2003 Alfa Romeo 147 Progression 120 review from Greece

No problems requiring a visit at the agent.

However:

- Noise at the RHS B-post. It is coming from the door lock, only when driving over pot holes. It seems to mainly occur at low speeds. Now, I am a sympathetic driver and do not drive like crazy on bad roads. Hence, it is a constant irritation...

- Noise possibly originating inside the dashboard (passenger side). It seems as if a wire got loose or something.

- Torsional rigidity not great: simply adequate, but this doesn't seem to affect handling (see below)

Engine: Flexible, revy, fruitful raspy noise and I could go on. It's an Alfa, even though it has to move 1250 kg...

Handling: Very, very competent handler even on 185/65/15. I don't really care about absolute cornering speed, I tend to give more importance on the general balance of a car, and in this respect the 147 is simply sublime. In corners, the limit is not hard to find and many 'simpler' cars (with respect to chassis design) may corner faster if equipped with larger tires. BUT, this is as far as such comparisons could go:

when reaching the grip limit the front end really fights understeer with zeal, the back end feels alive, yet- in the same time- it still is quite forgiving. It seems that the double wishbone design at the front and the (1972 Lancia beta design) multi link design at the rear work efficiently as a whole. This also serves to demonstrate how differently two similar suspension set ups may perform when (fine) tuned by people of different cultures: My old corolla used to have a similar suspension at the back, but you just had to "lift off" well beyond the limit to start watching the scenery from the side windows.

Anyway, the steering is full of feel, understeer is near non-existent, the rear end actively helps the front, while at the same time it remains "catchable"... What else could a committed driver really want? I'll tell you what: more torsional rigidity. I test drove a Stilo the other day

and even if it was a far less accomplished handler than the alfa (more passive rear end, less feel,

rubbish steering) it seemed rather more rigid. I had some similar feelings driving a Focus a while back. A more rigid shell could allow for softer springs and/or dampers- settings for a more compliant ride (and maybe better traction in bad roads). But, I know "Man is always desperate for more"...

Bottom line: Did you have a "Saxo/106 VTS/205/ AX GTI" some years back, which you still regret selling? Do you look for a car providing a similar feel while sitting four in relative comfort? Do you still choose to drive instead of being transported? Then I have good news for you...