Alfa Romeo 147 (2000 - 2005)
9JTD diesel - Twin Spark, Lusso, Turismo, Selespeed, GTA])
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Few thought that Alfa Romeo could follow on from the success of the mould-breaking 156 saloon. The 166 executive saloon was a nice try, but it never threatened the class establishment. With the 147 hatch, however, the company scored its biggest hit to date, scooping the European Car of The Year award in 2000 and signing up thousands of converts to the Alfa way of doing things. The Italian marque has been on an upward curve ever since.
As a used purchase the 147 is no different to the 156 its no Toyota Corolla as far as reliability goes but its certainly class competitive.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation |  |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
Fact is that since the 156 was launched at the end of 1997, Alfas understanding of how to screw together a decent quality car had come on leaps and bounds. Anybody exiting a Mercedes E-class and then entering the 166 executive saloon could attest to this. The 147 takes took foundation and reinforced it further. Sit inside the car and the memories of Italianate driving positions that we grew up with in Alfasuds and Giuliettas are banished forever.
Seat, pedals, steering wheel, gearstick and mirrors all appear to be positioned around an anthropomorphic figure of a human being rather than a gibbon (as was the case with the 145). The rest of the interior has other such considerate touches too. Alfa hasnt forgotten its heritage and has built upon the inherent romantic appeal of Italian cars. Whereas the 156 brought back the classic cowled fascia dials, the 147 went a step further by squeezing in two additional dials, evocatively labelled benzina and aqua.
The tachometer bears the legend giri making you feel if not like Nuvolari, then at least distantly following in his wheeltracks. Its not all dewy-eyed nostalgia, however. Elsewhere in the relentlessly well-finished cabin are some determinedly high-tech touches. Six airbags come as standard, as does dual-zone climate controlled air conditioning.
State-of-the-art multiplex wiring made possible the option of a full-screen voice activated satellite navigation system with an inbuilt Bose stereo and GSM telephone system.
Prices for the earliest 2000 model year X-registered 1.6-litre 147 Turismo models start at £3,900, with Lusso trim commanding an additional £300. The 2.0-litre cars with the sequential Selespeed gearboxes can be yours from £4,700 in Lusso form, again on the X plate.
Five-door cars are generally only £150 to £250 more than the three doors. Insurance for the 147 is reasonable, the 1.6 Turismo opening at Group 11 with the Lusso slotting into Group 12 and the 2.0-litre cars usually rated at Group 14.
If youre worried about insurance bills, best to pass on the GTA.
The 147 feels well built and for those who do know how to wield a spanner, it isnt the nightmare to work on the Alfas of yore were. The Selespeed model has an appetite for clutches if used predominantly as an urban scoot and you should also check wheels for kerbing. The interior trim is generally of good quality although the metallic paint on some of the plastic surfaces isnt too durable. Otherwise there have been few niggling problems with the 147.
(based on a manual 2.0 Lusso) A clutch assembly is around £138. Front and rear brakepads are around £50 per set of each, a rear exhaust box about £143 (excluding catalyst), a starter motor around £190. A replacement headlamp is about £145.
Alfa has gone to great lengths to make huge steps forward over the 145/146 generation of hatches. That much is evident as soon as you drop into the drivers seat and thunk the door shut. Its a completely different prospect, with some resolutely high tech touches like its Vehicle Dynamic Control, a stability control system which aims to prevent the 147 spinning. Its on a par with the PSM program used by Porsche in the way that it credits the driver with some leeway before gently stepping in to restore equilibrium if progress is overenthusiastic.
Whilst it always seems such a great idea in principle, driving a Selespeed-equipped clutchless 156 often leaves one wondering whether the handbrake is sticking. Not so in the 147. The system has been optimised for smoother full-throttle gear changes and a cleverer full-automatic mode, though it still helps to lift off the gas whilst changing up through the box. The way the engine blips the throttle for you on downchanges is one of the enduring pleasures of using Selespeed, and youll be enjoying it even more in the 147.
Unlike the 156, which has relied on some rather unappealing buttons mounted on the face of the steering wheel, the 147 opts for proper paddles located behind the wheel, much as youll find in a Ferrari 360 Modena. These move when you spin the wheel, making it far easier to snick up and down the box, and the cars telepathically quick steering means youll rarely have to lift your hands from that optimum quarter-to-three position. Unfortunately it also means a turning circle visible from space. The manual car is still the most popular option for keen drivers and the rest of the 147s chassis is well up to par with the slick gearbox.
The Ford Focus and the Peugeot 307 are probably as good as the 147 over a twisty road course, but neither gives you that buzz when your garage door whirrs up. That sort of emotional twang is what kept people buying Alfa Romeos when they were, frankly, pretty poor. Now that theyre as good as the 147 you may find yourself rapidly running out of excuses. The GTA version is an astonishing drive.
Capable of sprinting to 60mph in 6.3 seconds and then on to a top speed of 153mph, the GTA is certainly quick. The bald figures give little indication as to the nature of its performance, however. Here is one of the worlds great engines, one of the few powerplants that are as good to listen to and look at as they are to prod into life with a long stab at the throttle pedal.
The diesel JTD115 may not be quite so tuneful, but when it will return nearly 48mpg and yet still reserve the capability to hit 60mph in 9.7 seconds, nobodys complaining.
It looks great, it drives beautifully, its reasonably practical and used bargains are starting to appear. What more incentive do you need?
