CIAO BELLA Classy motor that Jeremy Clarkson said ‘feels like no other’ can be yours for less than £2,000
A stylish motor that Jeremy Clarkson once said "drives and feels like no other car in its class" can be picked up second-hand at a bargain price.
The stunning Alfa Romeo 159, which has gained a cult following thanks to its trademark style and Italian swagger, once cost nearly £30,000 at the very top end - but can now be bought for under £2,000
The 159 was built betwen 2004 and 2011 with a four-door saloon and five-door estate variants available - and could be picked up with an engine as powerful as a 3.2-litre JTS V6.
Indeed, that iteration could crack 0-62mph in seven seconds, and is available in four-wheel drive only.
Clarkson, ever the fan of Alfa Romeos cars, reviewed one in 2006 for The Times and compared it favourably to its rivals - especially when it came to its styling.
He wrote: "It is exactly one million times better looking than a BMW 3-series."And with those triple headlamps, and perfect proportions, at least half a million times better looking than any rivals from Audi, Mercedes or Jaguar.
"Inside, it's even better; the driving position is spot on, the dials look like they've come from a Swiss watch and the quality of the leather, especially if you have it in red, gives the impression that it costs Rolls-Royce money."
But the Top Gear legend's love for the 159 went skin-deep too, as he praised the engine - here, he got behind the wheel of a 2.2-litre petrol version - and clearly enjoyed its sporty nature.
He wrote: "The 2.2 litre engine is a peach that just begs to be taken outside and given a damn good thrashing."The handling is also sweet and yet the ride isn't even slightly uncomfortable.
"Which means that the 159 drives and feels like no other car in its class."If you have even the faintest trace of petrol in your veins, if you are even on nodding terms with the concept of simple, good engineering, you should drive this car.
"Because it doesn't matter what you have now, you'll be smitten. I was.
"This is one of those cars that's demonstrably and appreciably better than any other mid-range four-door family saloon."
For petrolheads interested in buying a unique saloon with classy looks, the 159 can be found for under £2,000.
Indeed, we found an example on CarCliq for just £1,499.
Better yet, this 2007 159 boasts just 51,223 miles on the clock, and boasts a manual gearbox with five doors.This comes as Alfa Romeo were recently forced to change the name of their newest motor - after pressure from the Italian government.
And an Alfa Romeo sports car that appeared in an episode of a BBC comedy recently went up for auction at a reasonable price.
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