The Awesome Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

[@eni3995]

Good timing ! Getting my GTA tomorrow lol.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Cool, congratulations!

[@czu1]

Congrats, another owner here

[@stanislas4990]

The 147 GTA is stunning. Timeless design, with may be the best V6 engine ever created. A real masterpiece.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Indeed!

[@lollypop9580]

It IS the best V6, name me another. 😉😍

[@marcusott2973]

@@lollypop9580 the early all aluminum 2.0 litre Dino engine is a gem. The quad cam version destined for an IMSA/GTA Stratos is now being built in France. The Honda VTEC from the NSX is also a piece of engineering art.

[@RapideWombaticus]

Great video my friend

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!!!

[@Pat_RickX]

Epic. 147 GTA !!! The Masterpiece of Hot Hatches! 2.0 Turbo??? Nooo - 3.2 Busso V6 !!!

[@eni3995]

To be fair, at this time there was the Golf R32 as its opponent. Awesome sound too and 240-250 HP plus AWD.

[@WGanesha]

My car ...thank you for this video ...thank you for this italian motor story💪🇮🇹❤️

[@JJHurst]

Anything with a Busso up front is elevated to another level, I've owned Three , a 916 GTV a GT 3.2 and a 156 GTA selespeed ...beautiful car , needs a quaife or Thorsen to get the best out of it though. Add some Wizard manifolds and you unleash it as it should have been from the factory.

[@rsmith7430]

Great video, there are still some great original examples of the 147 GTA in Australia 🇦🇺.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!

[@d333my]

Excellent. And well done for confirming the early 147 GTA’s came with 305mm brakes. It’s a myth that they didn’t but later models were built with the 330mm brakes. Both the 157 and 156 GTA are awesome. My preference was for the 156 GTA (with its link to the Maserati development and assembly assistance)as it was one of a kind. The 147 GTA always seemed to be following the coat tails of the mk4 R32.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Glad you enjoyed it. The press release for the model's launch reported 305mm, so it's weird that there's confusion about that! Couldn't quite find the info about the 330s though

[@benzinapaul7416]

@@Matteo_Licata I remember the 156 GTAs had the brake recall and it meant the multispoke wheels had to be changed to the 5 holes as they weren't compatible with the larger brakes. My memory is poor but I thought all 147 GTAs came with 330s. As an aside I had one of the rarest coloured 147 GTAs, for good reason I may add, Boreal Green. There can't be many of those left

[@AutomotiveConcepts]

Indeed the 305mm were deemed insufficient during the initial press release and Alfa quickly moved to upgrade them

I also never knew that 147 came with 305. I just bought the calipers and discs from 156 q4 to fit onto my 156 2.5 and even that one came with 330. Those look identical as the ones on 156 GTA.

[@blablabla1559]

The 330 discs have been set standard in production from April 2004. I've received mine in May 2004 with the 330 version.

[@andrewmoorhouse687]

Gorgeous. The later restyled front end on the 147 was less successful I thought, but this is simply beautiful. A four wheel drive version would have been awesome I suspect. Another case of the accountants winning over the engineers. Good for business perhaps, but sad for us Car enthusiasts. Thanks Matteo for sharing another bella macchina italiana 🇮🇹🚗😊

[@benzinapaul7416]

Yes, apart from the 166, Alfas 147, 156 and GTV/Spider facelifts were backward steps

[@gearhead9828]

This brings back so many memories... Thank you so much for this great video. Ciao 🙋‍♂️

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!!!

[@0richbike]

Scrapped my Ducati Corsa last year. the bastard mot was getting harder (emmisions) and then I rear ended a van. Had it for 11 years and never any problems, it looked great and could chuck it around.

[@kremolaconia]

I had the pleasure of selling these new. The choice between 156 and 147 I agree is not easy. But for your extra money the 156 felt much more premium and had more progressive handling at the limit and generally felt more special. Though the 147 had an uncouth attitude that excited like nothing else. It was wild. Wonderful machines both. So much character from the engine. Both were let down by their suspension which would bottom out easily. Cracked sumps were common. The Selespeed 147 was the most tolerable Selespeed in any Alfa. Calmed the beast somewhat and was a fast car on a (smooth) twisty road. They weren't nearly as unreliable as people think. And on the right road, on the right day, you would want for nothing more than a GTA.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing your experience with these cars!

[@stephenswift9868]

The 147 GTA and the 156 GTA are both beautiful cars. I think the 156 would be my choice, but only just, I could be quite happy with the 147! It’s amazing that 250 bhp was considered a crazy amount of power back then. A hot hatch has 300-400 bhp now that’s what happens with too much weight!

[@Matteo_Licata]

I'd probably choose the 156 too, but that's because I've never really been "into" hot hatches, except for a period in my early 20s when I would have done awful things to have a Peugeot 106 Rallye :)

[@paullacey2999]

Such a lovely car and its still classy looking!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Couldn't agree more!

[@davidorama6690]

Any car with a Busso motor in it is mightily beautiful.

[@davidorama6690]

Also, I must say somewhat sheepishly that I had no idea the 147 was effectively a variant of the 156 until this video.

[@Matteo_Licata]

It was. Save from 49mm chopped off the wheelbase, underneath were the same car. Glad you learnt something, that’s what Roadster Life is all about :)

[@benzinapaul7416]

147 best to look at but the 156 is the better drive....in my opinion I realise....but I have experience of many examples. Great video as always

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@aggie3344]

Another great video 👌🏻

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!

[@olderbutnowiser6701]

I enjoyed my Q2 a great deal but the GTA is what I should’ve bought. Prices are high still, even with many Japanese imports, demand outstripping supply at a guess. Only thing putting me off is the present lack of support if the ecu dies (and they do) at which point the car becomes an ornament. Another great video, grazie! 🍺

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Lack of spare parts support is rapidly becoming an issue for these cars, and it’s only bound to get worse I believe. With older cars, mostly made of metal and with no electronics, missing parts can be remade… But when electronics inevitably degrade, there’s no real practical solution. Preserving 90s and newer cars in running condition decades after they’ve been made will be a challenge, that’s for sure

[@SmallBlogV8]

@@Matteo_Licata Hopefully it births a new industry of programmers who can recreate the systems in a new more practical unit to keep them working.

[@alfamale9555]

Understand your point but not quite true nowadays. I have a 147 gta and had the ecu repaired. It doesn’t actually fail, the ecu is mounted at the back of the engine and gets hot. The chips on the pcb were originally glued on and over time the heat and vibration shakes them lose causing ecu issues. A few companies now rebuild ecu’s including 147s and essentially replace the lose chips and solder them in. However that’s just the ecu and yes it’s a worry if any of the other electrics pop. Maybe if Alfa weren’t so dumb and one day release the engineering specs other companies could make replica parts. They are holding back releasing the specs for copyright reasons, duh!

[@linoabreu5477]

Great video, i own a 147 gta in boreal verde for a while, and i love the car.... it's a very different car from others hothatches there i own and i found the car less hardcore than a megane rs or Honda's type R at the same era...for me, this one, i prefer driving in short shift medium pace making him a perfect fwd "gt" car... wich is odd mix but kinda works for me if consider this car as "gt" of the fwd instead a hardcore one😅

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Liban46227]

I have 2005 147 gta selespeed black with black tan interior with the bigger front disc brake 330mm Also i fitted the q2 diff It is fantastic car.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Cool!

[@fabiocene]

Come sempre, bel video! Peccato che l'esemplare al museo di Arese non sia in condizioni da concorso.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Grazie mille! Le vetture che finiscono al museo hanno dei "difetti" perchè hanno spesso delle storie particolari, avendo servito come prototipi. Raramente si tratta di vetture nuove "messe via" apposta... E per questo le trovo affascinanti

[@MilanStojakov]

Have those cars been used? they seem that they could benefit from paint polish. Great video as usual :D

[@Matteo_Licata]

Most cars that found their way in Alfa’s museum have interesting histories, serving as prototypes, press cars or else, so they rarely are pristine. But knowing this, I find these little signs of patina charming.

[@mauriziolagaxio4954]

Best car in the planet AR ❤❤❤❤❤

[@otomobilmece]

Very very nice Joy machines those two GTA. Absolutly gorgeous. And my opinion is , that's maybe the best way to show how to produce a car sporty and elegance at the same time.❤👍

[@Matteo_Licata]

I agree!

[@lynnhooley7608]

Thank you matteo

[@Matteo_Licata]

You're welcome, thank you for watching!

[@claudiomagi5375]

Alfa Romeo for ever❤❤❤❤

[@peterhorne6837]

Just wanted to add that the 2004-2005 Alfa 147 GTA's that were availble in South Africa were all fitted with the bigger 330mm ventilated discs and bigger 4-pot Brembo brake calipers, not 205mm as reported in your video!!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for pointing that out. I'm already been told that Alfa uprated the brakes during production, but I've yet to find precisely when they started fitting the bigger discs.

[@gearhead9828]

This will be painful, sold my black 147 GTA back in 2011. Biggest mistake ever...

[@Matteo_Licata]

And the car I filmed in the Arese museum is black, too... ;)

[@jordiperez2519]

Uffffff, I'm happy not being in your skin today

[@RagnoRosso]

😔

[@michaeloreilly657]

You made someone very happy!

[@jami7772]

La Bestia !

[@ofirs5830]

Interesting how they fit a V6 that is not narrow angle like VW's VR6

[@mariospilos]

I look for your video with the top selling of alfa romeo models and i cant find it...

[@Matteo_Licata]

Because it's gone. I've deleted the videos nobody watched anymore and those I was less proud of in terms of quality

[@adeeldrew]

Nice car

[@lawrence471]

Too bad we didn't get those in America at the time.

[@fastcargtv6]

Actually the 147 GTA received an uprated 330mm front brake disc as the 305mm version on early 156 GTA were criticized and after the launch of the 147 version the 156 got the same, larger diameter front discs. But anyway great and very informative video as always!

[@d333my]

I’ve seen some early 147 GTA’s with 305mm brakes, suggesting that the change was made after 147 GTA launch. As the 147 version was announced before the 156 GTA went on general sale, I doubt Alfa would’ve made the change on the early 147 GTA’s.

[@Matteo_Licata]

@@d333my The press release for the model's launch clearly stated 305mm, so the larger discs were surely introduced later

[@czu1]

@@Matteo_Licata My Gta is from 2003 and it is equipped with 305mm. 330mm have been installed since 2004.

[@BanjoLuke1]

I never drove or rode in a 147 GTA. The four-pot versions were quite swift on the public highway.... Actually really very swift. And easy to drive. The GTA was o e of a group of mad "fin de ciecle" cars whose creation will one day be looked back on as totally bizarre. I admire the sheer insanity of the purpose... But it is utterly mad and ultimately pointless. And Alfa did it anyway.... Because....

[@czu1]

Gta version is completely different animal even if you compare it to more powerful versions of 147.

[@alterglobo]

IT UNDERSTEERED TOO MUCH. Sottosterzava troppo. Più bello del 147 normale e anche del 156 GTA, semplicemente aveva ricevuto troppo poco in termi di gestione della coppia dellle ruote anteriore. Neanche aveva ricevuto il sisitema di differenziali Q2 del GT Coupé sviluppato dopo. Pecato, perche col sistema Q4 della 156 4x4 Crosswagon avrebbe stato un classico vero, non soltanto bello, con un bel suono del Busso ma anche dinamicamente atto. Sarebbe interesante sapere cosa ci vorrebbe in dettaglio per fare un'adatazione come quella che menzioni dai ingegneri Alfa. Secondo quello que so, il sistema Q4 eleva troppo il treno posteriore, dunque forse ci vorrebbe un'adatazione artigianale del chassis. Alfa Romeo 147 GTQ Q4, l'estasi.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Gli ingegneri che presenziarono al museo di Arese spiegarono che la trazione integrale dovette essere scartata per ragioni di costo, in parte legate alla nuova coppa, pompa olio ed altre modifiche di dettaglio da fare al V6 per ospitare i componenti aggiuntivi legati alla trazione integrale negli stretti spazi a disposizione in vettura. Il tutto per poche migliaia di pezzi su un motore di cui era già stata decisa la fine produzione nel giro di pochi anni. Insomma, si decise che non ne valeva la pena.