Which 159 would you buy? A low km 2.2 Ti or high km JTS Q4 V6

[Roj]

Hi all. I'm after your opinions on a purchase. Which would you buy and why?
Either a two owner sub 80,000 km 159 JTS Ti 2.2 or a single owner 150,000 km 159 Q4 JTS V6. Both have manual boxes and both are priced similarly.

[GTV6SA]

V6 Q4 better than any 4 pot, best to get a Ti awd -better trim, 19" wheels , seats etc. V6 is has linear power ,is sure footed + if you get a decent exhaust system I.e catbacks sounds like a proper Alfa V6. Re- mapped gives ample power to handle most situations. Can he thirsty depending on right foot and weight of car but very satisfying & comfortable as a "tourer"rather than a "sports car", just make sure it has a good service history and pays to have a specialist check it over before you buy
.

[poohbah]

If you don't need 4 doors, I'd recommend a GT with the last of the Busso V6 motors. Much better on the road, and a proper Alfa engine. Same age as 159s, but better handling, lighter, classier, and still practical - doors aside.

[Colin Edwards]

The JTS Q4 V6 - any day of the week.
The torsen based AWD system works very well when coupled with polyurethane bushes throughout and Koni yellows all round.
Corner exit grip and balance is impressive.

[bazzbazz]

A 159 v6 ti handles way better factory and looks better.

V6 Brera looks even better. 

And yes, I know, still bugger all room in back but who cares,  you buy it for YOU! 

[poohbah]

Totally disagree.

Fair enough. If the only choice is between 159s I would also choose the V6 Ti with AWD.

But if it were me, I'd still always pick a Busso over the later GM-derived engines. And as someone who (like you) prefers sedans over hatches, I would much rather have a 156 GTA than any of the above.

[poohbah]

yep, all comes down to taste and need in the end.

As long as they've been looked after, all "modern" Alfas make pretty good daily runners. I'm on my second 156 V6, a 1999 with 180,000km and red leather. My daily driver, and racks up 350-400km in peak hour traffic weekly. I still think they are the best looking sedan of the last 30 years (pre facelift - not a fan of the 'safer' more corporate facelifted front end). 

[Colin Edwards]

Yep.  Love the Brera.  SWMBO would have one in an instant!
However, would have to be the AWD V6.

[Ascari32]

V6 Q4 better than any 4 pot, best to get a Ti awd -better trim, 19" wheels , seats etc. V6 is has linear power ,is sure footed + if you get a decent exhaust system I.e catbacks sounds like a proper Alfa V6. Re- mapped gives ample power to handle most situations. Can he thirsty depending on right foot and weight of car but very satisfying & comfortable as a "tourer"rather than a "sports car", just make sure it has a good service history and pays to have a specialist check it over before you buy
.

A good service history would be a bonus, but not essential. Just make sure it is "Square" and rust free.

These beauties are becoming incredibly rare and will become not just classics, but Great Classics. Not least because of the superb platform, the best all wheel drive system I know of, the build quality, handling - especially on bends and in the wet and - this is the clincher - a greatly misunderstood 3.2JTS which has the potential to be up there with the best.

Long term attention to this engine and improvements in areas which are obvious to anyone with an engineering background will make this an outstanding Alfa for its time.

Only the 2.9 QF is as good in my humble opinion - when the engine is sorted.

For long term ownership, spending a bit on the engine will give the owner a much greater return on investment than any car I know.

A much disparaged engine, by many who like others, criticise Alfa's without ever owning one, too many have gone to the scrappies. But it is not a difficult engine, or task, to make it truly great.

The Busso is a magnificent engine and legendary too! But the 3.2 JTS is a technically better engine altogether. Much of it due to Busso's genius as every V6 designed after the "Masters" offering owes so much to him.

If the 159 Q4 3.2 JTS were to come onto the new car market - again, knowing it as I do now, I would buy one before any other car in production.