It wasnt underrated it was under appreciated but then most average joes on the road in their average joe choice of hum drum or teutonic motors simply never will understand the magic of this car (or many other Alfas). Unfortunately that magic is very subjective so reviewers were rightfully very critical of the launch/standard cars and yes they are still very flawed to drive even after serious mods and nothing can change that short of putting that awesome engine in the middle, Clio V6 style, and making it right wheel drive. You dont buy one of these for its dynamic prowess but in terms of styling/noise/sheer evocative-ness it simply had no equal. As its often said the Alfa badge is as historic and prestigious as it gets to proper petrol heads. It is almost impossible to look like a twat in an Alfa Romeo. Sure a Focus RS at the time and now was absolutely miles better to blast down a B road but thats not why this car appeals and thats the only good thing about a Focus RS. You can park a bianco pearl 147 GTA up in a posh hotel carpark full of filthy expensive exotica and it doesnt look out of place whereas you cant do that in a Ford Focus of any kind especially not the blue collared dreamer RS versions. Remember the top gear lads all said they would buy this over the competition without a moments hesitation yet simply couldnt explain why... sums up the magic very nicely 👍
@@ultraguy8771 Yes the Honda is the far more mass produced car and getting bits for it is going to be easier for now but the Alfa is far more a classic car already in the making, alot more desirable and highly sought after, hence their rising values and it will last plenty of time like any car can if its well looked after. Build quality wise a 2004 Alfa 147 is better fit and finished than a Honda civic tbh. Alfas have a very dedicated and loyal fanbase and specialists ready to keep them going for decades. Admittedly a good Type R civic of this era and a good Alfa 147 gta of same age are quite difference in costs to buy and run.
If EV conversions become more prevalent in the future, the Brera would be a great platform IMO. It was never great dynamically, the engines weren't spectacular, but it still looks utterly stunning and unlike anything
@@antj29 im sure someone that is realy passionate and have the $$ will spend money on rwd conversion, under the bonnet there is space to put the engine longitudinal but it will include some cutting for driveshaft and transmision space.
dunno if you guys gives a damn but if you're stoned like me during the covid times you can stream all of the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my gf for the last couple of weeks xD
Nice review. Ran a156GTA for 8 years. Apart from factoring in regular suspension bushing changes and lubrication, it was dead reliable and very cheap to run. Never tired of that sweet and smooth engine. Would definitely own one again if circumstances permitted.
The Brera and 147 GTA didn't overlap and the Brera, a Coupe really, was intended as the GTV replacement. The elephant in the room is the GT 3.2 which had the Busso and was sold alongside the 147 and the Brera. It was way more practical, with easy space for 4 and a large boot and currently is valued at a lot less than the 147 GTA
Had a 156 gta. The running costs where unbelievable but I keep trawling the classifieds lusting after another. They feel really special somehow, especially at night with the red dials.
that and the over enthusiastic 200mph written on the speedometer. I used to have a 156 gta until it was taken away from me in a crash. I now love my autodelta GT 3.2 which is basically the same chassis as the 156 gta and the engine/ electrics of the 147 gta
@@sv916gtv7 theres nothing soft about the gt 3.2 other than its marketing, for starters the -10 bhp is non existent as the engine actually produces around 255bhp as standard because it is identical to the gta engines with the exception one detail being the gta logo on the plenum, the suspension is not as harsh as the gta's but still grips the road extremely well and actually handles better because it also has a chassis nearly 17% stiffer than the 156 meaning that it can run softer suspension without compromise as there is less chassis flex during heavy cornering. the GT 3.2 is a far more refined car than the 147 and 156 gta, i say this as somebody who has driven all 3 models and has owned 2 heavily tuned examples with all of their factory issues removed like the open diff being replaced by a quaife lsd for example.
22 year old me had the 1.6. It wasn't quick by any stretch, but my god it sounded amazing. Also: it'd hit 60mph in second gear. I can't tell you how entertaining that was to me back at the time. I'm 35 now. Still driving an Alfa!
@@pauljackson112 got my 1.6 120hp alfa romeo 147 when i was 22. now im 27 and I'm still driving it. Its a lovely car and take care of it. many people call me crazy that i spend my money on it but i just don't want another car! it sounds lovely and I've upgraded the suspension and it handles soo good.
Needs a wizard cat-back exhaust to really let that engine sing! The BEST sounding V6 or arguably one of the best production engine sounds in the world. Car throttle had the GTA with the very same exhaust
@@Farlig69 nothing wrong with fwd. For example the latest Mégane Trophy R is as fast as a Giulia QF or M4 comp around the Evo magazine race track. And by all accounts is amazing to drive. My 156 is fantastic on a circuit.
@@MD-uu5nt I´m not talking about speed I´m talking about fun & driving pleasure - Each to their own but you´re generally in the minority with most drivers preferring RWD. I have a 156 too a 2.5, love every single aspect other than the FWD. That´s a reserve for small cars & hot hatches...
@@Farlig69 is yours manual? Apparently they're only a second slower than the GTA which is bizarre. I got a black v6 facelift with tan interior though it's auto it's great driving in the city or the highway, by the time I hit fourth it's doing 180ks. Also it looks as good as anything really for the price. They don't excel in any particular way but overall an excellent car that's going to get rare.
@@MrPittsbrother Yep 6 speed manual - if by one second you mean 0-60 that´s actually a lot in terms of feel!! Manual, again, like RWD it´s a driving pleasure thing. For fun, pleasure & reward you cannot beat three pedals & an H-pattern box. Everyone´s harping on about auto this, dual clutch that & flappy paddle waffle but all this is derived from racing where the only thing that matters is speed and efficiency. Speed & efficiency are not a prime requirement for driving pleasure & flappy paddles / auto take massive amounts away from this.
I was once overtaken by a red one of these. The driver looked a spitting image of John Peel, the disk jockey. He passed away a couple of years later and it turned out he was somewhat of an Alfa fan and did own a 147 GTA....
Been waiting 10 years for a white one to pop for sale in Australia- still bloody waiting. Stunning- owned a 147 gta before and miss it dearly. Need a clean one in my life
When you get it hang on to it. I got a black and tan v6 facelift 156 and I hardly ever this version for sale so I'm going keep it maintained good for as long as I can in case they become collectors items. I've never seen the white 147 either in Aus.
Absolutely love my 147 GTA. Never expected to like it but once I drove it...what an amazing machine. It truly makes you feel at one with it and constantly wants you to push the limits. I doubt there will ever be a car like this ever. The rarity is appealing as well since only car enthusiasts will take notice, otherwise it just looks like any other 147.
That engine from an aesthetic point is so beautifully made, a bit nose heavy for this car but nothing can take the desirability of an Alfa 147 GTA. Nice nostalgic ride!
Well said a special special car with really quite wonky dynamics... jsut way too much weight ahead of the front axle to be proper drivers car... Q2 diff or not. Sense of occasion and good taste is unmatched by any other "hot hatch" EVER and is reason to buy alone 👍
@@Anttihii Its not the weight itself thats the problem mate its the weight distribution. The V6 GTV and 147 and 156 models have way too much in front of the front axle and not just weight over the front axle alone. Its a heavy old engine to boot. The penalties to chassis balance (serious corner entry understeer) and ride quality (unsettled on uneven and rougher roads) is because that kind of weight dist is very difficult to control and is certainly a notable downside vs a Twin spark or JTS engined GTV/147/156....... does it bother me or many other owners though? No 👍 The V6's are still the best 👍
@@Anttihii Lol i would much rather have a 156 too over an E46 3 series (M3 excepted) but there is no denying which is a better car to drive... the BMW is right wheel drive and far better balanced weight distribution and chassis wise. Also the Alfa V6 is considerably heavier than the TS engines... please go and drive a V6 GTV back to back with a TS GTV and tell me im wrong lol
Another great review of an enthusiast car. However I wish that in your reviews you would show more of the interior, practicality etc. You include flashes here and there but personally would like to see more. Doesn’t need to be elaborate, just a simple POV would do. You get access to some really interesting cars and every time I find myself craving for a closer look!
I'm working on it. Striking a balance is hard. I used to do a full walkaround with every car review - but then people complained they were all too long, so I stopped it - I'm trying to get the right amount of walkaround/exterior without boring people.
@@JayEmmOnCars I think go with those who have a longer attention span - nothing wrong with videos being 15-20 min instead of 10-15 min. Perhaps now that you have a bigger 'fanbase', people are more willing to be patient and, indeed, want more content per video - certainly, many now seem to want a walkaround. How long ago was it that people complained? Also, a walkaround doesn't have to be at the start, you could 'hook' people with ~5 minutes of driving, then 'flashback' to a walkaround, and then continue with the rest of the driving. Might work? (Maybe not every car is worth a walkaround, but then you could just do a minute on those.)
Best car I've ever owned. Went though some water, engine died, had Autodelta rebuild it as a 3.7 with 320bhp. Incredible car. RR and Exhaust noise on my channel if interested....
I have owned and driven many Gta's over the years ( original or modified examples), among other Alfas. I still own a pristine 156 GTA that I intend to keep in my livingroom forever. I always hear the same "myths" about the Gta's and idiotic advices from people that didn't even know what they are talking about. The bottom line is: 1. The best 147/156 Gta is an original, unmodified car. The " upgraded" cars are worth nothing, as most are very abused examples. 2. Contrary to what Alfa " experts" may tell you, the car was great from the factory, the "problems" regarding lack of cornering grip or brake disc "warping" became forum headlines after a couple of morons abused their cars on track. The car is perfectly adequate for spirited street use, brakes and grips very well in any given condition. I am stunned by the amount of false information about fitting lsd on a car factory equiped with ASR as it defies any logic, unless you drive the car on track with the Asr disconected. 3. The absolute best sound of the Gta's V6 is provided by the original exhaust. All the aftermarket systems are expensive and make the car boomy and very tiresome on motorway. Dont bother with those exhaust, they are a complete waste.
Great explanation... but i disagree. Like the 4C, you can feel the great base that is the 147,... but you can also feel the lack of polish by the ingeneers.
I mostly agree, but I think there's a difference between a 147 and a 156. I find a regular 156 to be a much, much better car almost in every way and I'd say the same for the GTA versions. So yeah, while 156 GTA is a brilliant car, 147 GTA is just underrated and even though the whole thing blew out of proportion, it had its flaws.
I owned a 147 a few years back and it's still one of my all time favourite cars. Currently own an Audi A4 Avant which is very cool, both practical and has the performance when needed and I think my next car will be an upgrade on what I currently have, but the Alfa is a beautiful car. As long as you followed the advice with regular servicing and oil changes it will reward you with reliability which mine did. Never had a any real major issues with it at all.
Bought a similar one with the same Bianco Nuvola colour a month ago. Drove it 1300kms back home and having a supersprint exhaust I'm a bit deaf now but boy was that trip worth it.
Great engine but not even remotely the best engine ever made, against its competition at the time however it was the best engine and very much a contender for best engine ever fitted to a hatchback. I owned two Busso V6 engined cars and while i loved the both more of late ive had a Maserati GT with a Ferrari derived V8 and before that an V10 Bmw M5 and those engines are massively better than the old Busso V6 which while very linear and responsive i always felt needed more top end and power. A Busso v6 with say a Vtec type head and top end would have been something truly truly special indeed 👌
@@tomwebb7091 I think they're mid to top end which is very Italian anyway. I wish they had more bottom end torque. I can't really afford those other cars. In three years I only had one check engine light which turned out to be a false alarm for an o2 sensor. My mechanic said to change from shell to bp and it never happened again.
@@MrPittsbrother So yeah a great engine indeed and the 3.0 fitted to my two GTVs really helped make me fall in love with cars those yrs ago, especially italian ones, but to describe as the best engine ever made? I think thats a little bold. As for car values there are 147GTAs which cost as much to buy, insure and tax (but not fuel or service perhaps) as a decent early E60 V10 M5 which if any Alfa 3.0 or 3.2 owner tried would instantly realise the Busso V6 while a very decent engine is easily bettered in general. In hatchback history terms i agree it has an argument as being the best ever fitted but theres still the BMW straight 6cyl, the Audi inline 5cyl turbo and the Honda Vtec units which in isolation are amazing (shame the rest of the cars were shite) so the Busso isnt a clear winner.
Jumbo! You swore in that video 😂👍 Great work sir really impressed with your production and video quality. Way better than mine 🤪 Great information buddy
Such a beautiful car, with that sick busso v6 so much better than 4 pot hot hatches, you can get it mapped to 275 bhp and with a q2 diff and good front tyres is really handles.
Maybe i misunderstood what you said... bit alfa did not officialy supported the fitting of the q2 on gtas. They were all open diffs. Only improvment during production was bigger brakes
It’s incredible how few people know that the busso is actually directly based on the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6. There are interviews of for instance Forghieri, one of its “developers “, now retired and ready to talk. FIAT obviously never commented. The Brera has a freaking Aussie Holden motor...
I think you are confusing the Busso V6 with the 90° V6 used on the 155 DTM, which was indeed based on the PRV. Those are two different engines. If you have sources please share, otherwise don't spread misinformation.
@@peterfi. Exactly. It's not called the "Busso" for nothing; it was designed by Giuseppe Busso, Alfa's head engine designer and a professor of mechanical engineering. He also designed the famous Alfa 'Twin Cam' (also known as the 'Nord') engine. He was one of Italy's great engine designers.
This old school Ferrari V6 sound! Say no more and buy yourself a Golf GTi... Alfa is special and vw is average... it is the same with Lancia... The exclusivity you get with this hand made V6 is so special.
I remember sitting in one at Goodwood in 2004 and thinking oh yeah i want one of these, i had a friend who bought the 145 2.0 cloverleaf in 1995 it was a great looking car back then and had the Momo leather interior, he did a track day in it at Brands and two weeks later he had warped the head, cost £1500 to repair, ouch !!
Another very interesting one, my eyes have been opened to many more possibilities with the recent reviews. Im not sure I'd go for an alfa but the engine does seem a gem. Was always a fan of the Brera styling although this seems far more practical. The interior would probably sway me the other way, though!
I picked up a GT with the busso v6 on Thursday the 17th and i haven't stopped smiling! best part is im only 20!!!! uk car insurance has no idea what its doing as its only cost me £910 hahaha
I am picking one today in Australia, gt 3.2 busso $8900 ,timing belt,water pump ,new radiator, brakes and alternator, I thought I 'll never be able afford one until this one turned up😂
@@denzilthurton7807 2 years late haha, I paid £4900 for it, I owned it for 9 months before loosing my job and just at the same time it decided to brake down every single day, miss that car
Strong agree; I bought my Sele GTA June this year. Actually wanted a manual but the Sele came up in ridic condition, babied by the former owner, and I couldn't be happier. GTA Sele a completely different animal.
Had both the 147 GTA and the 3.2 Brera. The main difference was that the GTA had the glorious Busso engine, while the Brera had a boring GM/Opel-engine
Enjoyed that Jay. You should try a mapped Busso much more poke up the higher end of the rev range. I own a busso GT , and love the car. Glad you enjoyed the 147 GTA. :-)
@@Anttihii A problem peculiar to the high-performance models, as I recall. Something about a fuel line rubbing up against part of the engine as part of the changed configuration from memory.
Nice review of a great hatch! Gloriously sounding engine, great to look at and amazing to drive! I might be biased because I own one. And steering on 147 GTA is anything but slow.
I know it could sound a bit exaggetared but with an LSD differential, big wing on the back and proper suspensions' setup she could make fine performances in uphill races. Maybe in pikes peak also.
Sorry mate.. brera isn't hatchback. I own one and beside heavy nose and bad engines and fwd and bad dyniamics it is best looking car ever and it is COUPE. Keep up with good videos, I like your channel 🤘🏻
The 147 GTA seems to have a cult following even amongst the Busso Alfa V6s. I would personally take a 156 GTA if money was no object or a GTV 3.0 if it was but I''m happy enough with my 3.0 156 conversion... The 159/Brera seem like a bit of a disappointment, they lost the Busso and are basically FAT. I believe that was an attempt at refinement to compete with German cars... Still the Ti 159 does look amazing despite the range of engines being all meh. Sad to insult the Giulietta, as it's my only choice when the Busso needs to go as I've been indoctrinated by the brand... RWD is somewhat overrated for every day driving anyway, a well set up car is more important than the wheels it is driven by any day of the week. Besides how often is it anyone drives hard enough to kick the tail out on public roads?
If you want a fuel efficient car the 156 2.4JTDm might be a car to look at. It´s an inline 5 turbo diesel, with great sound and lots of power. But still you can drive it with only 5l/100km, if you drive it carefully.
I would of liked more views of the engine I fact you could do a whole video on the engine , those chrome intake pipes and the red rocker covers I come over all funny any time I see one 😂😂😂
No waiting for that 156GTA (156GTA SW) review! :D That Autodelta back box was surpisingly tamed. Wizard cat-back exhaust or Unicorse or even Superprint are more experience enhancing boxes for GTA's.
The Brera replaced both the GTV and the GT, the GT though (which uses a lot of 156/147 components) has a lot more space.It's got usable rear seats and a boot large enough to keep the Mafiosi happy. Its realy good to see an Alfa on the channel.
Well that's personal taste really, I've been in cars where the plastics look and feel much cheaper, the leather is lovely and new considering the car is 13 years old
The attention to detail on the engine is stunning better than the plastic cover you get these days. I once drove the 3.2 GT has the same engine as the 147 GTA, and I think they might be rarer still. However I was told the they are for some reason £4000 less than the 147 GTA's. Have you considered one of these James?
I always lusted after one of these, never got the chance to own one though. Ohhhh, see if you can test the 145 Cloverleaf! Another great Alfa hot hatch 👍🏼
Used to own one and definitely would have one again 😁 plus when I bought it, it was 6,795 now they're touching almost 10 grand I'm like mmm...🤔 Anyway nice video
The difference from the 147 and the Brera is that the engine in the 147 is the Busso, the one in the Brera sadly is an Holden produced by GM........both 6cv but it is like compare a Picasso to with somthing painted by me!
Last Busso engine on a car. The exhaust note is pretty unique, like old school Italian's engine. Brera engine was derived by GM v6 platform not from the magnificent old Busso
One of the most underrated cars, fell under the radar against other hot hatches
It wasnt underrated it was under appreciated but then most average joes on the road in their average joe choice of hum drum or teutonic motors simply never will understand the magic of this car (or many other Alfas). Unfortunately that magic is very subjective so reviewers were rightfully very critical of the launch/standard cars and yes they are still very flawed to drive even after serious mods and nothing can change that short of putting that awesome engine in the middle, Clio V6 style, and making it right wheel drive. You dont buy one of these for its dynamic prowess but in terms of styling/noise/sheer evocative-ness it simply had no equal. As its often said the Alfa badge is as historic and prestigious as it gets to proper petrol heads. It is almost impossible to look like a twat in an Alfa Romeo. Sure a Focus RS at the time and now was absolutely miles better to blast down a B road but thats not why this car appeals and thats the only good thing about a Focus RS. You can park a bianco pearl 147 GTA up in a posh hotel carpark full of filthy expensive exotica and it doesnt look out of place whereas you cant do that in a Ford Focus of any kind especially not the blue collared dreamer RS versions. Remember the top gear lads all said they would buy this over the competition without a moments hesitation yet simply couldnt explain why... sums up the magic very nicely 👍
Nope. It's just mediocre car. Civic Type-R "UFO" is much much better.
@@KannX If by better you mean slower, uglier, chavvier etc then maybe yes 😂😂😂
1000% correct my friend
@@ultraguy8771 Yes the Honda is the far more mass produced car and getting bits for it is going to be easier for now but the Alfa is far more a classic car already in the making, alot more desirable and highly sought after, hence their rising values and it will last plenty of time like any car can if its well looked after. Build quality wise a 2004 Alfa 147 is better fit and finished than a Honda civic tbh. Alfas have a very dedicated and loyal fanbase and specialists ready to keep them going for decades. Admittedly a good Type R civic of this era and a good Alfa 147 gta of same age are quite difference in costs to buy and run.
Unpopular opinion: Brera one day will be considered classic. The car now is 13years old and is still one of the most sexiest hatchbacks.
If EV conversions become more prevalent in the future, the Brera would be a great platform IMO.
It was never great dynamically, the engines weren't spectacular, but it still looks utterly stunning and unlike anything
It already is- fella, rare unconventional, just shame it was never rwd
@@antj29 im sure someone that is realy passionate and have the $$ will spend money on rwd conversion, under the bonnet there is space to put the engine longitudinal but it will include some cutting for driveshaft and transmision space.
I saw the prototype at the Bologna car saloon, the production version is way uglier they should have do the prototype shape, check it out
Please... i own brera and it is sexiest car ever BUT it isn't hatchback, it is a coupe
You could have told me it was utter crap, and I would still want one
That’s the magic of Alfa 🤣🤣
Owned and daily drove one of these for over 2yrs and loved it!
dunno if you guys gives a damn but if you're stoned like me during the covid times you can stream all of the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my gf for the last couple of weeks xD
@Luke Marc Definitely, I've been using instaflixxer for since november myself =)
Used to have a GT with the same 3.2 engine. Best thing I've ever owned. If I could afford another one I would buy it in a heartbeat.
Nice review. Ran a156GTA for 8 years. Apart from factoring in regular suspension bushing changes and lubrication, it was dead reliable and very cheap to run. Never tired of that sweet and smooth engine. Would definitely own one again if circumstances permitted.
I know and it makes me laugh when people say they're unreliable. It's the bmw and Mercedes that are unreliable money pits.
The Brera and 147 GTA didn't overlap and the Brera, a Coupe really, was intended as the GTV replacement. The elephant in the room is the GT 3.2 which had the Busso and was sold alongside the 147 and the Brera. It was way more practical, with easy space for 4 and a large boot and currently is valued at a lot less than the 147 GTA
Had a 156 gta. The running costs where unbelievable but I keep trawling the classifieds lusting after another. They feel really special somehow, especially at night with the red dials.
that and the over enthusiastic 200mph written on the speedometer. I used to have a 156 gta until it was taken away from me in a crash. I now love my autodelta GT 3.2 which is basically the same chassis as the 156 gta and the engine/ electrics of the 147 gta
picdar16 Gt though is a softer set up
@@sv916gtv7 theres nothing soft about the gt 3.2 other than its marketing, for starters the -10 bhp is non existent as the engine actually produces around 255bhp as standard because it is identical to the gta engines with the exception one detail being the gta logo on the plenum, the suspension is not as harsh as the gta's but still grips the road extremely well and actually handles better because it also has a chassis nearly 17% stiffer than the 156 meaning that it can run softer suspension without compromise as there is less chassis flex during heavy cornering. the GT 3.2 is a far more refined car than the 147 and 156 gta, i say this as somebody who has driven all 3 models and has owned 2 heavily tuned examples with all of their factory issues removed like the open diff being replaced by a quaife lsd for example.
@@picdar16 the GT 3.2 is hugely undervalued at the moment. I'm tempted to buy one and stick it in a shed.
@@MD-uu5nt funnily enough my gt 3.2 is actually on the market as im after a early pre 85 alfa spider s3 because it is my dream car
Even the 2.0 twinspark is an absolute blast.
Had to upgrade and ended up with a MITO QV smaller car but same power almost
22 year old me had the 1.6.
It wasn't quick by any stretch, but my god it sounded amazing. Also: it'd hit 60mph in second gear. I can't tell you how entertaining that was to me back at the time.
I'm 35 now. Still driving an Alfa!
@@pauljackson112 got my 1.6 120hp alfa romeo 147 when i was 22. now im 27 and I'm still driving it. Its a lovely car and take care of it. many people call me crazy that i spend my money on it but i just don't want another car! it sounds lovely and I've upgraded the suspension and it handles soo good.
Needs a wizard cat-back exhaust to really let that engine sing! The BEST sounding V6 or arguably one of the best production engine sounds in the world. Car throttle had the GTA with the very same exhaust
11:26 that is an absolutely gorgeous little hatch
The Busso is the best v6 ever made. The 147 and 156 GTA’s were awesome 😎
Apart from FWD...
@@Farlig69 nothing wrong with fwd. For example the latest Mégane Trophy R is as fast as a Giulia QF or M4 comp around the Evo magazine race track. And by all accounts is amazing to drive.
My 156 is fantastic on a circuit.
@@MD-uu5nt I´m not talking about speed I´m talking about fun & driving pleasure - Each to their own but you´re generally in the minority with most drivers preferring RWD. I have a 156 too a 2.5, love every single aspect other than the FWD. That´s a reserve for small cars & hot hatches...
@@Farlig69 is yours manual? Apparently they're only a second slower than the GTA which is bizarre. I got a black v6 facelift with tan interior though it's auto it's great driving in the city or the highway, by the time I hit fourth it's doing 180ks. Also it looks as good as anything really for the price. They don't excel in any particular way but overall an excellent car that's going to get rare.
@@MrPittsbrother Yep 6 speed manual - if by one second you mean 0-60 that´s actually a lot in terms of feel!! Manual, again, like RWD it´s a driving pleasure thing. For fun, pleasure & reward you cannot beat three pedals & an H-pattern box. Everyone´s harping on about auto this, dual clutch that & flappy paddle waffle but all this is derived from racing where the only thing that matters is speed and efficiency. Speed & efficiency are not a prime requirement for driving pleasure & flappy paddles / auto take massive amounts away from this.
Hi James, thanks for a good day, a pleasure to meet you to film this.
I was once overtaken by a red one of these. The driver looked a spitting image of John Peel, the disk jockey. He passed away a couple of years later and it turned out he was somewhat of an Alfa fan and did own a 147 GTA....
Been waiting 10 years for a white one to pop for sale in Australia- still bloody waiting. Stunning- owned a 147 gta before and miss it dearly. Need a clean one in my life
When you get it hang on to it. I got a black and tan v6 facelift 156 and I hardly ever this version for sale so I'm going keep it maintained good for as long as I can in case they become collectors items. I've never seen the white 147 either in Aus.
I've always wanted one of these. Just something special
For all that I like this car it still wouldn't pull me away from the 156, that truly is IMO a delicious Alfa.
That juicy 3.2 24V is a sweet piece of engineering!
this is one of my all time dream cars
Absolutely love my 147 GTA. Never expected to like it but once I drove it...what an amazing machine. It truly makes you feel at one with it and constantly wants you to push the limits. I doubt there will ever be a car like this ever. The rarity is appealing as well since only car enthusiasts will take notice, otherwise it just looks like any other 147.
The people that have feelings can easily understand you my friend..because alfa has soul..that's the reason 🙂
The review I have been long waiting for! Love a busso!
That engine from an aesthetic point is so beautifully made, a bit nose heavy for this car but nothing can take the desirability of an Alfa 147 GTA. Nice nostalgic ride!
Well said a special special car with really quite wonky dynamics... jsut way too much weight ahead of the front axle to be proper drivers car... Q2 diff or not. Sense of occasion and good taste is unmatched by any other "hot hatch" EVER and is reason to buy alone 👍
@@Anttihii Its not the weight itself thats the problem mate its the weight distribution. The V6 GTV and 147 and 156 models have way too much in front of the front axle and not just weight over the front axle alone. Its a heavy old engine to boot. The penalties to chassis balance (serious corner entry understeer) and ride quality (unsettled on uneven and rougher roads) is because that kind of weight dist is very difficult to control and is certainly a notable downside vs a Twin spark or JTS engined GTV/147/156....... does it bother me or many other owners though?
No 👍
The V6's are still the best 👍
@@Anttihii Lol i would much rather have a 156 too over an E46 3 series (M3 excepted) but there is no denying which is a better car to drive... the BMW is right wheel drive and far better balanced weight distribution and chassis wise. Also the Alfa V6 is considerably heavier than the TS engines... please go and drive a V6 GTV back to back with a TS GTV and tell me im wrong lol
Another great review of an enthusiast car. However I wish that in your reviews you would show more of the interior, practicality etc. You include flashes here and there but personally would like to see more. Doesn’t need to be elaborate, just a simple POV would do. You get access to some really interesting cars and every time I find myself craving for a closer look!
I'm working on it. Striking a balance is hard. I used to do a full walkaround with every car review - but then people complained they were all too long, so I stopped it - I'm trying to get the right amount of walkaround/exterior without boring people.
@@JayEmmOnCars I think go with those who have a longer attention span - nothing wrong with videos being 15-20 min instead of 10-15 min.
Perhaps now that you have a bigger 'fanbase', people are more willing to be patient and, indeed, want more content per video - certainly, many now seem to want a walkaround.
How long ago was it that people complained?
Also, a walkaround doesn't have to be at the start, you could 'hook' people with ~5 minutes of driving, then 'flashback' to a walkaround, and then continue with the rest of the driving. Might work?
(Maybe not every car is worth a walkaround, but then you could just do a minute on those.)
@@JayEmmOnCars You don't need to go the full Doug De Muro :-) Short and sweet. And if someone complains you can choose to ignore them haha
@@JayEmmOnCars Title of this video should have been 'NOTORIOUS FOR CHEWING THROUGH BUSHES AT A FRIGHTENING RATE'.
@@MP_pov Doug is the type of guy who produces reviews of infotainment systems that just happen to have cars attached to them.
A fabulous car with flaws but more character than a carpark full of stupid new Audis and Merc. Great video
I'm checking the classifieds right now. Damn you.
@Ollie Rix
Exactly what I think as well. A not entirely worn one is €15000 in Germany.
Best car I've ever owned. Went though some water, engine died, had Autodelta rebuild it as a 3.7 with 320bhp. Incredible car. RR and Exhaust noise on my channel if interested....
I'm interested
What's the channel?
I have owned and driven many Gta's over the years ( original or modified examples), among other Alfas. I still own a pristine 156 GTA that I intend to keep in my livingroom forever. I always hear the same "myths" about the Gta's and idiotic advices from people that didn't even know what they are talking about. The bottom line is:
1. The best 147/156 Gta is an original, unmodified car. The " upgraded" cars are worth nothing, as most are very abused examples.
2. Contrary to what Alfa " experts" may tell you, the car was great from the factory, the "problems" regarding lack of cornering grip or brake disc "warping" became forum headlines after a couple of morons abused their cars on track. The car is perfectly adequate for spirited street use, brakes and grips very well in any given condition. I am stunned by the amount of false information about fitting lsd on a car factory equiped with ASR as it defies any logic, unless you drive the car on track with the Asr disconected.
3. The absolute best sound of the Gta's V6 is provided by the original exhaust. All the aftermarket systems are expensive and make the car boomy and very tiresome on motorway. Dont bother with those exhaust, they are a complete waste.
Well said that man.
Great explanation... but i disagree. Like the 4C, you can feel the great base that is the 147,... but you can also feel the lack of polish by the ingeneers.
I disagree. I've put CF2 manifolds and equal length frontpipes on mine and oh boy, she sounds alot better. Only my opinion though. Cheers
I mostly agree, but I think there's a difference between a 147 and a 156.
I find a regular 156 to be a much, much better car almost in every way and I'd say the same for the GTA versions.
So yeah, while 156 GTA is a brilliant car, 147 GTA is just underrated and even though the whole thing blew out of proportion, it had its flaws.
@@SerialDriver what's a ingeneers?
One of these just blasted past me on the m61 about 2 hours ago ... sounded stunning !!
I owned a 147 a few years back and it's still one of my all time favourite cars. Currently own an Audi A4 Avant which is very cool, both practical and has the performance when needed and I think my next car will be an upgrade on what I currently have, but the Alfa is a beautiful car. As long as you followed the advice with regular servicing and oil changes it will reward you with reliability which mine did. Never had a any real major issues with it at all.
God it looks amazing in white
Bought a similar one with the same Bianco Nuvola colour a month ago. Drove it 1300kms back home and having a supersprint exhaust I'm a bit deaf now but boy was that trip worth it.
stunning engine note
I remember when I delivered to a car body shop in Croydon and the bloke had one of these in this colour. I thought it looked amazing!
One of my dream cars this, idk why there are better cars out there but I just want it
great review mate, such a diamond of a car
So tempted by these!
your channel is the best!
Now this is more like it👌🏻
Alfa Romeo for ever...
Best engine ever made
Great engine but not even remotely the best engine ever made, against its competition at the time however it was the best engine and very much a contender for best engine ever fitted to a hatchback. I owned two Busso V6 engined cars and while i loved the both more of late ive had a Maserati GT with a Ferrari derived V8 and before that an V10 Bmw M5 and those engines are massively better than the old Busso V6 which while very linear and responsive i always felt needed more top end and power. A Busso v6 with say a Vtec type head and top end would have been something truly truly special indeed 👌
@@tomwebb7091 I think they're mid to top end which is very Italian anyway. I wish they had more bottom end torque. I can't really afford those other cars. In three years I only had one check engine light which turned out to be a false alarm for an o2 sensor. My mechanic said to change from shell to bp and it never happened again.
@@MrPittsbrother So yeah a great engine indeed and the 3.0 fitted to my two GTVs really helped make me fall in love with cars those yrs ago, especially italian ones, but to describe as the best engine ever made? I think thats a little bold.
As for car values there are 147GTAs which cost as much to buy, insure and tax (but not fuel or service perhaps) as a decent early E60 V10 M5 which if any Alfa 3.0 or 3.2 owner tried would instantly realise the Busso V6 while a very decent engine is easily bettered in general. In hatchback history terms i agree it has an argument as being the best ever fitted but theres still the BMW straight 6cyl, the Audi inline 5cyl turbo and the Honda Vtec units which in isolation are amazing (shame the rest of the cars were shite) so the Busso isnt a clear winner.
Behave.
It's no where near the the most powerful, reliable or best sounding but to me it's got the mojo.
My brother and LOVE going on this road in their cars
Jumbo! You swore in that video 😂👍
Great work sir really impressed with your production and video quality. Way better than mine 🤪
Great information buddy
You should listen to one with an equal length from pipes.. Hangs a bit low, but sounds bloody fantastic.
Such a beautiful car, with that sick busso v6 so much better than 4 pot hot hatches, you can get it mapped to 275 bhp and with a q2 diff and good front tyres is really handles.
The best sounding engine ever made is the Busso. Also , great combination with the pearl white and dark rims.
Maybe i misunderstood what you said... bit alfa did not officialy supported the fitting of the q2 on gtas. They were all open diffs. Only improvment during production was bigger brakes
It looks so good for a 2004 model!
It’s incredible how few people know that the busso is actually directly based on the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6. There are interviews of for instance Forghieri, one of its “developers “, now retired and ready to talk. FIAT obviously never commented. The Brera has a freaking Aussie Holden motor...
I think you are confusing the Busso V6 with the 90° V6 used on the 155 DTM, which was indeed based on the PRV. Those are two different engines.
If you have sources please share, otherwise don't spread misinformation.
@@peterfi. Exactly. It's not called the "Busso" for nothing; it was designed by Giuseppe Busso, Alfa's head engine designer and a professor of mechanical engineering. He also designed the famous Alfa 'Twin Cam' (also known as the 'Nord') engine. He was one of Italy's great engine designers.
I had the 2.0 v6 turbo on the gtv thank you
This old school Ferrari V6 sound! Say no more and buy yourself a Golf GTi... Alfa is special and vw is average... it is the same with Lancia... The exclusivity you get with this hand made V6 is so special.
Pick up phone thinking to look up Busso V6 alfas and this is the first thing that comes up without even typing anything in. Coincidence?
I remember sitting in one at Goodwood in 2004 and thinking oh yeah i want one of these, i had a friend who bought the 145 2.0 cloverleaf in 1995 it was a great looking car back then and had the Momo leather interior, he did a track day in it at Brands and two weeks later he had warped the head, cost £1500 to repair, ouch !!
That's the best "modern" Alfa IMO. I'd be so driving one if I lived in Europe.
Another very interesting one, my eyes have been opened to many more possibilities with the recent reviews. Im not sure I'd go for an alfa but the engine does seem a gem. Was always a fan of the Brera styling although this seems far more practical. The interior would probably sway me the other way, though!
Brera has the Nissan v6 if I remember correctly. A shame.
I picked up a GT with the busso v6 on Thursday the 17th and i haven't stopped smiling! best part is im only 20!!!! uk car insurance has no idea what its doing as its only cost me £910 hahaha
I am picking one today in Australia, gt 3.2 busso $8900 ,timing belt,water pump ,new radiator, brakes and alternator, I thought I 'll never be able afford one until this one turned up😂
@@denzilthurton7807 2 years late haha, I paid £4900 for it, I owned it for 9 months before loosing my job and just at the same time it decided to brake down every single day, miss that car
I swear and i am not joking, the 147 gta is the best daily driver ever made. It does everything u want. The gta selespeed is even better.
Strong agree; I bought my Sele GTA June this year. Actually wanted a manual but the Sele came up in ridic condition, babied by the former owner, and I couldn't be happier. GTA Sele a completely different animal.
@@reubenacciano very reliable, quick , comfortable, its like a city pocket rocket. Was that the red one for sale for 15k ?
Had both the 147 GTA and the 3.2 Brera. The main difference was that the GTA had the glorious Busso engine, while the Brera had a boring GM/Opel-engine
Enjoyed that Jay. You should try a mapped Busso much more poke up the higher end of the rev range. I own a busso GT , and love the car. Glad you enjoyed the 147 GTA. :-)
Can’t compare the brera to this thing by the way, 147 gta has the glorious Busso; 3.2 brera on the other hand is a GM block- night and day difference
I have had 2 147s, a Selespeed and a diesel. Avoid the Selespeed. Handling was superb. The GTA is still a dream for me.
Description of how it feedbask to you through the steering got a nice chuckle out of me. xD
It sounds like a very italian thing
I shall be driving those same country roads tonight
Hitting Sudbury for pub night 🍺🍺
The early GTAs used to go on fire quite a lot, I recall. Once saw one on a motorway hard shoulder with a good-going fire in the engine bay.
@@Anttihii A problem peculiar to the high-performance models, as I recall. Something about a fuel line rubbing up against part of the engine as part of the changed configuration from memory.
What a special car! Drive a MK5 R32 to compare.
Nice review of a great hatch! Gloriously sounding engine, great to look at and amazing to drive! I might be biased because I own one. And steering on 147 GTA is anything but slow.
I know it could sound a bit exaggetared but with an LSD differential, big wing on the back and proper suspensions' setup she could make fine performances in uphill races. Maybe in pikes peak also.
It’s beautiful.
..this can be sooo goood track car in DTM specification!
Sorry mate.. brera isn't hatchback. I own one and beside heavy nose and bad engines and fwd and bad dyniamics it is best looking car ever and it is COUPE. Keep up with good videos, I like your channel 🤘🏻
The 147 GTA seems to have a cult following even amongst the Busso Alfa V6s. I would personally take a 156 GTA if money was no object or a GTV 3.0 if it was but I''m happy enough with my 3.0 156 conversion... The 159/Brera seem like a bit of a disappointment, they lost the Busso and are basically FAT. I believe that was an attempt at refinement to compete with German cars... Still the Ti 159 does look amazing despite the range of engines being all meh.
Sad to insult the Giulietta, as it's my only choice when the Busso needs to go as I've been indoctrinated by the brand...
RWD is somewhat overrated for every day driving anyway, a well set up car is more important than the wheels it is driven by any day of the week. Besides how often is it anyone drives hard enough to kick the tail out on public roads?
If you want a fuel efficient car the 156 2.4JTDm might be a car to look at. It´s an inline 5 turbo diesel, with great sound and lots of power. But still you can drive it with only 5l/100km, if you drive it carefully.
Another huge advantage of these is that they are not German and rare. Sold.
My friend has just bought one of these. Absolutely gorgeous piece of kit. Very jealous of him
10:53 - 11:10 EXACTLY what I think all the time.
I would of liked more views of the engine
I fact you could do a whole video on the engine , those chrome intake pipes and the red rocker covers
I come over all funny any time I see one 😂😂😂
Would "have" liked
@@turquoisecat761
Total fud .
No waiting for that 156GTA (156GTA SW) review! :D
That Autodelta back box was surpisingly tamed. Wizard cat-back exhaust or Unicorse or even Superprint are more experience enhancing boxes for GTA's.
Absolute beast of a car. So underrated #sleeper
Underrated hell no.... under appreciated and misunderstood... HELL YES 😂
Brera is a coupe, I'd say it was a replacement for the gtv not the 147
Yes that is accurate to say
@@JayEmmOnCars other than that, great job on the review 👌
The Brera replaced both the GTV and the GT, the GT though (which uses a lot of 156/147 components) has a lot more space.It's got usable rear seats and a boot large enough to keep the Mafiosi happy. Its realy good to see an Alfa on the channel.
I don't think the interior looks dated at all, I have the TI model and the interior is simple and elegant for me
The plastic are very cheap irl, leather is great though, still hold up.
Well that's personal taste really, I've been in cars where the plastics look and feel much cheaper, the leather is lovely and new considering the car is 13 years old
@@MyManiacGamer the plastic isn't dated or cheap at all, people say it without thinking, it's a generic response to Alfas unfortunately.
The attention to detail on the engine is stunning better than the plastic cover you get these days. I once drove the 3.2 GT has the same engine as the 147 GTA, and I think they might be rarer still. However I was told the they are for some reason £4000 less than the 147 GTA's. Have you considered one of these James?
I have but I just can't get on with the looks
Please, review the Giulietta. Since you are mentioning that car in a couple of videos, it would be nice to see full review :)
Great fun car!! And probably a god investment, glad i own a red one.
Fantastic car...love it
Love it. I own one in red
I would love to own one of these. Little problem owning one in Ireland. €1809 to tax it for the year🤮
I hate black wheels but they look so good on that
I always lusted after one of these, never got the chance to own one though. Ohhhh, see if you can test the 145 Cloverleaf! Another great Alfa hot hatch 👍🏼
Seams same platform 147 as GT or 156 and Busso 3.2 now upto 19,999 in 147. But 156 just 12,999
So really the last great hot hatch was the rwd m140i with that I6 under the hood
In some ways, yes- although the engine is great but not special
Nice GTA, I have two of them! Love that Pearl White though - impossible to find here and its my favourite GTA colour
Used to own one and definitely would have one again 😁 plus when I bought it, it was 6,795 now they're touching almost 10 grand I'm like mmm...🤔 Anyway nice video
The Brera is the GTV replacement! Is a segment D car not C! And the 3.2 JTS is lighter than the 3.2 Busso, not the other way around!
Technically didnt the Brera replace the GT?
And though the engine may or may not be lighter, the Brera car is ridiculously heavy
Bellissima.... Thanks from 🇮🇹 Italy... 3.2 v6 gta... Italian hourse power....
Great Video , rare Gem
Marvelous!!!
a friend of mine had a selespeed, it is when it goes wrong not if it goes wrong. (in his case it was a lot!) but it was fun if it was functioning.
The difference from the 147 and the Brera is that the engine in the 147 is the Busso, the one in the Brera sadly is an Holden produced by GM........both 6cv but it is like compare a Picasso to with somthing painted by me!
Viva Alfa Romero!
Nice video pal. love the gta
Love seeing all the cars I could have owned, if I didn't have kids.
Last Busso engine on a car. The exhaust note is pretty unique, like old school Italian's engine. Brera engine was derived by GM v6 platform not from the magnificent old Busso
Yep, as mentioned in the video
It was actually the Alfa GT to have the last Busso engine, in the UK anyway up to 2007