Is the 147 Q2 any good?

[flattotheboards]

I am currently looking at facelift 147's (06-07) in particular the 150bhp jtd 16v. The models that I am looking at are the Ti and the Q2.

As the Q2 models are a little more pricey im just wanting to know if it makes much difference to the way that the car drives, and whether its worth spending a little more to get one. I understand that you can get the Q2 diff fitted afterwards but isnt it around £500? And by the time youve had that done I feel that I might as way have gone and bought one with it already.

[RicksAlfas]

By all accounts, yes it is excellent.

[V6Alfisti]

The Q2 diff is a marvel, definitely worth the extra original outlay if you are a keen driver.

Transfers the torque between the wheels, therefore reducing understeer.

Retrofitted it does cost around the £500 mark

Edited by V6Alfisti on Sunday 8th March 17:03

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Oh yes!

I had one fitted to my GTA, and the traction out of corners was phenomenal. Also, it eliminated any torque steer.

[flattotheboards]

So thats decided then - I will be getting a 147 with the Q2 diff. However what spec would you recommend? I understand that the Ti is basically a Lusso with a few extras - is this true? What is the Q2 model based on?

[jamieboy]

flattotheboards said:

I understand that the Ti is basically a Lusso with a few extras - is this true? What is the Q2 model based on?

I think they're both based on the Lusso with extra bits, just with different extra bits on each - I think the one you're talking about is properly called the "Sport Q2"

With the 147 coming near the end of its life, there have been a few special editions - I think the TI was the first of them, then the Collezione, the Sport and Sport Q2, and most recently the Ducati Corse.

[flattotheboards]

jamieboy said:

flattotheboards said:

I understand that the Ti is basically a Lusso with a few extras - is this true? What is the Q2 model based on?

I think they're both based on the Lusso with extra bits, just with different extra bits on each - I think the one you're talking about is properly called the "Sport Q2"

With the 147 coming near the end of its life, there have been a few special editions - I think the TI was the first of them, then the Collezione, the Sport and Sport Q2, and most recently the Ducati Corse.

Cheers for that Jamie,

Would I be right in thinking that the Collezione and the Sport are the 120bhp versions whilst the Sport Q2 is the 150 bhp version.

I would love to get a Ducati Corse as they look great and must be pokey with the 170 bhp engine but they are just a little bit out of my price range.

It must have been the Sport Q2 that I have seen advertised on autotrader then, I just presumed that because it didnt say sport in the title it was a slightly different model.

[jamieboy]

flattotheboards said:

Would I be right in thinking that the Collezione and the Sport are the 120bhp versions whilst the Sport Q2 is the 150 bhp version.

I think that's right, and the TI was 150bhp too.

flattotheboards said:

I would love to get a Ducati Corse as they look great and must be pokey with the 170 bhp engine but they are just a little bit out of my price range.

It's a really fun little car. I think the Q2 probably adds more to the 'fun' of it than the extra 20bhp, to be honest, so I don't think you'll be missing out on an awful lot with the Sport Q2.

[flattotheboards]

jamieboy said:

flattotheboards said:

Would I be right in thinking that the Collezione and the Sport are the 120bhp versions whilst the Sport Q2 is the 150 bhp version.

I think that's right, and the TI was 150bhp too.

flattotheboards said:

I would love to get a Ducati Corse as they look great and must be pokey with the 170 bhp engine but they are just a little bit out of my price range.

It's a really fun little car. I think the Q2 probably adds more to the 'fun' of it than the extra 20bhp, to be honest, so I don't think you'll be missing out on an awful lot with the Sport Q2.

Cheers for that Jamie. What spec is your Ducati Corse?

The Q2 diff is definately on my wish list then. It all comes down to my budget I would prefer to buy a Sport Q2 however if they haven't fallen into my budget when I end up buying one then I will get a Ti and get it fitted to that.

[V6Alfisti]

flattotheboards said:

jamieboy said:

flattotheboards said:

Would I be right in thinking that the Collezione and the Sport are the 120bhp versions whilst the Sport Q2 is the 150 bhp version.

I think that's right, and the TI was 150bhp too.

flattotheboards said:

I would love to get a Ducati Corse as they look great and must be pokey with the 170 bhp engine but they are just a little bit out of my price range.

It's a really fun little car. I think the Q2 probably adds more to the 'fun' of it than the extra 20bhp, to be honest, so I don't think you'll be missing out on an awful lot with the Sport Q2.

Cheers for that Jamie. What spec is your Ducati Corse?

The Q2 diff is definately on my wish list then. It all comes down to my budget I would prefer to buy a Sport Q2 however if they haven't fallen into my budget when I end up buying one then I will get a Ti and get it fitted to that.

More info on the Ducati Corse

http://www.alfa147ducati.co.uk/

[flattotheboards]

What are your views on depreciation in the next couple on months on these cars?

Iv had a look at the whatcar? depreciation index (i know its not accurate) and it seems to reckon that they are around £8k at a year old, yet looking in the classifieds they are about £11k.

[pano amo]

I've got the Q2 on my 147 gta and I think its great. It does not turn the car into a non-torque steering, zero understeering car. I can still easily provoke both if I really want to.
The Q2 pushes out the limit quite considerably.

[jamieboy]

pano amo said:

I've got the Q2 on my 147 gta and I think its great. It does not turn the car into a non-torque steering, zero understeering car. I can still easily provoke both if I really want to.
The Q2 pushes out the limit quite considerably.

I'd go along with that. It doesn't transform the 147 from a fwd shopping car into a Caterham-baiting track weapon, but it does make it into a much, much more fun fwd shopping car.

[flattotheboards]

Thanks for all of your advice
Are there any decent Alfa dealers in the Leeds area? I would like to have a look around some 147's and have a chat.

[RicksAlfas]

Depending which side of Leeds you are on, Dews at Brighouse (just off J25 M62) or Piccadilly at Knaresborough are both excellent. My current Alfa came from Dews and I can't fault them. Far better than the "old breed" of Alfa dealers...

[flattotheboards]

RicksAlfas said:

Depending which side of Leeds you are on, Dews at Brighouse (just off J25 M62) or Piccadilly at Knaresborough are both excellent. My current Alfa came from Dews and I can't fault them. Far better than the "old breed" of Alfa dealers...

Thanks for that Rick, I thought that I would ask because I want to talk to a knowledgeable dealer that knows what they are talking about rather than somebody just waffling on.

Anbody got any views on depreciation? Sorry if its a sore subject.

[jamieboy]

flattotheboards said:

Anbody got any views on depreciation? Sorry if its a sore subject.

With the market the way it is, predicting depreciation is going to be pretty much guess-work.

One thing that will likely hit 147 values is the launch of the 149 - this time next year-ish?

[flattotheboards]

Thanks everyone

It turns out that Dews are the nearest to where I live so I will pop up there in the next week or so.

I would have thought that some of the newer (06-57) cars will lose around 2k within the next 9 months or so, does that sound reasonable or not?

[flattotheboards]

A bit of an update, Iv got a couple of days off work at the moment so I have been into Dews today to have a chat matthew the salesman (nice knowledgeable chap) and a look around the cars. Had a look at the 147 Ducati Corse that was in the showroom which is really nice and also the Mito.

The 147 is even nicer than I thought, the interior was great imo everything nicely to hand, felt like I was cocooned. The seats were great and the dials not only looked nice but were easy to read. So basically I am sold on one

The Mito was also very nice definately a grower. I didnt like it when it came out, then when I oredered a brochure for the 147 I also got one for the Mito just out of interest to find out more about them and then when I walked into the showroom today Just thought that it looked quite nice, not as nice as the 147, 159 or brera but better than its rivals. And it has a nice interior as well, I would definately consider one.

Im looking forward to joining the Alfa fold later this year

[RicksAlfas]

Matthew at Dews looked after me too. Good guy.