Has anyone got any first hand review of these cars? Anyone owned one? Genuine opinions please, thanks Al.

 

A freind has a 4 year old 147 GTA which looks stunning and he loves it to bits ............ BUT ....................
he sufferes with minor faults and he is on his 3rd gearbox!!

Like most Alfa's they look and drive beautifully but don't score too well on reliability

 

Thanks for the input but are you sure it's an Alfa 147 GTA? These only came out in 2003 (i may be wrong).

 

Thought the 147 came out in 2001 ....... not sure about the GTA version though.

I don't know alot about Alfa's and the range in general, but my mates car is a 3 door Hatch (Focus sized) with bloody great Alfa alloys on it. The styling is very agressive with a roof spoiler on the hatch and looks pretty business like. Interior is very sporty with bucket type seats etc. Not noticed what plate its on which doesn't help. Guess it could be a different model as I'm sure he said it was about 4 years old.

Another friend had a 156 Sportswagon, who again loved the car and way it drove but was plagued by minor faults again. Seem to remember him saying that the cam sensor was a particular problem. He px'd his for a Leon in the end.

Guess I'm not actually helping here

 

Its worth a look on here if you want some informed opinions:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/

One problem Im aware of from when I looked into getting one is that the brake discs have a tendency to warp quite badly on the earlier GTA's. This leads to very serious juddering when braking and can be quite tricky to get repaired under warranty (even though apparently its a "known" issue). I know there are other problems with these cars, but that was one of the more serious ones i heard about.

 

Just one short view: I met one on the autobahn...due I was in a mercE320 I thought I´d let him pass to let him go...but he could´nt come away, no I cam closer again.. I always thought that enging would be better (we floored it from 80km/h to 220km/h)

 

In a straight line they are ok. But they are no track machine.
Massive understeer caused by a heavy front end.

It didnt do very well in a top gear or 5th gear test i seem to remember

 

Had a test drive today and was pleasantly suprised.Good quality feel but the car does 'feel' heavy although enjoyable to drive.I quite like the rarity on the open roads.

 

Theres no doubt you dont see too many out and about. That was one of the appealing factors to me, oh, and the great sound from the V6 when you open it up!

However, there were too many known problems for me to take it on as a daily runabout. No doubt its a cracking drive, if a little weighty in the nose, but you definately have to go into ownership with your eyes open, otherwise you could be sorely disappointed with the experience.