Shed of the Week: Alfa Romeo 147 JTDM

Shed fancies a lusty Italian; turns up an old smoker

A dealer car this week, which is unusual, and an Italian one, which is almost as unusual these days. Could the recent absence of Italian motors from our sub-£1K selection be indicating some weird trend, like they've all become scrappers or, more exotically, they're all being hoarded? Hmm.

Anyway, here's one that hasn't and isn't, an Alfa 147 JTDM. Now, for many, 'Italian' and 'diesel' go together like coal and custard, which reminds Shed of a role-playing evening with Mrs Shed that went horribly wrong.

But don't go jumping to the wrong conclusion (as Shed did on that fateful night). Fiat's MultiJet unit has gained plenty of admirers over the years - they were an early adopter of the common-rail principle, remember - and Alfa's JTDM lump also has plenty going for it.

Power, to start with. As anyone who has owned or driven (say) a Golf GTI diesel, the thick end of 150hp is a very handy real world output in a car this size. You will find yourself making very satisfactory progress, attracting little attention in the process, simply by rolling along on the big wave of torquemada. There's a chap local to Shed who has an Ibiza diesel which looks absolutely standard bar a large exhaust. Clearly it isn't, though, as it launches up the road while revving at a surprisingly languid rate. Most impressive it is.

Anyway, back to the 147. Contemporary road tests liked this car, praising its sweet steering and stylish looks. Those looks have held up pretty well. There again, they should have done because as Sheds go this facelifted 2006 car is refreshingly young.

What is impressive about this specimen is how well it seems to be wearing its mileage. Photographs never tell the whole story, as we know, but the body looks bright and straight and the leather remarkably crisp and uncreased. These later 147s did see a significant uplift in build quality as Alfa made a desperate effort to lure Golf buyers into its web. Obviously that didn't really work, but the good thing is that a canny used buyer can take advantage of the relative soundness of the 147 proposition and get themselves a very decent car for the money.

There are 147 issues, obviously, but not 147 of them. Far from it. That diesel is as strong as anything from Germany, and just demands the usual attention to belts and pumps. Electrics are Bosch CAN-bus and thus relatively simple. Suspension parts are a bit frangible, and you'd want to check the history to see whether the dual-mass flywheel has been changed - an expensive job - but generally speaking there should be no cause for surprise at this car's sterling service so far.

In this particular case you even get a five-character reg plate for your trouble. Oddly, according to the MoT history site anyway, that reg was attached to an '11-plate Giulietta a couple of weeks ago. It would be interesting to see how negotiations between vendor and any interested party might proceed. Insert your favourite conspiracy theory here.

These fast diesel 147s make excellent mile-munchers and could fit into many a life as long as you can put up with a ride that's as hard as a politician's heart, a middling crash protection rating and the fact that there's not much room in the back for either passengers or cargo. Uniquely, Mrs Shed falls into both those categories. You certainly couldn't get two Mrs Sheds on the back seat. Mind you, she is a wide lass with a colossal set of bingo wings. She can wear her bra backwards and it still fits.

Here's the ad.

Red, 2 owners, 5 seats, Alfa Romeo 147 JTDM TI 1.9 Litre SE 3 Door, 6 Speed Manual, 06/06, One Former Keeper, 189000 Miles, Documented Service History, 189000 Miles, Cambelt Replaced, 5 Services, MOT June 2016, No Advisories, 2 Keys, Full Book Pack, Alfa Red/ Full Black Leather Interior, Dual Zone Climate Control, Air Conditioning, Radio CD, Cruise Control, Electric Windows, Heated Electric Door Mirrors, Audio Steering Controls, Centre Arm Rest, 17” Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels, Colour Coded Bumpers And Mirrors, Private Plate Included In Sale, Good MPG, Long MOT, Cheap Economical Diesel Hatch, PX Bargain To Clear!!!, £950 p/x to clear

1.9 JTDM 16v TI 3dr

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r11co

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