Martsford

Hi Guys,

What more can I say other than ;

Alfa Romeo 147

or

Ford Focus ST

I currently have a 14 year old Focus, but can't decide whether to upgrade to an ST or go for a very attractive prestige Alfa 147

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

What do you use your car for?? How many miles a year?? Do you mean an Alfa 147GTA or just a boggo 147??


Cheers,
Grant

Escy

If your talking GTA, i'd go with the Alfa.

Martsford

It's an Alfa 147 1.6 losso ??? sommat or other.

Martsford

Are Alfa's reliable cars?

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

So it's between an Alfa with a c110bhp? 1.6 4cyl engine... and a Focus with a c220bhp? 2.5 5cyl turbocharged engine. Tough call.

Might I be so bold to suggest going and test driving them?


Cheers,
Grant

Martsford

Bhp aren't that important to me, that's more for the chats and boy racers who have nothing better to do with their lives. Looks and reliability are far more important.

Escy

Not being funny but the 2 aren't comparable. Do you want a big engined car or a small one?

I've had a couple of 2.0 147's. They drive really nice, engine sounds great. A well maintained Alfa is reliable but it'll always be in the back of your mind something will go wrong and usually it's serious. (cam belts snapping and big end bearings are common engine issues). The Alfa parts are generally a bit more expensive than more common cars like Fords. The double wishbones on the front aren't cheap for example.

If BHP isn't important, why aren't you looking at a 1.6 Focus?

YOREVOL

as an ex alfa expert tech i would go with the focus. 1.6 is slow and fragile, come to think about it so are the 1.8 and 2.0.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

So you want a nice looking, reliable car that isn't typical boy-racer material... you're looking at the wrong cars.

Take a look at a MK5/6 Golf GTi, they cover most bases pretty well and still look classy and refined without being too in your face.


Cheers,
Grant

Martsford

Basically I'm looking for something that won't let me down, the Alfa's are gorgeous looking cars, focus are nice but didn't really know the reputation of Alfa, hence this thread.

1.9 xr2 on 40's

i knocked up an alfa 54 plate with very fancy bumpers and 3.2 v6
if that something special?
its laid up and guy will get back to me with a price but i cant find any with the bodykit (genuine) most look squite shite
either way the alfa will lose money faster

1.9 xr2 on 40's

seeems it was a gta but i couldnt find one on ebay so googled

whats a 54 plate worth no mot needs tyres otherwise fine in red?

7sean7m7

Are you talking about the ST170 here or 225?

James B

Wrong place to make a statement like that when most users on here exceed 400bhp.

As many others have said, the two cars your comparing are not remotely comparable.

I personally would take the ST225 or even the ST170 mk1 Focus over the Alfa any day.

If your not concerned then why dont you compare a 1.6 mk2 Focus? Thats what I have. I think its about 100bhp mark, my trip computer says 38.8mpg driven daily on a 30 mile round trip commute cŁ30 a week petrol.

So far in 1yr 2mths ownership of the car Ive serviced it and changed front disc/pads at Ł69.15 all in for full a mintex set.

Shings

I used to have one of those...

I got it off Chris Wood off here........ then I sold it to my mate and 18mths later the cambelt snapped. Surprise Surprise.

I thought it was a nice car and went well enough for what it was, looked lovely, great place to be when driving the only thing I didn't really like was the gate on the gear box was really really close and the throw was long so you could miss gears when giving it the beans.

Shings

PS - They're not that good on juice

Shings

Didn't see this.

Buy a focus.

CrOwSoN15

I'd have a GTA over a Focus every day of the week, hello torque steer!

Escy

Q2 diff apparently transforms them

saph4be

Focus alfas are not reliable end off

gouch1

no

use of fiat parts not fixed together as well as fiats


st all the way

Pete frst

If your on about the 147 GTA id definitely go for that just make sure its had the belt and pullys changed recently and has the diff and big brake upgrade,decent exhaust,carbon airbox mod and your have one cool looking and sounding motor.....

Cossie Sean

if you like squeeks, rattles, poor build quality, electrics not working and everything being Ferrari price tag then buy an Alfa

i just had a brera in a few weeks ago, customer complaint, centre fitted reverse light bulb and it stopped working after 2 days

curroded terminals inside (59 plate car!!)
i had to get:
rear wiring repair harness @Ł159+vat
rear light unit (dont sell bulb holder seperate!! Ł226+vat

xr2wishy

iTrader: (2)

147's are ok, i'd get a 156 though, bigger, but nicer to drive, must be a v6, he twinny's are made of butter, so with alfa stay away from 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, start with a 2.5.

Martsford

Just been reading on 'whatcar' and the Alfa's are amongst the most unreliable cars out there, sitting at position 20 out of 28, so I think I'll stick with the Focus.

Oranoco

Neither, get a Golf GTi, subtle classy and very reliable. Will hold it's value well too.

Martsford

Not really a big fan of the golf anymore, I had a standard model not so long ago and was left really disappointed with it, so got rid

focusv8

Alfa's,,when they're good , they're good, but that's usually only on Feb 29th.

They loose cash faster than the U.K. banking system can.

Keep away, buy anything but an Alfa.

Martsford

What are Audi a3's like. Think I'll just admire the beauty of the Alfa's and steer clear of the temptation to buy one.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

A3's are more boring than a Golf is, although the badge is a bit more prestigious I guess... that said, an S3 has a bit of life about it. IMO, a MK5/6 Golf GTi is a different experience to a TDi or shopping model and a world apart from the older MK3/4 GTi which were pretty shitehouse to drive as standard.


Cheers,
Grant

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I used to work for Alfa.I do have a soft spot for them but if it was my choice it would have to be the focus.