Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twin Spark - Unseen-ish
Discussion
Hooray!
If i can share another anecdote:
My GF lost her carkey (yes, singular, you dont get to be fussy when buying a 21 year old polo for 250 euros) a month ago, and since her polo is the first year to have an immobilizer, getting it running is proving to be something of a problem. We got some parts from the scrappy owned by one of her relatives, but to no avail. Hence it was decided the car would go to said scrappy so the experts there could take a look.
So it was decided that i (in the 147) would tow its stricken german brother the roughly 30 miles there, freeway and all
Now off course the socket for the tow eye was rusted all the way to hell, even if i would have gotten the tow eye in there, i suspect trying to get another moving would have result in the tow eye (and my rear bumper) getting torn off. I ended up hooking the tow rope around the rear axle bars, but not before ziptying some bits of mountainbike tire around the sharp edges to stop the rope from getting cut.
So now im still driving around with zip ties sticking out underneath the car and some sections of bicycle tire on my axle, as i cant be arsed to cut them off (and who know when i might need to tow something again.....)
If i can share another anecdote:
My GF lost her carkey (yes, singular, you dont get to be fussy when buying a 21 year old polo for 250 euros) a month ago, and since her polo is the first year to have an immobilizer, getting it running is proving to be something of a problem. We got some parts from the scrappy owned by one of her relatives, but to no avail. Hence it was decided the car would go to said scrappy so the experts there could take a look.
So it was decided that i (in the 147) would tow its stricken german brother the roughly 30 miles there, freeway and all
Now off course the socket for the tow eye was rusted all the way to hell, even if i would have gotten the tow eye in there, i suspect trying to get another moving would have result in the tow eye (and my rear bumper) getting torn off. I ended up hooking the tow rope around the rear axle bars, but not before ziptying some bits of mountainbike tire around the sharp edges to stop the rope from getting cut.
So now im still driving around with zip ties sticking out underneath the car and some sections of bicycle tire on my axle, as i cant be arsed to cut them off (and who know when i might need to tow something again.....)
stewjohnst said:
Old bike tyres on the suspension arms? Maybe that will fix that knocking sound I’ve got? 
Haha, not the arms themselves, there is this double U shaped brace in the middle, which the arms are fitted toI figured if im trying to rip off my rear wheels i might as well right them both off at the same time
BlameItOnGT2 said:
I think the fact that it passed its MOT is a sign that you need to keep it. If that is not possible, you at least owe it an owner that will love it and take care of it.
I’ll be beading around in it for a while, I need to get the wife a new car so that will satisfy my urges for new metal for a while.Besides, it does scrub up ok and ta such a good laugh to chuck around country lanes and roundabouts.
There is also one other curious thing I like about it...turning the traction control off in a bmw means an extended press on the button, the SAAB I had would entertain it being turned off if you were driving, no matter how long you hold it down, the Alfa?
Well, if you see a corner/roundabout ahead and fanc dicking about, just pressnitnlike you’re changing channels on the radio and the asr is off instantly
To be fair, when it’s on it is hit and miss if it decides to intervene anyway...
As I was in Toolstation the other day for a few bits for the house, I finally remembered to grab some superglue to address a couple of flaps of leather piping that if left would no doubt disappear irreparably.
Ok, I bought Gorilla glue and one with an applicator brush because I have as much manual dexterity for these tasks as the chimp on the bottle but bugger me, when did superglue start costing a fiver?
Anyhow, no before shots of the work as I just cracked on but it’s obvious what I was sorting. It isn’t perfect but unless you really know they’re there you wouldn’t spot them now, as evidenced by my photogenic pointing finger.
A change in work location has seen mpg drop a little to 28 mpg from just under 30 but my commute is along more twisty country lanes now so it’s more to do with my right foot than anything sinister.
Just ticked over 3,400 miles in it and excluding fuel but including the cost of purchase, tax and parts it has cost me £1460.
That includes the cost of buying the other Alfa sat on my drive in bits and is acceptable at 43p a mile, which will be improved if I ever get round to listing the donor on eBay.
Fuel on top adds another 20p per mile.
So far feeling vindicated in not just leasing an econobox, sure it’s averaged £180 a month but there’s nothing out there for that that would make me smile so much
Ok, I bought Gorilla glue and one with an applicator brush because I have as much manual dexterity for these tasks as the chimp on the bottle but bugger me, when did superglue start costing a fiver?
Anyhow, no before shots of the work as I just cracked on but it’s obvious what I was sorting. It isn’t perfect but unless you really know they’re there you wouldn’t spot them now, as evidenced by my photogenic pointing finger.
A change in work location has seen mpg drop a little to 28 mpg from just under 30 but my commute is along more twisty country lanes now so it’s more to do with my right foot than anything sinister.
Just ticked over 3,400 miles in it and excluding fuel but including the cost of purchase, tax and parts it has cost me £1460.
That includes the cost of buying the other Alfa sat on my drive in bits and is acceptable at 43p a mile, which will be improved if I ever get round to listing the donor on eBay.
Fuel on top adds another 20p per mile.
So far feeling vindicated in not just leasing an econobox, sure it’s averaged £180 a month but there’s nothing out there for that that would make me smile so much
Edited by stewjohnst on Tuesday 22 May 13:10
stewjohnst said:
So far feeling vindicated in not just leasing an econobox, sure it’s averaged £180 a month but there’s nothing out there for that that would make me smile so much
That is what being PH is all about imho, drive what makes you smile.Edited by stewjohnst on Tuesday 22 May 13:10
My 147 is the oldest, most worn, most creaking, worst mpg/hp car ive had, since all its predecessors were company leases, but i wouldnt trade any of them for it
Great read, thank you!
Hope you manage to keep her, they are superb little cars.
I've got a 156 GTA which I spend far too much money and time tinkering with, but I just love it so much. Other cars have come and gone, but this one has managed to keep its place in the garage for about 10 years now.
Alfa's are far from perfect, but I think it is that fact, which earns them an irreplaceable place in your heart.
Hope you manage to keep her, they are superb little cars.
I've got a 156 GTA which I spend far too much money and time tinkering with, but I just love it so much. Other cars have come and gone, but this one has managed to keep its place in the garage for about 10 years now.
Alfa's are far from perfect, but I think it is that fact, which earns them an irreplaceable place in your heart.
Well, that, as they is that...
I had plans for keeping the Alfa and getting the wife a Lexus RX or some other 4x4 to pootle around in but she has just reminded me today of why I gave her my company car...
...by crashing it into the house when attempting to park it
We have since had a discussion about the need for her having a smaller and cheaper car than a 4-5 grand Lexus so when she bends whatever she is driving it doesnt matter.
The perfect asnwer would be to give her the Alfa but she won’t drive a manual as she says driving an automatic gives her one less thing to worry about - Given she managed to crash into an aninimate object the size of a house, I am inclined to agree with her.
This therefore signals the end of the road for the Alfa and I.
So, like a love lorn teenager clinging on to a dog-eared and faded valentines card of an old flame, I shall be running down this last tank of fuel with a tear in my eye.
A short holiday beckons but after that, somebody else will be enjoying that 12 months of mot i slapped on her...
https://youtu.be/cd_Fdly3rX8
I had plans for keeping the Alfa and getting the wife a Lexus RX or some other 4x4 to pootle around in but she has just reminded me today of why I gave her my company car...
...by crashing it into the house when attempting to park it
We have since had a discussion about the need for her having a smaller and cheaper car than a 4-5 grand Lexus so when she bends whatever she is driving it doesnt matter.
The perfect asnwer would be to give her the Alfa but she won’t drive a manual as she says driving an automatic gives her one less thing to worry about - Given she managed to crash into an aninimate object the size of a house, I am inclined to agree with her.
This therefore signals the end of the road for the Alfa and I.
So, like a love lorn teenager clinging on to a dog-eared and faded valentines card of an old flame, I shall be running down this last tank of fuel with a tear in my eye.
A short holiday beckons but after that, somebody else will be enjoying that 12 months of mot i slapped on her...
https://youtu.be/cd_Fdly3rX8
Good read and I have been following with interest as I have a 147 that too is going to have to be sold. Because the wife needs an auto..
Ebay, PH, Gumtree...will make a decision and write an ad. These are cracking little cars and very much under appreciated. I think with some suspension changes and a few bits, they would make a good track car..
Ebay, PH, Gumtree...will make a decision and write an ad. These are cracking little cars and very much under appreciated. I think with some suspension changes and a few bits, they would make a good track car..
stewjohnst said:
The perfect asnwer would be to give her the Alfa but she won’t drive a manual as she says driving an automatic gives her one less thing to worry about - Given she managed to crash into an aninimate object the size of a house, I am inclined to agree with her.
This therefore signals the end of the road for the Alfa and I.
How crappy are driving skills if shifting gear is something to worry about? shouldnt it be pretty much second nature, the same as breathing whilst walking?This therefore signals the end of the road for the Alfa and I.
Either way, you probably know what is best and all, but its sad to see this thread come to an end, especially for this reason...
davebem said:
Would a 147 Selespeed do, I bet someone out there would be prepared to do a swap, and you like fixing things, you could even swap 2 manuals for 2 selespeeds ;-)
Selespeeds have a rather poor reputation when it comes to reliability, and repairs/parts are quite costly...I wouldnt want a selespeed as my main mode of transport, let alone give one to the wife and get a major b
king every time the electronics throw a fitVitorio said:
Selespeeds have a rather poor reputation when it comes to reliability, and repairs/parts are quite costly...
I wouldnt want a selespeed as my main mode of transport, let alone give one to the wife and get a major bking every time the electronics throw a fit
Indeed - It was my first thought to get her one but they’re not that highly rated.I wouldnt want a selespeed as my main mode of transport, let alone give one to the wife and get a major b
king every time the electronics throw a fitShe hasn’t been driving that long (35 years old and only passed her test five years ago, probably driven a total of 3,000 miles since then) so has no mechanical sympathy.
I once gave her a £700 BMW E36 estate as a shed to drive - Half the time she couldn’t get it in gear and never drove it as a result - to be fair to her, it had done 300,000 miles so was a little bit shagged out
I put her in newer cars after that.
It’s looking like a Honda Civic or Mercedes B class but the cvt in the b class has selespeed style horror stories too.
I might do it the old fashioned way before the internet..and pull up at a sub £1000 dealer and walk around until she something she likes.
honestly at 3K for five years, i kind of question the sense of getting her a car at all, that is 12 miles per week, if that is the commute, get her a decent bicycle, if that is the weekly grocery run, surely there is an hour on saturday were you can do without your car?
Keeping a car running for that kind of mileage seems both like a waste of money, and rather hard as well, cant be good for a car to only go through a tank and a half each year.
Keeping a car running for that kind of mileage seems both like a waste of money, and rather hard as well, cant be good for a car to only go through a tank and a half each year.
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