147 & other Alfa owners

I am just after your advice. I really like the 147 and think it is
one of the best looking hatches on the market. I am interested to
know though if you have had many problems with your 147 or other Alfa
model? And if you have had the odd issue, how much has it hurt you in
the wallet to get it fixed?

Are Alfa main dealers really poor when it comes to servicing and
repairs? And do you just go to an independent place to get any
repairs/maintenance done?

How many MPG on average would you get from a 1.6 litre 147?

I don't have a car at present but am looking to get something a few
years old very shortly. I am considering a 1.6 petrol 147, an Ibiza
Tdi, a petrol 1.4 or 1.6 Civic and a diesel Corolla D-4D. Budget
between £5k and just over £7k.

These are examples of what I have been looking at so far:

147 (£5k to £7k)
http://tinyurl.com/ca6n3

Ibiza Tdi (Have seen 130hp Tdis for just over £7k)
http://tinyurl.com/bogs7

1.4 Civic (R-Type bodykit) £5500
http://tinyurl.com/avwb2

Corolla D-4D 2.0l (Just over £7k)
http://tinyurl.com/b9xao

What would you go for if you were in my shoes and were choosing
between these? And what about if you were in your own shoes? What
cars do you personally like at the moment that you would realistically
consider for yourself if you were on the market for a new or used car?

Thanks for your advice.

John

 

How many MPG on average would you get from a 1.6 litre 147?

Not sure but around late 30's very early 40's

Slow and chuggy

Guzzler but fast

I get a 1.6 civic SE from work. £40 and 300 miles to the tank (unless you
drive everywhere at 55mph... dont beleive the 44mpg.

Never had one ad cannot comment

If you are willing to stretch to 8k I can sell you a 55mpg 1.9JTD Alfa with
full cream leather. a couple of years old and full service history finished
in black. You can still see it here...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4568948554&ssPageName=STRK:MEUS:IT

Alfa 1.6 is not the best performer, even though it is an alfa I reckon you
will dissapointed with the drive/handling (or thats the feel I get from 147
courtesy cars I drive) i'd stear clear of the civic unless you are looking
at the Type-R Never heard any bodys opinions on a corolla - is that good or
bad? Granny car me thinks like the civic 1.6. Seat TDI would be fun but dont
expect luxury.

a two-three year old Alfa 156 would be top of my list in your boots. Decent
car, better than the 147. You should also consider the Mini - thery're
coming down in price now, and maybe the new fiesta - thats looks kinda cool
in a full kit. The new civic is out soon so you might want to wait a wee
while. That look hot !

 

Lol.

If you drive it like a nun, maybe.

No, slow and revvy. They need revving like hell to get anything out of
them.

You have a funny definition of 'guzzler' - my mate has a Passat with
that engine and has just done a steady motorway run at 69mpg average.
His normal more rapid use sees over 50mpg.

When are you going to take the hint that you're asking too much money.
You've been touting this around for several weeks with not a sniff of
interest - that's sort of a hint that you're way OTT with the price.
Get a 156 2lt TSpark. You'll pick up a very nice 5 year old example for
around £3k with a bit of shopping around (our 99V cost us £2800).

 

LOL! Since you posted to a Toyota group, you should realize that my answer
will be to go for a Toyota.

Unless you're really strapped for cash, though, I would stay away from ANY
Diesel! I don't think there is a company out there that has their sh!t
together on Diesles!

 

<what he said, from a 16V JTD owner>

 

You've obviously never driven a Fiat/Alfa JTD or a VAG TDI, then.

 

UGH!!! YOU SAID FIAT!!!!!

Had a GF that worked at a Fiat dealership as a salesperson. Called 'em
Ratburgers.

Sorry, but there's a REASON Fiat left the US and never came back (well, I
guess they do sell Ferrarris after all...)

Fix It Again, Tony!

Had a Fiat 124 spyder come in for an inspection, 1971. Immaculate.

Ya know, here in the US I watch the History Channel, and they do a lot of
shows about cars.

Now, really, when it comes right down to it, the marques that made their
names did so by breaking speed barriers in, what, the 30's? Audi, Fiat,
Alfa, etc. All did their thning back in the Dark Ages of the automobile.
What have they done recently? I suppose the Audi Quattro rallye car is an
exception, except it gets it's ass handed to it by Subaru STis.

The glory days are gone. Audi is a glorified VW, and that ain't good. Fiat
has been on the brink of going out of business so many times it's
unbelievable, ditto for Alfa. Lamborghini and Ferrarri are awesome, but
not affordable for anybody without a 7-figure salary.

if there ARE any nice, solid, dependable Euro cars, we AIN'T getting them
over here!

i WILL give you that Euro design is awesome!

 

I ain't called 'Hachiroku' for nothin'...

 

The 147 is based quite closely on a 156. Some time ago, I saw running
cost figures (can't remember where - motoring mag probably) that
indicated that a 156 would cost the same to run as a Porsche Boxter
when main dealer serviced. My experience has led me to agree with that
finding..they can be frighteningly expensive come service time. If
you're on any tight budget, do yourself a favour and get something
else.

As I can cope with the running costs, I'd get what I've had for over
four years now...best looking and best car I've ever had..

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

 

Europe is a totally different ball game for oil burners.
They are the biggest sellers in the non-luxury large car markets, making
grounds in the luxury large car markets, and the medium family car
markets.
Even some of the "Hot Hatch" small hatch back models by
VW/Seat/Skoda/Audi have the best performance model being a turbo diesel.

With petrol in europe being so expensive, performance diesels are just
as popular because of the better fuel consumption. Oh and some of them
"run fine" of Veg oils and bio diesel fuels.

 

Thing is.
I'm selling my Celica GT4/Alltrac. It has 147k miles on it. It is too
thirsty and expensive to maintain.

I've bought a Saab convertible. 2 years newer, 212k miles, body is in
about same condition maybe better. Big ends were gone. So the last owner
totally rebuilt it, fitted a recon box and turbo at the same time.

The suspension is fine, the steering is good, because it is a
convertible there is more rattle and scuttle shake, but it drives great,
and uses far less fuel. Oh and they are reliable.

 

Yeah, I know diesels are a lot more popular in Yurrip, but our experience
over here is that, unless you're running a Kenworth or something with a
Cummins in it, stay away.

The exception being the Rabbit ('75-82 Golf) diesels, esp the little
trucklet they made. Those seem to run forever with about the same
maintenance one would put into a Corolla...sometimes, that is. I've seen
them with a half a mil on them!

Thanks, Skoda-Sleeker-NeedFor...

I guess the meatballs are ON, eh?

 

Saabs, and most Euro cars over here, seem to be a 50/50 proposition for
some reason.

The most you ever see a Euro car over here is sitting outside the repair
center...

Even the Big Boys, M-B and BMW spend more time on the lift than on the
road.

BTW, I saw a NICE, REALLY NICE 2002 yesterday. Some young lady owns it,
says it's her second.

i am trusting she will park it before the first snowflakes...

 

Yep.
Yep, topless, leather and a fine old girl
All in a car related topic.

Thing is, while I'm trying to sell it, I take the Celica out for the odd
quick run to make sure that the battery stays charged etc. And while it
does my back (Sciatica and yes it can get you in your 30's), it feels so
tight and flat cornering, and drives so well.

The Saab is wallowy (in comparison) and rolls through corners, but isn't
actually that much slower. It actually hangs on very well for a fwd soft
convertible cruiser.

 

Yeah, I've had it since my 20's!

All it takes is bending the wrong way ONCE! Then it's an
on-again-off-again thing for therest of your life.

I work it out riding a 10 speed.

Why sell the Celica? Run it into the ground if you can.

 

I am from Pennsylvania, over here in the states, and I was wondering how
everyone in Europe gets along without driving a pickup. I never see any
pickups on the road over there whenever I watch "The Amazing Race" or news
stories involving Europe. Are we Americans addicted to pickups for no
reason? I know most American families survived without them during the '50s
and most of the '60s. I love small economical vehicles. I am amazed at the
different makes and models available to Europeans and not to the US market.
A majority of the vehicles over here that are on the road are gas guzzling
bricks on wheels.

On another note, remember that Mercedes has been contaminated by Chrysler -
but I don't know why BMW is having reliability problems as of late.

 

Buyers buy the vehicles they want and can afford. In Europe vehicles and
fuel are heavy taxed to pay for their socialist system of government so they
can get FREE medical care etc, making it more expensive to own a operate a
car. There are plenty of vehicles available in the US from domestic and
import brands, for those the choose to buy them, but apparently few choose
to do so. If buyers can afford to buy larger safer vehicles they will do
so. The recent spike in gas prices did not slow larger vehicle sales as much
as it increased small vehicle sales. Apparently those that could afforded
to buy the vehicles they wanted continued to do so and some went out a
bought a small vehicles to use as well. It was the poorer folks, that can
not afford to buy larger safer vehicles, that were effect by high gas prices
not those that drive the larger safer vehicles. It was the small car buyers
that cut back on their driving or converted some of their discressionary
spending over to fuel.. WalMart and McDonalds were effected butt upper
class stores and restaurants. Unlike Europe, Americas population is more
spread out over the country where their is little or no public
transportation and people need cars and trucks in their daily work and
lives.

 

i'd /love/ to know where this "larger safer vehicles" myth comes from.
have you ever looked at any of the insurer or nhtsa fatality stats?
suvs kill many more times the number of their occupants than cars. it's
because they're so unstable and because there are no rules regarding
cabin crush safety like there are cars. c'mon guy, get with the facts.

 

LOL. I thought Chryslr was getting a leg up from M-B!

My college roommate had a 2002 Tii. Amazing car! Drove like on rails. Was
3 years old. Couldn't pass the local BMW dealer...

Same with my '73 Volvo 1800ES, 3 years old, 52,000 miles.

Amazing cars, nickle and dime you (well, a couple Franklins here and
there) out of your bank account!

Wife (er, EX, that is) has a '94 325i with 45,000 when she bought it, now
has 80,000, always calling me with issues. Is on it's THIRD tranny...

 

You better do a bit more research, if that is what you believe, because your
information is not based on facts. Only around 2% of ALL of the hundreds of
thousand accidents in the US involve a rollover and the majority of
rollovers are the result of striking, or being struck by something, not from
instability.. The fast majority of ALL accidents are frontal collisions.
The larger the vehicle the less likely properly belted passengers will be
injured or killed. If a vehicles height actually made it more likely for it
to rollover one should expect to see six wheel trucks rolled over on a daily
basis.

mike