Safe or Sorry(Head or Heart)

[thebigmack]

Trying to decide if I should buy a (head)VW golf V5 or (heart) Alfa 147 2.0. Am after the closets thing to a family car without going all boring! There is myself, wife and baby due in March.

What are the worries(faults) I should be looking at when buying a 2000 - 2003 147!

[cirvy]

I've had to consider similar issues, wife + toddler means the head, not just the heart, is involved in the decision.

Had Alfas exclusively for the last 10 years, & can honestly say they're fine for reliability & safety. Some are more practical than others, but you should be fine with a 147. Had a 156 & then a GT when our little one was a baby, used the GT & 156 for family holidays to Cornwall & Scotland, they were fine.

Justify it with a bit of heart, & bit of head. Either way, just dont buy a silver golf

[thebigmack]

So no reliability issues with the 147 at all?
I really need to convince her as she is set on a Black golf 5 door. And Im trying to persuade her to a Black 147 5 Door.

[wink]

No problem with a 147. Get the 16v MJet diesel for stonking performance & frugality. Only complaint is the boot's a bit small - but maybe the Golf's ain't much better?

[wadgebeast]

Alfa's great, but the economy isn't so good (30mpg tops on the motorway) in a 1.6 twin spark. Boot is tiny in comparison to the missus' fabia, definitely half the size of a golfs. Thought about a 156 sportwagon?

[Wombat Rick]

wadgebeast said:

Thought about a 156 sportwagon?

I was going to suggest that too. 147 boot is too small I reckon - we hung onto our 145 until we'd got the nightmare buggy/pram carrying phase out of the way as that was bigger and more useful than the 147 we swapped it for.
My JTD Sportwagon did excellent service for 4 years as our family truckster. Still one of the best looking mass produced cars ever made.

[velocemitch]

Yup, try a 156 Sportwagon, better car than a 147 really and better value these days. Not sure what your budget is though but i'm guseeing you could probably find a mid face lift example with either a JTS 2.0 Petrol or a 2.4JTD.
Both 147 and 156 have far more character than a Golf, but you do need to look after them and get a decent warrenty.

[bint]

If I had kids I'd prefer the Alfa over the Golf. I've got a sportwagon and there's infinitely more room inside. It's a pleasure to drive, it's not a run of the mill car (sorry I don't mind Golfs, they just don't have any passion IMHO) and you get alot more for your money.

Don't buy a brand new Alfa - let someone else take the depreciation first.

[negative creep]

My Alfa has been less than reliable, but the thing is its got so much character and personality I forgive it every time. The 147, or pretty much and Alfa for that matter, has the sort of charisma a Golf can only dream of. Beware the dealers though...........

[saxmund]

156 Sportwagon. Bigger, nicer, cheaper. The 2.0TS is sweet, or you can go for a later JTS, but you'll only get 30mpg - try a diesel for better economy.

[ncs]

Glen

I tried to mail you via your profile but no can do - drop me a line & I'll tell you why I would go for the Golf.

Nick

[Wombat Rick]

ncs said:

Glen

drop me a line & I'll tell you why I would go for the Golf.

Nick

Boo!
Hiss!!

[ncs]

Wombat Rick said:

ncs said:

Glen

drop me a line & I'll tell you why I would go for the Golf.

Nick

Boo!
Hiss!!

Tell me about it

Nick

[thebigmack]

why not tell me here??

[thebigmack]

going towards a 156 now because of boot space

[thebigmack]

Thanks ncs for the email. Much Appreciated.
I can understand your frustration you had.

I am still leaning towards an Alfa though. As late a model I can get, and WITHOUT the salespeed. There are a couple of nice late model 156(facelift) around that are looking good.
I just dont want to be a boring Golf driver!! Style of the Alfa is the way to go!