Urby that's interesting, I agree the 159 is heavy, they appear to have taken a leaf from the Audi handling book, it certainly isn't like the delicate handling I'd want from an Alfa, which my 164 V6 managed even though it was a bigger car.
However unlike the 164 the 159 has sailed past 125k miles and feels ready for the same again, the build quality is in a different league to any Alfa I've owned or used. It's no ball of fire but it's purely functional transport for me and I'd have it over any peers. not convinced by Diseaseal economy either, I get about 34 mpg but that reflects the fact the turbo is permanently lit on my commute!
I said "interesting" above because it was the GT 3.2 that drove me to buying a 3200, I was dead set on one but really disappointed with the ones I drove, sluggish (for the size of engine) horrendously thirsty (the S4 Cab I had afterwards got comfortably over 20 mpg and that had a 4.2 V8!!) and the interior disappointed me a bit too - the handling was pretty uninspiring too - at the time we were talking £15k minimum and the 3200 was an easy alternative, the depreciation of the Alfa easily outwieghed the running costs of the Maser. Now we're talking significantly less ££ to get in to a GT 3.2 I'd really like to try another, they do look fantastic.
Edit to say: I reckon a 147 GTA would tick the boxes for me, apart from five seats!!
