Alfa 147 1.9 Turbo Diesel

[Adam2005]

I am looking to buy a new car, and I have been testing a few, I came across an Alfa 147 1.9 Turbo Diesel 2006 with low millage(60 000), and I fell completely in love with the car,
nothing else can compare to driving it, I am actually not interested in anything else after the test drive. and I asked for a two year extended warrantee

BUT

Everyone is saying, stay away from it, it's too expensive to fix, the parts take forever and so on.
Is that not a reputation of older models when they had some real problems in the 80's?

They way everyone is talking I am going to drive it for a day and its going to fall to bits and I will have to pay millions of rands to get it going again.

Does anybody own one of this cars models and how is it to run, maintain and so on? I know it will be more expensive to maintain than a citi golf, but I just want to know how bad it actually is.

 

[Fuzzbox]

ITS AN ALFA FFS
You have been warned!!!!!!

 

[Pseudonym]

My dad has a different Alfa, 156 2.0L T-spark. The front speakers only turn on if the volume is past 46 or you turn left. The interior lights in the back sometimes turn on while you're driving and no amount of clicking will turn them off. The key has had to be replaced 3 times after being stuck on multiple occasions with the alarm going off and no way to turn it off. The little computer screen stopped working after two years except for two minutes after you start the car on cold mornings, otherwise all you get is lovely red mood lighting. The tires on (possibly all) Alfas point slightly inwards and wear on the inside so unless you know about the problem your tires seem fine until you have a blowout. We have only had three engine failures so far, the car is about 6 years old, although they did cost a bit to fix.
So all in all a brilliant car that is a dream to drive (when it's working) and that we would never trade in (partly because it's awesome and partly because it lost half its value as the car touched tar).
The only problem with your choice is the Diesel part. Eugh!

 

[Adam2005]

jeez, three engine failures?

that sucks.

How long did it take to fix all the problems?

My head says don't get it, but my heart is saying otherwise.

Man I wish they had decent service in SA.

 

[dj_jyno]

BMW E46 320D or Audi A4 2.0 TDi. Ignore your heart on this one - you already used your head by choosing a diesel.

 

[|tera|]

BMW E46 320D or Audi A4 2.0 TDi. Ignore your heart on this one - you already used your head by choosing a diesel.

Audi, yes.

 

[Adam2005]

fair enough,

Not one person I have asked said it is a wise deal.
So that is the end of that,

Maybe I will go for one more test drive just to say goodbye.

 

[Pseudonym]

Not wise, but the best. By far.
The engine failures took about 6 weeks all tolled to fix.
Audis are for cocks. Just ask Top Gear. You don't want to be a cock do you? You want to be happy. Well, for at least 1/2 your life. And spend the rest of it on the side of the road, in a cloud of steam But steam is good, steam is better than being a cock.

 

[Captain Beer]

Audis are for cocks. Just ask Top Gear. You don't want to be a cock do you? You want to be happy.

That's only in the UK where the cocks can afford the upgrade from a BM to an Audi. Doesn't apply in SA

 

[DOOMIE61]

That's only in the UK where the cocks can afford the upgrade from a BM to an Audi. Doesn't apply in SA

But the one if you buy a BMW 3 series you have no imagination applys here

 

[4cer]

Had a 147 1.6 T.Spark for a year and a bit. Done close on 40 000 k's now.

never had to wait for parts ?

its been serviced twice.

only thing strange to be replaced was the rear fog light, cost R35. I drive this car hard, petrol consumption sits around 13.5L/100km because my revs are very rarely below 5000RPM, its just addictive. So naturally ive had to put new brakes on! as for the odd tyre wear ? thats def not a common problem, mine is perfectly fine, i think your tyres need allignment then.

so i guess its like any other car...

my mate got a 120d 8 months ago, its been in at the dealers for 6 of those months... mostly because they need to "source" parts. Clutch went, turbo went, and its just been a mechanical nightmare !

so ya my 2c, my alfa hasnt given me any hassle.. i mean my dads Beemer has had more issues even, so i guess its luck of the draw, most people who comment on alfa's have never had one, i also heard i would never make it anywhere without breaking down, and yet nothing

 

[rurapente]

fair enough,

Not one person I have asked said it is a wise deal.
So that is the end of that,

Maybe I will go for one more test drive just to say goodbye.

If you ask an open forum about car, you're going to attract people who have problems with it.

Granted, Alfa's are known for their unreliability but also for their happy owners, and people who refuse to drive anything else after owning one. I've driven one, and I can say nothing else felt like it. I've driven an Audi, BMW, Merc they all nice - but didnt have that "thing" i got from the Alfa. So maybe there's a reason they're liked so much.

If you want something super-reliable but thats got the character of a dead person, you know which brand to go for, im not gonna say it (

 

[genetic]

If you want something super-reliable but thats got the character of a dead person, you know which brand to go for, im not gonna say it (

Honda?

 

[Brawler]

Turbo Diesels can be a moer of a headache if they are not driven/maintained correctly, even the BMW's turbos so TBH I wouldnt touch an Alfa TDI.

I'd look for a 1.6 like 4cers, less can go wrong.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Dude..coming from a LONG line of Alfa's, being chairman of an Alfa club, and trying to protect the name on here...I'd asy go visit alfaowner.com/forum/south-africa and ask around there...

They'll tell you the truth. Turbodiesels are just like ALL other turbo diesel cars...

Where you buying it from? This is very important...

FSH is a must, also, try and get one with maintenance and service included...take the car to Arnold Chatz or toher independants you'll get from the refered site...buying an Alfa is not like buying a Golf...there's just too many things to consider.

Other than that...its all good, yes the car comes standard with about 1.5 degree negative camber on the front...no wonder they handle so well...

the usual stuff - check that timing belt service has been done, and NOT only the timing belt, but tensioners etc aas well. If you still feel a bit sceptical about the car and its reputation - DON"T BUY IT...buy what you want and love, most of the stories about Alfa's braking are from guys who heard it in the pubs and from guys who took the cars to crappy stealers and mechanics...typical - oh - Service costs are a bit up there with Audi and BMW...but that's the kind of market the car was meant to be in...

Take your time and do moerse research...then go drive the car again and buy it...with 60000km's only thing needed to be done was the cambelt and normal services anyway...Holla if you need some contacts and people to speak to regarding Alfa's.

 

[Waaib]

I am looking to buy a new car, and I have been testing a few, I came across an Alfa 147 1.9 Turbo Diesel 2006 with low millage(60 000), and I fell completely in love with the car, blah blah blah

Flippin' Alfas. They do this to you. I test drove everything I could find a few years ago. I got into a Spyder and had fallen in love before I turned the key.

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Flippin' Alfas. They do this to you. I test drove everything I could find a few years ago. I got into a Spyder and had fallen in love before I turned the key.

Lol