147

[dinkel]

I'm considering a 147 to follow up the Golf. Anyone of you PHers have any experience with these wheels? I'm 1.86 metres . . .

[Mon Ami Mate]

Drop into the Alfa forum - you'll find plenty of bouquets and brickbats...

[lotuslad]

So you're considering changing from golf to snooker then?

BTW don't get the Selespeed

>> Edited by lotuslad on Tuesday 1st June 09:36

[Barbalatte]

Yep, I agree. DO NOT get the Selespeed!
It's terrible.
The "Manual" part is OK but the "Auto" part is Sh*thouse!

[Roadrunner]

I changed a 147 GTA for an R32 Golf. The R32 is better in every way - far smoother tranmission under power, better handling, more solid build quality, more tuning potential. No brainer for me.

[ettore]

Had 147`s for nearly three years now and have not had one problem.

Much nicer than a golf IMHO!

[wombat rick]

I've had 3 Alfas and I've never once thought about swapping one for a VW.

[Roadrunner]

I've had a couple of Alfa's now but I actually wanted a car that drives properly at speed.

[pdV6]

Roadrunner said:

I've had a couple of Alfa's now but I actually wanted a car that drives properly at speed.

Ah, should have changed the number that goes in front of "GTA" then, or else deleted the number and changed the last letter from "A" to "V"!

[Hughesie2]

Hmmm,
i've a 147 Sele and its great, OK i'm having a few problems with the clutch, but thats what i got the warranty for (get one, your going to need it i assure you) its wicked to drive (17" with sport set up) tramlines a bit on accelaration but is fairly well behaved apart from that, holds the road well (it actually feels better gripped than the SLK 320)

Mines Gabbiano blue and is here


Edited to add that at 1.86 you'll be fine, i'm 183 and have at least 3/4 inches above me ed !

>> Edited by Hughesie2 on Tuesday 1st June 17:19

[dinkel]

Hughesie2 said:

Hmmm, i've a 147 Sele and its great, ( . . . ) Edited to add that at 1.86 you'll be fine, i'm 183 and have at least 3/4 inches above me ed ! >> Edited by Hughesie2 on Tuesday 1st June 17:19

So a 156 has less headroom to a 147? I touch the roof . . . ok, I do use hair gell . . .

[wombat rick]

dinkel said:

So a 156 has less headroom to a 147? I touch the roof . . . ok, I do use hair gell . . .

Might be worth checking if the optional sports seats give more or less headroom, and avoid a car with a sunroof.
Failing that, get a Spider....

[dinkel]

Thanx for the comments. No GTA for me. Fourpot 1.8 or 2.0, whats the diff? And, apart from style, how do they compare to a Leon? Or is this a pretty stupid question?

I was not impressed with a friends Selespeed 156 2.0 in 1999. But I did like a sporty Leon 1.8 125 hp . . .

147 seems a bit more nervous and that's what I like best in a car. 156 was plain lazy and executive like . . . sorry.

[wombat rick]

You can't get the 1.8 in the 147. It's 1.6 and 2.0 Twin Sparks, 1.9 8 and 16 valve JTD and 3.2 V6.
The 2.0 has a bit more oomph and is smoother as it has balancer shafts, which the smaller Twin Sparks don't.
The 147 is based on the 156 so they drive very similar, and neither respond very well on UK roads to the optional (heavy) 17" wheels even though they look very good. The 156 has the option of firmer, sportier suspension (Veloce) which the 147 doesn't - they are all the same.
Since mid-2002 2.0 156's have the new 165bhp JTS engine. 147's still use the older 150bhp Twin Spark which although not as powerful is a more tuneful and characterful engine. The JTS engine will come into the 147.... eventually.
Sounds like you need to test drive them and see what you think. If you prefered a Leon over a 156, you might be best looking at those and Golfs.

[dinkel]

wombat rick said:

( . . . ) Sounds like you need to test drive them and see what you think. If you prefered a Leon over a 156, you might be best looking at those and Golfs.

I'm driving a Golf right now . . . I guess the 156 could not have been a Veloce. The guy lost his job and drives a Hyundai . . . like my dad does, for over 20 years. I testdrive a 2.0. Thanx