What are Alfa Romeo 147's like?

pippy100

Just to give you an idea of how my criteria has changed since looking for my car. From asking on a reliable estate car to put the dog(German Shepherd) in, to a 3 door Alfa!!! Oh how easily i'm persuaded!!
Dog what dog?!!;)
Do you think the dog will appreciate the Alfa?

goldspanners

Inactive wrote: »

Surely no car is " fun " if it regularly breaks down and requires constant attention, that would not be my idea of fun.;)

it can be fun if you have the time and space to do the repairs yourself and you enjoy getting your hands dirty.

sebdangerfield

Inactive wrote: »

Surely no car is " fun " if it regularly breaks down and requires constant attention, that would not be my idea of fun.;)

There aren't that many cars that get petrol head's blood racing that are utterly reliable. To name the ones I've owned;

Very old air cooled 911 (for about a month until it spontaneously combusted!)
Lotus Elise
Noble M12
Alfa GTV V6
Alfa 147 2.0 twinny
Alfa 147 GTA 3.2
Renaultsport Clio V6
TVR Chimaera (again set fire to itself a few times!)

Not one of those could ever be described as reliable but each and every one had car fans under them, in them and asking questions about them every time I filled up. And they were very, very fun! I've also owned other, super-reliable fast cars like an S3, old RS4 and a 335 but none of those were ever as fun as any of the above, Including when I was sitting at the side of the road waiting for recovery!

In fact, the best motoring stories I have, have been after breaking down in the "unreliable cars" more so than hooning around the Nürburgring in the germanic boringness like the RS4. Far, far more fun to have what the soul desires and live life (and meet nice people in brittany who can make your clio v6 stop ticking over at 6000rpm). :beer:

andygb

sebdangerfield wrote: »

In fact, the best motoring stories I have, have been after breaking down in the "unreliable cars" more so than hooning around the Nürburgring in the germanic boringness like the RS4. Far, far more fun to have what the soul desires and live life (and meet nice people in brittany who can make your clio v6 stop ticking over at 6000rpm). :beer:

Here is an Alfa 156 3.0 litre V6 doing a not too shabby 8m 39s lap of the Nordschleife

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ptPQW4irXk&feature=related

The road cars sound like this as well.

Oh yes, I never saw it break down once!;):rotfl::rotfl:

sebdangerfield

Yup, V6s rock! They can even make Ford mondeo V6s sound good now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D04-H-n4fDw

Not mine. Obviously*!














* Driven by a yank, with far more skill than I!!!!

andygb

I wonder if I will ever be able to afford one of these as a second car in ten years time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX93trcL57o

Kilty_2

An Alfa would be my first choice of a second car tbh - just need to wait until I'm employed by a company that will bear the worry of my first (boring repmobile) car!

Inactive

sebdangerfield wrote: »

but none of those were ever as fun as any of the above, Including when I was sitting at the side of the road waiting for recovery!

Strange idea of fun, in my book...:eek:

Oh well, good job we are all different I suppose.

luap2411

Thanks for all the positive stuff about my objective(ish) view. Now for some emotional views...I've had the car nearly 4 years, can't bear to sell it, even considered keeping it under a blanket in the garage when the time comes for a 159 Mad but it sums up the passion thing

Now back to the Mr Sensible hat...I have two kids and two Dalmatians, so the solution here was simple. i bought the wife a 12 month old Vectra hatch with a boot liner, dogs, no problem :rotfl:

pippy100

Well, we went and test drove a couple of 147's today they were only 3 doors where as i would like 5door but 1 was a 1.6 ts and the other a 2.0 ts and it gave me a feel of what to expect.
I like them!!!:D
They were both lusso but the 1.6 was an 02plate and the 2.0 was an 05 and i preferred the interior of the 05 as the dashboard was different and nicer and for obvious reasons the newer plate felt nicer!!!
But i am still struggling to find any decent 147's within a reasonable distance to us. We also went to have a look at one that had leather interior and sat nav/comms pack and have decided i do not like leather seats.
But i will keep looking!!
If you guys can give any more advice then please feel free.
Thanks.