RE: Alfa 147 Ducati Corse: Spotted
Discussion
We have a 2003 2.0TS with 60k miles on it and it's good fun. Not worth much but a lot more interesting than any Focus or Golf. A good looking thing too.
Unfortunately we may need to sell for something more practical but we will miss the old car..
Good cars and I assume with a few choice mods, would make a good starter track car.
Unfortunately we may need to sell for something more practical but we will miss the old car..
Good cars and I assume with a few choice mods, would make a good starter track car.
dinkel said:
I think a 147 is as practical as a Golf. And more fun to drive.
In general i would agree, but the 147 does have a few small gotchas, the rear hatch opening isnt very tall (so emberrassingly, for moving a couch, my GFs '95 polo would swallow the couch, my 147 wouldnt), id expect a golf, being a tad more boxy, to be slightly better at swallowing cargo of odd shapes and sizes.that said, i wouldnt trade my 147 for any golf
Top motor the 147 - if ever the terms ‘underrated’ and ‘overlooked’ were used to describe a car, the 147 would surely be near the top of the list. This dc looks great - even for four grand. Absolutely stupid EGR and swirl flaps gone so the guy obviously knows his stuff with these. I’ve been running the standard 147 Q2 for 18 months now after stumbling across it when my dear mk2 8v golf died. Again. Love the Alfa. Hates? Horrid horrid diesel tractor engine. Fast enough, yes. Economical? Might be when I ditch the EGR. But an Alfa with a diesel especially one as cute as the 147 is like having a full English breakfast full of quorn sausages: it’s just wrong. Why didn’t they at least give you the option of having this car with a petrol motor bitd?? 
GF and I have shared a 3 door Ducati Corse JTD for several years. I'm 6'6" - a little bit more leg room would be nice.
Nothing below 2000 rpm, but above 2000 it has serious grunt - I ran out of space on an Autostrada last year (playing with a BMW of some sort) and afterwards the satnav told me that I'd been over 120. fun.
No matter how we drive it we get around 50 mpg every tank full.
Downsides?
As I said, leg room;
I'd prefer the driver's seat an inch or two higher off the floor.
I've had to put in a couple of glowplugs, but the dash display has told me each time.
Would I replace with a Giulietta? no, 'cos they are only 5 door. Shame on FCA!
Nothing below 2000 rpm, but above 2000 it has serious grunt - I ran out of space on an Autostrada last year (playing with a BMW of some sort) and afterwards the satnav told me that I'd been over 120. fun.
No matter how we drive it we get around 50 mpg every tank full.
Downsides?
As I said, leg room;
I'd prefer the driver's seat an inch or two higher off the floor.
I've had to put in a couple of glowplugs, but the dash display has told me each time.
Would I replace with a Giulietta? no, 'cos they are only 5 door. Shame on FCA!
Again more love for the 147, I always liked the 147,156, GT which shared quite a bit between them. I had 2 156's, 2 GT's which all share alot with the 147.
Quick steering and enjoyable ride, although it doesn't deal with rutted roads as well as other cars and I bet they bottom out like the GT/156. Generally I always preferred this over it's competitors, as they were playful and had characterful engines (TS/V6).
Also the cars are as reliable as any other european car (In my experience), cambelts on petrols need to be replaced on time and the upper front wishbones need to be replaced with TRW which aren't particularly expensive ( but if using cheap parts they will fail in months).
Quick steering and enjoyable ride, although it doesn't deal with rutted roads as well as other cars and I bet they bottom out like the GT/156. Generally I always preferred this over it's competitors, as they were playful and had characterful engines (TS/V6).
Also the cars are as reliable as any other european car (In my experience), cambelts on petrols need to be replaced on time and the upper front wishbones need to be replaced with TRW which aren't particularly expensive ( but if using cheap parts they will fail in months).
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