Do any of you fine folks out there happen to own a 147 JTD? I am curious as to what your honest opinions are of that engine. As most of you know, we have not been able to get a new Alfa over here in the States since 1995, so my only chance to drive the newer models is when I get over to Europe (A 146 and a 156 have been previous rentals, both fine cars).
Anyway, we just got back from two weeks in Spain, and our rental car was the aforementioned 147 JTD for a week until a CV joint failed, at which time it was replaced with a Peugeot 307 HDI. I am sorry to say, but I found the Peugeot to be the superior driving experience (heresy I know). I drove both on all sorts of roads, motorway to winding mountain ones, and the Peugeot simply had a more responsive and smoother engine, despite giving away 0.3 litres. The Peugeot felt like a gasoline car, while the Alfa felt like driving an anchor through treacle. Something about an Alfa engine that redlines at 4500 rpm is just wrong.
I would say the handling of the two cars was comparable, and the Alfa won as far as the shifter action went, and certainly in the style stakes. So, did I just have a duff rental Alfa, or is the JTD really such a soggy engine?
Arno Leskinen
AROC-USA National Concours Chair
102
115
116
Anyway, we just got back from two weeks in Spain, and our rental car was the aforementioned 147 JTD for a week until a CV joint failed, at which time it was replaced with a Peugeot 307 HDI. I am sorry to say, but I found the Peugeot to be the superior driving experience (heresy I know). I drove both on all sorts of roads, motorway to winding mountain ones, and the Peugeot simply had a more responsive and smoother engine, despite giving away 0.3 litres. The Peugeot felt like a gasoline car, while the Alfa felt like driving an anchor through treacle. Something about an Alfa engine that redlines at 4500 rpm is just wrong.
I would say the handling of the two cars was comparable, and the Alfa won as far as the shifter action went, and certainly in the style stakes. So, did I just have a duff rental Alfa, or is the JTD really such a soggy engine?
Arno Leskinen
AROC-USA National Concours Chair
102
115
116