Alfa Romeo 147 GTA | Spotted
Not fond of corners, but who cares when there's a Busso up front?
The Alfa Romeo 147 GTA didn’t make our best hot hatch of the last 25 years shortlist for its dynamic ability. There were far more capable cars that didn’t make the cut, and there were more powerful hot hatches out there that are better at funnelling heaps of power through the front wheels without quite the same commotion.
The 147 GTA wound up in the top half of our poll regardless, beating out hot hatch royalty such as the Renaultsport Clio 200 and Ford Focus RS in the process. That’s because, for all the horror stories you’ve likely read about the GTA’s aversion to corners (we’re talking about the stock car here, without the Q2 diff), nothing wins a PHer over like a massive V6 stuffed into the body of a dinky Italian hatchback.
This would be no ordinary V6 engine, of course. The 147 GTA came at a time when the Busso V6 was very much alive and kicking. An engine of such magnificence, one that looked and sounded like no others, that it had the power to transform the most mediocre of machines into cars that would have enthusiasts spewing Italian cliches left, right and centre. Serious dynamism could be left to the Germans and French and Japanese; for toe-curling sonorousness, there was the 147 GTA.
In fairness, even by today’s standards, it's pretty fast. That red-headed, chrome-piped naturally aspired 3.2-litre V6 up front developed a punchy 250hp and 221lb ft of torque, all of it marshalled by the front wheels. Alfa’s quoted 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds was considered conservative, with some owners claiming that a sub-six-second run is easily doable (presumably in bone-dry conditions). And while a top speed of 150mph is fairly modest in 2023, it was rocket ship territory when it launched in 2002. None of that really mattered, though - not when you’ve got a Busso V6 scoring every journey.
And here's the thing: the 147 GTA is getting on for 21 years old now and, in that time, dedicated owners have been desperately trying to figure out a way to fix the hot hatch’s modestly capable handling. A mechanical limited-slip differential is generally considered the ideal way to tame the inevitable understeer, and a set of modern performance tyres wouldn't do any harm either. Of course, the same could be said for plenty of front-drive hot hatches, but these mods are said to be transformative for the 147 GTA.
Whether you want to get as close to the original 147 GTA experience as possible - or set about ironing out some of the creases - this example is worth a look in. Rosso Alfa with a black leather interior that looks like it’s been lifted straight out of the 1970s (if you ignore the dash) might just be the perfect spec. And with 96,000 miles on the clock, you can mod away without feeling guilty that you’ve hacked a concours candidate (though it does look very tidy) to bits. It’s no bargain bin performance car at £12,450, but how many other hatchbacks have an engine that looks and sounds as good as this? None that I can think of...
SPECIFICATION | ALFA ROMEO 147 GTA
Engine: 3,179cc V6
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 250@6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@4,800rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 287
Year registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 96,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £12,450
I put a polybushed Gta roll bar on my old one and together it made it feel much more surefooted. I never had an LSD either but that as well would be the holy grail.
And of course well set up geo and a wizard exhaust !
Love everything about this and its 156 brother, but I feel they will always be in the "wish I owned but never had the chance to" category for me personally.
I am sure there are other cars that will run rings round it but it doesn't matter, you arent buying it to go chasing Golf R's. Plus its got an LSD which must have cost £1500 or more ?
Why oh why would you fit those ghastly things to this?! Can we please make it a rule that PH doesn't post links to adverts of cars with wind deflectors? There were two or three in that article on overpriced saloon tat last weekend. Apart from looking awful you just know that the car's been used as a taxi or owned by someone that's thoroughly abused it.
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