Quick q regarding the Alfa 147 Diesel. I heard a lot of bad things about the TwinSparks (cambelt failures, electrical probs, etc.) and was just wondering whether the Diesel's are (much?) improved in the reliability and maintenance department?
Alfa 147 Diesel - reliability/maintenance
- Thread starter Ex-RoNiN
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My girlfriend's sister's boyfriend... still with me? No? Okay, a mate has had a 147 JTD from new which is now, ooo, 12 to 18 months old. He's had a couple of niggles, something draining the battery all the time took the dealer a few visits to fix but otherwise it's been pretty reliable.
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Almeda said:
Yes. The JTD is a massive step up in reliability from the Twin Spark, and so is the petrol JTS. Maintenance costs are also much reduced compared to the Twin Spark.
Get onto Alfa Owner (forums) for more info.
Get onto Alfa Owner (forums) for more info.
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Suspension is usually where you'll be looking to replace bits and pieces on these cars. Not sure if the 35k cambelt issue affects the diesel engines.
Have a look at alfaworkshop.co.uk
Lovely cars though, these 147s.
Have a look at alfaworkshop.co.uk
Lovely cars though, these 147s.
it may be a more reliable engine but it is still surrounded by Italian electrics.My brother has the diesel GT (looks right,sounds wrong) which has had a few problems,firstly the reversing sensors stopped working, or rather they always worked whenever it was in reverse warning of imaginary hazards.Then it decided it would unarm itself,unlock the doors and wind the windows down anytime within an hour of securing it with the remote 'blip'.The last problem was when it was kept on the drive unused for 5 days when it developed a large fuel leak, it is just coming up to it's second birthday now.
hmm, so most views in here do point to the general unreliability of Alfas and yet I get flamed. Odd.
Perhaps it has something to do with me living closely with a good friend who has had numerous Alfas from 156, 157, 146, 147 amongst others and almost all have gone horribly horribly wrong.
Why does he keep buying them then? Because buying an Alfa is a decision made by your heart and not your head. Their styling is almost second to none, but then they rust away quickly and die
Perhaps it has something to do with me living closely with a good friend who has had numerous Alfas from 156, 157, 146, 147 amongst others and almost all have gone horribly horribly wrong.
Why does he keep buying them then? Because buying an Alfa is a decision made by your heart and not your head. Their styling is almost second to none, but then they rust away quickly and die
SOAP BOX MOMENTAlmeda said:Hardly need to be an expert to read almost every reliabilty and survey going that suggests Alfas are not reliable except maybe in diesel form.
Unless of course you cant read, in which case, an expert is always useful
I think your insightful comment was actually "generally Alfas suck"
Ever owned one then?
Ever driven one?
Ever spoken to an owners group?
Ever contributed to an owner’s forum?
Ever spent time working for Alfa?
Ever done any one of the above?
Thought not, you keep reading your magazines and watching your TV programs then as it seems that many people on web forums do just the same. They reads lots, write lots, but experience very little, you will fit in just fine.
Once upon a time a man wrote that it was impossible to go more than 100MPH without instant death. There were also very clever scientists who believed that to pass the sound barrier was impossible. Then there were clever people who never took everything at face value, dug a little deeper and proved them wrong. Sensible people tend to be made up of those who question and take nothing at face value. Lemmings just go along on their merry way taking everything at face value because Jeremy Clarkson told them, so it must be true
The world is full of lemmings and many of them seem to frequent web forums. Not sure what I mean, look in a mirror, you know, the big glass thing with people in it always staring at you... There is of course no smoke without fire, but sweeping generalisations are often the tactic of the ill informed....
PS. Did I learn him Merlin
And breath out...
housemaster said:
My OP was said tongue in cheek, perhaps I should have made that clearer. Its the general consensus of a lot of people unfortunately.
So, yeah, in the main I can say yes to most. In addition, why dont you stop trying to appear superior and post some of your insightful wisdom about Alfas so that we can all stop, take note and change the way we live forever!
The reason that I have never owned an Alfa (although I came very close) was due to the huge reliability index that went against them proved by their poor residual values. As highlighted year upon year in the JD power Surveys which talks direct to vehicle owners, yes, thats people who own Alfas. Take also into account my close friend who has owned Alfas since he could first afford one (he is now 48) and he will tell you its no fun when they come to reliability but his decisions to buy them has been purely upon looks alone and he can live with the reliability issues as invariably his company picks up the cost of maintenance.
Now, for the Love of God, can you post something worth reading?
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I've had two 156 jtd's, liked them both, never had any problems blah, blah, blah.
Don't know what age your thinking of but I would try and get one of the newer jtd-mjet engines, I think they came out around 03 and preferably the 16v version which has 150 bhp compared to the 8v 120bhp ( older ones are 110 bhp I think)
Don't know what age your thinking of but I would try and get one of the newer jtd-mjet engines, I think they came out around 03 and preferably the 16v version which has 150 bhp compared to the 8v 120bhp ( older ones are 110 bhp I think)
Lighten up old boy, I like to vent and you got some but to call me a troll is somewhat off the mark. I don't have the time, inclination or the interest and I get bored very quickly you see, which is why I have very few posts. Bitch slapper of stupid posts, well maybe, but you'll get over it like I do when its on the other foot. Now tell us about the Alfa's you owned......oh wait a minuteAlmeda said:
156 myself actually, and bar the crap dealers I came across (3 different ones) the car was ok, though it did have an electrics glitch that caused it to stop on me twice, but then my Griffith had more and my BMW 323SE let me down twice also, as did my wifes A4 and 106 GTi, but thats just like most brands, they are all much of a muchness which is why Alfa's don't suck anymore in my EXPERIENCE (that different to what a mate tells me or what you might read...)
Now, tells us about what you did for Alfa.....PS. The point about me being superior is also valid, I am pretty special, my mummy always said so and she must know....
Lolhousemaster said:Lighten up old boy, I like to vent and you got some but to call me a troll is somewhat off the mark. I don't have the time, inclination or the interest and I get bored very quickly you see, which is why I have very few posts. Bitch slapper of stupid posts, well maybe, but you'll get over it like I do when its on the other foot. Now tell us about the Alfa's you owned......oh wait a minute
156 myself actually, and bar the crap dealers I came across (3 different ones) the car was ok, though it did have an electrics glitch that caused it to stop on me twice, but then my Griffith had more and my BMW 323SE let me down twice also, as did my wifes A4 and 106 GTi, but thats just like most brands, they are all much of a muchness which is why Alfa's don't suck anymore in my EXPERIENCE (that different to what a mate tells me or what you might read...)
PS. The point about me being superior is also valid, I am pretty special, my mummy always said so and she must know....
I too expericed crap dealer service, but then again this can be inherrent for a lot of manufactureres. Unfortunately it was just one more thing that pushed me away, same as when I vistied Audi, stuck up monkies.