DON'T MISS THE BUSSO

Powered as it is by the legendary Busso V6, Alfa Romeo’s early-2000s hot hatch is quickly rising in value. John Evans is your guide through the purchasing minefield

- John Evans

£23,000 Cost of a new 147 GTA in 2002, or £38,300 in today’s money

There’s surely no better illustration of the bizarre motoring times we live in than a 17-year-old Alfa Romeo hatchback with 72,000 miles having recently sold for only around £7000 less than it cost new.

But that’s modern classics for you, and despite all its faults, the 147 GTA can quite justifiably be called a classic.

Faults? Only if 247bhp through the front wheels alone doesn’t strike you as particularly sensible. Ditto a nose-heavy set-up that made many 147 GTAs take a straight line through a corner (a limited-slip differential was an option for a time) and brakes that were distinctly below par (larger front discs were also briefly an option before becoming standard).