Monday 2nd February 2004

'Cheap' 147

New entry level model for Alfa Romeo

---

Alfa Romeo UK has just added a new entry level version to its 147 hatchback range. Available in both 3 and 5-door form, the new Alfa 147 1.6TS is positioned below the existing 147 Turismo, and is equipped with a 105bhp version of Alfa Romeo’s widely acclaimed 1.6 litre Twin Spark 16-valve engine.

The new Alfa thus has a less powerful engine than the 120bhp 1.6 Turismo and Lusso versions, but its specification is otherwise similar to Turismo.

The new Alfa Romeo 147 1.6TS has a top speed of 115mph, and 0-62mph acceleration in 11.3 seconds. Official fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 34.8mpg.

On the road price for the 3 door version in £13,350.

Links: Alfa Romeo Links, Alfa Romeo Owners

[pwig]

My god thats 1 second slower to 60 than my 214!!!


So much for alfa being a 'Performace' Brand!

Must have a word with the salesmen on sat to see what they think..

[Mon Ami Mate]

pwig said:

My god thats 1 second slower to 60 than my 214!!! So much for alfa being a 'Performace' Brand! Must have a word with the salesmen on sat to see what they think..

Pwig, if your Rover 214 does 0-62 more quickly than this 147 I'll eat both of them. Don't confuse what a car will do with what its manufacturer may claim...

[davidd]

pwig said:

My god thats 1 second slower to 60 than my 214!!!

lol and in the real world...

[pwig]

103bhp
1045kg

0-60 in 10.5 and 115 Sound plausable to me

[davidd]

So my Cerbera which is about 1100kg and has 350bhp should do about 300mph and 0-60 in 3 seconds or so.....?

hmmmm I wish

[pwig]

I dont see your point?

All im saying is my Rover is faster than that 147. Which it is, FFS its just as fast at the present 1.6. (I work at an alfa dealership btw)

Still would have a 147 over my 214 could I afford it

[davidd]

My point is that it is a bleedin' alfa so it is bound to be quicker

D.

[pwig]

Ahhhh based on fact then..

[Mon Ami Mate]

pwig said:

Ahhhh based on fact then..

Based on the same sort of fact that you base your own reasoning on. Where have you sourced the respective figures for both vehicles? Surely you must be able to have a drive in the Alfa - take one for a drive and then let us know what you think!

[pwig]

I have, both manufactures figures.

The 1.6 is not that fast

[wombat rick]

pwig said:

The 1.6 is not that fast

And it weighs about twice as much as a Rover 200.

[davidd]

drive both, I suspect the Alfa will feel more....


Involving (I was going to say italian)

[v8guinness]

Tha Alfa should be the nicer drive, but I don't see any reason for it not being slower, the 102bhp 1.4 K is a good engine (when the head gasket holds ) and the old 200 isn't that heavy compared to most modern cars, the 147 weighs pretty much the same as the 156, and thats not a light car in its class... and its only got 120bhp.

Alfa doesn't usually bring its poverty spec models to the UK, we never got the 1.4 145/6, its an interesting change of policy...

[pwig]

We wont sell many, we only really sell 1.6 lussos, hardly any tursimos, so a cheaper version is not going to do much.


>> Edited by pwig on Tuesday 10th February 17:50

[v8guinness]

Still provides a nice headline price to get showroom traffic... and Alfa dealers are a dangerous place... very easy to get very tempted!!!

[pwig]

Might attract the wrong kind of people

[ettore]

What you need to bear in mind is the well known fact that the fastest point-to-point car in Italy is the poverty spec` alfa.

Clearly alfa never brouht the 1.4 145 to the UK for fear of harming GTV sales!

[pdV6]

ettore said:

What you need to bear in mind is the well known fact that the fastest point-to-point car in Italy is the poverty spec` alfa. Clearly alfa never brouht the 1.4 145 to the UK for fear of harming GTV sales!

[apex123]

used to have a 33 1.3 did 0-60 in 10.3 but that was in the boxer days though