Alfa 147 JTD Turismo Am I mad?

[oldmanbm]

Well we always kept a third car in use just as a spare and jolly useful it has been too. Our last 'third' vehicles have been a Hyundai Lantra, an Audi a4 Tdi and latterly a Renault Laguna estate that I bought 5 years ago for £400 from a neighbour. The Guna has just over 70,000 miles but I have been told it will take lots of £££ to get through the next MOT. Roll on to work where a colleague casually mentioned that his sister's new Mini had arrived and she needed to sell her Alfa 147 JTD. 1 owner from new FSH and long MOT. Just turned 90,000 miles and in A1 condition. It was registered in 2005. I went to look at it and was most impressed. Tight as a drum and with the 16v 150 bhp engine is very sprightly. Wanted £1500 but range me last night to offer at £1250. I think I can get it for £1000 if I wave cash in front of her. The guna is still MOT (to Jan) so I reckon its its till worth £2-300 to someone. Never had an Alfa and it is said you are not a true petrolhead unless you have one. Is an old Alfa JTD 16v a money trap waiting to happen? Or do I go to see a dreary Passat that the garage says is ideal? Need to make my mind up quick!

[Stuart70]

Possible money pit, better than a Passat. For a grand ; worth a punt?! 😄😃

[macdeb]

Sounds an absolute bargain!
We've had our 147JTD lusso from new [53] and will be very sad to see it go when the day comes. BEST car we've evr had bar none.

[oldmanbm]

Thanks guys! Went again to see it this morning and how it started from cold. No problem. Tyres all the same and Goodyear and no electrical issues that I can see. She says it was between a Mito and a Mini but she got a sweet finance deal on the Mini (Cooper D) and that swung it. She says the car has given no with regular servicing. She has stuck it on Gumtree for £1495 and has had a couple of callers. Will see on Monday what has happened.

[prophead]

Lovely car, I had a 147 TS and then a 156 JTD which are essentially the same car mechanically (apart from the engine!). You cannot go wrong with the JTD lump, its proven itself to be a strong engine that can take big miles. They respond well to a cheeky little remap and EGR delete. One problem I had with the JTD, it wouldn't start at all one day took a bit of rummaging but traced it to a fuel pump relay. It was the same as the glow plug relay so I swapped them and drove on for the rest of my tenure with the vehicle!

Other usual bits are the front upper and lower wishbones wearing out (especially with the heavier diesel engine) Its a viable job to do yourself if you fancy and parts are cheap.

Cracking car for the money mind! and I believe you can retrofit cruise control to the 147's