RE: New Alfa 147 launched

[wombat rick]

Twin Turbo said:

Maybe they'll start to give them names, with Brera kickstarting this.

It would be a lovely thought but the great ignorenti can't cope with them. I would be most upset if my pride and joy was referred to as a Goolie.

[nickjm]

wombat rick said:

It would be a lovely thought but the great ignorenti can't cope with them. I would be most upset if my pride and joy was referred to as a Goolie.

[peter450]

when alpha did a big relanch in the uk quite a few yrs back didnt they get rid of all the independent alpha dealers? an replace them with flashy showrooms to sell all the nice new metal an the end result was alpha enthiuast confronted but non enthiuast jobs worths an there started the problems they still have today?

[pwig]

veg said:

I have a 147 JTD 16v. The car is the most comfortable and great drive I have had in my distant memory. I do 25k miles a year and it is a joy. The dealers need shooting as does FIAT warranty. I had 5 weeks in a Nissan Micra when my water system filled with oil. I ask you, I know a courtsey car is just that but the warranty company should have put me in an equivalent car. Not even an apology. I have had a new injector, new suspension at the rear, new cruise control, still have oil in the water and no-one cares and the boot light now works after only 18 months of nagging. Servicing is £250 a go as well! I love Alfa but couldn't recommend one new. Lets hope GM buys them and kicks the UK franchise into touch.

The dealers have nothing from Alfa courtesy car wise, we our on our own. If Alfa gave us good backup, then customer service in the dealers would improve 100%

[bigfoot769]

I love Alfa's. to me they are a premium brand. My GTV is still a gorgeous looking car and (touch wood) has not cost me a penny, apart from normal wear and tear, in over 2 years.

I took the GT for a spin the other day and it was a hell of an improvment in terms of build quality and materials over mine, and after looking at bland boring Beemer 3 series the styling was stunning too. It will look fantastic sitting on my drive, begging to be driven.

I wish them every success as they are a marque that still turns me on

[wombat rick]

peter450 said:

when alpha

It's A.L.F.A. !!

[lanciachris]

That looks bloody awful. These changes have ruined the look of a perfectly decent car.

[door]

I saw one at the weekend and the mods worked. It looked cleaned up. Made me laugh that like BMW and a few others they have followed the Volvo waistline design.

[pwig]

Yeah, they look ace in the flesh

[edward1]

Not seen the mods in the flesh but not impressed with the bolt on chrome bits in the pictures. As for quality and dealer service. My other half dirves a pre-facelift 147 and the Sheffield dealer has always been very helpful and provides a 147 curtesty (sp!) car at relativly short notice whilst it is in for service etc. Compared to the service obtained from major manufactures in the past (Vauxhall, Ford, Renault) we have been very impressed.

As for the cars IMHO they are stylish, distinctive and I don't know why other manufactuers continue to churn out bland/ugly cars.

[ettore]

I`ve had a couple of 147`s and, bar one small problem, they have been eerily reliable (more so than my Boxsters).

I much prefer the looks of the original 147 (same for GTV and 156!)but am looking forward to the 159 and the Brera. There is something special about Alfa`s, particularly in the modern, german dominated, "bling" obsessed car market. My dealer (SGT) is pretty good but it`s encouraging to hear honest words from Alfa UK.

If they can ensure decent dealers and consistent quality combined with lovely, grunty (non FWD) product, they will fly out of the showroom...

[havoc]

Is it me, or does that front-end look like an old (early-90s) Honda Civic, but with some pubic hair in front!