Alfa 147 120 - How bad?
Discussion
Just had a look at Honest John and has almost every single problem known to man..... so yes off putting.
Think the key is to study the service history and recent receipts etc. If the car has been looked after they are fine. It's when people scrimp on maintenance that the problems occur.
Recent belt a bonus but look for suspension work also as they go through bushes and wishbones quite regularly. Knocks and bangs over speed bumps being the giveaway.
I found the 1.6 a little gutless (Admittedly in a garage loan car so maybe past it's best!) and you must check the oil levels regularly on Twin Sparks as they like a drink.
Usual checks on the electrics, air con, boot release, windows etc etc.
I think they are great cars, good fun like an Alfa should be and a good looker as well.
Just do your homework really.
Think the key is to study the service history and recent receipts etc. If the car has been looked after they are fine. It's when people scrimp on maintenance that the problems occur.
Recent belt a bonus but look for suspension work also as they go through bushes and wishbones quite regularly. Knocks and bangs over speed bumps being the giveaway.
I found the 1.6 a little gutless (Admittedly in a garage loan car so maybe past it's best!) and you must check the oil levels regularly on Twin Sparks as they like a drink.
Usual checks on the electrics, air con, boot release, windows etc etc.
I think they are great cars, good fun like an Alfa should be and a good looker as well.
Just do your homework really.
This is the 147/GT/156 generation and they share a lot in common. (I have had 3 156's and 2 GT's)
My experience has been that they are solid little cars but do have their foibles.
Electrics - Only really the airbag light here, there is a yellow cable under the seat. Often people pull it by mistake when moving the seat. On pre 2002 cars this normally meant a trip to the specialist to reset, later cars would auto reset (or certainly on the 156's)
Engines - If you keep the oil topped up and change the cambelt, no concerns.
Suspension - The weakest element of the generation, wishbones and bushes do wear but are relatively cheap to replace (if you want to avoid the squeeks, although it takes alot for them to fail at MOT). Always use TRW or Alfa parts, 98% of the others are made of butter.
That's about it really, I have had my GT for 4 years now when I bought it at 65k, it has touch wood needed very little. Buy the best you can fine, service history and a caring hand really does make the difference.
My experience has been that they are solid little cars but do have their foibles.
Electrics - Only really the airbag light here, there is a yellow cable under the seat. Often people pull it by mistake when moving the seat. On pre 2002 cars this normally meant a trip to the specialist to reset, later cars would auto reset (or certainly on the 156's)
Engines - If you keep the oil topped up and change the cambelt, no concerns.
Suspension - The weakest element of the generation, wishbones and bushes do wear but are relatively cheap to replace (if you want to avoid the squeeks, although it takes alot for them to fail at MOT). Always use TRW or Alfa parts, 98% of the others are made of butter.
That's about it really, I have had my GT for 4 years now when I bought it at 65k, it has touch wood needed very little. Buy the best you can fine, service history and a caring hand really does make the difference.
We have had 3 x alfa 147s.
2 x 2.0 litre and 1 x 1.6.
I would take the 2.0 every time. The 1.6 struggles at motorway speeds.
All of ours have been Lusso spec and that is worth going for if you can find one.
We sold our 1.6 147 last week (a Giulietta is replacing it) so I had reason to look back at the costs over the last 18 months. Other than 2 tyres a new (second hand) door handle the only other 2 bills were (1) 360 for wishbones and assorted suspension bits. We have had this on every 147 we have had so try and find one with the work done, and (2) new coil pack and plugs.
We've never found 147s to be as unreliable as people make out but we may have been lucky.
2 x 2.0 litre and 1 x 1.6.
I would take the 2.0 every time. The 1.6 struggles at motorway speeds.
All of ours have been Lusso spec and that is worth going for if you can find one.
We sold our 1.6 147 last week (a Giulietta is replacing it) so I had reason to look back at the costs over the last 18 months. Other than 2 tyres a new (second hand) door handle the only other 2 bills were (1) 360 for wishbones and assorted suspension bits. We have had this on every 147 we have had so try and find one with the work done, and (2) new coil pack and plugs.
We've never found 147s to be as unreliable as people make out but we may have been lucky.
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