"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark)
10/08/2013 at 12:08 • Filed to: None
3
9|
"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark)
10/08/2013 at 12:08 • Filed to: None | 3
| 9 |
I'm an American. I've never been to Yurrp. Most Americans - enthusiasts, even - have no idea what an Alfa Romeo 147 is.
I know it's a gorgeous compact hatchback, whether original or facelifted. Add in Alfa's absolutely perfect, singing, 3.2L V6 with chrome engine inlets, slap GTA badges on, and it becomes an absolute revelation. A great handler, no. But a totally and incredibly silly Italian hot hatch.
Thoughts? Has anybody here driven one or owned one?
505Turbeaux
> AMC/Renauledge
10/08/2013 at 12:16 |
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big love
getchapopcorn
> AMC/Renauledge
10/08/2013 at 12:30 |
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Much love for it from this American. I'd always have the Alfa given a choice; I'd never recommend the Alfa if someone asked.
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AMC/Renauledge
> getchapopcorn
10/08/2013 at 12:33 |
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So THIS.
maximillious
> AMC/Renauledge
10/08/2013 at 12:54 |
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I love them... but I love pretty much ever hot hatch ever made. so there is that.
BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
> AMC/Renauledge
10/08/2013 at 13:34 |
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I love the look of the facelifted 147. One of the most perfectly formed front ends of the modern day.
I haven't driven any variant of the 147, but I have daily-ed it's platform-mate (the 156) for about 4 years now. It's a V6 too, so the handling is reasonably close to being comparable.
The extra weight over the rears in the saloon 156 must make a difference, and I also know that while the front setup is identical, the 147 has a different setup at the rear due to packaging considerations.
Saying that, the 156 is far from a bad handling car. It's not going to blow you off your feet like an Elise, but the car can hustle. Trail braking is your friend in corners, but it'll go round them almost as fast as an E36 325i (I know this from personal experience), and sound much better when you nail it on the exit. It's also marginally faster in a straight line than the 325i, mostly due to reduced drivetrain losses from FWD.
Alex87f
> AMC/Renauledge
10/08/2013 at 17:28 |
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I had one. Absolutely fantastic looking car, particularly in facelifted form. And the interior was no ugly one either.
In addition, it was generally very well equipped, and build quality wasn't bad at all (though it wasn't fantastic either). Very comfortable and nice to drive too, and a very classy car.
The handling left a bit to desire though. Under normal condition it was great, but when pushing it more than usual, the brakes faded very quickly, steering lacked feeling, and the suspensions were overall too soft.
I still miss that car sometimes. Great all rounder but no hot hatch (GTA notwithstanding)
Oh and the petrol version were very expensive to run, and the diesel versions.. well they were diesels.
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Alex87f
> getchapopcorn
10/08/2013 at 17:28 |
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Amen.
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AMC/Renauledge
> Alex87f
10/08/2013 at 18:04 |
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Great to know! Had you ever tried a GTA?
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Alex87f
> AMC/Renauledge
10/09/2013 at 02:51 |
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Nah.. I wish I did though!
I've heard fantastic things about them and they're not that expensive anymore. But a 20mpg medium sized hatch? Hard to justify when petrol is 7$/ga.. And I'm afraid the over-assisted steering would still be an issue.