Wanting to buy Alfa 147 - should i?

[alfagirl]

Hi Everyone

I have fallen in love with a 2004 model Alfa 147 selespeed, which has done 43000km's, the original dealer price was $28,990 and i have gotten him down to $24000. I absolutely love the car but i keep hearing things about how unreliable they are and that they are prone to breaking down mechanically as well as with the electrics, and that they don't like the heat.

What are your opinions on this car? What else should i be looking at before i consider buying it? What usually goes wrong? What do i need to keep an eye on or should i just buy a boring, more reliable car? Or should i fork out another $2000 for a 3 year warranty??
I do travel alot of kilometers and i will be up shit creek if i buy a car that breaks down, but i really do love it so much.
Please help in any way you can!!!

Thanks
(wanting to be an)
alfagirl!

[shitbmxrider]

sounds good for the price...

2004 they should have had the selespeed actuator problems sorted out(circa 2002 if i remember correctly)

Cambelts need to be changed on the dot(every 40,000kms from memory), and check the oil every week or so...

Basically, a ounce of maintenace saves a pound of repair in any alfa romeo...
There a drivers car, and should only really be bought by people who keep that in mind, and look after them

3 door or 5 door? I like the 3 doors

[m0j0]

When I was looking at buying my GTV every single person told me not to do it. I heard the usual stories of Alfa's being unrealiable and a bad car for the Australian climate. I made sure the car I bought had a good history (it actually was owned by the head mechanic of an alfa dealer).

I haven't had one mechanical/electrical problem with the car and it's been 45,000km's since I bought her. Just check out the log books to make sure everything is in order but if I was you I would tell them to give it too you for $25,000 with the 3 year warranty. They will do it for sure and atleast you have peace of mind.

My car was advertised for $29,000 they reduced the price to $26,000 and I made them a radiculous offer of $18,000. I didn't expect them to accept but I was suprised when the sales lady said to me "It's yours for 20k"

Everyday when I walk up to my car I smile because it looks so damn great and the engine sounds beautiful! When I have a bad day my alfa makes it all better. It's just such a great car for me. I love it!

Good luck with what ever you decide!

[DAL32]

Cambelts need to be changed on the dot(every 40,000kms from memory), and check the oil every week or so...

60k it is, or every 3 years.

Nice cars, but if I were you I wouldn't be waiting until the 20k service intervals. Get it serviced every 10k, and find a specialist so it doesn't cost you a million bucks. (last 2 services on my Alfa cost $180 a pop, 20k km in 8 months of ownership no problems yet)
To be honest, I would just keep it simple and get the manual, but if you prefer the Selespeed, go for it, but I personally have been turned off of them by all the horror stories even though they were apparently fixed in later models. Just remember if it does break it will cost you a lot. Actuator fix was $4k from my mechanic (he had done one recently), so I don't even want to think about the cost of getting it done at the dealer.

But other than that, they are sweet cars, and hit the redline at least once every day, I know I do

[alfagirl]

Hi everyone

Thanks for your advice.
Unfortunately upon futher inspection, the poor little alfa was over due for the 45000km ($450) and over due (3yrs) for the cam belt replacement as well ($850).

I had the service history looked at and it had had quite a few problems with the electrics, especially with the selespeed.

So unfortunately, no alfa for me, (even though i still want it!)

So now i am looking at (boring) reliable cars that i just can't seem to like.

thanks for your help.

[Hoadie]

The dealer wouldn't fix the outstanding issues?

[shitbmxrider]

Surely, theres more than that one?

theres a whole lotta 147's over here...

[rowan_bris]

There are stacks of 147s about! Not my favourite car. A 147 was the first new Alfa I ever bought after having nothing but Alfas for 17 years and it was a big disappointment. I was amazed with how it skipped over midcorner bumps and tramlined when there were corigations in the road. Still I guess it depends what you compare them to.

[DAL32]

alfagirl, wouldn't it make sense just to find another one, instead of bitching and moaning about how boring whatever other car you end up buying if you don't get an Alfa?

Get a manual one (unless you're the soft auto-only type, in which case it would confuse me to hell as to what you would want an Alfa for anyway). Find a specialist somewhere and you can knock those service costs down. Just find one that has been looked after, otherwise there will probably be problems. They don't like neglect a whole lot, and punish your wallet a lot if you do. I wouldn't be letting it get to that 20k service interval either, 10k interval is much better plus peace of mind knowing you take more care of your car.

[Vinnie]

Why does the cambelt need changing so regularly?

And is this the same frequency for the GTA?

[GazM3]

one things for sure, like with the 156 alfas look sensational. dynamicly though they are not the greatest.

[DAL32]

They handle pretty well for a FWD. And by pretty well, I mean they poop on Audi and VW. Fast steering ratio makes them pretty fun to drive as well (but the car competes with steam ships with regards to turning circle).

[tremolo]

The Pasha Bulker would have a comfortably better turning circle than a 147.

[Mister_duck]

alfa's are known to have problems with them esp the cars that are selespeed, they seem to be the worst.
I have always like alfa's though esp the 147 GTA, bit to expensive though

[GTVV6]

Be careful of 147 GTA's they blow diffs regularly and Alfa (Ateco) do not honor them under warranty