Alfa Romeo 147

Moneymaker

Anyone own one here?

I'm looking at getting a car once again(had a 03 Clio when I was a young whippersnapper), 26 now and I have always loved the look of basically every Alfa Romeo. Plus I just like something a little different. Cheap as chips to buy and the 1.6 engine is pretty nippy i'd imagine.

Steer clear or worth picking one up?

biko

Have you done a research into them?
Lovely but maintenance costs will be higher, for instance belt change every 36K. They drink extra oil.

Make sure you buy from someone who knows the car well and looked after it.
Also check if there is a Alfa mechanic locally to check it out or do future work.

www.google.ie/search?q=alfa+147+site:boards.ie

pred racer

biko wrote: »

Have you done a research into them?
Lovely but maintenance costs will be higher, for instance belt change every 36K. They drink extra oil.

Make sure you buy from someone who knows the car well and looked after it.
Also check if there is a Alfa mechanic locally to check it out or do future work.

www.google.ie/search?q=alfa+147+site:boards.ie

+1

661mit

biko wrote: »

Have you done a research into them?
Lovely but maintenance costs will be higher, for instance belt change every 36K. They drink extra oil.

Make sure you buy from someone who knows the car well and looked after it.
Also check if there is a Alfa mechanic locally to check it out or do future work.

www.google.ie/search?q=alfa+147+site:boards.ie

Drinking extra oil is a bit of an exaggeration, a litre may be needed in between services from my experience of the twin spark engine.

So too a belt change every 36k miles isn't the end of the World, it's like once every three years for an average motorist. The parts aren't too expensive and it's not a bad job if you are good at DIY

I agree it's best to buy a looked after example, great cars, the 1.6 is a brilliant engine, nearly 120bhp !!!

Stheno

661mit wrote: »

Drinking extra oil is a bit of an exaggeration, a litre may be needed in between services from my experience of the twin spark engine.

So too a belt change every 36k miles isn't the end of the World, it's like once every three years for an average motorist. The parts aren't too expensive and it's not a bad job if you are good at DIY

I agree it's best to buy a looked after example, great cars, the 1.6 is a brilliant engine, nearly 120bhp !!!

Tbh I'm on my second alfa and it depends, I'd get maybe 2000 miles from my 156, whereas the gtv I have now uses far less.

It is fair to say you do need to check the oil regularly, especially if you are doing any sort of mileage.

With the timing belt, the water pump and variator need to be changed also the cost adds up for a complete kit.

@ OP if you are going to look at them, then you can often differentiate purely on the basis of the ads. Anyone who has owned one as an "enthusaist" will often reference work done to the front suspension, and when the timing belt has been replaced. (Those tend to be the bits that give most trouble )

If you go over to alfaowner.com, they have a tech forum for the 147 along with an Irish section that has details of cars for sale and info on different issues that can occur.

Good luck

661mit

Stheno wrote: »

.
With the timing belt, the water pump and variator need to be changed also the cost adds up for a complete kit....

You can get the kits cheap from NOI

ba_barabus

661mit wrote: »

You can get the kits cheap from NOI

Yes but everyone knows Alfas are SHYTE

661mit

Each to their own

Stheno

ba_barabus wrote: »

Yes but everyone knows Alfas are SHYTE

I'd a Vauxhall Cavalier once (read Opel Vectra) and the engine blew going a good clip on the motorway

(wasn't really mine, was the then Ohs, but I couldn't resist )

Bluefoam

Most fun car I have ever owned.

Make sure you buy a well cared for example. Check the oils regularly & don't send it over the redline. It revs freely and doesn't need to be over rev'ed. It doesn't need a whole lot of oil, just make sure it doesn't run low.

If you can, go for the Sportivo model. It sits a bit lower and has a few extra horses. It is usually identifiable by the 17" low profile wheels and cloth sports seats - which are super awesome fantastico.

This car begs to be driven... I had a blast in it.

ba_barabus

661mit wrote: »

Each to their own

Funnily enough I looked at a 147 diesel two weeks ago and really liked it but the garage put me off it.

Btw my above comment was very much tongue in cheek.

Veloce

It's pot luck regarding oil consumption. Some can be very bad using oil and some don't drink oil at all. My 1.8 twinspark uses about 200 - 300ml every 1000 kms. Which is not bad at all.

I'm running Castrol Magnatec 10w40 part synth which is known to burn off a bit easier than other oils of the same viscosity.

falabo

Moneymaker wrote: »

Anyone own one here?

I'm looking at getting a car once again(had a 03 Clio when I was a young whippersnapper), 26 now and I have always loved the look of basically every Alfa Romeo. Plus I just like something a little different. Cheap as chips to buy and the 1.6 engine is pretty nippy i'd imagine.

Steer clear or worth picking one up?

Smallest engine is 1.6 Twin Spark. I've owned a 2002 156, a 2002 156 Sportwagon and a 2004 156 TI, all 1.6. They didn't use an extraordinary amount of oil. Yes timing belt is important but it is in any car. The intervals are not written in stone but advisory.

The engines in the older models were sportier/ ever more stringent EU regulations added more catalytic converters and mods to lessen emissions all of which affected the sweetness of the exhaust note and the throttle response.

Even so, buy a well cared for example (they do exist) and enjoy one of the cheapest and nicest cars on the road. If you look after it and don't abuse it, it will be a joy to own.

Ignore the naysayers. I'm on my fifth Alfa and not one in six years has let me down.

Consider signing up to alfaowner website for advice and to read discussions about what is for sale out there right now.

Good luck!

winnie the schtink

Stheno wrote: »

Tbh I'm on my second alfa and it depends, I'd get maybe 2000 miles from my 156, whereas the gtv I have now uses far less.

It is fair to say you do need to check the oil regularly, especially if you are doing any sort of mileage.

With the timing belt, the water pump and variator need to be changed also the cost adds up for a complete kit.

@ OP if you are going to look at them, then you can often differentiate purely on the basis of the ads. Anyone who has owned one as an "enthusaist" will often reference work done to the front suspension, and when the timing belt has been replaced. (Those tend to be the bits that give most trouble )

If you go over to alfaowner.com, they have a tech forum for the 147 along with an Irish section that has details of cars for sale and info on different issues that can occur.

Good luck

buy the very very best one you can find it will still be cheap as chips, only 2.0ltr have variators

ba_barabus

winnie the schtink wrote: »

buy the very very best one you can find it will still be cheap as chips, only 2.0ltr have variators

I'm pretty certain my 1.6l 146 had one.....

Dilbert75

winnie the schtink wrote: »

only 2.0ltr have variators

ba_barabus wrote: »

I'm pretty certain my 1.6l 146 had one.....

My 1.8 has too and it'll need to be changed at next cambelt change.

I've a 156Ti SW and I love it. In fact I've a guy chasing me to sell it to him and I've held off because I can't think of any affordable car I'd rather have.

Stheno

ba_barabus wrote: »

I'm pretty certain my 1.6l 146 had one.....

As did my 1.6 156

Apparently it was alfas experiment into turbo with a turbo iirc

falabo

Moneymaker wrote: »

Anyone own one here?

I'm looking at getting a car once again(had a 03 Clio when I was a young whippersnapper), 26 now and I have always loved the look of basically every Alfa Romeo. Plus I just like something a little different. Cheap as chips to buy and the 1.6 engine is pretty nippy i'd imagine.

Steer clear or worth picking one up?

Smallest engine is 1.6 Twin Spark. I've owned a 2002 156, a 2002 156 Sportwagon and a 2004 156 TI, all 1.6. They didn't use an extraordinary amount of oil. Yes timing belt is important but it is in any car. The intervals are not written in stone but advisory.

The engines in the older models were sportier/ ever more stringent EU regulations added more catalytic converters and mods to lessen emissions all of which affected the sweetness of the exhaust note and the throttle response.

Even so, buy a well cared for example (they do exist) and enjoy one of the cheapest and nicest cars on the road. If you look after it and don't abuse it, it will be a joy to own.

Ignore the naysayers. I'm on my fifth Alfa and not one in six years has let me down.

Consider signing up to alfaowner website for advice and to read discussions about what is for sale out there right now.

Good luck!

falabo

Moneymaker wrote: »

Anyone own one here?

I'm looking at getting a car once again(had a 03 Clio when I was a young whippersnapper), 26 now and I have always loved the look of basically every Alfa Romeo. Plus I just like something a little different. Cheap as chips to buy and the 1.6 engine is pretty nippy i'd imagine.

Steer clear or worth picking one up?

Smallest engine is 1.6 Twin Spark. I've owned a 2002 156, a 2002 156 Sportwagon and a 2004 156 TI, all 1.6. They didn't use an extraordinary amount of oil. Yes timing belt is important but it is in any car. The intervals are not written in stone but advisory.

The engines in the older models were sportier/ ever more stringent EU regulations added more catalytic converters and mods to lessen emissions all of which affected the sweetness of the exhaust note and the throttle response.

Even so, buy a well cared for example (they do exist) and enjoy one of the cheapest and nicest cars on the road. If you look after it and don't abuse it, it will be a joy to own.

Ignore the naysayers. I'm on my fifth Alfa and not one in six years has let me down.

Consider signing up to alfaowner website for advice and to read discussions about what is for sale out there right now.

Good luck!

falabo

Moneymaker wrote: »

Anyone own one here?

I'm looking at getting a car once again(had a 03 Clio when I was a young whippersnapper), 26 now and I have always loved the look of basically every Alfa Romeo. Plus I just like something a little different. Cheap as chips to buy and the 1.6 engine is pretty nippy i'd imagine.

Steer clear or worth picking one up?

Smallest engine is 1.6 Twin Spark. I've owned a 2002 156, a 2002 156 Sportwagon and a 2004 156 TI, all 1.6. They didn't use an extraordinary amount of oil. Yes timing belt is important but it is in any car. The intervals are not written in stone but advisory.

The engines in the older models were sportier/ ever more stringent EU regulations added more catalytic converters and mods to lessen emissions all of which affected the sweetness of the exhaust note and the throttle response.

Even so, buy a well cared for example (they do exist) and enjoy one of the cheapest and nicest cars on the road. If you look after it and don't abuse it, it will be a joy to own.

Ignore the naysayers. I'm on my fifth Alfa and not one in six years has let me down.

Consider signing up to alfaowner website for advice and to read discussions about what is for sale out there right now.

Good luck!

Scortho

Do they not all have varieties and the 2.0 l has a balance belt as well as cam and aux?

Anyway you want a 147. If you can stomach the tax this is the way to go.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/147/3.2-GTA-/201341218948426/advert?channel=CARS

Stheno

Scortho wrote: »

Do they not all have varieties and the 2.0 l has a balance belt as well as cam and aux?

Anyway you want a 147. If you can stomach the tax this is the way to go.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/147/3.2-GTA-/201341218948426/advert?channel=CARS

Think you are right tbh, my gtv nearly died when the balance belt tensioner almost snapped.

never had that with the 156, it was a simpler setup

winnie the schtink

Dilbert75 wrote: »

My 1.8 has too and it'll need to be changed at next cambelt change.

I've a 156Ti SW and I love it. In fact I've a guy chasing me to sell it to him and I've held off because I can't think of any affordable car I'd rather have.

is the op not asking about the147?

Stheno

winnie the schtink wrote: »

is the op not asking about the147?

All the posts about variators are responding to a poster who claimed only the 2.0 TS had them.

661mit

winnie the schtink wrote: »

is the op not asking about the147?

You do know a 147 and a 156 are awfully similar and in many ways they are identical.

winnie the schtink

661mit wrote: »

You do know a 147 and a 156 are awfully similar and in many ways they are identical.

yes but only 2.0 147 has a variator

Stheno

winnie the schtink wrote: »

yes but only 2.0 147 has a variator

No all 147s with the exception of the 147 junior which runs at 105 bhp and not 120 bhp have a variator. The 120 bhp 1.6 TS engines have a variator as do the 1.8 and 2.0 engines.

winnie the schtink

there is no 1.8 /147

Stheno

winnie the schtink wrote: »

there is no 1.8 /147

I never said there was if you read my post correctly, I said all 1.8 and 2.0 and 1.6 TS engines, never specified a marque apart from the 147 junior?

Apart from picking holes in posts, all of which so far are incorrect, do you have any opinion to add on the 147?