Thinking of buying Alfa 147 with low mileage - am I mad?

punisher5112

Hi as title says thinking of getting a Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 T spark 50k miles and may need a belt done on it shortly 2005 is the year.

It has been a long time since I have driven one but just looking at one as it's cheap.

Am I mad.

degsie

Had one a few years ago and dumped it. Way too expensive to maintain.

Ctrl Alt Delete

Alfas are like a secret mistress absolutely great fun but they can quickly put a hole in your pocket.

The 147s are solid enough in terms of petrol but if it's diesel then I'd be wary of the low mileage

Edit: just realised is a t spark

toyotamechanic

Don't buy it,forget Alfa's.

punisher5112

I fully understand not the best car in the world but with low mileage on it it shouldn't be too bad Right?

Thanks for all the comments I have driven many over the years any make really just never owned one.

I did notice a lot would come in after reps or rentals would have had them and with 100k miles they would be worse for ware.

I love the style and it wouldn't be something that would be kept for years but just as it is clean and 50k miles thought would have been worth a shot.

winnie the schtink

feel the fear and buy it anyway:)

mjsc1970

Change the belt anyway, fingers crossed on the electrics and you'll have a car that'd put a smile on your face.

bazz26

Low mileage guarantees you nothing with any car and is not an accurate yard stick to measure condition. I have found that low mileage cars tend to be the ones that have skipped service intervals because their owners think lack of use means less need for servicing. I've seen low mileage cars with oil that's nearly turned to water, filters never changed and wheels still on their original tyres that have cracks all over the side walls. Give me a well used but well maintained car over one of those any day.

Ctrl Alt Delete

I've only ever driven alfas over the last 15 years and have only suffered a blown turbo on a 2004 JTD and that's it.

Like I said maintain your mistress and she will give you a smile every day you drive her don't look after her and well prepare yourself with a lot of lube

166man

toyotamechanic wrote: »

Don't buy it,forget Alfa's.

Very apt username I see....

Why do you say forget them anyway?

toyotamechanic

Problems with too sensitive suspension especially when using on bad roads both front and rear would be expensive in dealer,lambda probe/oxygen sensor often making problems as well but it could be one witout it if lucky.Fuses in electrical system are often burning and have to replace.another thing is timming but if buyning from good hands might be ok.Automatic gear box in Alfa's is disaster but its not in 1.6 i think 2.0engine.
They generally taking oil-that just mean how engine is builded if takes oil even after 70k miles
I knew fella who done lots of work in his engine(change valve seals,sensors etc etc.)and still has to add 1-1,2 litre of oil every 1000km!After that we found much more users on internet and itd very common issue.
If car is worth nothing from original price after 10years and you can't find that car with 200k in good condition...
Alfa's are well known in every European country from their quality,also however from good looking both inside and out.
That just my opinion.

Ctrl Alt Delete

toyotamechanic wrote: »

Problems with too sensitive suspension especially when using on bad roads both front and rear would be expensive in dealer

Wishbone problems where mainly on the pre 2004 facelift 156s

toyotamechanic wrote: »

lambda probe/oxygen sensor often making problems as well but it could be one without it

We talking lambda sensor or MAF sensor? Either way each of those is a sub €100 repair and done quite easily if they go wrong

kona

You hear almost as many horror story's from BMW and vag these days. Buy it and look after it. See how you get on. If it's a ball of **** sell it.

Ctrl Alt Delete

kona wrote: »

You hear almost as many horror story's from BMW and vag these days. Buy it and look after it. See how you get on. If it's a ball of **** sell it.

I don't know about other brands so won't comment but if you get a lemon Alfa your in for a VERY hard time so give it a good check over

toyotamechanic

I mean lambda sensor, but MAF gets full of dirt in these cars,its not big issue-cost.

Interslice

I'd rather a play reliability roulette with an 05 alfa with 50k than an 02 golf with 150k. Priced about the same.

Buy a 147 that was well looked after with 50k on it shouldn't need much work outside of belts tyres and brakes.

166man

toyotamechanic wrote: »

Problems with too sensitive suspension especially when using on bad roads both front and rear would be expensive in dealer,lambda probe/oxygen sensor often making problems as well but it could be one witout it if lucky.Fuses in electrical system are often burning and have to replace.another thing is timming but if buyning from good hands might be ok.Automatic gear box in Alfa's is disaster but its not in 1.6 i think 2.0engine.
They generally taking oil-that just mean how engine is builded if takes oil even after 70k miles
I knew fella who done lots of work in his engine(change valve seals,sensors etc etc.)and still has to add 1-1,2 litre of oil every 1000km!After that we found much more users on internet and itd very common issue.
If car is worth nothing from original price after 10years and you can't find that car with 200k in good condition...
Alfa's are well known in every European country from their quality,also however from good looking both inside and out.
That just my opinion.

Common for front wishbones to wear on a 156. Less than €90 delivered for the two OEM parts. Not much else that goes in my experience.

Timing belt on the petrols is 3 years/36k miles. Look for proper evidence it was done. If not, negotiate it into the price.

Selespeed auto box in the 2.0 I have heard of trouble alright. Thankfully the OP isn't looking at these

Some seem to use oil, some don't. My 1.6 engine has over 165k miles on it, I change the oil every 6k miles. It doesn't burn any really (Max 500ml). If your friend isn't an Alfa specialist then who knows if he did the rebuild right? If he did it properly, it shouldnt burn oil.

It's pretty simple, find one that's been looked after and it will serve you well, if you buy one with a tough life, it will cost you. Pretty much like any other German car on the road..!

toyotamechanic

5 out of 6 burning oil anyway.I doesnt mean you can find some that doesnt.

166man

toyotamechanic wrote: »

5 out of 6 burning oil anyway.I doesnt mean you can find some that doesnt.

I must have forgotten about the Toyotas that had a chronic taste for oil. Early Corollas with VVti, various Nissans hungry for oil, and even BMW's with the "bulletproof" six cylinder engines....


But if Alfas burn oil it's terrible unreliability... Some consistency would be nice around these parts....

toyotamechanic

Old Corollas for sure burn oil as well as all ad1 and ad2 engines(avensis,2006-2015,auris)
Toyota because of head gasket issue in these engines change warranty to 180km if car is burning more than 1litre for 10000km it looks then for issue.Thats difference so huge.In Toyota 1litre per 10000km its a problem when in Alfa(not only) that would be very good result.I had lots of engines in my hands especially fuel system,injectors not only toyotas and sorry but it can't be compared to one of the worst cars in the world.I had myself Avensis(even 2) 512k, about 300ml what was difference in oil between each changing.But that doesnt matter really,someone can have fantastic working opel engine,ford or even hyundai.When it omes to reliability in 1000 or 10000cars then we can say oh yeah these engines or cars looks to be realy good.For more Alfas problems then I mentioned its handy to have a look on any Alfa forum in Europe,the same any other brands
There is a reason for low Alfa,Opel ,all Korean,French cars value after years,its always a reason.
Nissan is terrible these days,fusion with Renault coudn't make it better.It was so good years ago.

testicle

At that mileage after 10 years, I'd suspect that it's clocked. Belt should be done every 3 years or 36k

Wanderer78

op, yes

winnie the schtink

punisher5112 wrote: »

Hi as title says thinking of getting a Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 T spark 50k miles and may need a belt done on it shortly 2005 is the year.

It has been a long time since I have driven one but just looking at one as it's cheap.

Am I mad.

did u get it?

punisher5112

winnie the schtink wrote: »

did u get it?

No was too much wrong with it.
Would have cost price of car to sort.

winnie the schtink

ah well someday