2004 Alfa Romeo 147 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Jeremy Clarkson once said on Top Gear that no one can be considered a petrolhead until owning an Alfa Romeo. The fustration of it breaking down while on the go, which was quite rare because it usually doesn't start. However when everything fell into place, Alfas were brilliant cars to drive. The way they made you feel, the way every inch of the journey was fed to your fingertips, the sound of the beating heart they call an engine... and the cabin was a lovely place to sit. It's a refreshing change from the drabness of German saloon interiors. And nowadays, with Alfa under the ownership of Fiat, things don't fall apart quite as often anymore. The Alfa I have is a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Monza. It's basically a body-kitted 147 with a 250bhp 3.2L V6 driving the front wheels. Back then, this car was competing with the Ford Focus RS and the Volkswagen R32 Golf MkIV, both of which had less power but had systems to keep all the power in check, namely a diff for the Focus, and four-wheel-drive for the Golf. The Alfa, meanwhile, has neither of these. The result of which is you ending up in a tree. Imagine this, the front wheels have to put up with 250 wild Italian stallions, while dealing with the steering and braking. The only thing preventing torque steer (which happens frequently, as you can imagine) is Alfa's traction control, which you know will fail eventually. The interior is beautifully done, except for some small plastic "wood" inserts along the door and the dash. There's absolutely no need for this and it spoils the gorgeous mix of black and blue leather trimmings, which come standard with the Monza spec. However if you're looking to sit more than 3 passengers, I'm afraid people in the back row will be complaining to human rights organisations for the abuse you put them through. Unfortunately, the 147 GTA isn't made anymore, which is a massive shame. The engine is superb, capable of launching to a 100km/h from a standstill in 7 seconds. The noise is simply magnificent, starting from a deep, bassy burble and ending with a sharp roar. Newcomers to the car might wonder if there's an Italian opera group under the bonnet. Sure there are faults with this car. The electric window switch box can be pulled out from the door handle, the Selespeed gearbox threatens to smash your head through the front window everytime it changes gear and reversing is a pain because it seems like you're looking through a keyhole. But it's an Alfa, and you forgive its flaws because it's so jaw-droppingly beautiful. Anyone who doesn't look back when walking away from the car should check to see if they have a pulse, especially if the car is coated in a stunning pearly-white, like mine is. A secondhand 147 GTA should set you back around AUD$30000, which is not a lot to pay for a the practicality of a hatchback with sports car performances. It's certainly a car that you would love. Until, of course, it runs you into a tree.Feb 18, 2010