RE: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: Spotted
Discussion
Oilchange said:
I seem to remember one of the biggest risks of GTA ownership ....
Many people, myself included 
will tell you that the biggest risks of GTA ownership are puddles Or any slight gathering of water. There's a fair few GTA's out there that aren't on their original engine...
Lovely looking, and sounding cars. Nice to have a big torquey engine in a small body. One awesome mod is to add the larger throttle body from a Ferrari F430 and a carbon intake. Have a listen to the link. The louder, the better!
https://youtu.be/ETSpaLqk-0U
https://youtu.be/ETSpaLqk-0U
R400TVR said:
Lovely looking, and sounding cars. Nice to have a big torquey engine in a small body. One awesome mod is to add the larger throttle body from a Ferrari F430 and a carbon intake. Have a listen to the link. The louder, the better!
https://youtu.be/ETSpaLqk-0U
Bigger TB has no effect on power with the Busso. Its just changing your throttle mapping, but at wide open.........no difference at all. The OE TB diameter isn't even close to being the limiting factor with engine output.https://youtu.be/ETSpaLqk-0U
I had the GT3.2, same engine and running gear as the GTA's, and unfortunately the same running costs. I had mine for 4 years and got paid out £700 more than I paid for it by the insurance after being a numpty and writing it off. The fact that these cars are either holding or going up in value does offset the considerable running costs.
They are all about that engine though and without it I would not consider another GT, 147 or 156. The rest of the package without modifications is a bit of a letdown. I know have a 5 series 4.4 BMW V8 but although it makes almost 100bhp more it doesn't sound anything like the busso, and lacks the drama that the Alfa provided in spades. The BMW does everything else so much better and I have a lot more confidence in it but I still miss that busso sound dearly.
They are all about that engine though and without it I would not consider another GT, 147 or 156. The rest of the package without modifications is a bit of a letdown. I know have a 5 series 4.4 BMW V8 but although it makes almost 100bhp more it doesn't sound anything like the busso, and lacks the drama that the Alfa provided in spades. The BMW does everything else so much better and I have a lot more confidence in it but I still miss that busso sound dearly.
Mr Tidy said:
I really like these, but after having two 70s Fiats I really wouldn't want to try owning another Italian car!
I'd rather get a BMW 130i - a bit more power and RWD! And for that price you could probably afford to get Bird's to fit a Quaife LSD as well.
While 147s still are a bit italian every now and then, and they are getting on with age, comparing them with 70s fiats is like saying "i had a beetle once, it was a bit crap, so im not getting any german car ever again"I'd rather get a BMW 130i - a bit more power and RWD! And for that price you could probably afford to get Bird's to fit a Quaife LSD as well.
If i had the money id have a GTA in no time at all. (well, either a GTA or a 3.2 GT)
s m said:
J4CKO said:
Was it these on the TG review that ploughed stright on and had smoke pouring off the tyres, I know that isnt normal treatment but do they handle ok ?
They did with the Vectra VXR on TG .....then EVO mag went on to praise it in a group test The Alfa is lovely and cannot be compared to the Fiesta RS Turbo on here yesterday. One car is a "still on the pace" hot hatchback with a V6 engine and costing less than a third of a modern equivalent and I'm guessing, probably about a third of what it cost new. The other is a car which with mediocre dynamics, which finished bottom of most group tests when new, where the asking price is more than its new price and about 3 x that of a tidy Clio 182 Cup/EP3 Civic Type R. Badging has nothing to do with it.
Regarding handling, I would rate the 147GTA as a pretty amazing drivers car (the one I drove didn't have a LSD, but I imagine it would have been sublime with one). One of the most disappointing drives ever for me was an Integrale.
I would have a 147 GTA in a heartbeat. Someone local has a 156 GTA, and it's aging badly. The 147 though still looks amazing. Beauty & beholder factor applies.
I would have a 147 GTA in a heartbeat. Someone local has a 156 GTA, and it's aging badly. The 147 though still looks amazing. Beauty & beholder factor applies.
BFleming said:
Regarding handling, I would rate the 147GTA as a pretty amazing drivers car (the one I drove didn't have a LSD, but I imagine it would have been sublime with one). One of the most disappointing drives ever for me was an Integrale.
I would have a 147 GTA in a heartbeat. Someone local has a 156 GTA, and it's aging badly. The 147 though still looks amazing. Beauty & beholder factor applies.
I love the Integrale and you really need to grab it by the scruff of its neck. Basically, don't be gentle with it. Into the corner slow, then wind the boost up mid bend and out you go like a bullet.I would have a 147 GTA in a heartbeat. Someone local has a 156 GTA, and it's aging badly. The 147 though still looks amazing. Beauty & beholder factor applies.
Agreed with the 156GTA. The 156 in general is a beauty but the GTA looks so wrong with a curvy top end but squared off bumpers and skirts.
The servicing costs on mine were fairly punishing, every time it went in for some work the bill was £1k minimum.
Over 7 years mine needed:
Alternator
Clutch
Head gasket
Three radiators
Two water pumps
Welding
Coolant transfer pipe
Two batteries
New coilovers
Countless top suspension arms
Two thermostats
New exhaust flexis
Plus all the obligatory annual servicing, and two cambelt changes at £700 a pop.
The head gasket work alone came to nearly £4k as the engine was removed for a top-end strip & rebuild.
There is a definite 'GTA tax' on some of the parts, they can be horrendously expensive compared to the boggo 2.5 V6 cars.
I do miss mine but I don't regret selling it in the way I regretted moving on the VX220 I had; the financial outlay for the reward was worth it but only just.
Over 7 years mine needed:
Alternator
Clutch
Head gasket
Three radiators
Two water pumps
Welding
Coolant transfer pipe
Two batteries
New coilovers
Countless top suspension arms
Two thermostats
New exhaust flexis
Plus all the obligatory annual servicing, and two cambelt changes at £700 a pop.
The head gasket work alone came to nearly £4k as the engine was removed for a top-end strip & rebuild.
There is a definite 'GTA tax' on some of the parts, they can be horrendously expensive compared to the boggo 2.5 V6 cars.
I do miss mine but I don't regret selling it in the way I regretted moving on the VX220 I had; the financial outlay for the reward was worth it but only just.
V8 FOU said:
Apart from the sound, is one of these worth £8K+ when the TS is around a grand?
The TS is a better handling car due to less weight....add a supercharger for £3K and you have as much power as the V6.
But the noise.... the noise.... difficult call.
I have a 147 2.0 and really love it. Cost me about £600. I really find it difficult to justify the extra for the V6 sound. If it was the Busso, though......
Who told you the TS is a better handling car? That not even close to being true.The TS is a better handling car due to less weight....add a supercharger for £3K and you have as much power as the V6.
But the noise.... the noise.... difficult call.
I have a 147 2.0 and really love it. Cost me about £600. I really find it difficult to justify the extra for the V6 sound. If it was the Busso, though......
I've owned a 147 TS and current own a 147 GTA, and handling of the GTA is on an entirely different level.
The GTA is far more then just a 147 with a V6 thrown in. Its got upgraded stiffened / lowered suspension, upgraded brakes, an upgraded 6 speed gearbox (TS was 5 speed), a thicker gripper steering wheel, upgraded bucket seats which are some of the best seats I've ever sat in, wider wheels/tyres, the much more aggressive looking body kit and the aforementioned Busso V6.
Driving the two cars is like going from a BMW 318i to an M3 - its absolutely day and night. Absolutely worth the price difference.
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