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In 2 minds about gettin the 147

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gettin minds
3K views 53 replies 25 participants last post by  Alfa-Red 
#1 ·
hi im 19 years old and considering a 147 based on how good it looks and for the price i can get them for..but the problem is ive heard of mixed reviews about this car some saying its great but some saying that its full of problems and expensive to run.

i really want to get this car but i would like some advice on getting it ? and is it true that its full of problems and expensive to run

Cheers in advance
 
#2 · (Edited)
no, if its been looked after, sericed on time, weekly oil checks, cambelts on time etc then it will be ok. insurance is high, and this many people forget:thumbs:

And welcome to AO
 
#4 ·
I've had mine for almost two weeks now. So far it's no less or more expensive than say a Polo (which I've 'borrowed' on occasion before). Yeah, insurance is gonna frown on you. But I wasn't gonna settle for a kitchen appliance - I wanted something with a bit of grunt under the hood, so I said what the heck, I'll live with the insurance premium. I was skeptical just like you, considering the mixed reviews. I decided to put the criticism aside and settle for a 147 purely because I wanted something different, something beautiful, and something I could be proud of. I'd like to think that if you look after your Alfa, it'll look after you. And once you're hooked, you'll be saying 'Germans make cars?'.
 
#5 ·
I'd say I'm in exactly the same position, had the Alfa about 3 weeks now and while it is costing more to run (partly my fault for buying the first one I properly looked at) I'm loving every minute of it.
The positives for me are how it drives, how it looks, the sound of the engine and 'that Alfa feeling'
Negatives: cost, it will depreciate more, cost more on repairs and has a lot less space than the German cars I was looking at buying.
Oh and Alfa's b***** useless thin paint that chips if you look at it funny!

All that said, the pros completely out weigh the cons and I'm still really happy with it (despite having just got back from the petrol station with another £65 bill for fuel!)
I do find myself worrying about what the next bill will be though, will be taking it to Autolusso's Saturday checkup as soon as I can get it booked in and at least get the piece of mind that I know whats going to break!


Getting back to the original post, have a read through the forum. There's a fair few good topics on here about what to look for (like a fool I only signed up after buying!) Once you own it, get in the habit of checking the oil every week and keep it topped up!
Insurance wise at 25 mine is pretty good (actually saved about 50 quid over what my 1.6 Bora was costing me.)
 
#6 ·
Servicing, particularly the cam belt, can be expensive. Insuring anything at 19 is going to be painful, a 147 more so. It's probably not really any more expensive to run an insure than a similar spec'd Golf or A3 though.

They aren't to bad reliability wise, no where near as bad as their reputation suggests. Can be partial to a drop of oil or three though.
 
G
#9 ·
I'm the same age as you (19) and faced the same questions when buying mine. I dont know what engine 147 you are getting but my 1.6 (120bhp) does 40-42 mpg on the run. In the 17 months that i have owned it i have put 3 sets of tyres on it a new headlight bulb, new numberplate and topped up the oil every 2 weeks. Out of all my mates i would say my car has been the most reliable and fairly priced to run for the car.

Yes when you need to show all your mates that your alfa will kane their crappy zetec-s's off the lights, the fuel consumption will go down to 20 ish mpg. But it's worth it. Just look at the other cars available for the same price in the same (sorta) range, you have a Golf (1.6 painfully slow) focus (1.6-1.8) boring and common, you get the point.

They sound the nuts (and spit flames) with a streight through zorst from the manifold back with twinport exit(de-cat)


GET ONE, you wont be dissapointed.
 
#15 ·
ive just bought a 147 today. the 1.9 diesel one. it is expensive to insure, my first quote was £3400 and im 20, but managed to get it with aviva for 1900, which isnt too bad.

the thing with alfas is that they still suffer from the really bad reputation but the newer ones are as good as anything.

clarksons review sealed the deal for me.

Alfa Romeo 147 review | Used Car Reviews | Driving - Times Online
 
G
#17 ·
Every car is a lottery, but just bear in mind that if things go wrong with your Alfa, its going to cost a fair whack more to put it right. I've had little bother with mine, but a cambelt service and spark plugs cost in excess of £500, brake discs and pads weren't much less and just had the front wishbones and droplinks replaced for similar kinds of money. If your going to be stretched by insurance and or finance, you won't be able to keep it in good nick and eventually, it will let you down. Same as any car.
 
#52 ·
I wonder how many of us can say we have given the car to a garage for MOT bits and its comeback with a new problem..... quite a few.

ive just bought a 147 today. the 1.9 diesel one. it is expensive to insure, my first quote was £3400 and im 20, but managed to get it with aviva for 1900, which isnt too bad.

the thing with alfas is that they still suffer from the really bad reputation but the newer ones are as good as anything...........

I'm surpised for a 20 year old a 1.9 diesel costs so much, my V6 is 1300 and I'm 19.... and I do 20k/annum.

Wait a while, you have only had an Alfa a day................. great to learn mechanics on, unless it is near the engine bay when they shoe-horned a V6 in........ :mad:
 
#19 ·
Ok, time for me to wade in with my contradictions.

Mine has cost a absolute fortune. I felt like Dave, I even used those exact words. However, I need to put it into prospective, with a few facts.

1.) I got ripped off on the sale. I thought I was buying a well looked after and maintained car. This was not so.

2.) I was stupid enough to keep sending the car back to the same thieves every time it broke down. They had a neat trick, only fix half the issue so it'll break again and they get to charge again and again and so on. I can see that this is what was happening now that I'm deep in the engine myself.

3.) You need to put the cost of spares and servicing in line with what the car is. If you look at the costs of having a A3, 1 Series or Cleo servicing, it's much the same. Same goes for spares and repairs. You can't compare parts prices with say a Mrk 3 Golf. In that comparison the Alfa sucks and is a total money pit. It's also not the same sort of car, though.

4.) I have bad luck with cars. I've never bought a car without major engine ***** within 2 months of buying the car. These include but are not limited to, Cam belt failure X2, cooling system failure, and seized bearings.


So, my advice is this: (Not that I follow it myself, but...)

Make sure it has been looked after right. Check the service history before you pay anything. If it's been abused, it's going to cost you. Alfa's are more hi-strung than their German counterparts, and need their weekly checks and servicing. Get a looked after one and look after it and you'll be fine.

If you get a out of warranty Alfa. First thing you do is find a good local Indi Alfa specialist and make friends so you are not dependant on the dealers. It seems to me that the dealers over there are about the same as here. Useless for anything other than the parts counter and that is the next thing to useless too, but can be the only place to get some parts. While a good Indi is worth his weight in gold.

Well that's my 2c.
 
#21 ·
nope, seen alot more expensive. my mums volvo was a fortune:banghead:
 
#22 ·
Hi,

I am 20 and have had an Alfa 147 Selespeed for about a year now, during that time i have had a few issues, my car has done 51,000 miles and i had upon my own wishes the cam belts and all pulleys and the 60,000 miles service done at the same time. - £595.00

I had to have replaced the power steering pipes as well as they apparently wear as a common issue and was leaking, this was done to get it through its MOT - £150.00

The two rear (think they are called traction arms) had gone and the suspension was making a dull knock from the back, i also had the selespeed gearbox re configured as well for very little cost. - £200.00

I also get around town about 23.5MPG which is normal, HOWEVER - i love my car to bits, all of the issues are common issues of wear and tear and of use, even thought i can predict that i will have to spend more money on the car i will still keep it as owning an alfa is kind of like and infectious descise or a woman you love, however much tye play up you always find a way to forgive them.

All i will say is that i drove to Monaco in mine last year which is the longest journey it had ever done and i was in owe of how good to drive it was and how much fun i had.

Cut a long story short, unless your going to do the work yourself on your car which can be done (i dont have the time as a network manager) you will need some funds in resever to have her repaired. I have always had mine done at an alfa dealer but i know you can get it done cheaper else where.

I encorage you to get a 147 and i would say most of the time you have mande the correct descision.

Ollie
 
#23 ·
i got my 147 when i was 19 and insurance was £900 ish, im 21 now i have got it down to £650 ish with a few extras on the policy and its the best choice i could have made. i looked at 2 before buying the 1 ive got now and i was told to check it had all the service history with it and make sure the cambelt had been changed at the right time. i borrowed money in the end and kept it in the garage at home for about 6 weeks before i could drive it as i hadn't sold my other car yet so i spent time painting the calipers and tidying it up a bit and it always made me smile when i opened the garage door to see it there, for my first alfa i just kept it basic and didn't go for 1 with sat nav, cruise control or anything like that as i thought i don't want all these things as the more it had on it i thought the more could go wrong as i had heard all sorts about the reliability of alfas . everyone i know says how nice it looks and how comfortable it is and the best thing is when people think it is a 3 door and try and squeeze past the front seat to get into the back because they don't see the 'hidden' back door handle. aswell it always gets the 1 last look at as you park up and walk away from it also about the expensive to run bit? i have spent £700 on servicing and sorting a few little niggles out, not bad for a car neraly 10 years old
 
#24 ·
I was in 2 minds about getting an Alfa too. I dont have the same insurance worries as you, but reliability was my main concern - The chaps at Auto Lusso have seen my car a few times but in honesty, cars go wrong - it happens.

Two things in life are guaranteed, death and taxes - For anything else there's an Alfa.
 
#27 ·
im also 19 and the only important thing imo is insurance. Get quotes on your own policy if ur going to be driving it most, add family members 2 reduce the price (fronting is a no no). if you get a quote your happy with then defo get 147.
no other hatchback of its age or price range can compare imo. It might be unreliable, it might not. same can be said for any other used car.
good luck



Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk
 
#28 ·
Two things in life are guaranteed, death and taxes - For anything else there's an Alfa.[/QUOTE]

What a great adaption of the well known quote! And it's true........

Have had my 147 now for just over a year and it has cost a lot to put things right - some of my choosing - others through necessity, but I absolutely love it. There is something about owning and driving an Alfa - it does feel special, looks fabulous and (at least from inside anyway) does make a nice little growl when you give it some welly. I love cars anyway, but this is the first car I've owned where I actually try to find a reason to go out in it - just for the pleasure of driving. I believe Jeremy Clarkson said something along the lines of "you can't call yourself a petrolhead until you've owned at least one Alfa"........:lol:
 
#29 ·
i'd say my exp with my 156 is just as relevant.
pros
great car, will make you smile when you drive it.
girls do like it! always get purrs/coos of approval when they get in.
will be a godd car to help you learn basic mechanics and stuff - you love it enough to learn to get stuck in.

cons
high insurance
regular maintenance is more costly than other cars - a toyota will need minimal work over 5 years. this car will need various suspension parts/bushes etc. that other well made japanese cars never need. in my exp.
you get more annoyed when you find dings in the paint after a trip to tesco, as you care too much!
CAMBELTS, if you are looking at a TS, belts need doing every 36k/3 years, thats a little shorter than most manufactures - so if costs are a big deal to your choice, be aware.

but I would still say go for it. everyone should own an alfa once in their life. its expensive but i like it, and i only have a 1.6!
 
#30 ·
Alfas are lovely cars to own but I think you will find it expensive.
If you have got the money to spend then go for it because no doubt you will love it.
It is true to say there is a bit of a lottery buying cars but like a lottery you don't often win outright.
There will be maintainance costs higher then most other cars in the 147 category.
 
#32 ·
Or his Mum / Dad wouldn't lend him the money !!!!!........:rolleyes:

I would highly recommend a 147 to anyone, I have had 2 now and they have both been brilliant all round, BUT, if I had to choose I would probably tell him to go for the 147 Ti JTDm ( 1:9 Ltr 16 valve) It is a little bit more expensive to buy, but WELL worth it overall, with all the extras on it, and the diesel fuel economy is amazing, so is the torque too !!!!.......:thumbs:

Just my ( unbiased ) opinion of course.........:D
 
#40 ·
Looks nice, if you go to see it make sure they show you it's full service history and just how recent the 'recent' belt change was!

As many owners on here will attest to, an Alfa that has been looked after is no less reliable than any other car!
 
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