Anybody lived with an Alfa 147?

I myself haven't but I've heard some bad stories about reliability on them from owners. They also have quite fragile build quality but they are a gorgeous looking car, almost can be described as sexy! The interior isn't half bad, the plastics have a nice textured feel and they look the business in dark blue with orange leather. I would say go for it, just make sure not to get your fingers burnt, check service history and ring the garages it has been serviced by to confirm it has been carried out. Don't pay over the odds for one because some dealers overprice them. If it all works out fine you will have a stunner of a car for very little money that will serve you well. They were a former car of the year in 2001


Edited by 635CSi

Think it all depends on being lucky and finding a good one. I ran a two litre Alfa 156 for a couple of years and apart from being a bit thirsty, it didn't cause me any major problems, plus it looked good for its age and was realllllly cheap to buy.

The car we looked at was private sale so no pics but the link below is of something older but very similar.

This is not the car but it's very similar.

HISTORY and OIL.

I had an Alfa 156 1.8 and it broke my heart. It was a wonderfull car to drive but 2 engines in 5 months........

2 major problems. Cam belts and running low on oil. Cam belt tensioners can fail after 30K and not the recomended 75K alfa recomendation. This will cost to repair but its what can happen after this thats alarming. To many stories about the bottom end failing a short time after a cam belt failure. Double whammy.

Alot of twin spark engines use oil. If its not topped up and NEVER left on the low mark then they can run for years with out any trouble.

However run it low on oil and it will blow up. The crank shells seem to move blocking the journels and rattle rattle wrecked engine.

Dont even think of a SillySpeed box. You will be asking for trouble.

Do buy one if its mint and full of service history. Dont buy a ex fleet car cheap like I did it cost me a bleedn fortune.

Other week point are exausts and suspension. o and Itialan electrics.

Look at this web site for more problems.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-159/

Good luck

Mick

my wife runs a 2001 156 1.8 Sportwagon with 92k up on the clock now.

2 rear window regulators have gone in the last 2yrs 

Timing belt tensioner bearing was rattly so Alfa garage replaced under warranty and did the timing belt with it.

The variator is noisy on it, but it's something we'll live with for now, as doing it requires doing the timing belt again and twas only done 18k ago.

Windscreen tends to be wet on inside on winter mornings and requires aircon to keep clear. It must be a bit of moisture build up somewhere but as I don't get into it in the mornings it hasn't bothered me enough to go investigate.

Oh and as Mick says, it like a drop of oil so it pays to keep an eye on levels.

Other than that, it's been a fab car to have - fun to drive, very roomy, reliable enough so far, and drop dead gorgeous. If I were you I'd go fo it. Sounds a very tasty motor

Edited by T.J.

I'm watching this with interest, I'm already finding the downside to having a Rover 75 as my works car....and I haven't even put it on the road yet !

I love the 147's too. Such a lovely car in black with leather. Should be good once the history checks out. Just factor in plenty of cash for maintanance and you're sorted. Change the oil and filters early as well as the timing belt. And check the oil every week. The weak points are the suspension but new shocks are cheap enough. Plenty of good forums and specialist Alfa parts places in the UK.

I sent a pm to an Alpha entusiast I mix with on AD UK, he seems to think most stuff has been covered :

I think the major issues have already been covered in the thread, but I would emphasize the importance in being proactive with maintenance and always ensuring the oil is kept topped up.

Our experience is that Alfas can be very expensive, mind you, we probably expect more out of our cars than most. On the other hand, they can be very rewarding to drive. I would say that, by and large, it is better to be an enthusiast (if not for the car, then for driving) to want to own one.

The biggest downside is that they don't have Japanese reliability, but these days most people seem to expect a good level of reliability without being prepared to check the oil once a week.

An Alfa is a car you buy with your heart, not your head! I think you should go with your heart judging by how lovely the example your looking at sounds. If it's 2003 that was when the 147 was 2 years into production so it won't have any of those early build niggles. It seems priced very well, just get a good mechanic to check it out and if it's legitimate you'll be laughing all the way to the bank!

Edited by 635CSi

If I recall, I got a quote fo €450 for doing the variator, but that was a yr ago now.