General Comments:

I have an Alfa Romeo 147 GT Turismo, it is a beautiful drive compared to all cars in its price range, and surprisingly enough has better performance and handling, which makes it a winner.

I've raced a lot of cars from 1.6 above, and people ask me what litre engine the car has, and I say 1.6, "No it can't be, it's 2.0 litre", trust me, the best car for your money.

I still do not know the difference between the Lusso and Turismo.

Faults:

Gear selector cable snapped £150 inc labour.

Passenger side window started sticking £50 inc labour.

Poor mpg - oil/water in spark plug wells. 8 x replacement spark plugs £90.

Engine running rough / vibration into car - dealer can't seem to fix it.

Both front seat mechanisms seem to have stuck with the result that the front seats don't automatically slide forward when you try to get into the back.

Back box has rusted up. Replacement back box (Alfa Romeo part) has also begun rusting up after only 10,000 miles.

General Comments:

Beautiful, original looking car that's better to look at than to own.

Ride quality is okay on 15" wheels but deteriorates badly on 16" Alfa Romeo Sport Wheels with 205/55/16 tyres.

Handling is okay, but the car tends to roll in corners.

Car is very noisy on the motorway at 80mpg+ with engine, road, and wind noise all becoming intrusive. This is not a refined car at speed.

Clutch becoming increasingly heavy.

Engine is starting to sound very rough and smoke a little (84,000 miles). Dealer can't seem to diagnose what's causing it.

Engine uses 1 litre of oil every 1,000 miles.

Overall, an average car (apart from the fantastic looks) that is let down by the lack of refinement and the fragility of some of its parts / engineering.

Faults:

Brake Light switch needed replacing. Cost about £60 (including part and fitting at Alfa Dealer).

Rear Fog Light Failure warning goes off from time to time. Simply take lights out and move connectors to be more in contact.

CD Jumps over bumps.

Suspension a bit hard, but hey it's a sporty car!!

Paint starting to come off back box of exhaust.

General Comments:

Great drive. Great comfort and lots of little extras available, Climate Control, Traction control. All of which I have!

Probably the best car I have ever driven. Goes like a dream, and can really move for a 1.6 engine.

Sounds great too.

Quiet inside.

Looks amazing, especially the front. Interior is well built and very nice to be in and behind the wheel.

Don't listen to Alfa sceptics. Alfa make great cars!

Faults:

Nothing new has gone wrong since I've had it, although there have been a couple of unpleasant surprises such as the petrol cap not fastening properly (who checks these thing buying a car?). And the seat adjuster having snapped off on the passenger side. More a reflection of rough handed previous owner than any poor reflection on the car.

General Comments:

Alfa Romeo have made some great cars, and this is definately one of the best. Once you enter the car for the first time, it becomes immediately apparent that the build quality is rock solid, easily on a par with the likes of the A3 or Golf. But where both these cars lack, at least in petrol form, the smaller Alfa shines.

This just does not feel like 120 horses. In comparison to a MINI Cooper, it is far faster on the road than just the marginal 5 bhp advantage claimed. The engine note is fabulous, with an urgent metallic scream past 5000 and on to the 7000 rev limiter, where the well spaced gear ratios keep you in the sweet spot as long as you keep the revs up. Like a lot of Alfa Romeos, it is one of those cars that you will happily nail on the power then back off, just to hear the noise and feel the acceleration. The handling itself is well sorted, with a precise, perfectly weighted feel and plenty of grip from the Pirelli tyres. The steering is sharp and responsive, and the car feels very safe, which is helped by the six airbags.

Despite all this fun, the real reason I went to see the car was the looks. In red with the 17's, it's hard to find another hatchback as pretty as this. The alloys and colour combination do have a dramatic effect on the overall look of the car.

In addition, the fuel economy is excellent for a car this fast, maintaining 30-35 mpg most days. Buy one if you have the chance..