Leaving the Swedish Bullet Behind: The Birth of a New Alfisti

[Maltalfisti]

After some years driving my daily commuter, the Swedish 'bullet' - an '89 900 Saab Aero Turbo - I finally decided to upgrade to a more modern vehicle. Don't get me wrong. My thirty year old car - my first ever car, in fact - still flies and the engine puurs along nicely when driving in the outside lane (hopeless in first and second though). But several big repair jobs recently made me wonder if I should modernise or continue sinking money into a...well, a Swedish money pit.

So it was that I started researching into more contemporary vehicles of a suitable nature. Unfortunately, however, none of the hired cars which I've driven over the numerous holidays in the last twelve months have given me that enjoyable buzz on the road. Hyundai Tucson? So boring that I almost fell asleep at the wheel on a long, flat South Australian highway. Peugeot 208? Almost rolled it over the edge of a mountainous ravine in New Caledonia. The suspension isn't quite up to the classic Swedish standards, you see. Peugeot 308 GT, then? Still beyond my budget. Hyundai i10? Doesn't have an accelerator. That Jeep in the Hawaiian islands? Fun on the beach, but a real fuel guzzler. And apparently they break down. I don't want another car that leaves me stranded in car parking lots in the rain. I wanted a reliable daily driver. With 'zing'. But reliable. A driver's car. But sensible (like me, the high school teacher). A vehicle one appreciates. Not a money pit. Something nice to sit in. Easy to fix. An enjoyable commute on the highway. An enjoyable commute in gridlock.

So, I bought an Alfa. God help me...

Yes, here we go folks. This guy just bought himself an Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS Ti with under 60k on the clock. And here I am, now joining the forums to bathe in your wisdom. Wisdom? Oh that's right, everyone else told me to buy a Ford...

In all seriousness, though, the 159 seems a rather underrated car out there in the real world.

Looking forward to many fun adventures, from chugging in gridlock to roaring up the mountain passes en route to the pub at Mt Macedon. Happy to be part of the family. Hello, dear amici.

[alanm]

Hey there, welcome to the world of Alfa Romeo!

I used to have a Saab 900 can't remember what year it was but it was a 'real' Saab not a product of the company's association with GM. Sometimes I regret selling it, it was full of character and very well made from quality materials. Even though the car was a decade old when I bought it, things like paint, carpets and interior upholstery were like brand new! I also liked the way the clamshell bonnet slid forward and opened. 

Anyway, congrats on the 159, I think that you are right, they are underrated and good value for money. If you need help maintaining the car, I highly recommend one of the marque specialists that support the club – they all advertise in the Club magazine. If you want to do some servicing yourself, Italian Automotive Spares (Club sponsor) can help, and for items unavailable in Australia, Alfaworkshop and EB Spares in the UK.

Cheers,
Al.

[Maltalfisti]

Thanks, mate. I should sign up to the magazine. Certainly sounds helpful, and now that we have plenty of chances to read...

[vin sharp]

Congrats & welcome to Alfa ownership. I still look at a 159 and admire what a nice proportioned & styled car they are.
Even in a carpark next to much more modern cars, I struggle to get my head around the fact that it is now more than a 15 year old design.
I guess that indicates just how well it was conceived in the first place. Good aesthetic design is something that is still balanced & pleasing to the eye across the years....
Cheers,
Vin

[poohbah]

Welcome mate, may all your Alfa experiences be good and the bad ones cheap.

I hope you kept the 900 as well? I'd love to park a 3 door turbo (in my perfect garage an original 99) next the Alfas in my driveway.

[Maltalfisti]

Welcome mate, may all your Alfa experiences be good and the bad ones cheap.

I hope you kept the 900 as well? I'd love to park a 3 door turbo (in my perfect garage an original 99) next the Alfas in my driveway.

Well, make me an offer then... 

[poohbah]

sorry mate - WA border's now closed

[Maltalfisti]

Yes, for now. Give it six months!

[kaleuclint]

I had a Viggen and GM900, the latter concurrently with my first 159.  I remember being ready to head off to Mount Buller one morning and soon becoming very aware that few cars let you put four pairs of skis and all your luggage INSIDE the car.  Swapped cars and of course the older Saab just did the job faultlessly.  Puts 4WDs to shame; same with handling on snow.

Nearly bought a 9-3X too but bottled it on resale (after trading a 159...) and went for Mercedes.

Nothing but good memories of Saab ownership.  But never joined any Saab club or online community!

Welcome.

[bazzbazz]

I had a Viggen

The car people, not the fighter jet! 

(I WISH he says) 

[kaleuclint]

I had a Viggen

The car people, not the fighter jet! 

(I WISH he says) 

https://youtu.be/slm9ksxU0HY

[bazzbazz]

Yeah, so you're driving down the forest road one sunny morning and you turn the corner and you run into that thing trundling along the road, three guesses who has the right of way! 

[kaleuclint]

Everyone has heard about this stuff, but fewer have seen it.

You used to do the same on the Cunningham Highway, surely Bazz??