Thinking of a replacement for my ageing Honda Civic (1995 era). I've loved its faultless reliability, go-cart handling and ability to swallow bikes + camping gear and even my whole self with the back seats down (I've slept in the back of it a few times, quite comfortably!).
Like the look of the Alfa 147 and I'm guessing a 2001-2 ish era one might go for under 2K, maybe less? But I can't seem to find much info about this on Parkers..
What are they like? A nice experience, or one best avoided?
Mrs Surfer had the 2.0 Selespeed, 2004 model.
Went great and was fun to drive. Remarkably well screwed together and felt very good over the bumps.
Its the 2nd Alfa we have had and both were good however if/when things go wrong they cost much more to fix.
Probably best to avoid the Selespeed.
I have had 3 alfas in a row now (2x156, 1xGT)- the first was a bit of trouble but the other two have been good - gave the last one away to a mate so it could be thrashed around some more.
The 2.0 TS engine is great but there isn't much room in the back for your bikes.
Take it to an Alfa independant for servicing rather than the main dealer. If you south of London there are several to choose from.
Had a 1.6 petrol as my first car. Really nice to drive, cheap to buy. just got rid of my 2001 as it was just starting to get a bit ropey, only got £1000 part ex for it though. Watch that its had the servicing shedule sticked to ridgidly, alfas are best like that and also check the oil level, they need to be checked every so often and you dont want one thats been run low. Also check the exhaust box for solidity they can rust (and they look a bit shit like that)
Great handling and great for sticking bikes in though, nice engine note like all alfas too 
+ 1 for find your local alfa independant
ps i traded in for a Mito
Barge and pole spring to mind here. Had a 147 as a company car back in '02 and it spent more time in the garage than it did with me. There was a major fault with the electrics, basically the engine management system would go into 'get home safe' mode. They replaced the ECU, complete wiring loom and dashboard but eventually they said there was nothing more they could do. Each time you went over 60mph the management system went mental and just started beeping at you.
Saying that.... lovely car to drive, for a 1.6 petrol it went very well, well put together inside, comfy on long journeys.....
I took my first 156 in for some more work once there was a guy with a 2.5litre 156, with the big wing on the back. I asked him if he had any problems and he reeled off a list of just about everything that could have gone wrong.
He said it was a lease car and he was negotiating to buy it from them.
Another mate had one as a company car - he was a civil engineer and said it now took much longer to get between jobs, as instead of trundling up the motorway he would take any decent A road (or smaller) he could find.
When I picked up my second 156 I had to stop at the traffic lights at the end of a nice A road on the drive home. My face was aching as I wasn't used to grinning so much...
We've just got a Mito for Mrs Blobby. First dip of the toe into Alfa waters. Looks lovely, goes nicely, and no mechanicals so far. I'd be weary of older Alfas. The chap at the dealership ensured me that QC on the new ones are a lot better these days... and I'm sure a car salesman would never be anything other than honest with me
Drove down to the alps biking in mine 147 and not only did i do the whole thing in one day without feeling terrible i also decided that the mt blanc tunnel was too easy and the st bernards pass might be more fun
it was bloody fantastic even in a baby 1.6
p.s. too add to the general lovage of old alfas i am v keen to own something with a 3L arese V6 one day. how is the Gt Turner? it could be a 3L one of those can u get a bike in them?
Whats Bad
Alfa 147
Poor score in 2001 NCAP crash tests.
Paddle shift arrangement for Selaspeed on 147 doesn't work very well. Not a great drive.
Paint problems with solid lacquered black.
FIAT/Alfa joint worst for breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. Alfa Romeo 2nd least reliable of 31 makes of car in 2002 'Which?' reliability survey cars 2000 - 2002; 3rd least reliable cars 1997 - 1999. Alfa Romeo had fourth highest warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 155.10 v/s lowest 31.93). Average for breakdowns and faults and poor for problems in 2003 Which survey. 22nd from bottom out of 137 models in 2003 Top Gear survey. 147 joint 10th bottom model and Alfa Romeo bottom marque in 2004 JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. Alfa Romeo 5th bottom of Reliability Index for 2004 combining average cost of repair of £392.88 with high 39.55 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies. Link:- http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk Came 6th from bottom in 2005 JD Power/What Car Survey of 23,000 cars reg Sep 2002 to Aug 2003 with satisfaction score of 72.5%. Joint 3rd from bottom in 2007 UK J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey with 74.4% score.
What to Watch Out For
Timing belt failures of 4 cylinder twin sparks extremely common. They can fail in as little as 25,000 miles. Timing belts, tensioners and toothed/non toothed plastic rollers need changing way before original scheduled 72k miles. See TSB to change them at 36k or 4 years whichever comes first. Also need new waterpumps because pumps are driven by timing belts and if they fail the belt gets flung off. On diesels, water pumps can also fail, flinging off the timing belts.
Early problems with Selaspeed gearbox actuator and long wait for replacement parts.
Bosch 'hot film' Mass Airflow Sensors seem to be failing regularly.
Several reports of 2.0 litre engine failures in 156s due to oil starvation when engines were full of oil points a finger at oil pump failure.
Witches brew of problems. This is just one owner's experience:-
"Here is a list of my faults of which most are on the AA report.
1) Selespeed failure to engage gear. Leaving car in dangerous position. Normally happens when on roundabout or turn when engine cold. Alfa dealer has had car in 4 times and not solved problem.
2) Alarm goes off when boot is unlocked with remote control.
3) Boot plastic gutter trim not secure at rear edge, hatch not
aligned.
4) Oil leak.
5) Positive terminal battery cover broken.
6) CD Player skips on normal CDs even when car stationary.
7) Front Windscreen washers very poor.
Power Steering fluid level below minimum.
9) Handbrake cable on left not fitted properly to floor bracket.
10) Timing belt cover not fitted correctly, gap at top and loose.
11) Carpet hanging out of passenger front lower trim.
12) Carpet loose on side of center console.
13) Alternator fails to charge battery.
14) Only 25 to 26mpg.
15) Engine uses oil.
Other problems:
16) Rattles from Door trims.
17) Rattles from rear seats.
18) Rear seats not locking in position.
19) Sunroof blind completely missing.
20) Sunroof fails to open.
21) Finish keeps coming off Selespeed Paddles on steering wheel.
22) The Climate Control keeps going to HIGH and MAX."
Recalls
September 2002: TSB issued to change timing belts and tensioners at 36,000 miles rather than 72,000 miles. 1-10-2003: Possible fire risk during warm up phase on just 6 cars ZFA937---3084119 to 3171718 and 5041468 to 5097241.
07/12/2007R/2007/174ALFA ROMEO147, GT, 159, Brera and Spiderbrakes may fail. Chassis numbers ZAR93900005021630 to ZAR93900005021749. Build dates20/11/2007 to 22/11/2007
GT is nice and I can lay my bike out in the back with the front wheel off, but the 2nd 156 I had - 2.oTS with sportpack - was like a limpet on the road and so the GT is a little dissppointing compared.
The camber on the 156 was a little off spec with more toe-in but cornering was superb and I never had any worries about miscooking a corner.
When I first got it I took the wife out and said 'look at this' as I ripped it round a corner. I looked over and she had her face planted against the window with her hand against the glass - it had turned so quick
The GT is better since I canned the nasty Pirellis and put some asymmetric Eagle F1s on, but still not as much of a limpet.
The 2.0 jtd does feel like it has more than 10bhp more than the 2.0 litre TS, which I felt was a little flat below 2.75k revs.
They do say that Alfa owners are always advised to keep a good book in the glove compartment...
But it is good for job interviews when they ask you "What risks have you taken recently?" and I can say that I recently bought my 3rd Alfa in a row...
Turning circle is rubbish but I love mine, I just cant park it! Bit tight to get a my bike in but doable, more importantly for me difficult to get the buggy in and when you do can't get anything else in
My mate had a 156 2.5V6, lovely car but ultimately it cost a fortune and was scrapped at 100k with crankshaft 'float'.
He went looking for a 147GTA to replace it, took me, and got a 3.2 Brera 4wd instead...
Great car, but its more GT than sportscar - which I like, but really ought to be an auto.
I had a new one, for a fortnight...
First morning after picking it up, random warning lights came on. told me it was disabling the ABS and, eventually, told me there was water in the diesel filter. It was a 2L petrol...
Got my money back and bought an Impreza with all the cash in my pocket....
Rachel
Having said that, the rest of my family all have Alfas and I used to until the 147. I'll admit that my father does get an employee discount (though employed by a supplier, not Alfa) and even then they have all had niggling problems on occasion.
Good fun cars, though. Just learn to be amused by the problems...
Rachel
no_eyed_deer - Member
Thinking of a replacement for my ageing Honda Civic (1995 era).
Have had a 164, 166, 155, 75 and now have a 156, they have their quirks but as long as you accept that and expect them to try your patience now and again you will love it, In all the years I've had them I have never been let down by one, also, they are cheap as chips. My 156 just passed 130k last week, still pulls like a train and returns 35 mpg unless you give it grief. On a side note, the 75 is the best handling car I have ever driven. If you get a 147 there is every likelihood it will cause you problems at some time but so could any car ( other than your honda You will spend money on front suspension regularly.
I have a new 159 Sportwagon and so far (please don't let me curse it!!!) it's been faultless.
It's awesome to drive, pretty quick, big enough for a couple of bikes and looks amazing.
What I really like about it is that in the same style and price bracket we could have got an Audi A4 or BMW Touring but every man and his mate has one whereas the Alfa is that little bit more 'exclusive'. *
* this could well be because they're all in the garage being fixed!
Looked at a GT myself recently, very pretty car, but reliability and poor dealer back up locally put me off, bought a leon FR instead which is fantastic so far
I'd love an alfa but the daft Irish government wants 615 Euro Road Tax for a 2l car. Maybe at some other point...
I bought a new Alfa 147 in 2003 other models are more reliable, but my 2.0 lusso 147 had 3 engines in 60k miles mainly due to fact alfa uk replaced timing belts at 75k intervals rather then 30 that mainland europe suggest, they treated failures as waranty jobs, so in the 18 months I had it it was off the road for 3 months whilst they waited for engines or parts to be shipped. The alfa (fiat) dealer dealer was the worst part of whole experience.
MPG wasn\t too bad what I expected 33 ish but after problems meant in bearly got above 27 which is pretty horrendous.
Its a world away from the reliability of a civic. Lokks nice is pleasent to be in and a part of me still looks at alfa's and wants one, but my management band alfa's from company scheme after mine. And even privately she who must be obeyed wouldn't ever allow.
My 147 was fun
If it sounds like a diesel, then the vvt is shagged, check when it last had a belt change, I'd buy another in a heartbeat. Great cars to drive HOWEVER, I reckon if you got a bad one, it'd ruin you, mentally and financially.
I've had a 156,I've currently got a 147 and I'll be swapping that for a MiTo in the not to distant future.
I get 45mpg on a motorway run (its a 1.6) and overall it averages just a touch over 40mpg. Its well built, got loads of gucci kit like full leather, dual zone climate control, electric windows all round, cruise control and all that.
Keep on top of the servicing, if it sound like a diesel on start up then its the variator on the way out. Doesn't do any harm,just sounds bad. Cam belts are 36000 miles or three years.
Indies are far cheaper than main dealers for any work you may need doing.
Mines been reliable but I have a mate who's got a Honda Civic that's given him loads of trouble!
My mate had one. He said that the best way to get to drive a Fiat was to own an Alfa 147 as it was always in the garage and he ended up driving the courtest car (Fiat) all the time...
We had a 2003 147 1.6 Lusso.Great little car,better built than the 156 and Spider that preceeded it.
120bhp 1.6 is a sweet motor,not endowed with torque but use the revs and it goes quite nicely.
Steering is very quick,and takes some getting used to it,decent levels of kit.Had no problems at all with ours in 3 years of ownership,but avoid the main dealers and find tourself a decent Alfa specialist.
Have a look at http://www.alfaowner.com for more info
Mine is a 2.0 JTS, whereas I said JTD earlier - but it and the previous 2.0 TS 156 both get about an extra 50-60 miles out of a tank if I use Shell V-Power, plus they run with more torque.
I had a 145 twinspark which was absolutely brilliant. It was a 1.6 and made you want to rev it to the redline as often as possible. Several times a week, I'd take a massive detour across the South Yorks moors on the way home.
It never broke down although I had some trouble with the brakes once. Only downside was that tyres and brake pads tended to not last very long...
I would have kept it longer but it was written off when hit from behind. A very sad day, made much worse by replacing it with a dog of a 306XSi.
Unfortunately I missed the 147 and now have a 156 sportwagon, 1.9 JTD Ti, which is great too. No trouble at all. The suspension is a little fragile, I suspect a combination of light components and stiff springs, part of what make it so much fun on the B roads. Besides some suspensions parts, in 18 months I've had a split turbo hose (about £50) and a flat battery.
I've never had a 147 but if I wanted a car of that size and age, would buy one without any hesitation.
If you're near Leeds - Turin Motors. Servicing and repairs rather than sales, but they're brilliant.
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