Alfa 147 GTA

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Discussion

Darren390

Original Poster:

478 posts

206 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Here's a few pics of my recently acquired 147 GTA. I'd always had a soft spot for these and considered one when I bought my Mk1 Focus RS. So after selling my 2013 Fiesta ST, and about 8 years after originally looking, I took the plunge and started looking around 2 months ago. Went to look at a couple of red one's, but neither were the right one for me. Then I heard of a Pearl White Bianco Nuvola one which hadnt yet been advertised. So I contacted the owner, arranged a viewing and I collected her last Wednesday. 62,000 miles, full Alfa/independent history and a big file of paperwork for everything done down to a side light bulb! It then went to Autoluso last week for a cambelt and service, and I collected her earlier today.

Truly beautiful car in the flesh and the colour is fantastic. Although not as fantastic as the sound from the 3.2 Busso V6! Managed to give her a bit of a clean and polish, so here's a few pics.










broster

489 posts

176 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Stunning looking car, what's the performance figures on these?

MattyB_

2,008 posts

256 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Nice!

I had one, just looked like that smile Everyone commented on the colour of it, but back then it wasn't quite as common as it is now.

Be warned, however! Getting those repainted can be expensive if you have any blemishes! Oh and:

1. Get a diff (Q2 or Quaife)
2. Sort the suspension - they have a habit of bottoming out (I highly recommend KW V2's)

Best car I ever owned.

carinaman

21,211 posts

171 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Very nice! smile

JFReturns

3,693 posts

170 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Absolutely gorgeous. That colour seems rare, I've never seen one.

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Great cars, I loved mine.

Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

221 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Looks amazing. Great buy!

I'd have loved to have owned a GTA I would worry about the potential bills though which put me off.

I had a 146Ti many moons ago and the amount of electrical gremlins was laughable.

clowesy

293 posts

120 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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I loved my 3 years of GTA ownership. A few tips echoing what others have said.

1. Get a quaife diff, cheaper than the Q2 nowadays, makes a huge difference and much more reliable. My car had a full service history and had two gearbox rebuilds in its life due to the standard diff going pop.

2. If not already go for 330mm front brakes with braided hoses and good fluid. Much better pedal feel abd no more warped discs.

3. Colivovers and a rear ARB. Standard suspension is pants unfortunately. Much nicer ride on uprated suspension and with a rear ARB and the front left alone you get much less understeer and lovely lift of overseer.

4. Buy some heat reflective material and paste the ecu in it and get some of the older CF2 catless manifolds. It gets very hot under that bonet and the ecu is right above one of the exhaust manifolds, mine went pop and cost me 1400 quid to replace. CF2 manifolds really cut the temperatures down and give a healthy boost in power.

They are glorious cars and my ownership was a real rollercoaster. It was the longest I've ever owned a car and for good reason.

ST150HB

446 posts

148 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Stunning car, enjoy it!

Darren390

Original Poster:

478 posts

206 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Thanks for the replies guys. It already has a Q2 fitted, and came from the factory with the 330's. The ECU was replaced 18 months ago for a new one by an Alfa main dealer so should be OK for a few years yet!

The pictures dont bring out the pearlescent effect, I can see why it was so expensive as an option.

Been looking at B&Bs around Lake Garda, fancy a road trip in the GTA, and where better to go!

Edited by Darren390 on Sunday 14th December 17:51

clowesy

293 posts

120 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Darren390 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. It already has a Q2 fitted, and came from the factory with the 330's. The ECU was replaced 18 months ago for a new one by an Alfa main dealer so should be OK for a few years yet!
Great stuff. You did well to find one with both Q2 and 330's AND in Nuvola Bianco. I would seriously recommend taking some measures to safe guard the ECU if you're keeping her long term; chiefly the manifolds. The're seems to be one particular capacitor which migrates front the board due to the solder drying out and causes the failure. You'll get an 'Imobiliser Failure' warning and the throttle body will wildly flap open and closed. I had mine replaced in October 13 and Bosch discontinued production in August 13, I had a hell of a job finding one and Mangoletsi managed to source me one of the last remaining units. As I said, it cost £1400 including VAT and I believe they occasionally have refurbished ones available on an exchange basis at £1100.

Just some friendly advise as I came across several owners who had the same issue during my ownership.

ArsE92

21,007 posts

186 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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clowesy said:
Darren390 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. It already has a Q2 fitted, and came from the factory with the 330's. The ECU was replaced 18 months ago for a new one by an Alfa main dealer so should be OK for a few years yet!
Great stuff. You did well to find one with both Q2 and 330's AND in Nuvola Bianco. I would seriously recommend taking some measures to safe guard the ECU if you're keeping her long term; chiefly the manifolds. The're seems to be one particular capacitor which migrates front the board due to the solder drying out and causes the failure. You'll get an 'Imobiliser Failure' warning and the throttle body will wildly flap open and closed. I had mine replaced in October 13 and Bosch discontinued production in August 13, I had a hell of a job finding one and Mangoletsi managed to source me one of the last remaining units. As I said, it cost £1400 including VAT and I believe they occasionally have refurbished ones available on an exchange basis at £1100.

Just some friendly advise as I came across several owners who had the same issue during my ownership.
Are you suggesting Mangoletsi actually helped a customer?!

Lovely car OP. Still miss my Rosso GTA.

43034

2,963 posts

167 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Ace!!

Absolutely love my 156 GTA. That engine really is something and great to look at when the bonnets up (yeah yeah!!).

Also, the noise driving

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Wow...that is stunning. Love the colour!

Pommygranite

14,229 posts

215 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Stunning in white.

If you can afford put a set of 19'' spoked alloys from the Alfa GT (google Alfa 147 19" alloys alfa gt) on it as they look phenomenal and suit the car so well.

magpie21

484 posts

187 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Love it.
I had one and was one of the best cars I've owned but as a third car it wasn't getting used so I sold it. I had KW V3's on mine and it was one of the best handling cars I've owned. If you are going to lower it look into getting a metal undertray as the exhaust does hang quite low and can have a tendancy to bottom out. As has been said I really like them on 19's, mine had the Blackline alloys off an Alfa GT and really set it off imho.


BRMMA

1,845 posts

171 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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What a stunning car, good work smile

ArsE92

21,007 posts

186 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Pommygranite said:
Stunning in white.

If you can afford put a set of 19'' spoked alloys from the Alfa GT (google Alfa 147 19" alloys alfa gt) on it as they look phenomenal and suit the car so well.
Agreed. They are 18" though. thumbup



Edited by ArsE92 on Monday 15th December 12:05

beautifulbusso

706 posts

164 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Lovely GTA op. I've owned mine for over 3 years now and not looked back once.

As the others said, the best modifications you can make are ARBs, Coilovers (KW's) and a diff (Q2 or Quaife)

Here is mine, far from standard but still just as rare and special biggrin


jiggawhat2k

106 posts

117 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Been hankering after one of these for years, prices have reached reasonable levels too. White looks amazing, rare too, great find. Enjoy!