What are Alfa Romeo 147's like?

pippy100

Just some advice really, long story but looking at a second car(did have a thread on here regarding estates!!!Don't ask) and we cannot decide. What are alfa 147's like? We are looking at somewhere around the 02 plate and it would have to be a 5 door. Also what is the boot size like? i.e would it fit a german shepherd in? As i cannot seem to find many 5doors locally.
Anything we need to look out for, other than the obvious FSH,Cambelt change etc.
Thanks.

Flearoy

Not being funny but I wouldn't buy an Alfa Romeo of that age, unless you have a complete history and know it's been looked after extremely well. I'm not Alfa-bashing but they do tend to suffer with anything less than TLC.

Not sure a hatchback is that great for a German Shepherd either... but then I do have a 2001 Mondeo Estate with a monster boot (lovely examples sell for around £1500!).

LandyAndy

vs.

Flearoy

Very true LandyAndy. Forgot to mention to the OP that if peeling paintwork and novelty electrics don't bother them, the fact that 147s look great might be a deciding factor.

Inactive

The wallet usually wins with an Alfa.;)

sebdangerfield

One of the most fun cars I've ever owned. Huge spec for the price, make sure you get the Bose 8 speaker stereo, heated seats and dual zone climate as most had this. If you can, try to get connect nav+ it was a near £2000 option when new but hardly adds to the price now. It'l give sat nav, voice control and a decent phone. I have it on mine and the sat nav isn't the best but the phones as good as any I've tried.

Do not even look at anything without full service history either from a stealer or a specialist. Check the oil as most neglect it and if it's not changed/topped up between services it will run dry by the next service and WILL cause huge failure. As will the cam belt. Alfa used to reccomend a change every 72000 miles which was a fairly short time for a belt anyway but due to failures they changed it to 36000 miles or three years but many owners dont know and run to 72000 thinking the sevice schedule has been stuck to. It hasn't and it will blow up!

Try the alfa owners club for classifieds, more chance the car's been looked after.

Make sure you have a good independant specialist nearby for servicing. My cats went 6 months ago of which the car has three! Alfa quoted C£3600 for parts and labour. Likewise, the tdc sensor and thermostat, £680, cam belt change, not including service £989, including service £1430. Very expensive to maintain! The specialist in Wolverhampton were fantastic and charge £60 per hour labour but use Alfa parts so it's still cost me more to run than my noble!

To sum up, you'll be hard pressed to get similar spec and style for the money.

To sum up part two, get the 3.2! (The 2.0 twinny's nice too!) :j

sebdangerfield

P.s It will go wrong. Carry a good book in the glove box. We all do!

Heliflyguy

There is a helpful Alfa forum I used to spend a lot of time on

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/

My 146 (black 1.8) was never a problem in its own right until a cambelt change when I didnt have to water pump changed at the same time
Twin spark engines (8 spark plugs to change £70.00) are sweet but to go with the cambelt advice you may also need (probably will) to change the variator (advances and retards the ignition) add another £90.00 for that part alone although they are servicable, 2.0 ltr models also have another belt.
I loved the 33 engine, nice sound, great handling, (so was the 146) but rusty as hell, Alfa seem to have solved that there was not a spot on my 146.
Just as the chaps on TG said they love Alfas but would never advise anyone to buy one and dont forget at the end of the day its a Fiat.

Exemplar

Beautiful looking, great drive, you will end up on the side of the road with the bonnet up....but you will still look stylish. AVOID SELESPEEDS! Other than that my head says avoid 3.2, my heart wants to take my head outside and batter it.

sebdangerfield

Ah, good point with the selespeeds. The most unreliable bit of crap ever put into a car!

I see your reasoning with the 3.2 aswell, I'm getting 19mpg at best! Saying that, it's actually cheaper to service and more reliable than the 2.0 twinny I had before. Seems daft but less spark pugs and easier to remove the cam belt apparently. I'm not complaining!

pippy100

O.k, agreed nice looking car!!! But from you are all saying is, it's only skin deep.
Don't think i will bother then.
What about mondeo's? I think i would prefer a hatchback as the estates are huge!!!
As for the dog going in it, for what it's worth she would probably be in only once -twice a week on average and not for really long journey's maybe an hour at any one time.
But like everyone i want a lot for my money, Zetec or ghia but is it worth paying more for the Ghia in your opinion?
Thanks again.