‘It’s a future classic’ – drivers urged to pick up £10k hot hatch that’s ‘fun to drive’ & rising in value
A CAR expert has picked out a modern classic hot hatchback that’s perfect for petrolheads looking for something that’s both “fun to drive” and looks good.
YouTube supremo Jonny Brighton of Cars With JB has listed his top choices for motoring connoisseurs keen on a “head-turning” Alfa Romeo, and the super cool 147 GTA was perhaps the pick of the bunch.
The lightning fast 147 GTA, produced between 2002 and 2005, boasts a surprisingly large 3.2-litre engine capable of hitting 247 bhp – taking it to 60 mph in just over six seconds and a top speed of 153 mph.
What’s more, it’s incredibly stylish, largely thanks to its six strikingly polished intakes.
Jonny said: “It [the 147 GTA] takes that hallowed GTA badge and puts it to good use by merging front-wheel drive hot hatch fun with a big engine and some seriously good Italian looks.
“For me it’s cooler and better looking even than the Brera.”
Ferrari throttle? Forget it. When you stamp on the accelerator it’s like you’ve hit the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive.
Jeremy Clarkson
Sadly, for car fans in the UK, the 147 GTA wasn’t hugely popular and only 350 were sold.
However, it’s well worth seeking out, not least because it was “known to be fun to drive” and even boasts a pleasant engine note.
As Jeremy Clarkson once said in an episode of Top Gear featuring the Italian supermini: “Ferrari throttle? Forget it. When you stamp on the accelerator it’s like you’ve hit the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive.”
Jonny added: “This is a proper future classic in my books, as it continues to become more sought after today.”
A used car buying guide from Autocar concurs, writing in 2017 that the 147 GTA was “quickly rising in value,” claiming that a “17-year-old example with 72,000 miles” sold for only around £7,000 less than it cost from new.
According to Jonny, a low-end example can be picked up for £10,000, but typically they rise to £20k for iterations in good condition and lower mileage.
Elsewhere, petrolheads can pick up six high-end motors second-hand and in good nick for just £3,000 – with a razor-sharp Toyota among them.
Meanwhile, a major car brand has confirmed its return with a £17,000 EV set for release – just months after their CEO hinted they’d been discontinued.