Alfa 147 - cheap, for a reason?
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking at an Alfa 147. Budget is towards the bottom end of the market, sub £1800. It looks like he'll be able to get a 1.6 TS Lusso manual, of 2001 vintage or thereabouts.
Now, the question is: they look like decent value, but are they money pits? Can they be run on a strict budget?
Experiences please, good and bad!
Looking at an Alfa 147. Budget is towards the bottom end of the market, sub £1800. It looks like he'll be able to get a 1.6 TS Lusso manual, of 2001 vintage or thereabouts.
Now, the question is: they look like decent value, but are they money pits? Can they be run on a strict budget?
Experiences please, good and bad!
Edited by AlpineWhite on Thursday 20th January 23:07
A pal of mine bought a 2001 model new.
Dealer was very good at selling it, less so on the sevice side. It did spent quite alot of time going into the workshop with water leaks into the cabin that the dealer never sorted in two years. It also had various electical issues. One of the control modules was replaced, as was the alternator.
In the end, he got fed up of it and chopped it in for a Mazda.
Shame, I think they're decent looking cars that go well. It may well be that he had a duff car though!
Dealer was very good at selling it, less so on the sevice side. It did spent quite alot of time going into the workshop with water leaks into the cabin that the dealer never sorted in two years. It also had various electical issues. One of the control modules was replaced, as was the alternator.
In the end, he got fed up of it and chopped it in for a Mazda.
Shame, I think they're decent looking cars that go well. It may well be that he had a duff car though!
It was one of my options a coupe of years ago, did a little reading, not an expert what so ever so the nly advice i can say is to try and get the lowest milegae he can afford, not sure exactly why but everybody seem to sell by about 50000, never quite worked it out (im sure someone will be along shortly to rubbish my advice)
In a totally non logically way, i really lke them and can see me having one in the future
In a totally non logically way, i really lke them and can see me having one in the future
My wife has had one for a few years, 1.6 TS Lusso. Only issues have been cam variator needing replacing, and airbag light coming on which was a loose connection I reset with AlfaDiag. There were a couple of electrical niggles which I sorted out as well.
Things to note:
They use oil. Quite a bit. Check every week.
Cambelt interval is fairly low, 36k.
Spark plugs are dear (2 per cylinder).
Changing sidelights is an absolute PITA.
Apart from that it's been great and has been all over the country without issue. They don't have a huge amount of poke and the handling is a bit wallowy, but the engine is revvy enough and sounds nice.
Things to note:
They use oil. Quite a bit. Check every week.
Cambelt interval is fairly low, 36k.
Spark plugs are dear (2 per cylinder).
Changing sidelights is an absolute PITA.
Apart from that it's been great and has been all over the country without issue. They don't have a huge amount of poke and the handling is a bit wallowy, but the engine is revvy enough and sounds nice.
Symbolica said:
Unless you really need to (ie for insurance) then don't bother with the 1.6, the performance doesn't stack up to the looks and you won't make a great saving in fuel over the more powerful ones because you'll end up driving it harder.
Fair point - but with 120bhp, it's still pretty well powered for the era, and even today that's good power for a 1.6 N/A petrol.The 1.6 is also a lot less complex than the 2.0 - although not as smooth, as it lacks the balancer shaft of the bigger lump.
One more thing, if you test some, check the gear engagement action from second to third. The gear selector plate can become worn and seize over time, resulting in a difficulty to select third (the lever does not "spring" back to the central position before third is engaged, if you see what I mean).
The part to rectify it from Alfa is less than £20 and anyone handy with a spanner can change it in 45 minutes.
The part to rectify it from Alfa is less than £20 and anyone handy with a spanner can change it in 45 minutes.
TankRizzo said:
My wife has had one for a few years, 1.6 TS Lusso. Only issues have been cam variator needing replacing, and airbag light coming on which was a loose connection I reset with AlfaDiag. There were a couple of electrical niggles which I sorted out as well.
Things to note:
They use oil. Quite a bit. Check every week.
Cambelt interval is fairly low, 36k.
Spark plugs are dear (2 per cylinder).
Changing sidelights is an absolute PITA.
Apart from that it's been great and has been all over the country without issue. They don't have a huge amount of poke and the handling is a bit wallowy, but the engine is revvy enough and sounds nice.
Pretty much same here, except for the oil, which mine has always been good with. I check it weekly but its never needed as much as I've heard they should. Things to note:
They use oil. Quite a bit. Check every week.
Cambelt interval is fairly low, 36k.
Spark plugs are dear (2 per cylinder).
Changing sidelights is an absolute PITA.
Apart from that it's been great and has been all over the country without issue. They don't have a huge amount of poke and the handling is a bit wallowy, but the engine is revvy enough and sounds nice.
I forgot to mention on the oil .... I check mine religiously ... but it's never needed topping up 
I do have a non-issue (but useful to note for reference). Currently the OBC tells me that the ABS and ESR (traction control system) has failed. The reality is that this is caused by low battery power (still on original battery).
I do have a non-issue (but useful to note for reference). Currently the OBC tells me that the ABS and ESR (traction control system) has failed. The reality is that this is caused by low battery power (still on original battery).
Recently sold a 2.0 GTV and got a 147 1.6, I'm very happy with its performance and I've owned a GTA before too plus various other 2.0s!
Its a 53-plate Lusso 5 door with one previous owner, good history, condition and had under 50K on it......for just over £2k from Alfa dealer salesman friend.
No problems except the common gear leaver not centering problem which the dealer fixed as part of the deal.
And the wiper linkage which is also common and can be fairly easily fixed yourself.
I've owned mostly 2.0 twinsparks before plus the 3.2 V6 and always thought the 1.6 would feel really slow, but to be honest in real world normal day to day driving it certainly doesn't at all, as someone mentioned 120hp isn't bad for a hatch of its size...... so its still fun to drive!
Its a 53-plate Lusso 5 door with one previous owner, good history, condition and had under 50K on it......for just over £2k from Alfa dealer salesman friend.
No problems except the common gear leaver not centering problem which the dealer fixed as part of the deal.
And the wiper linkage which is also common and can be fairly easily fixed yourself.
I've owned mostly 2.0 twinsparks before plus the 3.2 V6 and always thought the 1.6 would feel really slow, but to be honest in real world normal day to day driving it certainly doesn't at all, as someone mentioned 120hp isn't bad for a hatch of its size...... so its still fun to drive!
Edited by p17sut on Friday 21st January 15:45
p17sut said:
I've owned mostly 2.0 twinsparks before plus the 3.2 V6 and always thought the 1.6 would feal really slow, but to be honest in real world normal day to day driving it certainly doesn't at all, and its still fun to enjoy on a run!
I always thought the 1.6 "felt" closer to the 2.0 than it looked on paper.It needs revving to get the best out of it but that's no real hardship with that engine, and it gets along well enough once it's wound up.
My best mate had one until his misses crashed it recently. He had a 1.6 Ti(mk1) which looked the part with 17" alloys and the full leather out of the Alfa GT. However it never really managed to get above 34mpg with normal driving, yes it has 120bhp but its not a light car and it didnt feel quick at all. Also I thought the handling was vaigue and the steering wheel feels like its attached to elastic bands, there really was no feel in the car for me.
I know this all sounds like I dont like the car, but that isnt the case. Its far more interesting to look at than a Megane/Focus/Golf/Astra but I would say that the Megane and especially the Focus are a better drive, just not as special. Im sure the 2.0 is better but my real problem with the car was the handling, for me the car is all show, no go(obviously ignoring the magnificent GTA).
I know this all sounds like I dont like the car, but that isnt the case. Its far more interesting to look at than a Megane/Focus/Golf/Astra but I would say that the Megane and especially the Focus are a better drive, just not as special. Im sure the 2.0 is better but my real problem with the car was the handling, for me the car is all show, no go(obviously ignoring the magnificent GTA).
teeCup said:
My best mate had one until his misses crashed it recently. He had a 1.6 Ti(mk1)
...
I know this all sounds like I dont like the car, but that isnt the case. Its far more interesting to look at than a Megane/Focus/Golf/Astra but I would say that the Megane and especially the Focus are a better drive
Interestingly, we replaced an '03 Megane (so one of the first of the new shape ones) with an '06 Mk 2 147 TI 1.6, and my experience is exactly the opposite of yours. The 147 is definitely starting to show its age now, but I'd say the handling was night-and-day better than the Megane. ...
I know this all sounds like I dont like the car, but that isnt the case. Its far more interesting to look at than a Megane/Focus/Golf/Astra but I would say that the Megane and especially the Focus are a better drive
teeCup said:
My best mate had one until his misses crashed it recently. He had a 1.6 Ti(mk1) which looked the part with 17" alloys and the full leather out of the Alfa GT. However it never really managed to get above 34mpg with normal driving, yes it has 120bhp but its not a light car and it didnt feel quick at all. Also I thought the handling was vaigue and the steering wheel feels like its attached to elastic bands, there really was no feel in the car for me.
Whereas I find the Focus to be one of the least communicative cars I've ever driven.Everything feels like it's dampened with a block of foam rubber - and the electronic PAS is just a bad joke - with 3 settings 'American' (can steer it with one finger), 'is this really connected to the front wheels' and 'I'm sure this is meant to have PAS'.
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