Does Anyone Own An Alfa Romeo Diesel On Here?

[KneesUp]

I owned a 2.4 JTD 156 for 100,000 miles.

Mine was an early one (2001) so didn't have a DPF - and perhaps not an EGR - certainly I had no problems with it if it did have one. The engine itself was superb really - just needed servicing. Belt changes are critical. The changes went from 72,000 miles originally down to 60,000. I think it might be recommended every 3 years now regardless of mileage.

On the 2.4 a belt change was expensive as there is so little room in the engine bay, so lots of other bits have to come off to do it. My 72,000 mile service was a tad over £1k (and that was 10 years ago) Mine was on the original clutch at 130k, but it wasn't re-mapped and was only the 140bhp/224lb-ft version. I believe a clutch replacement was also about £500-£800.

With regard to the rest of the car, it ate suspension bushes front and rear. I believe that is common to the 156, 147, GTV and GT - although the 159 is a different platform. It also got through a fair number of wishbones, but the 2.4 is a heavy engine. It also has various little electrical niggles, and the air conditioning failed because Alfa put the condenser right in the line of fire for any stones flicked up. Again, hopefully the 159 is different.

The 159 is a bigger car than the 156 - and heavier too - some of them are really quite lardy, so I expect it doesn't handle as well as the 156, which was good fun, if a little nose-heavy as a 2.4.

 

[Over The Hill]

I love diesels and if they can put them in Jags then why not Alfas.
Mrs OTH was looking to replace her Pug 307 and I did look at reports on a Giulietta diesel but all said they were very noisy. So I would watch out to make sure the 159 is not like that.
Apart from that I think the bad press is for the ones that are thrashed to death (a thing with some Alfa drivers).
Also the 159 has very poor rear visability which you may not get on with and they actually are not all that big inside, especially the back end.
But more points to watch rather then points to put you off. I would love one if my needs were a bit different.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I have a BMW 5 Series diesel. It's a dream to drive and I've had no problems with it all. I had more problems with the Nissan Note diesel I had before it. I get between 51 and 57 mpg from the BMW, depending on the ratio of motorway driving that I'm doing. That easily matches what I was getting from the Note.

That's the trouble isn't it, you read up about any car and you always find issues. Most cars are probably fine and its just the odd one that fails and people tend to obviously post their problems on forums or whatever, as nobody likes big repair bills. Several years ago when I was looking for a practical diesel estate car I got a Mk 1 Focus 1.8 TDCI despite reading lots of online horror stories about injector failures and DMF's etc. The car was faultless and I had it until it had about 100K miles on it. Mind you this was an earlier model that had no DPF, or swirl flaps or whatever they are called in the inlet manifold, which I have read can wreck BMW engines if they fall apart. Again I would guess that this is very rare.

I don't think that modern diesel engines are crap, its just all the rubbish that is added to them to make them meet emissions that seem to cause the issues.

 

[stephec]

I don't own one, and I don't know anyone who does, so I'm afraid that any input from me would be of minimal use.

You're not talking to Miss Goodbody now you know?

 

[TheDoctor]

Our Cadillac BLS has the 1.9 GM turbo diesel, as do various Alfas, Vauxhalls and other things. It goes nicely enough, but needs new timing belts at 40000 miles or 3 years. It's not actually the belt that goes, but the water pump, which then wrecks the belt and hence the engine...
Keep on top of that and it's a smooth,powerful and economical engine.

 

[Gravity Aided]

The only reliable GM diesel I've ever known was in a locomotive.

 

[Jenkins]

Fiat Bravo 1.9 150bhp multijet diesel here which I think is the same engine as the Alfa 1.9.

64,000 miles in 8 years with only the recommended change of the cambelt at 5 years and an EGR valve replacement at 59,000 miles and routine oil & filter changes once a year. 50+mpg when cruising on motorways & dual carriageways. Love it.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

My dad used to have a Moto Guzzi which is like a Fiat sawn in half, if that helps.

 

[tyred]

I'm waiting for the diesel Ferrari.

 

[BrumJim]

Get it. You only live once!

Also heard about problems with the 2.4 and it being two heavy for the suspension, so a 1.9 might be a better option. Almost bought one myself, but that was a few years ago.

 

[Piemaster]

An Alfa with an oil burner? Surely such an abomination cannot exist?

You do know Alfa were the first to mass sell direct injection diesels don't you? They eventually sold the system to Bosch.
Oil burner in a saloon I can just understand, but never in a Spider. No. Just no. And I rather like the noise the Twinspark in mine makes.
And as for the Alfa SUV thats on the way

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Well I had a total change of mind and decided to get a second fun car, for good weather when we get it. The MX5 was the only sensible choice for me. I had budgeted around 10K but was thinking about spending more, as I viewed three really average, low mileage cars at dealers, a 2010, 2012 and a 2013. I also viewed a local 2006 car that was pretty poor. MX5's have really bad under body protection, this one had lots of surface rust underneath, and loads of underseal had flaked off, hence wanting a newer car.

Today I went over to the North East, and viewed a rather ropey low mileage 2008 car. I had it in my mind to go and view a 2013 2.0 Sport Venture in a Jaguar garage, as it was in the showroom, and figured that they wouldn't have a car with bad bodywork,in a Jaguar dealership showroom, it was just over £13K though. I did have written down the details of a 2006 2.0 Sport at a Mazda dealer that was under 2 miles away from where I was. So I decided to take a look.

I was expecting the worst as the car was very reasonably priced. I was amazed when I saw the exterior condition of it, it was mint, as it will be 10 this year. It had just covered 34K with a full Mazda service history from the garage it was being sold at. The young car salesman was brilliant, he saw me lying on the floor trying to check underneath for rust. He suggested that it could be put on a lift in the workshop. I couldn't believe the condition of it underneath, not a single patch of rust, all underseal in place and in mint condition. The car has either been rust-proofed or garaged, and never taken out in bad weather. The exterior of the car in every department is better than the newer cars that I viewed. Somebody has obviously cherished it. The only issue it has, is a little bit of wear on the drivers seat bolster. This is common as I would imagine that some people have issues getting in and out of them with them being so low. I'd take this any day over bad bodywork. It drove faultlessly too. The only other negative is that the tyres look pretty new, but are a budget brand. The salesman said that cars like this are usually sold onto traders, but this one was so good they decided to sell it on. I've been looking at MX5's for months now, this one was advertised for about £1500 less than so called MX5 specialists are asking for them, on a certain auction site. Hence why I was expecting the worst.

It's older than I was looking for, but its such a gem that I had to buy it. Registration plates, the ages of cars don't bother me at all, the older a car is the better, if its a good one. I'm already thinking about getting the wheels powder coated black or anthracite and possibly lowering it. It looks a bit 4 x 4 to me, but I'm going to see what its like. Must be a mid-life crisis thing. 12 months warranty too.

It just shows if you keep looking, good older cars do exist. Pick it up next week, just have to clear all the shite out of my garage now.

 

[Globalti]

An Alfa Romeo with a diesel would be like a Bianchi or a Pinarello with a belt drive and Alfine hub.

 

[Globalti]

I'm already thinking about getting the wheels powder coated black or anthracite and possibly lowering it.

Don't. Do Not. Just do not mess around with the look of those alloys ar lower the suspension, you will spoil the originality of a car that is in superb condition and the next owner will curse you. The springs will kill your back and the wheels will look naff.

 

[Drago]

I once got a lift off a colleague in an MX5. First we discovered I couldnt get in with the roof up, then once that was sorted we discovered we would have trouble closing the passenger door with me Sat inside. It wasn't the most comfortable 4 or 5 miles.

I wouldnt mess with the suspension. It's one of the finest balanced cars of modern times, and anything we might do to it on a shed isn't going to improve on that.