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Anyone Own A 'New' 147?

2K views 43 replies 24 participants last post by  slaterk 
#1 ·
I've never seen a 'new shape' 147 on the roads. Anyone on here own one?
 
#27 ·
Silver 3-door down the road from me. No thank you. Had an old style one and wasn't one of the selling points that Alfa banged on about the lovely 'face' the car had? That was one of the reasons I bought one - it looked beautiful. New one looks too mainstream IMHO.
 
#28 ·
I have just test drove a new 2005 147 M-Jet at my local Alfa stealers and I have to say I was unimpressed, I did not like the instrument binnacle being as 'one' instead of three, the bright chrome edging around the centre console looked tacky and cheap however the leather 'GTA style' door panel gets the thumbs up - I think I will wait to buy a GT or new 149 when it comes out! Anyone else apart from Village Idiot driven one yet?
 
#29 ·
it's funny many feel the old 147 looked better since many car mag reviews think the new is better. personally, i think the new is sleeker, less sporty. so it really is a matter of taste as some prefer less sporty looks. interior wise, the only improvement is the chrome at the asthray and the dash area, being less rough. while the white dials are helps visibility, the single instrument cluster loses out to the old three circle cluster.
 
#30 ·
trento said:
it's funny many feel the old 147 looked better since many car mag reviews think the new is better. personally, i think the new is sleeker, less sporty. so it really is a matter of taste as some prefer less sporty looks. interior wise, the only improvement is the chrome at the asthray and the dash area, being less rough. while the white dials are helps visibility, the single instrument cluster loses out to the old three circle cluster.
The only fair thing to say is that it's a matter of taste. For example, I have just seen a picture of the clocks in the 'old' 147 and realised just how much I prefer my new ones!
 
#31 ·
Already seen a few of them on the road and in the showroom.
To me it seems like Alfa changed the styling so that the boy racers (or rice racers ;) ) would begin to like and buy them, thus increasing sales.
Unfortunatly, the car has become more dull (when comparing to an old one), more for the average Joe (which I think no alfa driver would like to be called).
Also, the triming inside may be beter, the clocks are not!
They had the nerve of replacing those gorgeous clocks that point towards you with a more dull dash "all in one".
Also the suspension is softer (more comfort) so she "rolls" a lot more in fast turns = not so fun to drive, but safer and again more for the average joe tastings...
The facelift was a shame, but probably needed if you look at the nose of the 159. Now the 147 still has the family resemblance anyways...
 
#33 ·
NoControl said:
Already seen a few of them on the road and in the showroom........

......They had the nerve of replacing those gorgeous clocks that point towards you with a more dull dash "all in one".......

Also the suspension is softer (more comfort) so she "rolls" a lot more in fast turns = not so fun to drive, but safer and again more for the average joe tastings...
Couple of points here.

1) the new clocks also point towards the driver and are shielded by a deep binnacle so the wife can't see what speed I am doing :lol: just like the old ones, the only difference is they are not 3 discrete clocks but have a look of three overlapping circles like a bit of the Olympic emblem.

2) The suspension, it is hard for us to compare since apparently you have not driven the 'new' 147 and I have not driven the 'old' one. I can say that the new suspension is not 'cocked up' at all though. I have had to drive an MGF for several months recently and that car is rock hard, ridiculously so when it comes to tackling speed humps.

My 'new' 147 in my opinion has as little body roll as the MGF around fast bends yet handles humps and uneven surfaces much much better. The best of both worlds, or at least a very well judged compromise. You would have to be very hard core to be unhappy with the handling of the car, and this is borne out by reviews of the new suspension setup.

The overall styling is clearly a matter of taste, but when a car's design is 4 years old almost any car manufacturer would feel the need to freshen it up to try to bolster interest in the car. So a facelift was always going to happen, and compared to many it is actually fairly discrete, to the point where I wonder if non-Alfisti will even realise!
 
#34 ·
well, I stil feel that the old clocks were better, more sporty compared to the new ones.
Regarding the suspension part: I did drive the new 147 and I own an old 147 so I do know how to compare both of them.
The new one is softer compared to the old one, and rolls more in turns (less control on body movements).
But to each his own of course...
Same with styling, to me it looks more like a boy racer car now,
compared to the odd but beautifull styling of the first series.
But like I said, to each his own... :rolleyes:
 
#35 ·
I'm seriously considering trading my W Reg 156 Sele for a new 147 Sele. So, rang my local dealer (Piccadilly Knaresborough) to sort a test drive. "New 147 sir? Sorry, we haven't got one of those, either the 2 litre manual or Sele. Don't know when we'll get one. Could give you a call if we ever do! We have an 18 month old 147 you could try..."

So I rang the local MINI dealer for a test of a Cooper S. "No trouble sir, when would you like to come? Saturday 2pm? That's fine sir. I'll discuss with you all the many options available and how owning a MINI is such a fun experience. I'm sure the test drive will make you smile..."

It did, and I'm sorely tempted to place an order, because if the after-sales service is as good as the pre-sales, then I have to ask, why stick with an Alfa? :rolleyes:

A 147 might or might not be better than a Cooper S, but how am I to judge?

Geoff
 
#36 ·
jowettgeoff said:
I'm seriously considering trading my W Reg 156 Sele for a new 147 Sele. So, rang my local dealer (Piccadilly Knaresborough) to sort a test drive. "New 147 sir? Sorry, we haven't got one of those, either the 2 litre manual or Sele. Don't know when we'll get one. Could give you a call if we ever do! We have an 18 month old 147 you could try..."

So I rang the local MINI dealer for a test of a Cooper S. "No trouble sir, when would you like to come? Saturday 2pm? That's fine sir. I'll discuss with you all the many options available and how owning a MINI is such a fun experience. I'm sure the test drive will make you smile..."

It did, and I'm sorely tempted to place an order, because if the after-sales service is as good as the pre-sales, then I have to ask, why stick with an Alfa? :rolleyes:

A 147 might or might not be better than a Cooper S, but how am I to judge?

Geoff

:lol: Geoff that sounds like Piccadilly to me! :lol:

If it wasn't for the fact that the Sheffield dealer is EVEN WORSE (you better belive it!! :eek: :mad: ) I'd have kicked Piccadilly into touch a long time ago. Had similar probs as you describe with my current 156 when I went to buy it. :rolleyes:

Actually, they do have facelifted 147's there.....maybe not to test drive tho!

Try and speak to Jason Lovell there. He's suposed to be the 'dealer principle' whatever that means....

Good luck! ;)
 
#38 ·
over here a lot of young people drive these pumped (or is it pimped) up ibiza and other stuff around.
If I look at those cars and see how the new 147 looks, there seem to be a few similarities.
That doesn't mean that it's not a nice car, don't get me wrong!
The 147, be it old or new type, still has loads of styling compared to anything currently in that market.
But I do like my 147 better :D
As already mentioned, it's a matter of taste. If you like your car, who cares what anyone else thinks of it anyways??
 
#39 ·
Piccadilly managed to find me a new shape JTD to test, then the week after a JTD16 Valve, to compare it against. I don't think the new shapes are in short supply generally, but the petrol Car's might be especially Selespeeds.

The 16 Valve is a much better Car, not just because it has the extra oomph, but because it has the new suspension set up, not the old setup like the 8 Valve and the 1.6 does.

This subtle differance is not publicised by AR, but it seems only the JTD 16V and the 2.0 TS have the better set up, I say better because personally I believe it is. The old 147 wasn't bad with 15" Tyres on, but put a set of 17" on and it was way too hard. Some people seem to be under the notion that just because the suspension is hard it's sporty, it just aint so, suspension needs to be compliant enough to absorb bumps, not so hard that they bounce the Car off line in a corner. The 147 'comfort' (such a stupid name for it!) suspension seems to be very similar in feel to a GT, both Cars IMO have the best set up of all the 147/156 Chassis.

Just a point about the Mini though Geoff, I know of two People who have a Cooper S, neither likes them at all, they are they epitomy of a hard riding roller skate, and they fall to bits as well.
 
#40 ·
yes, if theres one thing i could change with my old 147, its gotta be the suspension. im riding on 16s and the ride is a little hard. not unbearable though. strangely, on my stock 15 pirelli p6000, the ride was harder. the bridgestone G3 16s ride a little softer. but overall, i would still prefer that inappropriately named 'comfort' suspension as it gives the best of both worlds.
 
#41 ·
VeloceMitch said:
Piccadilly managed to find me a new shape JTD to test, then the week after a JTD16 Valve, to compare it against. I don't think the new shapes are in short supply generally, but the petrol Car's might be especially Selespeeds.

The 16 Valve is a much better Car, not just because it has the extra oomph, but because it has the new suspension set up, not the old setup like the 8 Valve and the 1.6 does.

This subtle differance is not publicised by AR, but it seems only the JTD 16V and the 2.0 TS have the better set up, I say better because personally I believe it is. The old 147 wasn't bad with 15" Tyres on, but put a set of 17" on and it was way too hard. Some people seem to be under the notion that just because the suspension is hard it's sporty, it just aint so, suspension needs to be compliant enough to absorb bumps, not so hard that they bounce the Car off line in a corner. The 147 'comfort' (such a stupid name for it!) suspension seems to be very similar in feel to a GT, both Cars IMO have the best set up of all the 147/156 Chassis.

Just a point about the Mini though Geoff, I know of two People who have a Cooper S, neither likes them at all, they are they epitomy of a hard riding roller skate, and they fall to bits as well.
Thanks Mitch. By the way, I think I managed to miss you again at See Red (I presume that was your Bertie in the line-up?). We must stop avoiding each other this way!!! :rolleyes:
The Cooper S was quite fun, but maybe not so good to live with on a daily basis. I was impressed by the dealer attitude though (Castle York).
I should have known better than expect similar service from Piccadilly. They've twice mis-diagnosed problems with my 156, the second time by saying that worn upper wishbone squeaks were caused by the anti-roll bar. By the time the fault was properly disgnosed, the warranty had expired and I ended up paying for the job to be done. :(

Perhaps I should just stick with my 156 and get myself sorted with a nice 105!!!

Will catch up with you in person - one day!

Cheers
Geoff
 
#42 ·
Hi Geoff, yes the White Bertie was mine, the Ochre one Ricks. Apart from the GTA and the GTC (does that count?) we were the only Berties there suprisingly. Perhaps I confused Picadilly because my squeek was the Anti-roll bar bushes, they said it would be the top suspension arms but I was convinced it was the ARB and I was right :D
 
#43 ·
VeloceMitch said:
Hi Geoff, yes the White Bertie was mine, the Ochre one Ricks. Apart from the GTA and the GTC (does that count?) we were the only Berties there suprisingly. Perhaps I confused Picadilly because my squeek was the Anti-roll bar bushes, they said it would be the top suspension arms but I was convinced it was the ARB and I was right :D
So, it's YOUR fault they got mine wrong? :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
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