Alfa 147 1.6... good or bad?

[Cooky]

Hi,
Currently looking at options for something for my daughter to use as a daily driver. I can't believe the seemingly incredible value in these cars. £1500-2K seems too good to be true for a tidy 1.6 with chic styling.

As a TVR owner I'm no stranger to the pro and cons of sportscar ownership, but is there anything specific to look out for with regards to Alfa 147's

She's in the Navy and has to travel 200 miles home every couple of months, so are they are ok for longish trips up the M5/6?

Many thanks
Cooky

[jamieboy]

This thread has some good info, in amongst the noise too.

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...

We had no real problems with our 1.6 147 in the three years / 30k miles we had it.

You need to keep an eye on the oil, and I've read that some bits of suspension can wear out eventually too.

If it's occasional motorway trips it'll be fine, but from memory it's about 20mph / 1000rpm in fifth, so it can be a bit wearing.

It's not desperately fast, but once you get it going it nips along well enough.

Have a look at the buyer's guide here:
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_147.shtml

[tamore]

we frequently do london to donny and back in mrs tamore's 1.6 147. it does feel as if it's revving a little high at 'dry motorway speeds', as if it should have a 6th gear.

great car though, and so glad i managed to turn her head away from the golf he wanted.