Alfa 147...

[Shurze]

Hey guys, I have been looking for a new car and the 147 has caught my eye, and after searching around for a month or so i have come across this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

I don't know a great deal about these cars and would appreciate any tips or advice you may have, as well as whether you think this car has potential before i start traveling around.

Cheers in advance

[550Hep]

Can't get the link to work..

ETA - Could easily be because I am a retard!

Edited by 550Hep on Wednesday 14th July 18:12

[_rubinho_]

DON'T GET A SELESPEED! I'll repeat that in case you didn't take heed: DON'T GET A SELESPEED!

(linky broken so I don't know if you actually are considering one with this hateful feature)

[useyourdellusion]

_rubinho_ said:

DON'T GET A SELESPEED! I'll repeat that in case you didn't take heed: DON'T GET A SELESPEED!

(linky broken so I don't know if you actually are considering one with this hateful feature)

Yep, a mate bought one with the selespeed (against my advice). Had a few issues with it, I can't remember exactly what now. Just avoid anyway.

Manuals are supposed to be fine though. Alfa dealers are questionable (allegedly).

[Shurze]

try this one

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

it wasn't a Selespeed i was looking at, but out of curiosity, what is so bad about them?

Edited by Shurze on Wednesday 14th July 18:33

[useyourdellusion]

I'm no expert, but I think it boils down to the Italians having a go at a semi-automatic gearbox that isn't going into a sub £100k car.

[Shurze]

OK, so how about the manual versions? Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? I know italian electrics can be a bit temperamental..

[deadalfa]

I've got one (not the dead one in my user name) for a year now. It's a smellyspeed but it's lovely, I'd definitely have another.

[Si 330]

A3 s-line as an alternative?

[rallycross]

Drive one and see what you think, considering its an Alfa they are not sporty to drive, in fact a bit soft and lifeless.

look out for

noise/rattle from camshaft (variator - common problem)
check clutch - the one I had went through 2 clutches in its first 20k miles.
worn gearlinkage (gearlever lose/vague).

And dont buy a selespeed when it goes wrong (and it will) its not economical to fix and will be scrap.

They are good value and with good spec so if you like the looks and the toys and not bothered how it drives worth considering.

[_rubinho_]

useyourdellusion said:

_rubinho_ said:

DON'T GET A SELESPEED! I'll repeat that in case you didn't take heed: DON'T GET A SELESPEED!

(linky broken so I don't know if you actually are considering one with this hateful feature)

Yep, a mate bought one with the selespeed (against my advice). Had a few issues with it, I can't remember exactly what now. Just avoid anyway.

Manuals are supposed to be fine though. Alfa dealers are questionable (allegedly).

Spot on.

In fairness the car is a pretty good drive. Not super-fast but quick enough. The Selespeed was entertaining when it worked and a nightmare when it didn't. The cabin refinment and comfort was excellent. It was a GREAT chick magnet! The twinspark can drink oil and is sensitive to low levels. Check it (and top it up) regularly.

Alfa dealers are rubbish and expensive but there are some excellent specialists. If you're anywhere near Royston (Herts) I'd recommend Jamie Porter at the Alfa Workshop; a world of knowledge and great service.

[shushu]

The 1.6 is fairly economical and very rapid for what it is, and the 2 litre sounds amazing for a 4 pot. If you can, try and get one with leather seats as it makes the interior feel and look 10x better, and if your lucky get one with the factory option bose sound system, well worth it.

[Arese]

rallycross said:

And dont buy a selespeed when it goes wrong (and it will) its not economical to fix and will be scrap.

That's not entirely true now is it?

A lot of Selespeed problems can be fixed for not a lot of money by yourself, or by a specialist (of which there are a few).

I'd prefer a manual myself, but to say that a Selespeed will go wrong and then render the car worthless is very far from the truth.

OP - the one in the Autotrader link mentions nothing of cambelt changes, try and find one that has already had this done. I'd also try and find a 2.0 litre (if insurance isn't an issue), and with a decent spec (leather, etc). What's your budget?

[frosted]

I can remember having to give one a shove after it died in a car park , in reverse . The young boy also refered to it as sexy but a piece if crap in one sentence . Also offered to sort me out a few j's for my trouble to which I kindly refused

[minky monkey]

A pal of mine had one from new. Spent quite alot of time in the garage with electrical faults, and worryingly, water ingress into the cabin which the dealer never did find.

He sold it on not long after that.

Nice looking car, with rubbish dealer backup!

[Arese]

The Crack Fox said:

OP - What's the view like on Deanfield road ?

OP, ask one of your neighbours. They have a 147, 166, and a Brera!

[Dick_Phallus]

Make sure that 'FULL SERVICE!' include the cambelt change, because it's just about bang on due for it's second one and they have a habit of snapping.

I was looking for one of these a few years ago. Everything I read suggested they needed a level of maintainence above that of your standard £18k hatchback. I viewed 7 or 8 privately owned cars which were in the middle to upper part of the price range. I couldn't find one where I was satisfied that even a basic level of care had been taken. Blank looks whenever service history was mentioned, ask someone what type of oil it took at 'the garage does that'. In the end I just stopped looking. I might have been unlucky, but make sure you enquire about servicing.

[RicksAlfas]

Arese said:

The Crack Fox said:

OP - What's the view like on Deanfield road ?

OP, ask one of your neighbours. They have a 147, 166, and a Brera!

They sound like people of taste.

[Shurze]

RicksAlfas said:

Arese said:

The Crack Fox said:

OP - What's the view like on Deanfield road ?

OP, ask one of your neighbours. They have a 147, 166, and a Brera!

They sound like people of taste.

I'm not liking this level of information, its getting a bit deep lol.. and I don't think those cars are there any more, i will check though!
with regard to my budget, it is about £2,500 but could stretch further for the right car, and i will struggle to get insured on a 2.0 because im 20.
Oh yeah, and thanks for all the advice so far! (even if some of it was a bit stalkerish)

Edited by Shurze on Saturday 17th July 14:56

[p1doc]

avoid i have a 2 1/2 yr old one fron new just under 30,000 miles been in 3 times for warranty work trim falling off it and eats brake discs-2 sets so far!paintwork chips very easily-1 bit fell off while washing it and that was with a sponge lol
martin