I've been running 3 cars for a while now. A diesel passat for the MRS to ferry the kids around in, an 08 reg fiesta tdci for the daily commute and the 20vt once, maybe twice a week for my 60 mile commute.

I got to thinking this week, why not chop the fiesta in against an Alfa GT or 159 diesel and then I have something a bit different to drive every day. This would come at the expense of selling the Coupe also.

I'd love to run the Coupe every day to work, but it costs me about £70-80 a week. The Fiesta costs me £30-£35. I'm thinking a diesel alfa might come somewhere in the middle on economy and excitement. I'd be looking at Alfas between 6 and 8k.

Thoughts anyone?

Sounds like a good idea to me, I'm not going to talk you out of it, I think 159s are lovely, and well within your budget. Happy hunting

Also, I say the following:

BAM!

Last year my 2008 Brera spent 8 weeks at the garage; that's 2 months.
It was beautiful though.

crikey what took 8 weeks to fix?

I looked at one the same spec as that today, only with red leather. They offered me shite money for the fiesta though.

Gearbox bearings, master cylinder, slave cylinder, clutch. gearbox rebuild (not all at the same time).
Include, disputes, ups, staff sickness, disputes, ups....

Had it covered loads of miles?

People seem to have nothing but praise for them, or nothing but bad luck. Seems to be no middle ground at all.

48K, 40K in 2 years so not really.
When it worked it was great and sitting in it was sublime.

Which engine was in it?

2.4 JTDM.

I think that is a lot of car for the money personally....

Bloody hell I am tempted...

I really like them. My passat is good and does everything it's meant to do, really well, but it doesn't blow my skirt up.

I've always had Italian motorcycles and cars. Fiat haven't made anything I'd buy in the last ten years so alfa seems the obvious choice. However if I'm no longer going to have a third car, whatever I buy must be reliable.

I know exactly what you mean.

Its been many years since Fiat made anything I would part money with for. Which is a statement as I love Fiat. The 500 being an exception but then its not quick enough imo.

The 500 is an exception, looks great and is probably one of the coolest cars on the road.... If you're a girl.

I can't imagine any bloke driving one and not looking ridiculous.

Having had a Brera 1750 Ti I'd not go for it again. Suspension is torture. Although the handling is VERY very good with the Ti package. I presume for slightly more comfort you just skip the Ti pack. Although the one-piece sports seats they fit as standard since 2010 is something we definitely class as torture, having barely survived a trip to Italy.

Now have a 159 Ti. Incredible damping, you can have a lot of fun in it while still keeping the passengers happy. And very good seats. Dull 1.9 Diesel 150bhp engine. 2.4 5-pot should solve quite some of that.

Have heard this also, think because the 159 is so much heavier than the 156/147 plus 159 has a particulate filter sapping more fun. I know in my 156 Ti the engine is a peach especially when remapped

The 2.4jtdm takes a bit of a beating on the Alfa forums due to its consumption being miles away from what it should be, 1.9 with a remap seems to be the one to go for in the 159, which is a shame - I've the 2.4 and can't fault it as a big lazy diesel.

The 1.9 JTDm 159 sounds like a cab I loved mine for the looks - I had a Sportwagon with all the trimmings but even that could not prevent me from selling - for the engine note alone after a couple of years........ The 159 is a bigger car than the 156 and feels it. My 156 was definately more fun to drive. If you could afford it the later 159 1750 TBi would be the one to go for....

Get a GT JTD,theres lots out there! Cracking red 07 plate 40k on clock leather etc going around 4/5000 on e/bay just now,bids at 3600 reserve not met though,owner needing quick sale. I bought a petrol,love the driving and looks,miss performance and could do with bit more economy but you cant have everything. 159 lovely looking big car.Brera stunning,gorgeous ,love it. You got a 20vt and your worrying about reliability????? Lol,good luck
Oh yeh and I have a white Fiat 500 and love nipping around town in it. But I do look kinda effeminate at the best of times!!!!! Item number:
e/bay item no. 280807520772 its ended but not sold,highest bid 4100.

Bro has bought a cheap 159 jtd 1.9.

Brought it down to bristol 5 up on the last outing. Went well and good on fuel plus love to looks on the 159.
With a remap im sure it would be alot more fun. Certainly fair more dull diesels around.

How powerful are the 159 2.4's?

200bhp & 210 on the 2008 onwards models, quite easily tuneable to 260bhp & gallons of torque when mapped & the DPF has been removed.

159s are a bit heavy ...
My bro has the Brera 2.2 and as mike says since its been decatted, dpf removed and remapped the thing flies... over 400 lbs of Torque!!! Also even with all that it still passes emissions! Fun car... Not practical at all if you need the back two seats.

Boot on the otherhand is very good

I'm not keen on the back end on Breras really. What's the actual economy like on the 2.4?

o really? I love the back end of the brera.. all down to personal taste.

Im pretty sure my brother gets around the high 30s... i will ask him and get back to you

Cheers Mike,

Thought it was circa 200. Oh yes had many an early tuned JTD, really nice to drive.

Not a bad wagon really for that sort of cash.

So after the dpf was removed (improves mpg massively)
30mpg on town driving
50mpg on motorway

Sounds about right. Used to get 45-55 MPG through the old JTD's so the JTDM should be an improvement.

I can live with that.

I think it'd have to be the 2.4, the 1.9 would just frustrate me. Love the looks of the gt but they didn't seem to do the 2.4 lump in it.

Big mistake on Alfa's part IMO. The 2.4 is a great motor. I'd have probably gone for a 2.4 GT rather than the MiTo if they'd done one.