled from a 7-inch touch screen.
Reliability
Of course, the figures above say a lot about this car, but what happens when we use it every day? In terms of reliability, one of the problems that most Alfa Romeo 159 owners advertise is the small opening of the trunk, which although it has a large volume, is very difficult to access.
The sporty character of the car and its suppleness of course affects the interior space. In the back seat you feel more like a compact car, when someone of medium stature is in the front seats.
The space left for the legs, but also between the ceiling and the passengers is much too small for such a sedan and we can say that you have a better chance of feeling more comfortable in a Volkswagen Golf.
Problems
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Of course, Alfa Romeo is a company known not only for the beauty of the cars it produces, but also for the problems that their cars cause, turning the Italian brand into a “guilty pleasure” of any car enthusiast.
Less serious but widespread problems with the 159 would be the way it consumes the battery quickly, needing to be replaced many times earlier than 3-4 years after its installation, but also certain noises in the rear area caused by a poor quality assembly of the wheel guards, which is cheap and easy to fix
But there are also bigger and more expensive problems for this model, apart from the ones mentioned above, more precisely for the particle filter that tends to fail and will take out of your pocket around 150 euros , or the replacement of the power steering fluid (apparently only for 2005-2006 models). Also, the air conditioning system has caused problems for many drivers of this model, in most cases it needs to be changed.
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How much does a second hand Alfa Romeo 159 cost?
Currently, the prices for an Alfa 159 can vary quite a lot , starting from 2000 euros for a car in functional condition, with more than 150,000 km on board and probably some small unresolved issues, up to 18000 euros for certain models. very well maintained and with less than 100,000 km.
It may seem like a large amount for a car whose production stopped 8 years ago, but you have to take into account its price at the time of purchase (a 2.4JTD model with very good equipment costs around 35,000 euros) and the money invested into solving its problems. along the way, with which you have chances not to meet again, being solved beforehand.
It may sound wrong, but choosing a second-hand model, which has gone through some “classic” problems for this model and which the previous owner solved, may be a better deal than buying a new one, as you have high chances that the car will give you unpleasant surprises, at least in the near future.
On average, to find a balance between a convenient price for a car almost 10 years old and in a good working condition, which does not require any interventions in the near future, an Alfa Romeo 159 that meets these conditions costs between 6,000 and 9,000 euros.
A price at which, of course, you have other variants in this range, such as the Audi A4 (2004-2008) BMW 3 Series (2005-2012) or Mazda 6 (2002-2008), cars that have proven to be much more reliable.
In short, the Alfa Romeo 159 is a car for a driving enthusiast, for a person who wants a car at a reasonable price, with a unique design and that is out of the ordinary when compared to other models in the range, which offers a certain pleasure when you look at it, but especially when you drive it.
A car made by a brand known for its problems, but loved for the beauty and passion they put into every car.
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Photo source: carmagazine.co.uk, wikipedia.org, carzone.ie, 3d-car-shows.com
