alfa 159 owners, what will your next car be?

[fgv]

hi everyone,

just wondering what you are looking at for your next car, and is it in addition to your 159 / (and 156 for those who still have them), or as a replacement?
are you still thinking of a sporty small executive sedan, or moving away from this type of car?

the reason i ask is that there aren't many cars that are that similar in look / vibe, and options in this category are a bit limited.. (3 series, a4.. what else?).

thanks

[bazzbazz]

New Giulia?

[poohbah]

I so wish I was in the market for a new car - to go alongside my 156 and GTV (I wouldnt replace them). It could only be one thing - a black or red Giulia Veloce with red leather interior.

Unfortunately i cannot justify a new car purchase right now - even with the local dealer very kindly promising $1k off any new Alfa purchased by local AR club members...

[kaleuclint]

Really good topic!  As a former Saab owner I wondered what would replace that when they ceased to exist.  The other Swede?  Audi?  I kind of ended up with Mercedes given I already had a Alfa.

In my current injured state my wife is driving the 159ti as daily transport and my L-plater son insists on driving something with a manual shift.  That would actually rule out the Giulia. 

I can still see a depreciated Giulia Veloce as the next car.  Or a Ghibli.  The practicality of a wagon for dog chauffeuring would be good but preferably not a SUV so no Stelvio.  I'd consider a BMW 3-series wagon.  Volvo XC60 also a contender.

[As the day goes]

A depreciated Giulia.  Veloce at least.  Not another diesel for sure.

But I also have a dog hauler and it is getting on.  So maybe a Stelvio if it can carry a Golden Retriever and/or a German Shepherd.

[bazzbazz]

In my current injured state

Doing Action Man impersonations out the back of Caribou's AGAIN ?   

[Colin Edwards]

I'd find it very difficult to part with the 159.  However, if the new rwd Giulietta is half as good as the Giulia............................!

[kaleuclint]

Doing Action Man impersonations out the back of Caribou's AGAIN ?   

No driving for five more weeks (though I did park the 159 around the corner as a hint for others to stop using it).  Know Baz that I have regained 15mm of height lost many years ago.  106 hours without food or water in a two stage surgery process also meant I lost at least 5 kg.  I say "at least" as it has been pointed out I also gained weight.  Not that titanium is that heavy...

[bazzbazz]

Not that titanium is that heavy...

Tut tut, people just HAVE to brag about all their bling . . . . . 

[kaleuclint]

Blingy enough for you Baz??!  6.5mm dia shafts.  They'd better be torqued right.  "Unbreakable."

Moving forward the prefect combo for me is the Giulia Veloce and a C250 wagon.  The superseded S204 wagon would be fine.  I am trying to get into a cycle of buying 3-4 year old cars.

[fgv]

thanks for the replies everyone!

i find the lack of manual transmission cars really limiting.
it seems the only cars that i could somewhat imagine buying are the audi a5 and the ford falcon (2016 model).
i really like the look of the volvo s90 - is it just me or does it have a bit of a throwback 90s look? but again, another automatic car.

oh well! good hunting i suppose.. =)

[kaleuclint]

You might have to accept reality.  A big factor in buying my first 159 was manual trans and floor-mounted 'proper' handbrake.  These days this combination seems to be the province of lower priced cars. 

I'd like an S205-series Mercedes wagon but that'd mean accepting a push button parking brake and column shift (not a fan of flappy paddles either).  I suppose I'd get used to it but if I have to take an auto at least I want floor shift.  That's where the Giulia is at of course.

[wturnbull]

Here in Brisbane there is no longer any Alfa dealership, you have to head north to the Sunshine Coast (Noosaville) to find the nearest. One other in QLD, a thousand miles north to Cairns. This leaves the many 159 owners struggling to find a service centre with enough experience including the software for the motor and, if needed, selespeed. After a few years of so called annual services, long established 'CL Bodyworks' Alfa specialist was able to do the necessary selespeed check as well as other items that had been overlooked by another so called Fiat/Alfa agent that did a 'basic' service, though at considerable expense. How do the many Brisbane 159 owners cope?



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[As the day goes]

kale, take care

[bazzbazz]

Here in Brisbane there is no longer any Alfa dealership, you have to head north to the Sunshine Coast (Noosaville) to find the nearest. One other in QLD, a thousand miles north to Cairns. This leaves the many 159 owners struggling to find a service centre with enough experience including the software for the motor and, if needed, selespeed. After a few years of so called annual services, long established 'CL Bodyworks' Alfa specialist was able to do the necessary selespeed check as well as other items that had been overlooked by another so called Fiat/Alfa agent that did a 'basic' service, though at considerable expense. How do the many Brisbane 159 owners cope?

Well there IS a chap in Brisbane that can provide 159 owners all the technical & service support ever needed, specialises in Selespeeds and even runs a Mobile service and comes to you at home or work saving you time out of your busy life. I think your may find his rates quite competitive as well.   

Baz