The rumours are true; I have made my grand return – pyro and all that jazz – to looking at the tempting potential lemons that sit at the bottom of the used car market. Welcome back to another helping of what could possibly go wrong.
Annoyingly, Keith has done an exceptional job in my absence, leaning on his vast experience running interesting, complicated and suspiciously cheap used cars. Just last week he wrote about the Range Rover Sport he owned last year, how could I possibly top that?
After long, pensive thinking though, and many contemplative walks I think I’ve settled on something so daft, cool and potentially pitfall-ridden that it makes for a worthy comeback story. I’m looking at the wonderfully rare, ludicrously powerful and unmistakably Italian Alfa Romeo 147 GTA.
From £8,000
Alfa Romeo’s entry used the humdrum 147 as a base but added in the exquisite 3.2-litre ‘Busso’ V6 to deliver a whopping 247hp exclusively via the front wheels. Did it make use of a trick differential to harness that power like in the Focus RS? Nope. Well, not as standard anyway.
As expected, all that power makes it a handful to drive. The big engine makes it nose heavy in corners while the front wheels were quickly overwhelmed dealing with the power and any attempt at steering. It was lairy, disobedient and a handful over complex roads – weak brakes didn’t help matters either. It was at least quicker in a straight line than any contemporary rival, and the engine note sounds utterly divine.
Interestingly for a car with such a short production run (2003-2005), parts supply is strong – aided by a rich enthusiast base, the enduring popularity of the Busso V6, and plenty of specialist support. A pair of Brembo front discs will cost £129.79, while a servicing kit (complete with air, pollen, and oil filters, engine oil and a sump plug washer) is £104.30. GTA-specific body panels and interior bits are a lot harder to come by – although Stellantis Heritage does have certain bits and pieces available on special order.
Used values are still low for a modern classic. The Ford Focus RS is now firmly in the hands of collectors, and a clean version is a hot commodity. Expect to spend at least £16,000 on a tidy RS, quickly rocketing to silly money for a low-mile example. Volkswagen Golf R32s are cheaper and start at under £5,000 for a ropey one, a loved R32 is more like £20,000. Both will be easier to live with day-to-day, but usual age-related mechanical issues will crop up now and again.
The only hot hatch that can one up a 147 GTA for outrageous engineering was the mid-engined Renault Clio V6. This rear-wheel drive hatch managed to be even more of a handful to drive and is now incredibly collectible. There’s one currently listed on our Cars for Sale page with a price tag of £48,000.
As for modern a modern-day successor, Alfa Romeo doesn’t offer a hatchback anymore, let alone one with hot credentials. Purists may rage, but the closest thing to a modern 147 GTA is the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, an electric SUV that shares more with the 147 than meets the eye. It too is front wheel drive and powerful (with 280hp), but it uses a clever electric limited slip differential for far better handling.
Pros
- Ballistic acceleration
- Characterful engine note
- Rare and unusual modern classic
Cons
- Handling is not its strong suit
- Fragile with age
Should you buy an Alfa Romeo 147 GTA?
With even the hint of a consumer mindset applied, it’s a no. It’s not very practical for a hatchback, temperamental and can be a pain to live with. And, unlike with other sketchy performance cars, it’s also not that rewarding to drive. So, it’s a clear-cut no for most people, the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is not a clever buy.
But for the dedicated enthusiast, an Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is an endearing and exciting used prospect. All the issues remain, but they’re softened by a charisma that makes the 147 GTA so lovable. A V6-powered hot hatch is such a silly prospect, especially one that can’t cope with the power, but it’s a worthwhile adventure. Prices remain keen too, especially in the face of the rapidly appreciating modern classics it once competed against.
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