2003 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA from UK and Ireland - Comments

This is the second time I've listed this car as I was accused last time of being biased, so here's a reasoned, well balanced view...

Well, it's still not had any faults or problems so for all the detractors out there, Italian no longer means faulty. And it still looks amazing, aggressive yet beautiful only a few stone chips from motorways spoil the perfection.

My GTA came with Bridgestone S-O2 tyres which are terrible, noisy and bad in the wet. I've now got some Goodyear Eagle F1's fitted and they're the complete opposite, fantastic, they even look good!

With fuel costs rising I think it's fair to say that the GTA seems more extravagant than ever. My consumption ranges from 19mpg to 25mpg which would be a problem, but when you're driving it you feel and hear where your fuel's going which eases the pain.

The handling is superb with lightning quick steering, though because of this the turning circle is rubbish a 3 point turn usually becomes 4 or 5. Handling on the limit is easy and predictable with the traction control on or off, a nice bit of mid-corner lift gets the back out, but it rarely bites... too hard! It's most at home on a good smooth A road with long fast corners to exploit the thumping V6 torque and excellent grip, you really feel this is the home of a bit engine as opposed to a smaller engine fitted with a turbo. Saying that though it does like the tight, twisty roads where you can get really aggressive, but there always seems to be more grip than you need, only on occasions you feel the weight of the big V6 upfront.

Getting the 250bhp of power on the floor can also cause a few problems, but once you learn to master it, the traffic light Grand Prix has never been so much fun.

The interior build quality is amazing, though quite cramped (which I actually like) using excellent, high quality materials and still has no squeaks or rattles. The dashboard is simply just beautiful to look at, the hard to read deep set dials are fantastic. I opted for the full Sat/Nav phone system which fits in with the look really well, it works well too. The leather seats are some of the best looking I've ever seen, they finish of an already beautiful interior with a touch of class.

So there you are a well balanced review of a fantastic car, I've not had any problems with it to date so I can't highlight any.

It still sets my pulse racing when I fire it up and hear the growl and it still looks amazing. I havn't even mentioned the feast of chrome and muscle you're treated to when you lift the bonnet, well I just did. Petrolheads can't ask for any more!

Alfa Romeo 147GTA...I love it.

The only people that would call an alfa review biased are those that are not real drivers, and have never experienced what driving an Alfa is like. Yes they can have niggly problems, but having owned 2 Alfas 3 FIAT's and a Lancia, none have ever let me down in major way. GTA be it a 147 or 156 is going to be my next car :o)

I have owned a 147 Gta since September 2004 and I have to say it is a truly stunning car not only to look at and get looked at in, it is sensation to drive to.

A great car Alfa..

I agree with most of the comments here. I've owned a 147 GTA since August 2004 and whist there are some things I feel could be improved upon, the overall package takes some beating.

I test drove the following before deciding upon the Alfa:-

Subaru STi - UK - Super fast, excellent dynamics, absolute dog to look at and awfull interior. Felt cheap.

Golf R32. Felt heavy, not quick. Dash rattled. Not impressed.

Audi 3.2 quattro. Loved it, but too expensive once all the upgrades were totted up. (Leather etc.)

So that left the Alfa. I've got to admit to taking a sharp intake of breath when I first clapped eyes on one. It had the factory 18" spoked alloys and just looked stunning. Subtle flared arches, gorgeous lines, lovely.

I defy anyone who hears (and sees) the engine not to be impressed. When it winds up over 4500rpm it sounds like a mini Ferrari. It's quick, but not Evo or STi quick so forget that. But what you get is a great combination of looks and ability. A car you will never tire of looking at.

Not had to take the car back in to the garage for anything - yet. It's been 100% reliable.

The leather seats are fantastic, and comfortable - they need to be...

Now the downside... the ride is crashy on all, but the smootest of roads. It becomes unsettled very easily causing you to 'back off' on the throtttle when you really want to push on. On a nice smooth, twisty road, you'll be grinning from ear to ear. Fuel consumption... ouch!!

The interior feels solid... no rattles (VW take note). But the CD player skips a lot (probably because of the hard ride).

You need to take an exam to work out how the fuel filler cap works. The air con system is overly complicated. The indicator stalk always clicks off half way round a round-a-bout causing you to re-engage it.

As you can see, minor stuff here.

Overall, it's a love affair (much to the wife's disgust!!)

If you are looking for a 'Hyper Hatch' with a touch of class, you'll not go far wrong.

I totally agree with most of the above.

I am now on my second 147 GTA, the first one being one of the first RHD cars produced.

I've also owned an R32 and an STI scooby (of which the engine went pop with 1500 miles on the clock), but for me the Alfa is the best. OK, it has its flaws, but for complete overall enjoyment it can't be beaten. Sitting behind the wheel looking at those dials... you could be in a Lamborghini Miura.

Anyone thinking of buying a new one had better be quick as Alfa have now stopped production of the GTA. So, your only chance of a new one is visiting your local dealer and getting them to check on the computer for any unallocated one's.

I have to agree with ALL the above comments.

I read as much as I could before embarking on my first Alfa affair, and so far I love it.

Main problems I have come across are:

Washer bottle way too small, runs out too quickly.

Ride height at the front is very low; my car catches the odd pile of gravel that can be left in the middle of the road.

3 point turn is hardly that, mentioned before I know, but it takes at least 5 attempts to turn it around.

Brakes, feel a little wooden sometimes, so I am going for an Autodelta upgrade of the flexi pipes.

Fuel consumption, ouch!

On the plus side, the car sounds great, especially after 4k, it’s comfortable, not too harsh a ride, steering is pin sharp, and the interior is a delight. Open the bonnet, what a treat! Superb and the overall looks of the car I think are equally as good.

HI.

Sorry to gatecrash this site and ask a question rather than give a review... but as Alfa have decided to stop production on the lovely 147GTA, what does anyone think will be the impact? I am about to buy one (next week) so any comments welcome.

I promise to write a review once I come back from the dealership:o)

I am the proud owner of a 147 GTA and I love it. But it has not been trouble free. It has suffered electronic faults and has needed a new ECU and is still temperamental. In fact the dealers are trying to isolate another problem now possibly connected with earth points. It has all been a bit disconcerting to say the least. I'm interested to see that production is to cease. Does anyone know why?

Just wanted to say I found this review very useful. I have been looking at several European performance cars:

Clio V6

Alfa GT 3.2

Audi S3

Golf R32

and the Alfa 147 GTA.

I want a performance car, but one with character. The Germans are great cars, very fast, but the 4 wheel drive if anything gives too much grip. I think either of the alfa's or the Clio are what I will probably go for (Insurance pending). They may not be as fast around a track or be quite as reliable, but they have character and that is what any real driver wants.

I'm not a massive fan of Subaru's and Mitsubishi's. I know many people with them and they are fast, but the styling (especially the interior's) are rubbish. They make up for it in performance, but like the Germans the 4 wheel drive waters down the driving experience a bit.

Two points I'd like to make.

The first is that in the review it says that 3 point turns become 4 or 5. How on earth can you have a four point turn?

And secondly the 147 GTA has unbelievably bad handling. Its awful front wheel drive system cannot put all of its power down; go on youtube and watch the Top Gear review. Out of all the hot hatches its the most powerful except for the Clio V6, and it was the slowest round the track by a long way. Its handling is that bad it's laughable.

And why would you buy a new one? They lose value so quick they aren't worth anything after three years.

Good car my bottom LOL.

Hi.

To the saying that the GTA doesn't handle may I would like to remind you of top gears powerlaps!!

The GTA is quicker than the Clio V6/Lotus Elise and Aston Martin vanquish round the track.

So next time get your facts right before you go slating other peoples cars!!!

"To the saying that the GTA doesn't handle may I would like to remind you of top gears powerlaps!!

The GTA is quicker than the Clio V6/Lotus Elise and Aston Martin vanquish round the track.

So next time get your facts right before you go slating other peoples cars!!!"

All of those cars were done on very very wet tracks; it was slower than the Golf r32, Focus RS, Focus ST, Golf GTI, Megane 225, Astra VXR. and it was slower than the Clio 182, which was done on a dry track, so if the V6 was done on a dry track, that would also of been faster.

The Alfa has terrible handling, and that's why all of these less powerful cars were faster than it.

You cannot measure handling with a stopwatch, and to even suggest such a thing is preposterous.

"You cannot measure handling with a stopwatch, and to even suggest such a thing is preposterous."

OK then why was it then that the alfa was slower than all of them cars even thought it has a faster 0-60 time and more bhp than all of the others? It was 3.5 seconds slower than the focus rs which is a true hot hatch.

'It was 3.5 seconds slower than the focus rs which is a true hot hatch.'

To be a true hot hatch it doesn't have to be quick round a track. Most people buy their cars for daily driving on public roads, and for that the GTAs handling is easily adequate. Listen to an Alfa V6 engine...you'll soon realise the fascination with them no matter how poor the build quality & handling on a track.

"To be a true hot hatch it doesn't have to be quick round a track"

Erm yes it does. There are lesser models i.e the 1.6 liter with 5 doors or whatever that are designed for practicality. The idea of the hot version is to be ermmmm hot, hence the name hot hatch. The Alfa falls way below the standard of the Focus RS, fact. Any car journalist would tell you the Alfa isn't a hot hatch, it's a poorly designed car with a poor chassis, a poor front wheel drive system and they have just stuck a big engine in it without any forward planning of how it was going to put the power down, or how it was going to be able to accelerate out of a bend. Things that a hot hatch should do, it can't do, so it isn't a hot hatch, it's a poor car with a big engine, end of discussion.