Alfa 147 GTA Q2

[S6 ROR]

Hi, my son is looking at buying an Alfa 147 GTA. The car in question looks superb and has a very full and detailed service history, so hopefully it will be ok. However, I have never had any dealing with Alfa`s in the past and would appreciate any tips/advice on any potential issues that these cars may have, in particuular the V6, and is there anything that needs to be checked on specifically when looking around the car.
Appreciate any comments.

[1878]

Have you seen these threads?

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Also sign up at the http://www.alfaowner.com forum

- Steve

[coetzeeh]

S6 ROR said:

Hi, my son is looking at buying an Alfa 147 GTA. The car in question looks superb and has a very full and detailed service history, so hopefully it will be ok. However, I have never had any dealing with Alfa`s in the past and would appreciate any tips/advice on any potential issues that these cars may have, in particuular the V6, and is there anything that needs to be checked on specifically when looking around the car.
Appreciate any comments.

Nigel, give Jamie Porter in Royston a call - he is a very well known AR specialist and amongst others, owns a GTA too. It may be worth asking him to have a look as he is not too far (40 miles?) from you. You can call Jamie (Alfaworkshop) on 01763 245481.

Henk
ps - have you had the Tiv's out lately?

[coetzeeh]

I should have added, the V6 engines are long lasting, 200k miles without a sweat.

The belts do need replacing every 60k/5years.

[S6 ROR]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Steve, some excellent threads there and extremely informative, thank you.

Henk, yes had the Sag out today for the first time since November, came back with a massive grin, as you do

[OperationAlfa]

Your son will have a similar grin if he get's the GTA

I'm just about to get my second on Sunday

[14-7]

coetzeeh said:

[Nigel, give Jamie Porter in Royston a call - he is a very well known AR specialist and amongst others, owns a GTA too.

I thought Jamie sold his black GTA years ago? Or has he bought another since?

[OperationAlfa]

He had a red one recently.

[Alfafan]

Did he get one. I had a 156 GTA about 2 years ago, seriously fast, build quality was ok but not as good as the later model that it replaced, the biggest killer for me was the cost of fuel £70 to travel about 250 miles is quite alot and I couldn't really justify it for carting the kids around in, I think fuel is even more now than it was then.

Things to check, cambelt every 4 years or 60k miles, check the diff is Q2 they all seem to explode on the 147 GTA, check oil level, start from cold and make sure the engine is not knocking, check it gets up to temp, should be 90C on the gauge and the fans will run constantly. Check rad, they go every few years probably due to the huge amount of heat being chucked out, listen for ARB knocking on rough roads, listen for suspension creaks, wishbones upper and lower wear, check for inside tyre wear on the fronts. Rust should not be an issue on the 156 GTA had a small issue on the front wings and roof.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

I had a 147 GTA with a Q2. A great car.

The cambelt should be done every 3 years or 36k miles. The manual recommends 5 years or 60k miles which is far too long. Mine went at 50k miles and a few others have at similar intervals on www.alfaowner.com Cost to change is around £700 so factor that in when purchasing. The water pump should have been changed for the GTV version with a metal impellor too - the GTA's is plastic and doesn't last as long.

The Q2 is definitely worth it, but is only £500 or so fitted if it doesn't have one.

330mm brakes are preferred (the early cars had smaller brakes).

The standard exhausts rust very, very quicly, so it is worth seeking out a car with a stainless system. A decent stainless cat back system is around £500 upwards.

That's all I can think of for now - feel free to drop me a PM with any questions you have.

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Wednesday 19th January 16:19

[combine]

Have tried to find a few reviews of the 147 GTA , most owners say they are great in a straight line but not great at cornering due to weight of v6 on front wheels. Is this a problem , and what is a Q2 ?

[RicksAlfas]

combine said:

what is a Q2 ?

In this context it's Alfa's Torsen mechanical LSD which is a popular aftermarket fitment.
http://www.ebspares.co.uk/news77.htm

[velocemitch]

combine said:

Have tried to find a few reviews of the 147 GTA , most owners say they are great in a straight line but not great at cornering due to weight of v6 on front wheels. Is this a problem , and what is a Q2 ?

Funny that I've not heard many owners say GTA's don't handle, well not owners anyway lots of people who have read about them say this.

I would accept they have a problem resolving undulating roads though, the damping in a bit suspect, get one on a smooth road and they grip like a leach even without a Q2. Having played on a circuit with a Q2 JTDm I can vouch for how much improvement there is over a standard diff, very entertaining.

[combine]

velocemitch said:

combine said:

Have tried to find a few reviews of the 147 GTA , most owners say they are great in a straight line but not great at cornering due to weight of v6 on front wheels. Is this a problem , and what is a Q2 ?

Funny that I've not heard many owners say GTA's don't handle, well not owners anyway lots of people who have read about them say this.

I would accept they have a problem resolving undulating roads though, the damping in a bit suspect, get one on a smooth road and they grip like a leach even without a Q2. Having played on a circuit with a Q2 JTDm I can vouch for how much improvement there is over a standard diff, very entertaining.

'slightly nose heavy ' - Evo ' the knowledge ' , and owners reviews on
Parkers guide , they all love the GTA but are aware of its handling at cornering as far as it reads. What other reviews are there of the 147 GTA as can't find many .

Edited by combine on Thursday 20th January 22:14

[Ecurie Ecosse]

You should try one - traction with the Q2 is phenomenal.

Some reviews:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/3175...


http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/3417...

[OperationAlfa]

Aye, the Q2 is superb.

Transforms the car totally.

[combine]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

You should try one - traction with the Q2 is phenomenal.

Some reviews:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/3175...


http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/3417...

Thanks for that , will read these with interest .Many years ago , 1978 actually, I had the pleasure of driving and riding in an Alfasud ti at uni , an utterly brilliant car , but they are now thin on the ground so may have to get a more recent model .

[Killer2005]

I shouldn't be considering one but I have to ask, how much more are running costs for a GTA over a normal 147? Obviously it would drink a tad more but does servicing and what not cost that much more?

[pano amo]

As a previous owner of a 147 GTA, it was a very flawed experience. Performance and sound was superb but let down by very poor suspension. The damping was terrible and if you venture off motorways and flat a roads, its goes very wrong. It simpy cannot deal with uneven roads and corners. I also had a 156 gta which was far more composed, simply a better car in the handling department. But then again, the 156 even in basic form was always a good handler.
The Q2 is definitely recommended. It makes a difference but to say it totally transforms the car is not true. This is a very nose-heavy car that is also fwd. A trick diff is not going to turn into into anything special. The q2 simply pushes out the limits at which traction is lost. The stock diff is likely to go at some stage anyway so for that reason alone, a q2 is worth it.

Overall, I enjoyed my ownership experience. In the end, I sold it when I moved to a more rural location. I just couldnt enjoy it on the lesser roads. Think of sweeping, slick smooth mountain roads in Italy. Thats what this car was designed on and designed for. Alfa owners do tend to keep those rose-tinted glasses glued on sometimes, especially with their beloved q2. Its good but its not great.

[pano amo]

Killer2005 said:

I shouldn't be considering one but I have to ask, how much more are running costs for a GTA over a normal 147? Obviously it would drink a tad more but does servicing and what not cost that much more?

I've had 4 v6 models. All Alfas cost money to run. The juice and insurance will be more and of course your road tax. Depending on the mileage, it may have a big service coming up. If so, you wont see much change out of £1000 because they'll find something else. Then of course are the unknowns. I guarantee that every year, something will come up that will cost a few hundred quid. I've actually owner 11 Alfas over the last 10 years, all from the newer stable. Sooner or later, they give problems.

The gta is a toy and it needs committment. Honestly though, if you are considering a 147 gta over a 147, go with the gta. I would trust the v6 over any other engine in the Alfa stable. The ordinary 147 (the wife had two) are just ordinary.