Best 147 to go for?
Discussion
Should be selling up the alfa 156 this weekend hopefully, really depressing looking at the dent down the side but thats another story.
Looking to the future, I want a 147 as money won't stretch to anything else as nice as I'm unlikely to get much more than £800 for the 156
Which is the best model to go for? My budget is £2500. I really dont think the 1.6 will be enough and a step back from the 1.8TS? Plenty of 1 or 2 owner selespeed 2.0 Lusso with great specs at this price, will I really be in for a world of hurt? I don't know if its worth taking the risk? The Selespeed system sounds good and is what got me interested in Alfas...
Compromise would be a 2.0 manual. How do they really compare to a facelift alfa 156 in terms of quality? Step up or down?
Looking to the future, I want a 147 as money won't stretch to anything else as nice as I'm unlikely to get much more than £800 for the 156
Which is the best model to go for? My budget is £2500. I really dont think the 1.6 will be enough and a step back from the 1.8TS? Plenty of 1 or 2 owner selespeed 2.0 Lusso with great specs at this price, will I really be in for a world of hurt? I don't know if its worth taking the risk? The Selespeed system sounds good and is what got me interested in Alfas...
Compromise would be a 2.0 manual. How do they really compare to a facelift alfa 156 in terms of quality? Step up or down?
Strangely enough, I've been looking at 147's in the same sort of budget. I have a friend who has owned more Alfas than you or I have owned socks, who has advised me against the Selespeed. Fair enough, it's fantastic when it does work, but when it doesn't it is a nightmare.
Problem is, the 2 litre 147's around £2500 all seem to have Selespeed (I speak from experience: many hours of looking through Autotrader, PH Classifieds, eBay etc), but occasionally you come across a manual.
1.6 TS sounds like a step down from a 156 1.8TS, but remember the 147 is a bit lighter, and 120bhp in a Golf/Focus sized car isn't too bad. I don't know what the power is like in the 1.8 TS, but that engine can be found in the 147 if you look carefully enough.
Let me know how you get on,
Dan
PS: Have you considered going old school and looked at 145 Cloverleaf? 2 litre engine, 155bhp, best combination is red body/black leather. Or if you want 5 doors, the 146 Ti? Same as the 145 but with 2 extra doors and a boot.
Problem is, the 2 litre 147's around £2500 all seem to have Selespeed (I speak from experience: many hours of looking through Autotrader, PH Classifieds, eBay etc), but occasionally you come across a manual.
1.6 TS sounds like a step down from a 156 1.8TS, but remember the 147 is a bit lighter, and 120bhp in a Golf/Focus sized car isn't too bad. I don't know what the power is like in the 1.8 TS, but that engine can be found in the 147 if you look carefully enough.
Let me know how you get on,
Dan
PS: Have you considered going old school and looked at 145 Cloverleaf? 2 litre engine, 155bhp, best combination is red body/black leather. Or if you want 5 doors, the 146 Ti? Same as the 145 but with 2 extra doors and a boot.
I think the 1.6 will be a bit of a drop from your current 1.8, so I'd go for a 2.0 with manual transmision. The 1.8 was never put in the 147, possibly as they sold so few 1.8 145's?
Although my 147 is a GTA, it feels better put together and more solid than my 156. Its also a noticible step up from the 145 Cloverleaf it replaced.
If your patient and are prepared to travel for the right one, I'm sure you'll find one.
Although my 147 is a GTA, it feels better put together and more solid than my 156. Its also a noticible step up from the 145 Cloverleaf it replaced.
If your patient and are prepared to travel for the right one, I'm sure you'll find one.
Just been having a quick nose round AT and there seems to be a fair few 2l around your budget without sillyspeed. Is there a particular colour/interior combo you're after?
Dunno where you're based, but there's a nice metallic dark red in norfolk up at 2800. If you can't get that for under £2.5k in the current climate then you might as well give up buying cars!
http://www.brownscarsales.co.uk/108751/browns_stoc...
Dunno where you're based, but there's a nice metallic dark red in norfolk up at 2800. If you can't get that for under £2.5k in the current climate then you might as well give up buying cars!
http://www.brownscarsales.co.uk/108751/browns_stoc...
What about a diesel? I had a 147 1.9 on loan a few years back and although it was a bit clackity (like any diesel), it fookin' shifted off the lights!
I currently have a 147 gta which is a monster compared to other 147s so for me its the only one to go for but appreciate your budget/priorities are different.
I've also owned (well the wife did) a 1.6 and 2.0 147. I was unimpressed with the performance of the 2.0. The 1.6 I expected to be luke warm so wasnt disappointed but the 2.0 was imo slow for what it is.
IMO, of the mainstream 147s, I'd pick a diesel.
I currently have a 147 gta which is a monster compared to other 147s so for me its the only one to go for but appreciate your budget/priorities are different.
I've also owned (well the wife did) a 1.6 and 2.0 147. I was unimpressed with the performance of the 2.0. The 1.6 I expected to be luke warm so wasnt disappointed but the 2.0 was imo slow for what it is.
IMO, of the mainstream 147s, I'd pick a diesel.
I test drove a 1.9JTDm 159 diesel last year and was not impressed.
Having to drive Astra diesels at work has kinda spoiled the JTD engine for me as it reminds me of an Astra, I know it's the other way around but thats my reference point, strange as I thought it was fantastic in the Astra but lacklustre in the 159, maybe it's higher expectations!.
I also note your comments about the 2.0. Looking at the figures on the AT, it seems to be similar to the 1.8TS in both manual and selespeed guises which is strange as the same engine in the 156 does 1/2 sec faster in a heavier larger car. Both are 150bhp
I would have thought the sensation of speed would be better in the smaller car anyway? Maybe coming from a GTA spoiled you?
Having to drive Astra diesels at work has kinda spoiled the JTD engine for me as it reminds me of an Astra, I know it's the other way around but thats my reference point, strange as I thought it was fantastic in the Astra but lacklustre in the 159, maybe it's higher expectations!.
I also note your comments about the 2.0. Looking at the figures on the AT, it seems to be similar to the 1.8TS in both manual and selespeed guises which is strange as the same engine in the 156 does 1/2 sec faster in a heavier larger car. Both are 150bhp
I would have thought the sensation of speed would be better in the smaller car anyway? Maybe coming from a GTA spoiled you?
Edited by alfabadass on Friday 6th February 16:28
alfabadass said:
I test drove a 1.9JTDm 159 diesel last year and was not impressed.
The 1.9JTDm in the 159 is fast enough but no more than that. We've also got a 147 with the 1.9 in it (it's the 170bhp Ducati Corse, but it's only 150bhp unless you press the button) and it's a totally different proposition.It's a bit more clattery and diesel-y (although still better than some) but in the smaller, lighter 147, it's plenty quick enough.
I wouldn't dismiss the 1.9 147 just because you didn't like the 1.9 159.
I've done 12k miles in a Sillyspeed since September without issues.
Car is now on 21k miles without breaking.
I think it's largely the same as anything else - regular maintenance is the key to reliability.
Change the gearbox oil every year, change the Sillyspeed hydraulic fluid every year and do a re-calibration at every service.
These are the kind of things that'll never happen, especially as the cars get older.
If it's working when you buy it, and you maintain it, then it shouldn't break.
Even if it does, there are numerous specialists around who can fix the Sillyspeed quite cheaply these days.
Car is now on 21k miles without breaking.
I think it's largely the same as anything else - regular maintenance is the key to reliability.
Change the gearbox oil every year, change the Sillyspeed hydraulic fluid every year and do a re-calibration at every service.
These are the kind of things that'll never happen, especially as the cars get older.
If it's working when you buy it, and you maintain it, then it shouldn't break.
Even if it does, there are numerous specialists around who can fix the Sillyspeed quite cheaply these days.
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