Alfa 147 JTD, how reliable?
Discussion
I guess i know how this thread may go... but
I am considering buying a 2008 147 1.9 JTD, that i will be covering on average 700 miles a week in. Other than standard servicing would the car cope fine?
They just appear a bargin compared to the dull 2004/2005 Golf/A3 diesels that have done morethan twice the mileage for similar money?
I am considering buying a 2008 147 1.9 JTD, that i will be covering on average 700 miles a week in. Other than standard servicing would the car cope fine?
They just appear a bargin compared to the dull 2004/2005 Golf/A3 diesels that have done morethan twice the mileage for similar money?
U T said:
They are cheap for a reason. Because no one wants one. 700 miles a week in an Alfa. On the back of a tow truck maybe, but not under your own steam.
Avoid like the plague.
Any experience of one? Or are you just jumping on the back of the bandwagon?Avoid like the plague.
I'd wouldn't say any VAG product of that age is any more reliable
k15tox said:
U T said:
They are cheap for a reason. Because no one wants one. 700 miles a week in an Alfa. On the back of a tow truck maybe, but not under your own steam.
Avoid like the plague.
Any experience of one? Or are you just jumping on the back of the bandwagon?Avoid like the plague.
I'd wouldn't say any VAG product of that age is any more reliable
Elsewhere, he's claimed that the Kia Sportage Ecob
ks is the best car ever, and that the E-Type Jag was completely hopeless.Which makes me suspect the closest he's come to driving a car is sitting in his dad's Kia making 'brum, brum' noises.
Engine wise you should be fine. The JTD engine is as robust and reliable as any German unit. It's a cracking engine.
As for the rest of the car, well I couldn't tell you as I've never owned one. They are stunning to look at though.
Someone I know had a 156 JTD. He did around 4-500 miles in a week. He sold it after a few months as it left him stranded twice. Once being a flat tyre, the other time he thought the turbo had blown but turned out a hose had split. Only other problem he had rectified was a noisy front wheel bearing.
Look at that however you like, but in my opinion, that's pretty good going for probably 7-10000 miles. on a 70k car.
As for the rest of the car, well I couldn't tell you as I've never owned one. They are stunning to look at though.
Someone I know had a 156 JTD. He did around 4-500 miles in a week. He sold it after a few months as it left him stranded twice. Once being a flat tyre, the other time he thought the turbo had blown but turned out a hose had split. Only other problem he had rectified was a noisy front wheel bearing.
Look at that however you like, but in my opinion, that's pretty good going for probably 7-10000 miles. on a 70k car.
Chicarito said:
He's jumping on the bandwagon.
Elsewhere, he's claimed that the Kia Sportage Ecobks is the best car ever, and that the E-Type Jag was completely hopeless.
Which makes me suspect the closest he's come to driving a car is sitting in his dad's Kia making 'brum, brum' noises.
He's probably right about the fact that no one wants one and that's it.Elsewhere, he's claimed that the Kia Sportage Ecob
ks is the best car ever, and that the E-Type Jag was completely hopeless.Which makes me suspect the closest he's come to driving a car is sitting in his dad's Kia making 'brum, brum' noises.
Everybody wants a audi a3 these days esp in sline trim with DRL's
OP be different. Youl love it.
Never run one myself, but from anecdotal evidence, they should not be more trouble than anything from the VAG empire. The engine should actually be more robust. Just don't expect to get much on resale if you put huge miles on it.
If I had to drive that much, I'd worry first about feeling 110% comfortable in a car I spend so much time in, and worry about the costs later. If you feel comfy in the 147, I'd say go for it. Put the purchasing price difference in a virtual maintenance fund, enjoy that you don't have to use it, be prepared to keep the car as long as it drives.
If I had to drive that much, I'd worry first about feeling 110% comfortable in a car I spend so much time in, and worry about the costs later. If you feel comfy in the 147, I'd say go for it. Put the purchasing price difference in a virtual maintenance fund, enjoy that you don't have to use it, be prepared to keep the car as long as it drives.
e8_pack said:
has this marque rid themselves of their electronics stigma and thin leather that wears quickly? might as well get those questions out the way.
Never heard about 'thin leather' - that's a Japanese speciality - a 147 will have Italian Momo leather (if it has the leather option), which is right up there with the very best you'll get in a mainstream car.Electrics.... hmmm, they're CANBUS, which can be a PITA, but does reduce the number of wires which could fail
Carsurvey doesn't paint a very good picture, but the reviews don't seem to go as far as 2008?
http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/alfa_romeo/147/
Let's be honest here - Italian=unreliable. But it'll look damn good on the back of the AA truck, and you'll live for the weekend when you can get your hands dirty under the bonnet
http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/alfa_romeo/147/
Let's be honest here - Italian=unreliable. But it'll look damn good on the back of the AA truck, and you'll live for the weekend when you can get your hands dirty under the bonnet
Chicarito said:
k15tox said:
U T said:
They are cheap for a reason. Because no one wants one. 700 miles a week in an Alfa. On the back of a tow truck maybe, but not under your own steam.
Avoid like the plague.
Any experience of one? Or are you just jumping on the back of the bandwagon?Avoid like the plague.
I'd wouldn't say any VAG product of that age is any more reliable
Elsewhere, he's claimed that the Kia Sportage Ecob
ks is the best car ever, and that the E-Type Jag was completely hopeless.Which makes me suspect the closest he's come to driving a car is sitting in his dad's Kia making 'brum, brum' noises.
Chicarito said:
Never heard about 'thin leather' - that's a Japanese speciality - a 147 will have Italian Momo leather (if it has the leather option), which is right up there with the very best you'll get in a mainstream car.
Not really. Expect a worn out edge on the driver's seat after 50K. It'll be the least of your worries, 700 a week and you'll be changing suspension bits on a quarterly basis. Mild exaggeration. Mild.I wouldn't worry about the engine, my 147 has a twinspark engine in it and its the only thing that hasn't needed fixed. The car is purely rubbish, it doesn't nothing well. no one in their right mind should buy one and they are only cheap because someone can't be bothered fixing faults every other week.
Personally though, I'd buy another one tomorrow as it puts a fooking great big smile on my face at least once a day. Still haven't worked out why though!
Personally though, I'd buy another one tomorrow as it puts a fooking great big smile on my face at least once a day. Still haven't worked out why though!
hoof hearted said:
Chicarito said:
k15tox said:
U T said:
They are cheap for a reason. Because no one wants one. 700 miles a week in an Alfa. On the back of a tow truck maybe, but not under your own steam.
Avoid like the plague.
Any experience of one? Or are you just jumping on the back of the bandwagon?Avoid like the plague.
I'd wouldn't say any VAG product of that age is any more reliable
Elsewhere, he's claimed that the Kia Sportage Ecob
ks is the best car ever, and that the E-Type Jag was completely hopeless.Which makes me suspect the closest he's come to driving a car is sitting in his dad's Kia making 'brum, brum' noises.
I've had various Alfas on our fleet over many years, and they've all been unreliable. Every one.
Well I have a 99 GTV T-spark, and its good fun.
Leather is a bit ropey, but never had problems with the electrics. Only significant engine problems have been *ahem* my fault. Managed to puncture the sump in Shrewsbury (I did look at the time and I thought it was still oil tight - nope) and drove to Northampton.
You only do it once.
From my general alfa experience, that was the only time it has ever abandoned me anywhere, and in fairness I abandoned it. You may well get niggles every so often, wheel bearings and so on. The 'little job' rate is quite high.
But this is a previous generation of Alfas i guess, so may have changed with 147 deisels
Leather is a bit ropey, but never had problems with the electrics. Only significant engine problems have been *ahem* my fault. Managed to puncture the sump in Shrewsbury (I did look at the time and I thought it was still oil tight - nope) and drove to Northampton.
You only do it once.
From my general alfa experience, that was the only time it has ever abandoned me anywhere, and in fairness I abandoned it. You may well get niggles every so often, wheel bearings and so on. The 'little job' rate is quite high.
But this is a previous generation of Alfas i guess, so may have changed with 147 deisels
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