General AR 147 1.9 JTD Q2 Sport v Bravo 1.4 Tjet Sport?

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General AR 147 1.9 JTD Q2 Sport v Bravo 1.4 Tjet Sport?

hpScot

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So........going to have a test drive in the Bravo 1.4 Tjet Sport with the 18" rubber today then the ALFA Romeo 147 1.9JTD Q2 Sport.

I realise you guys will be a bit biased here but I'd welcome your thoughts - my head says Bravo (price,toys, practicality, style) but my heart says 147 (image, handling, leather interior, economy?)

Any comments would be appreciated and valued.
 
I had a similar choice and opted for the Bravo 150 multijet. Even though I currently drive a 2.4 JTD Sportswagon, well because I currently own a 2.4 JTD actually, £3350 of un -wellcome, unexpected Alfa bills helped my decision.
I look forward to seeing your choice but am happy with mine:D
 
Bear in mind that the Alfa is derived from pre-Stilo era engineering (147 was out in 2001), and is soon to be replaced - might hit the residuals a bit.
 
I think Alfa are bringing out the 149 soon? I have to admit I am over the moon with my Bravo 150 T-Jet Sport.
I could'nt fine anything near it for the price.
I do love Alfas though and would have bought a 159 if I could have aforded one.
The Bravo is very Alfa like in the way it drives and the dash lay out.
In the end though its down to personal taste.
You wont go far wrong with either (y)
 
Get rid of the Alfa before its first MOT if you go for that option....any good Alfa dealers near you? (honest question not sarcasm as there are hardly any left!)

Honest answer.......there have NEVER been any 'good' ALFA dealers near me - if you're talking servicing that is. Since 2000 I've owned a 156 & two GTV's.....starting with Caledonia, then Reg Vardy and finished off with Arnold before I sold the 3.0 GTV.

Now the only dealer for sales near me is in Edinburgh; Western ALFA (arround 60 miles one way) but I beleive even though Arnold & ALFA have had a 'fall out' at the turn of the year and have lost the sales franchise I believe Springburn Road, in Glasgow can still carry out ALFA servicing. I reckon I can trust them with an annual oil and filter change. And rumour has it the Western are looking to open a dealership in the west at some point too.

Thanks for the pre MOT punt advice though. But since I've only had the 100HP for just over a year you will see that I tend to get shot before the three years in any case. 147 replacement and the new 'Junior' will be out by then so I'll maybe give them a try If I'm lucky enough to still be around then and have the finances to support it.

147 Q2 and the 1.9 JTDm engine were both superb by the way.(y)

As for the Bravo - didn't even have a test drive.....Arnold in Broxburn had managed to transform the bodywork into a dog in around 4500 miles - kerbed alloys, damaged side skirts and paintwork scratches on bumpers and rear wing.:rolleyes: I now know I should have had a better look at the one at Arnold's in Paisley with only 48 miles on the clock - hey ho..."wit's fur yae i'll no pass yae" as the say.
 
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Honest answer.......there have NEVER been any 'good' ALFA dealers near me - if you're talking servicing that is. Since 2000 I've owned a 156 & two GTV's.....starting with Caledonia, then Reg Vardy and finished off with Arnold before I sold the 3.0 GTV.

Now the only dealer for sales near me is in Edinburgh; Western ALFA (arround 60 miles one way) but I beleive even though Arnold & ALFA have had a 'fall out' at the turn of the year and have lost the sales franchise I believe Springburn Road, in Glasgow can still carry out ALFA servicing. I reckon I can trust them with an annual oil and filter change. And rumour has it the Western are looking to open a dealership in the west at some point too.

Agree totally...as I'm aware at present springburn & ayr still service (ayr have the much better reputation) & I believe gorgie rd is in competition with western,not heard about western opening up in the west though.

I think the 'fall out' is due to the demands Alfa placed on the garages which has resulted in garages telling them to get lost not just up north but all over the UK.
 
I think the 'fall out' is due to the demands Alfa placed on the garages which has resulted in garages telling them to get lost not just up north but all over the UK.

Thanks for the insider information T.

Be interested to know if the 'demands' put upon the garages would have been welcomed by the consumer?;)
 
Not so much inside info as its available from the many alfa forums,owners are complaining of no where (or long distances) to garage.

I use a local fiat/Alfa specialist far better pricing still keeps the warranty up and they usually know the cars better :)

I personally would go for the 147 having had two in the past they are brilliant motors and the Q2 improves the handling even more...
 
I Joined this forum when I read this post. Firstly, I love Italian cars and have owned 6 Fiats and 3 Alfas. I do not want to put the Bravo down - this is after all a Fiat forum! - but I have owned a 147 and my last car was a Bravo T-Jet Sport, so I do base my opinions on some knowledge.

The 147 is indeed an older design than the Bravo, but I'm afraid it is in a different league. The Q2 147 will handle better, be faster, hugely more economical and arguably look better than the Bravo. It has miles more cachet is no less roomy and although more dated, has a higher quality interior.

If you do get the Bravo, I think you will enjoy it, but I wouldn't get the 18" wheels unless you dont drive hard. The only things I really objected to were the poor economy for a 1.4 and the stupid nannying features like the hazards coming on everytime you braked hard - which I found embarrassing!

In a contest with the 147 - especially if you get the 170bhp version - there is no contest.

Sorry Fiat folks and go easy on me!:(
 
Both are fantastic cars but you be crazy to buy a new 147 when the new Milano (149) is out later this year. Residuals will be hit hard and yes the 147 can trace its architecture back to the Fiat Tipo (1988). Incidentally does anybody else agree with me that the Bravo looks far nicer than the Milano?
 

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I'll hold off judgement against the Milano's looks until I see one in the steel. The problem the Milano has is it is heavily based on the Bravo.. what worked for the Bravo may not work for the Milano. The platform certainly didn't work for the New Delta :yuck:
 
Both are fantastic cars but you be crazy to buy a new 147 when the new Milano (149) is out later this year. Residuals will be hit hard and yes the 147 can trace its architecture back to the Fiat Tipo (1988). Incidentally does anybody else agree with me that the Bravo looks far nicer than the Milano?

What, the residuals of the Bravo are good then?I just sold one!! The residuals on the 147 wont be any worse than anything else - IF you buy at the right price - which should be possible now it is commonly known there will be a new one along any minute.

I too will wait until I see one in the flesh before commenting, but from the pictures I have seen, many of the interior and exterior panels seem to have been lifted from the Bravo. However good these are (and the Bravo is basically a good car - nearly great) this does not make it an Alfa Romeo. The 147 was demontrably different to/better than all its contempory Fiats - Bravo/Brava, Stilo and New Bravo and shared no visible parts.
 
When it comes down to it.. the 147 is faster because it's lighter, quite a bit lighter. It's also nowhere near as packed with safety equipment. It doesn't have all the toys a Bravo does, and it feels like an older generation car. I could have got a brand new Stilo 150 multijet for about £8,000-9,000 but it would have felt like a Stilo and not a Bravo.

The problem Alfa lovers will have is that Fiat made the Bravo far too Alfa-esk. You could have almost fitted Alfa badges to the Bravo and people would have thought ah... the 147 replacement. I've big plans for my Bravo including a Q2 diff, performance springs and dampners, and a 200bhp remap. That should give it the performance of a 147 and bring the handling close too - but still with the next generation toys and interior.
 
When it comes down to it.. the 147 is faster because it's lighter, quite a bit lighter. It's also nowhere near as packed with safety equipment. It doesn't have all the toys a Bravo does, and it feels like an older generation car. I could have got a brand new Stilo 150 multijet for about £8,000-9,000 but it would have felt like a Stilo and not a Bravo.

The problem Alfa lovers will have is that Fiat made the Bravo far too Alfa-esk. You could have almost fitted Alfa badges to the Bravo and people would have thought ah... the 147 replacement. I've big plans for my Bravo including a Q2 diff, performance springs and dampners, and a 200bhp remap. That should give it the performance of a 147 and bring the handling close too - but still with the next generation toys and interior.

The poster asked to compare a 147Q2 to a Bravo Sport and IMO there is no contest. The Bravo most certainly does not feel like an Alfa Romeo just like a Seat Leon does not feel like a Golf. When I picked up mine - brand new, it could have been nothing other than a Fiat.
Yes the 147 does feel like an older car with less safety features, but I personally could live without "safety features" like hazards coming on when the ABS is activated - as I said before - embarassing for an enthusiastic driver. Foglights that "see" round corners is a gimmick and the seatbelt warning thing used to drive me crazy - I know I'm not wearing a seatbelt, I don’t need to be told. The 147's interior is more dated, but a step up in class and just as well built on the latest ones.

As I also said before, I don’t want to slag the Bravo, sometimes it used to put a real smile on my face as it just begged to be caned - which I did - front tyres at 6000 miles should tell the story! It was also the best built Fiat I've had by far. IMO it could have done with - and taken - at least 30BHP more (like many Fiats and Alfas) and 34mpg when being gentle with it is not good for a 1.4. It was a GREAT little car. Just not in the same class as an Alfa 147 Q2.
 
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