To Alpha or Not to Alpha???

[CluelessMatt]

Hi guy's,

Firstly if this topic has come up before i i appologise, but after reading 2 or 3 pages of topics i couldn't find it so....

Thinking of buying an Alpha 147 1.6 TS. I've only got about £3k to play with as i'm treating myself to a new bike as well : )

But was wondering what the heck they're like to live with daily. I really need a reliable, cheap to run car, but the little Alpha is so gorgeous i just can not rule it out with out looking in to it. I mentioned to one or 2 people about the alpha and you get the usual unreliable, parts take 2 months to come stories. Are they really like that still??

Also i'm from the Jeremy Clarckson branch of petrolheadness, i don't know my valves from my big ends!!

Anyway thoughts appreciated and any tips of what to look for if i do decide to buy greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time guys

[Ranger 6]

Why not look for an Alfa instead.....?

[CluelessMatt]

Ranger 6 said:

Why not look for an Alfa instead.....?

HAHA Well spotted : )

Just seeing your all awake today!!

Yes Alfa 147. I think I must have been reading the Greek Alphabet earlier!!

My profile name says it all really!! lol

[cirvy]

I've had 5 of them over the last 8 years & i've found them to be great, i would'nt have anything else.

Just buy as new as you can, facelift 156's great value at the moment

[Ranger 6]

CluelessMatt said:

HAHA Well spotted

Just seeing your all awake today!!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Welcome to PH and good luck with your search, I don't have personal experience of them, but talking to a couple of owners at work they've raved about them.

[Alfachick]

I had one, just like the one that you are looking into getting, it never ever let me down, Ever. Not once.

It was awesome. Great little car.
The only thing is that if you are going to leave it sitting for a couple of months I would make sure that you have a battery charger.

Get one. You know it makes sense!

HTH

[robemcdonald]

The best advice is obvious. Make sure you get a good one. There's a too many points to go through here but have a look at this link to ALFA workhop http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/ There are buyers guides for most modern ALFA's including the 147 on there.
Also where do you live? Before taking the plunge try and locate a good non-franchised specialist you can use if the car goes wrong.
Follow the buyers guide, buy with your head and not your heart and you'll never look back.

[smiller]

Being a recent convert to the marque, I - so far - can wholly recommend one! Yeah, a Focus may be a little better to drive, but I had a MK 1 Focus for 2 years, and now have a 147 Sport Q2 and the Alfa is a wonderful steer. It's a lovely drive.

Also, my father in law has a 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo SE flat-nose and he had a 147 as a company car when working in Italy. He loved it with a passion, and over the course of four years driving back and forth from Verona to Shropshire, it didn't put a foot wrong.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Go for it - but have you considered the 2 litre?

[exgtt]

Hello there!

Reliability is in no question with these great little cars as long as the previous owner hasn't run on a shoestring (which may be relevent with the early cars starting around £3k) Take time to get a good un, check cambelt has been changed (should be done every 36k at latest - DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO LEAVE IT THAT LITLE BIT LONGER!!!!) and check electrics. Apart from that, go for it!

Ps looking at Parkers.co.uk it seems the multipoint diesels are the fastest 4 sylinder 147 though bit out of your budget..

[Mave]

Just remember, a car isn't necessarily for life; if you don't like it, you can always get rid of it; but I bet you don't!

I got my first Alfa with 40K miles on the clock expecting to sell it after a year or so. I ended up keeping it for 7 years, sold it with ~120K on the clock, it's still going strong now. Just make sure you get a good one

[Pooh]

Los Angeles said:

Can I butt in for advice on a high mileage but well looked after 2 litre GTV?

Those new generation (mid-nineties) Alfas are currently great bargains as first cars ... but how reliable?

I would go for a phase 2 if possible, they have quite a lot of improvements over the phase 1. Regarding mileage, they like regular use and a car that has done lots of motorway miles is likely to be better than one that has done fewer miles made up of short trips/town driving. Oil use and cam belts are the main issues with the twin spark, so a properly maintained car with a knowledgeable owner is the best bet and a service history from a reputable specialist is usually preferable to a main dealer one.
Look out for squeaking/rattling suspension bushes, particularly at the rear, they wear out quite quickly, also a stainless exhaust is worth having.

[CluelessMatt]

Hey Guys,

Thanks some good advice there!! : )

I think i going to see if i can push to the JTD or if not, go for the 156 JTD instead. Still not sure about the gtv coupe, think that might be heading towards middle age crisis!! lol

You've eased my mind about the realities of owning an Alfa. Just got to make sure i look at the car properly and not buy the first one i see with out checking everything out properly.

Cheers

MC

[phil1979]

CluelessMatt said:

Hey Guys,

Thanks some good advice there!! : )

I think i going to see if i can push to the JTD or if not, go for the 156 JTD instead. Still not sure about the gtv coupe, think that might be heading towards middle age crisis!! lol

You've eased my mind about the realities of owning an Alfa. Just got to make sure i look at the car properly and not buy the first one i see with out checking everything out properly.

Cheers

MC

I've been running a 2.0 145 (the model before the 147 - pretty much the same 2.0 engine) for 4 years now. Apart from a split PAS hose, it has been faultless. I'd had Peugeots and Vauxhalls in the past, which let me down all the time. The Alfa hasn't missed a beat, hence I have kept it so long. They age well, too. I personally think the 145 Cloverleaf in black looks quite fresh. Alfas in red age quickly, in my opinion.

Anyway, to summise, this has been my first Alfa, and I'm smitten. I have been looking for the right 3.0 GTV for 18 months now, but it hasn't turned up yet. As soon as it does, there will be another Alfa on my CV - I rate them that much.

[jamesgrrr]

phil1979 said:

CluelessMatt said:

Hey Guys,

Thanks some good advice there!! : )

I think i going to see if i can push to the JTD or if not, go for the 156 JTD instead. Still not sure about the gtv coupe, think that might be heading towards middle age crisis!! lol

You've eased my mind about the realities of owning an Alfa. Just got to make sure i look at the car properly and not buy the first one i see with out checking everything out properly.

Cheers

MC

I've been running a 2.0 145 (the model before the 147 - pretty much the same 2.0 engine) for 4 years now. Apart from a split PAS hose, it has been faultless. I'd had Peugeots and Vauxhalls in the past, which let me down all the time. The Alfa hasn't missed a beat, hence I have kept it so long. They age well, too. I personally think the 145 Cloverleaf in black looks quite fresh. Alfas in red age quickly, in my opinion.

Anyway, to summise, this has been my first Alfa, and I'm smitten. I have been looking for the right 3.0 GTV for 18 months now, but it hasn't turned up yet. As soon as it does, there will be another Alfa on my CV - I rate them that much.

That's exactly my experience, I owned a Purple 145 cloverleaf from 90,000 to 140,000 miles and apart from the inevitable - servicing, cambelt, (lots of) tyres it was superb, and sooo much fun!

(and exactly 1,000,000,000 times more desirable than any other small hatchback)

[wadgebeast]

There are plenty around. I'd walk away and find one that works!

[Pooh]

Am I correct in thinking you are in Edinburgh? If you are, give McLennans garage in Loanhead (0131 4400597)and/or CP Garage services in Dundee (01382 731479, ask to Speak to Euan), both are respected Alfa specialists and should be able to help. I have used them both and found them to be good, CP garage services is probably slightly cheaper.

[Pooh]

Los Angeles said:

Just off the phone (from LA) with Euan - 800 if a head gasket, 1,200 if a piston ring. At 1,000 to purchase that means we still win on a car valued over 4,000 fixed ...



Incidentally, the 1998 Spider I bought for a friend in Edinburgh (from England by phone) with only 60,000 on the clock has turned out to be as decribed, a gem. Only problem: the usual cloudy plastic rear window - an easy fix with a bottle of "Hindsight."

Looks like I am entering my Alfa phase.

Edited by Los Angeles on Wednesday 23 January 10:23

Glad I could help.

[pdV6]

I dunno. If the seller couldn't be bothered to do an £800 - £1000 fix an instead lops £3000 off the selling price, I'd be tempted to walk away and find one that has been looked after. What else is wrong that the "slightly smoky / won't therefore MOT it" excuse is masking?

[Pooh]

pdV6 said:

I dunno. If the seller couldn't be bothered to do an £800 - £1000 fix an instead lops £3000 off the selling price, I'd be tempted to walk away and find one that has been looked after. What else is wrong that the "slightly smoky / won't therefore MOT it" excuse is masking?

A good point but if he can buy it and fix the engine for about £2k, that still leaves a fair bit for other things and even if he buys one that might have been better looked after it could still need work.
As long as the car is not a total dog, it could be worthwhile.