What are Alfa Romeo 147's like?

Exemplar

Buy the 147, buy a warranty (a good one or if from a dealer insist on a 12 month full warranty). Make sure service book is fully stamped including everything!!! Then when you buy it stand and look at it next to a Mongreyo and just be pleased with yourself! you have purchased one of the most amazing looking cars on the planet!

sebdangerfield

pippy100 wrote: »

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.

Not at all, you shouldn't be put off. I've had no problems at all with mine that wasn't normal wear and tear. It's just the dealers and original parts can be very expensive.

I just urge you to get a perfect one. There are loads about so don't settle for anything less than buying one from someone who's aware of all the things mentioned above, that means they know about it and have looked after it. I'd even go as far as saying i'd prefer to buy from a private seller so you can directly ask the seller and get a feel for how the car's been looked after. I work with a guy who I sold my old 2.0 to when I bought the 3.2 and mentioned to him the cost of topping up the oil every week. He said something like, "Oh, it's not used any at all since i've had it." I explained that Alfa recommend to check the oil every other fuel stop and looked at his oil, needless to say, there was none and the engine only lasted another few weeks!

Don't be put off, I've been lucky enough to own some really sought after cars and the 147 I currently own will always be one of the best. You really won't get spec anywhere near it for the price.

pippy100

sebdangerfield wrote: »

Not at all, you shouldn't be put off. I've had no problems at all with mine that wasn't normal wear and tear. It's just the dealers and original parts can be very expensive.

I just urge you to get a perfect one. There are loads about so don't settle for anything less than buying one from someone who's aware of all the things mentioned above, that means they know about it and have looked after it. I'd even go as far as saying i'd prefer to buy from a private seller so you can directly ask the seller and get a feel for how the car's been looked after. I work with a guy who I sold my old 2.0 to when I bought the 3.2 and mentioned to him the cost of topping up the oil every week. He said something like, "Oh, it's not used any at all since i've had it." I explained that Alfa recommend to check the oil every other fuel stop and looked at his oil, needless to say, there was none and the engine only lasted another few weeks!

Don't be put off, I've been lucky enough to own some really sought after cars and the 147 I currently own will always be one of the best. You really won't get spec anywhere near it for the price.

Oh my head is mashed!!! We don't know enough about Alfa's to know what to look for, so the comments are scaring me. But they are soooo nice!!!! What size engine would you recommend? With a budget of £2.5-3k and has to be 5door i can't seem to find many local or localish(is that a word?) Can someone advise of where to look or what i would be looking for for that price?
I have had a mondeo before and as much as i liked it and had no problems, i want something different.

pippy100

sebdangerfield- i have just read your previous post about getting the 3.2 what insurance group is that? and certainly haven't seen one locally they all seem to be 1.6.
I need one that isn't going to cost me too much just to get it on the road, i will probably be doing less than 10k miles unless the husband decides to steal it as he's always been a fan of alfa's!

Exemplar

3.2 is insurance group clean record, garage, good area and big no claims bonus! BUT the noise, the wheels mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Had a 3.0 GTV and, whilst not as good as the 3.2, still made the most amazing noise, so much so I would wind the window down in traffic and blip the loud pedal just to hear it!

sebdangerfield

pippy100 wrote: »

Oh my head is mashed!!! We don't know enough about Alfa's to know what to look for, so the comments are scaring me. But they are soooo nice!!!! What size engine would you recommend? With a budget of £2.5-3k and has to be 5door i can't seem to find many local or localish(is that a word?) Can someone advise of where to look or what i would be looking for for that price?
I have had a mondeo before and as much as i liked it and had no problems, i want something different.

For that price you'd be looking at the 2.0 or the two different 1.6s. Never owned the 1.6s but I'm aware they are either 105bhp or 120bhp and the 2.0 is 150 bhp but all have similar fuel economy. Best thing to look of r is someone who's owned that car for a long time, you tend to get cars which have several owners in quick succession and with an Alfa that generally means it's been got rid of because of a problem or a big service! Take a look on pistonheads.com, there are a few but I traveled from Brum to Newcastle to get mine as there aren't that many good ones about!

sebdangerfield

alcot33uk wrote: »

3.2 is insurance group clean record, garage, good area and big no claims bonus! BUT the noise, the wheels mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Had a 3.0 GTV and, whilst not as good as the 3.2, still made the most amazing noise, so much so I would wind the window down in traffic and blip the loud pedal just to hear it!

To be fair, I think the old 3.0 in your GTV's a much better engine. The last of the Alfa v6s I think? The 3.2's a general motors lump with a few Alfaish mods to make it sound better.

I had a GTV too, now that was expensive to run! I met a friend of a friend at a wedding who had a Ferrari 355 in 2004. We obviously got to discussing cars and it turns out, over the year he'd owned the car he'd spent the same as me on repairs and maintainance!:eek:

Chocolate80

Ok, totally novice reply coming up...

My friend owns a 2001 1.6 Alfa 147. She loves it but they do need a lot of attention and aren't cheap to service etc. Buuuuut, boy does it accelerate nicely in 3rd

Having said all that, have you considered a Mazda 3? Stunning cars! And no, I'm not being sarcastic there!

goldspanners

pippy100 wrote: »

sebdangerfield- i have just read your previous post about getting the 3.2 what insurance group is that? and certainly haven't seen one locally they all seem to be 1.6.
I need one that isn't going to cost me too much just to get it on the road, i will probably be doing less than 10k miles unless the husband decides to steal it as he's always been a fan of alfa's!

sebdangerfield wrote: »

To be fair, I think the old 3.0 in your GTV's a much better engine. The last of the Alfa v6s I think? The 3.2's a general motors lump with a few Alfaish mods to make it sound better.

I had a GTV too, now that was expensive to run! I met a friend of a friend at a wedding who had a Ferrari 355 in 2004. We obviously got to discussing cars and it turns out, over the year he'd owned the car he'd spent the same as me on repairs and maintainance!:eek:

getting a car on the road and keeping it there with a limited budget doesn't scream alfa romeo to me im afraid.
if you can't afford to buy with your heart then don't. buy with your head.

Exemplar

OK, confession time here, late 80's my mate bought a GTV flat 4 Boxer and I said 'what do you want to buy that heap of s*** for, blinkin rust bucket'. He then took me out in it on the Acle straight (between Acle and Gt. Yarmouth) and we were pootling along and he said 'open the window and stick your head out' so I did. Then he dropped it from 5th to 3rd and booted it....... That was it, I was a convert........ Bloody things....