Owner Review: My sensual, attractive Bella – 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS Selespeed

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Basic information about my car:

Alfa Romeo 159 Sedan, 2.2 JTS Selespeed. Fitted with Autodelta supercharger kit.
2nd owner

Reasons why I bought this car(purpose):

Throughout my working life, I have always owned and driven an Italian make. Call it being a fool for punishment, but Italian ‘bellas’ has always brought me a certain sense of pleasure that most other marques do not. And conversely, frustration, exasperation and bewilderment at some of the … in the words of Doug1 Demuro.. “quirks and features” of Italian cars! 

The Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS was the latest in a long line of bellas that has graced my garage. This infatuation with Italian car marques started with my very first car after college, an 18 year old Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 from the early 80s which spent a considerable amount of time on the side of a road prior to my ownership, and cost me less than a month’s wages. 

Fast forward to 2016, I accepted a new position requiring extensive local travel. With company regulations requiring a vehicle with a minimum of 4 star NCAP ratings,I started looking for a newer ride that would meet the NCAP rating requirement. At least, that’s the official line. The fact of the matter was that the bella I had then, a 156 Sportwagon was getting a little bit long in the tooth, and while she had the glorious 2.5 V6 Busso engine, she only had a 4 speed automatic. Having done over 220ks kms by that time, she was also becoming quite the handful in the maintenance department. 

Thus began my search for a comfortable sedan with GT performance, one that can lap up the miles comfortably, effortlessly and is also engaging when the road conditions permit and beckons. 

So how did the 159 end up in my garage? Long story short, after looking at the various candidates, I began a search for a W203 C Class Mercedes to be my next ride. Yes, my 156 was going to have a German garage mate. It was during this search that a veteran member of Italiaauto, the local Alfa/Fiat owners group posted that he was contemplating the sale of his 159 2.2 JTS. Now there were a few 159s which were being put up for sale then, but what really piqued my interest was the fact that he had done some work on his bella. She had vents on the bonnet which gave her a more aggressive look, LED DRL halo lights, and, even more intriguing, a supercharger upgrade by the UK based Alfa Romeo tuning house, Autodelta. More on that later.

If you don’t intend to get an Alfa, don’t take one for a test drive. As intrigued as I was with this rather special 159, I arranged for a test drive one weekend, and was hooked. The acceleration wasn’t harsh or as raw like what I experienced in an Evo X or even my old Fiat Coupe, the Selespeed really was something I had trouble with on that first drive and I absolutely hated the shifting in Auto, but the howl that comes from that little Supercharger was something else and yes, addictive. Needless to say, I was smitten and all thoughts of the W203 C Class went out the window, along with all rational thought as some would say. 

Another test drive later, a visit to the local Alfa specialist that partnered with Autodelta to install the kit to check installation and maintenance records, and there we were at JPJ completing the change of ownership. 

Car Selection Process

These were my criteria when I started out:

1. Capital outlay of RM40k
2. 5 star NCAP rating
3. GT style performance and comfort
4. Able to fit my family of 4 comfortably
5. Preferably without resorting to a loan
6. One that I can maintain relatively easily
7. Unique in appearance externally
8. Comfortable and attractive interior 
9. Engaging to drive
10. Manual transmission preferably, or an automatic with an engaging manual shift mode
11. Italian

The above criterias really limited likely candidates for the purchase, in particular the combination of 5 Star NCAP, cost restrictions, and a preference for a manual. 

Obviously, considering that Alfa Romeo and Fiat have left Malaysian shores, finding a new bella was not exactly going to be easy. The only Italian marques still around are those which are way out of my budget, the Ferraris and even the Maserattis! So, I had to widen my search somewhat. 

After some research, these were the candidates that I ended up shortlisting:

1.Alfa Romeo 159
2.W204 Mercedes C Class (2011 facelift)
3.Proton Inspira 1.8 MT
4.Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (2010 models onwards)

Having owned the 156, the 159 was a natural choice to be in the shortlist. However, while it was loved by critics and the public for its looks, it was criticized for its weight, and engine selection. 

I’ve fallen in love with the W204 Mercedes C Class ever since it was first released. With the wedge shaped design, and a clean and on the later models, truly beautiful interior, the C Class remains a head turner even now when it has been succeeded by newer models. 

The Proton Inspira 1.8 Manual may be a surprise to many. It's a Proton, sharing company with overseas marques, and it has the smallest engine displacement. It did however have a really good manual gearbox and a spirited and engaging drive. It was also immensely moddable. Not surprising that I also peeked at its souped up cousin, the Evo X with a 2.0 turbo charged engine and a very aggressive look. However, both models were only rated 3 star NCAP. On top of that, while the interior is competent enough, it really was not a special place to be in. 

So it really was a choice of either the 159 and a W204 C Class. After that first test drive however, it really was game over, the 159 was it. 

The Looks

If the story so far tells you anything, yes, the purchase of the 159 was driven, partly, if not decisively, by the heart. It's hard not to see why. First revealed in 2005, 16 years later, she still looks gorgeous. Many have said the 159 is the prettiest executive sedan of her generation, if not ever. Designed by Giugaro, the 159 pays homage to classic Alfa Romeo shapes and lines. 

The front is almost always commented on. The long sweeping bonnet, with the lines that eventually meets to hold the Alfa Romeo badge, and the characteristic triangle Alfa Romeo grill. On my 159, the hood vents supplement the look even further, giving it a more aggressive look. And yes, those vents are actually functional helping to circulate the air in the engine bay. The front also sports one of the most commented design elements of the 159, the 3 individual round headlamps that are nestled in a triangular nook on each side between the hood and the bumper. 

_{The strong visual presence of the 159 with its swooping bonnet lines, 6 headlamp cluster and the triangle shield grill}

The 159 also sports a strong shoulder line, that starts from the rear, continues prominently on the sides and ending flushed with the front wheel arch, a design detail that was prominent in Alfas of yore, in particular, the 1960s and 70s 105/115 series coupes like the Giulia GTC, and the 1750 GT Veloce.

The rear is well proportioned, some would say voluptuous! The rear light cluster is an evolution of the design of the 156, itself continuing the design cues first started with the 146 model of the 90s. The Alfa Romeo badge sits proudly at  the center and also acts as a boot release, pressing the badge would cause the boot to pop open. Lastly the boot lid subtly rises to create a mini spoiler of sorts. What does it do aerodynamically, I guess nothing really, but it’s a little easter egg gem to enjoy.

The Interior

The interior of the 159 also benefited from Giugaro’s designs. As with almost all other Alfas, the design truly focuses on the driver. The center console is equipped with the gauges for the Oil Temperature, Water Temperature and the Fuel Level. The gauges are angled towards the driver, making it easier for the driver to monitor instruments. The gauges all retain their Italian terms (Olio, Aqua, Benzena), an interesting quirk of the 159. 

In front of the driver lies the speedometer, multifunction display and tachometer, nestled in a beautifully designed instrument binnacle. The gauges themselves are framed with a silver surround, which unfortunately is just plastic, but looks good nonetheless (better if metal I admit). The central multifunctional display is not a color display, but is bathed in a red glow. Somehow, that red glow adds so much to the ambience of the interior, and it  is nicely matched with the other red accents that lights up at night. The red interior lighting does not only add to the ambiance, it also helps keep glare down and protects the drivers night vision. 

_sunroof

Driver headroom is however somewhat compromised in my 159, simply because she is fitted with a sunroof. It’s a nice accoutrement to have, and the sunroof gets its fair use on those balmy evening drives, but at the expense of some bumps when the car goes over bumps!

Between the front seats you have the standard armrest which lifts up and reveals a decent sized storage compartment. The storage compartment can also be used as a chiller for canned drinks. It will fit 2 of the older 330ml drink cans and is able to keep them cold by running the cold air of the cars air conditioning through a vent. However, these cans in Malaysia are now being replaced by newer, slimmer and taller cans which are too tall to allow the lid to close properly. So, in Malaysia at least, your drink selection will be fairly limited. 

_{The arm rest with the built in cooler box.}

_{The 12v plug which is in the same space as the bottle holder. You get power, or water.} 

However, all is not lost. Moving forward of that storage compartment is a covered area which houses a cup holder/ashtray and 12V DC socket. It is able to hold most 500ml water bottles just fine, and even the odd Starbucks tumbler. However, the 12V DC socket uses the same space as the cup holder (it pops out from its compartment into the area of the cup holder) so you really are limited to either using the cup holder or the 12C DC. Incidentally, this is the very 1st Alfa that I’ve owned with built in cup holders! A sign that Alfa really is trying to grow up!

_{The rear bench and the rear climate controls}

In the rear there’s ample space for 2 adults and a child, similar to other cars in its class. Apart from the center bench, the seating should comfortably seat most Malaysian adults quite well, though the slightly sloping roof line does rob some head space. The rear passengers get a set of air cond vents with their own climate control and a 12V DC socket as well. 

_{The fron dash with the aluminium panels on the center console and steering wheel, and the prominent use of red interior lighting.} 

The interior materials are nice, not top in class. The seats are nicely wrapped in Italian leather, black in my case though you can get the leather in tan, and rich deep red as well. There is a fair amount of plastic, but they generally feel ok to the touch, though some surfaces were once treated with the coating that mimics soft rubber, but which tends to degrade over time in our climate and turns all sticky. Lastly, some surfaces like the center console fascia and parts of the steering wheel are finished with brushed aluminum, which not only looks great, but feels great to the touch too!

_{The front passenger seat wrapped in leather, and the curved dashboard allowing more passenger leg room.}

The front passenger seat wrapped in leather, and the curved dashboard allowed more passenger leg room.

The interior packaging of the car, and the fact that it is a bigger car compared to its predecessor, the 156, means that it is rather spacious inside. Traditional design elements of Alfas are prevalent in the 159, such as the dashboard on the passenger side curving outwards which provides additional leg room to the front passenger, albeit, at the sacrifice of glove box space. 

The 159 is a comfortable place to be in. Materials are generally nice to touch, and the design is visually appealing. Build quality is certainly a step up from the 156 and the 147. The driver focused equipment cluster, those instrument binnacles, and the seat adjustments available, makes the driver’s seat of the 159 a comfortable and attractive place to be in. 

The Driving Experience

_{The drivers view. Note the OBD readout used for monitoring critical engine parameters.} 

The 159s in Malaysia came in 2 iterations. The majority were the 2.2 JTS petrol, mated to the notorious Selespeed gearbox. The other, but in much limited quantities, were the 3.2 V6 petrol. All 159s brought in by SDAC were sedans, in other markets you can also get the even more gorgeous 159 Sportwagon. 

The 2.2 JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) petrol engine sports early direct injected technology. This means that the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber, as opposed to the more traditional injection into the intake manifold. This allows the engine to provide more efficient burning/combustion of fuel, but as with all early generation GDI engines, it brings some additional maintenance challenges. The engine utilizes a timing chain as opposed to a timing belt which is a rather nice change. 

_{The 2.2 JTS engine}

The engine is free revving, with the red line starting at 6500 rpm. It has a rather muted engine note in the lower revs, but opens up quite a bit post 4500 rpm. The power lies in the upper band, so there’s definitely a need to keep her on the boil as they say, if you are trying to get somewhere rapidly. This does mean the 159 is not much of a dragster. For one, the car itself is quite heavy. Secondly, the engine really needs to be pushed higher up the revs to get the best amount of horsepower. Thirdly, it also exhibits a flat spot/hesitation down lower on the revs. Hesitation is an understatement, the engine hates being floored at low RPMs. Throttle control for smooth acceleration is a skill most 2.2 JTS owners have had to learn and accept. 

In traffic, the 159 with the Selespeed gearbox can be a handful. As I’ve said, the transmission is nowhere as smooth as a good slushbox. Even the slow 4 speed Aisin transmission on my 156 was smoother! In automatic, the Selespeed will shift gears automatically, but its hard to anticipate when that happens resulting in jerky shifts. So I do what almost any Selespeed owner do, use the manual shift almost exclusively!

In Manual mode, the shifts can be much smoother. The driver no longer has to worry about anticipating the shifts, and can focus on making the shift as smooth as possible by ‘blipping’ the throttle, lifting off the accelerator slightly as the shift occurs. 

In city traffic, in jams and start stop traffic, the manual shift is an involved process, as the driver really does not have a clutch lever to help him crawl or control the acceleration. Hence why the 159 can be a bit of a handful in such traffic conditions. 

_{Where she s happest.. out in the backroads with other bellas!}

_{Out on another weekend excursion}

When the road opens up however, and you’re allowed to open up the throttles, the drive is extremely rewarding. The steering is quite precise, and quick, allowing corners to be attacked with gusto. My 159s suspension is pretty much stock, and therefore she has a softer, comfort biased ride, but even then the car provides a lot of confidence on the twisties. 

That ‘involved’ process of controlling the manual shifts, the blipping of the throttle etc? Absolutely joy when you’re out on the open road. There’s a real pleasure in getting her through her paces, and she really wants to be pushed. The harder you push, the more she rewards you..Purists will say that the feeling is inferior to that of a truly manual car, and in some ways, that’s true, you have no clutch to play with, but getting the whole sequence right  brings a lot of joy and satisfaction. 

_{The Autodelta Supercharger kit and associated piping.} 

And then we have the supercharger. In 2008, Autodelta UK released their J4 2.2C Supercharged version of the 159 2.2 JTS. The same supercharged setup was also made available to 159 2.2 JTS owners as a bolt on kit. This was a follow up on the work that they’ve done for the 2.2 and 3.2 petrol variants of the Brera coupe. With over a year and a half of development work, the Autodelta kit included a Rotrex C30-74 Supercharger, custom aluminum manifolds, an electronic limited slip differential, and most importantly, a custom map for the ECU. The result, at least, at the time of installation and when new, was an increase of about 60 horsepower, really giving the 159 a performance boost. Now I can’t claim I’ve ever checked these figures out, and I would expect the engine to lose some ponies, 10 years on. However, the Supercharger does add a bit of drama when revving, and she’s rapid enough to hold her own against other sports sedans of her generation. 

_{In case of any doubts….}

The Alfa 159 isn’t the quietest car around. Road noise intrudes into the cabin, and there's a fair amount of wind noise as well, though its never overwhelming. 

User Experience

Keys to freedom…

I have done about 40,000 kms on the 159 in the 4 years I’ve owned her. While the mileage may appear low, she does share commuting and travel duties  with my other rides. However, you can be sure that she gets driven quite hard. 
Maintenance wise, the major maintenance items includes:

• replacement of the timing chain at 150k kms
• replacement of intake and exhaust solenoid valves at 180k kms
• coolant water bottle change due to brittle plastic
• servicing of the Selespeed pump, actuators
• replacement of drive shaft at 150k kms
• replacement and reflash of ECU due to water ingress

Being a GM derived engine block, the 2.2 JTS engine shares quite a number of parts with other GM makes. Solenoid valves from GM for example are plug and play with the 2.2 JTS engine. Being GM parts, they are also easier and cheaper to source. 

_{The Number One rule of Alfa Ownership – DO NOT SKIMP ON MAINTENANCE}

Servicing intervals include oil change at 10k km intervals (using fully synthetic oils). Each engine oil change would also require a clean out of the oil catch tank. The supercharger also requires an oil change at every 40k kms, and can be done at the local Rotrex dealer. 

To enhance braking, I’ve upgraded the front calipers and discs to accommodate the larger 330mm discs and 4 pot calipers of the Ti specced 159s. 

Pros and Cons

Pros of my car

• Stunning looks – easily one of the best looking executive sedans in the past 10 years
• Rewarding drive when theres space for her to stretch her legs
• Seats 5 comfortably, seats 4 very comfortably
• Large boot
• Attractive, functional and well put together interior
• Comfortable ride

Cons

• Selespeed – requires care and attention in maintenance, a handful in traffic and on inclines
• Suffers from too many plastic engine parts which can go brittle and break
• Not the quietest of cabins
• Gearing can be relatively short
• Local parts availability is not the best hence to source parts from overseas
• Service/repair network is okay for Klang Valley and major towns, tho difficult in other parts of Malaysia

Total Score: 4

Performance: 4

Quality & Features: 4

Space: 5

Ride comfort: 4

Fuel Economy: 2

Price & cost: This is really dependent on the seller and buyer. These cars now are too old for financing, and due to a lack of local dealers, will be seeked out by enthusiasts. 

Summary:

A common explanation of the devotion Italian car owners have to their bellas is that the owners develop a relationship with their cars, the ups and downs of the ownership experience being similar with what happens with personal relationships. 

The 159 2.2 JTS is not without its foibles, far from it. It can be frustrating to own and maintain, and will certainly make an owner more religious, in hoping God would bestow his blessings so that one does not get stranded somewhere. 

However, the 159 also gives back to the driver in spades. It's cheap to own due to depreciation, so you get a lot of car for the money. It is both comfortable and fun to drive when there is an open road, so much so that it's quite common for Alfistis to take the long but jammed free way home in the evenings so that they can enjoy their bellas more. 

The 159 forces an owner to really know his Bella, understand her foibles, and learn how to mitigate those shortcomings. This also means a strong community of owners, all sharing their experience on how to get the best out of the bella. 

Lastly, the 159 is truly a beautiful car. She looks equally at home at a valet parking spot in front of a hotel (though the valet might have some difficulty parking her!), at the beach for a picnic, or a trendy nightspot. She’s beautiful in that others would take notice, but she does not have the air of snobbery that sometimes comes with European makes. I’ve had the pleasure of having policemen stop me while driving her just because they wanted to know what she is, and to compliment her looks. And she certainly gets quite a bit of wave ons at the roadblocks during the MCO!! So in many ways, she really is like having a Bella in your arms.   

Writers Note : Some photos were taken by Jason Gan. 

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