Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twin Spark - Unseen-ish
Discussion
A moderately enjoyable time with an old Saab 9-3 Aero has been cut short by a fairly large list of MOT failures so...
...it seemed entirely appropriate to make use of the fact the wife is on a hen do this weekend to nip out and buy another shed for work duties before she gets back.
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and all that and so it was I found myself looking round an Alfa 147 this morning.
I could pretend I did detailed research and went for an extended test drive but I had two screaming kids in my car so I did the minimum.
- In the bonnet there was an engine and it sounded like an engine
- There was no mayo in the oil
-There were four tyres
- Two at the limit so haggled them off the price.
-Inside has seats and windows
- I could see brake pads
- The boot floor was clear
- MOT runs until August next year
- Mileage is 69000 and MOT history isn't too potted with failures
The front bumper is tatty and needs a respray but a rattle can will fix that.
So there you go, £800 all in and now I just need to start stripping the saab on the drive and get b
kings from the wife over and done with all at once 
Sideways iPhone photos incoming...
...it seemed entirely appropriate to make use of the fact the wife is on a hen do this weekend to nip out and buy another shed for work duties before she gets back.
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and all that and so it was I found myself looking round an Alfa 147 this morning.
I could pretend I did detailed research and went for an extended test drive but I had two screaming kids in my car so I did the minimum.
- In the bonnet there was an engine and it sounded like an engine
- There was no mayo in the oil
-There were four tyres
- Two at the limit so haggled them off the price.
-Inside has seats and windows
- I could see brake pads
- The boot floor was clear
- MOT runs until August next year
- Mileage is 69000 and MOT history isn't too potted with failures
The front bumper is tatty and needs a respray but a rattle can will fix that.
So there you go, £800 all in and now I just need to start stripping the saab on the drive and get b
kings from the wife over and done with all at once Sideways iPhone photos incoming...
Edited by stewjohnst on Saturday 30th September 20:07
One of my friends is a bit of an Alfa nut, he recently sold his 147 2ltr twin spark and went for a GT 1.9 JTD.
Things you need to watch out for, cambelt, needs to be done at 40k I believe, don't leave it as they are known to snap
Oil.... those 2ltr twin sparks are known to drink it for fun, its an Italian thing and seems very common.
Things you need to watch out for, cambelt, needs to be done at 40k I believe, don't leave it as they are known to snap
Oil.... those 2ltr twin sparks are known to drink it for fun, its an Italian thing and seems very common.
I love the fact you've bought an Alfa....that's a tick on the "been there, done that" on the TG list of cars, even if it's not a V6! At that sort of mileage, fingers crossed its a good one. Surely SWMBO can't complain you've bought an Alfa (maybe that's tomorrow nights update?) 
PS I've just had a quick look, bl**dy hell, the prices have moved on slightly in the last couple of years on V6 Alfas - there used to be a reasonable selection at Shed money. I bought a V6 GTV for £1600 4 yrs ago (in case MrsC finds my name on PHs, I'm not getting another one )
PS I've just had a quick look, bl**dy hell, the prices have moved on slightly in the last couple of years on V6 Alfas - there used to be a reasonable selection at Shed money. I bought a V6 GTV for £1600 4 yrs ago (in case MrsC finds my name on PHs, I'm not getting another one
)I'd looked at these before the Saab and they were my plan b car anyway.
I've always fancied an Alfa, nearly bought a 156 a few times before but ever quite managed it for one reason or another.
There was a tempting 166 2.5 V6 for under a grand but I needed to be able to get there and back with kids Without much hassle so was looking in a 30 mile radius and it's was 180 miles away
Normally I just search nationally and enjoy the challenge of trying to get to wherever the hell I've bought the car from
I've always fancied an Alfa, nearly bought a 156 a few times before but ever quite managed it for one reason or another.
There was a tempting 166 2.5 V6 for under a grand but I needed to be able to get there and back with kids Without much hassle so was looking in a 30 mile radius and it's was 180 miles away
Normally I just search nationally and enjoy the challenge of trying to get to wherever the hell I've bought the car from
I also think it's a bad time to be buying bangers again, looking for the Saab six months ago there were loads of cars worth toying with at this end of the market but no doubt a few folk have been seduced by the 'scrappage' schemes and wheeled their old but serviceable chariots to the knackers yard.
Yup, 3 years is the maximum these belts should be pushed to.
If the upper arm bushes go don't waste your time on pattern arms. Get either new genuine arms or TRW items if you can find them. The best solution is to fit Poly bushes there with something from either SuperFlex or PowerFlex.
If the upper arm bushes go don't waste your time on pattern arms. Get either new genuine arms or TRW items if you can find them. The best solution is to fit Poly bushes there with something from either SuperFlex or PowerFlex.
Nice 147 there. Same underpinnings as the 156 ( more or less !) so should handle well when you get it sorted ( 4 wheel alignment is recommended !)
It all helps prevent the inner edges of the rear tyres wearing out ( a common issue at least on the 156 )
I am on my second 156, and getting the alignment done makes all the difference.
Looks like a really nice interior, those Alfa leather seats are so comfortable.
Re the oil; my 1.8TS used about 1 litre every 5-600 miles, but then it did have over 120,000 miles on it !
Keep the oil level topped up ; it is essential not to let it get low on the TS engine.
And see if you can get a stainless exhaust ( if only the back box!) as the TS engine sounds great with the windows down on full chat !
( not quite as a V6 Busso I am reliably informed...but nice all the same )
Keep up the good work
It all helps prevent the inner edges of the rear tyres wearing out ( a common issue at least on the 156 )
I am on my second 156, and getting the alignment done makes all the difference.
Looks like a really nice interior, those Alfa leather seats are so comfortable.
Re the oil; my 1.8TS used about 1 litre every 5-600 miles, but then it did have over 120,000 miles on it !
Keep the oil level topped up ; it is essential not to let it get low on the TS engine.
And see if you can get a stainless exhaust ( if only the back box!) as the TS engine sounds great with the windows down on full chat !
( not quite as a V6 Busso I am reliably informed...but nice all the same )
Keep up the good work
For clarity, I shall be treating this car as you would an ugly hooker.
I intend to spend the bare minimum in order for it to service my needs - I'm not going to worry about the way it looks or the weird noises it makes and try to ride it out until July.
July means the company cars goes back, I get my allowance back and I'll be swapping both this and my company car for me and the missus.
If I have things lying around for free, I may tidy bits up because it's an excuse to hide from the wife/kids but if it requires hand in pocket, I'll probably leave undone.
I intend to spend the bare minimum in order for it to service my needs - I'm not going to worry about the way it looks or the weird noises it makes and try to ride it out until July.
July means the company cars goes back, I get my allowance back and I'll be swapping both this and my company car for me and the missus.
If I have things lying around for free, I may tidy bits up because it's an excuse to hide from the wife/kids but if it requires hand in pocket, I'll probably leave undone.
Edited by stewjohnst on Sunday 1st October 14:08
Edited by stewjohnst on Sunday 1st October 14:09
Cash changed hands for the saab this morning at the train station and I got a taxi over to grab the Alfa.
Now that I don't have kids sat in the car screaming I had a proper sniff about.
The clutch is on the high side which suggests a new one will be needed soon but not right away.
It's been stood a bit, the brakes were making the usual crusty/rusty sound for a mile or so but now it stops cleanly with no scoring/scraping noises and it does so in a straight line - always a bonus.
The car is convinced the boot is open so presumably a switch/sensor issue.
The inside will need a clean as it's been valeted with a £2 a tin dash shine that smells of apples or something and makes everything feel sticky/look shiny instead of clean.
It revs cleanly enough and is quite peppy. Took it up to decent driving speed on the Motorway home, no wobbles or indications of balance issues.
There's a clonk in the front suspension over big bumps but otherwise it seems ok.
Unhelpfully, the sticker on the timing belt cover says 54000km so I either assume that was miles and leave it...or I assume it was km and budget £200 to have someone change it as the car ticked over to 70,000 on the way home.
Biggest issue on the way home was the unscheduled 15 minute stop in the back of a police car...
Now that I don't have kids sat in the car screaming I had a proper sniff about.
The clutch is on the high side which suggests a new one will be needed soon but not right away.
It's been stood a bit, the brakes were making the usual crusty/rusty sound for a mile or so but now it stops cleanly with no scoring/scraping noises and it does so in a straight line - always a bonus.
The car is convinced the boot is open so presumably a switch/sensor issue.
The inside will need a clean as it's been valeted with a £2 a tin dash shine that smells of apples or something and makes everything feel sticky/look shiny instead of clean.
It revs cleanly enough and is quite peppy. Took it up to decent driving speed on the Motorway home, no wobbles or indications of balance issues.
There's a clonk in the front suspension over big bumps but otherwise it seems ok.
Unhelpfully, the sticker on the timing belt cover says 54000km so I either assume that was miles and leave it...or I assume it was km and budget £200 to have someone change it as the car ticked over to 70,000 on the way home.
Biggest issue on the way home was the unscheduled 15 minute stop in the back of a police car...
Driving back I passed a police x5 going the other direction.
I watched him pass and then counted a full ten seconds before he braked and turned around I arrive up my chuff with blues
The Alfa had pinged as no insurance on ANPR which I guessed and offered up as he stopped me.
I didn't have any sale paperwork as I did all that yesterday and just had the keys, a wallet full of cash, my phone and uninsured car on his system
I am so pleased I'd been a good boy and changed the insurance in the dealers car park on the phone after dropping the Saab off at the station.
Managed to get into my email and show him a certificate valid from 11:00 and as all was clear, he asked what I'd paid and we had a brief chat about bangernomics and whether it had leather or not and then he let me on my way.
I haven't been in the back of a traffic police car for maybe 10+ Years - It's funny how it almost makes you feel guilty as soon as you sit there
I watched him pass and then counted a full ten seconds before he braked and turned around I arrive up my chuff with blues
The Alfa had pinged as no insurance on ANPR which I guessed and offered up as he stopped me.
I didn't have any sale paperwork as I did all that yesterday and just had the keys, a wallet full of cash, my phone and uninsured car on his system
I am so pleased I'd been a good boy and changed the insurance in the dealers car park on the phone after dropping the Saab off at the station.
Managed to get into my email and show him a certificate valid from 11:00 and as all was clear, he asked what I'd paid and we had a brief chat about bangernomics and whether it had leather or not and then he let me on my way.
I haven't been in the back of a traffic police car for maybe 10+ Years - It's funny how it almost makes you feel guilty as soon as you sit there
I'm sure Alfa warning lights are more just an indication that the car feels you haven't treated her well enough in last few days! My 156 liked to keep me on my toes with an EML that would go off after 5 secs, 20 mins, 2 days or a week depending on how she felt. Or bulb caption and when you looked for what one it wouldn't tell you and they all seemed to work!
My blue 156 will not lock properly with the key/zapper unless the boot has been slammed shut... probably something to do with the sensor etc, but as has been said Alfas have these quirks ! Just shutting it normally will not do !
Also the 'bulb out' warning lamp on the dash comes on after I have washed the car; this is due to water ingress into the rear number plate light, but a sharp tap on the bulb holder sorts that one out.
And there is always the 'fuel gauge quirk', ie sometimes if I parked my 156 TS on a hill, upon returning to the car it would register low fuel reading on the dial/low level lamp flashing etc., even if the tank was full. That one usually self corrected after a few miles.
Also the 'bulb out' warning lamp on the dash comes on after I have washed the car; this is due to water ingress into the rear number plate light, but a sharp tap on the bulb holder sorts that one out.
And there is always the 'fuel gauge quirk', ie sometimes if I parked my 156 TS on a hill, upon returning to the car it would register low fuel reading on the dial/low level lamp flashing etc., even if the tank was full. That one usually self corrected after a few miles.
The fuel was reading half a tank when I bought it but I am going to brim the tank tomorrow just in case the readout can't be trusted - Don't want to find myself by the side of road after coughing to a halt.
In other news, the wife returned from the hen do in Newcastle intact and on balance is pleased with my car swapping prowess, plus slightly stunned I managed to squeeze buying and retrieving a car into a weekend with kids in tow.
I decided the best approach was to give her the wodge of fivers and twenty's I'd been handed for the Saab so it felt like she'd got money out of the deal...
...before explaining that she'd need to pop down the bank and deposit that as there was an £800 Alfa sized hole it would partially offset.
Cars are mere modes of transport to the wife and her response "At least you got shot o' one pissin' oil on me drive" (the Saab) proved that I'd done the right thing and also that a weekend up north had restored the Darlington/Geordie twang to her accent.
She has no opinion on the Alfa as long it keeps going without needing work or money spending, no pressure then...
In other news, the wife returned from the hen do in Newcastle intact and on balance is pleased with my car swapping prowess, plus slightly stunned I managed to squeeze buying and retrieving a car into a weekend with kids in tow.
I decided the best approach was to give her the wodge of fivers and twenty's I'd been handed for the Saab so it felt like she'd got money out of the deal...
...before explaining that she'd need to pop down the bank and deposit that as there was an £800 Alfa sized hole it would partially offset.
Cars are mere modes of transport to the wife and her response "At least you got shot o' one pissin' oil on me drive" (the Saab) proved that I'd done the right thing and also that a weekend up north had restored the Darlington/Geordie twang to her accent.
She has no opinion on the Alfa as long it keeps going without needing work or money spending, no pressure then...
150 odd miles into ownership, I thought I'd post an update.
The car still is convinced the boot isn't shut - I've tried a liberal application of WD40 and some old fashioned ttting of the boot lock to no avail, I could check the wiring but it was dark and I don't care enough to make more than the above token effort to fix it.
The boot itself locks, it just means the remote central locking won't play and I have to use the key to lock/unlock the car - I can live with that so no further remedial work will take place on this problem - I'll laughingly recall this post in two months when my locks have iced up and I'm marooned somewhere.
The engine has decided that revving above 4500 rpm is not something it wishes to do and also has a minor bunny hop habit when coming from a decent amount of throttle to zero throttle.
Google tells me the hopping might be due to a build up of crap stopping the throttle fully closing so I'll find a minute to check that out and might invest in a tin of carb cleaner to jet wash the manifold in.
It's only a minor annoyance and a smidge of throttle sorts it. It's certainly not as bad as my old Barchetta where the revs dipped so violently on lift off it would stall - a problem I sorted by arriving at roundabouts with all three pedals depressed to some degree...
The not revving past 4.5k is potentially more of an issue - I'm popping back to the garage in the morning to read the odb2 and see if there's anything that it throws up.
Not about to invoke soga just yet and besides even running around under 4.5k, I'm seeing 29-30 mpg which is fine and compares with the saab so I don't really care that much.
We shall see what tomorrow brings
The car still is convinced the boot isn't shut - I've tried a liberal application of WD40 and some old fashioned t
tting of the boot lock to no avail, I could check the wiring but it was dark and I don't care enough to make more than the above token effort to fix it.The boot itself locks, it just means the remote central locking won't play and I have to use the key to lock/unlock the car - I can live with that so no further remedial work will take place on this problem - I'll laughingly recall this post in two months when my locks have iced up and I'm marooned somewhere.
The engine has decided that revving above 4500 rpm is not something it wishes to do and also has a minor bunny hop habit when coming from a decent amount of throttle to zero throttle.
Google tells me the hopping might be due to a build up of crap stopping the throttle fully closing so I'll find a minute to check that out and might invest in a tin of carb cleaner to jet wash the manifold in.
It's only a minor annoyance and a smidge of throttle sorts it. It's certainly not as bad as my old Barchetta where the revs dipped so violently on lift off it would stall - a problem I sorted by arriving at roundabouts with all three pedals depressed to some degree...
The not revving past 4.5k is potentially more of an issue - I'm popping back to the garage in the morning to read the odb2 and see if there's anything that it throws up.
Not about to invoke soga just yet and besides even running around under 4.5k, I'm seeing 29-30 mpg which is fine and compares with the saab so I don't really care that much.
We shall see what tomorrow brings
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff