147 GTA buying guide
Discussion
Hi folks
Does anyone know where there is a current buying guide for the 147 GTA? All the ones I've found using google are 5 yrs old or older. Just in case more issues have arisen as these cars have got older.
Brother in law has just picked up a rather nice GTV V6 and after a little play have decided I need one of these engines in my life.
Or any things to look out for please post up. Tried to sign up on Alfaowner but I've not got my laptop to access my junk email folder to register
Cheers
Does anyone know where there is a current buying guide for the 147 GTA? All the ones I've found using google are 5 yrs old or older. Just in case more issues have arisen as these cars have got older.
Brother in law has just picked up a rather nice GTV V6 and after a little play have decided I need one of these engines in my life.
Or any things to look out for please post up. Tried to sign up on Alfaowner but I've not got my laptop to access my junk email folder to register
Cheers
Understandable. There's a fair few on here and eBay to have a look at, the only thing is I don't know what to look out for especially. Some of the older guides are good, but an up to date one would be handy.
Also this will be an additional car so can hang on for a good one with the right spec/colour
Cheers
Also this will be an additional car so can hang on for a good one with the right spec/colour
Cheers
There are actually lots for sale at the moment. They are sitting way above prices they will actually sell for. However much of the things to look out for have not changed such as diff replacement with the much better LSD. Of course the one thing that will get these cars as they get older is rust. I would give the car a really good going over. The higher mileage ones are going to have more issues with engines and suspension if not looked after meticulously. As they get older the maintanence cost is going to increase.
Edited by delta0 on Saturday 20th February 20:52
Thanks delta
I do think they were a little on the high side, but I suppose that's like anything at the minute that has a hint of something special about them. I was saving up to get something like a Clio V6 or a lotus Elise (or similar), but thinking a GTA and an Audi TT Quattro sport can fill the spot and have 2 cars instead of one (well 3, I'll be also keeping my Clio trophy)
Cheers
I do think they were a little on the high side, but I suppose that's like anything at the minute that has a hint of something special about them. I was saving up to get something like a Clio V6 or a lotus Elise (or similar), but thinking a GTA and an Audi TT Quattro sport can fill the spot and have 2 cars instead of one (well 3, I'll be also keeping my Clio trophy)
Cheers
The best bet is to ask an expert
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_buyers_guides.s...
http://www.alfaaid.co.uk/
Speak to an independent Alfa specialist for more model specific info on the GTA.
They may even know of a good example for sale.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_buyers_guides.s...
http://www.alfaaid.co.uk/
Speak to an independent Alfa specialist for more model specific info on the GTA.
They may even know of a good example for sale.
roystinho said:
Understandable. There's a fair few on here and eBay to have a look at, the only thing is I don't know what to look out for especially. Some of the older guides are good, but an up to date one would be handy.
Also this will be an additional car so can hang on for a good one with the right spec/colour
Cheers
A whole 4 on here and Ebay (twice as many as there was in Nov), hopefully your Alfaowners forum login will come through soon, as it's probably the place to be. Lovely cars though, there is a lengthy owners thread on here which would be worth a read although it's a bit frightening. Also this will be an additional car so can hang on for a good one with the right spec/colour
Cheers
227bhp said:
A whole 4 on here and Ebay (twice as many as there was in Nov), hopefully your Alfaowners forum login will come through soon, as it's probably the place to be. Lovely cars though, there is a lengthy owners thread on here which would be worth a read although it's a bit frightening.
There are actually 9. 5 ended on eBay without sale, 3 of them only within the last week. PH also has 1 extra, the white GTA which would make it 10 in total but I know that one sold. It was on facebook being reduced heavily. Final selling price was less than 7k and whites are very rare.Edited by delta0 on Sunday 21st February 10:15
delta0 said:
227bhp said:
A whole 4 on here and Ebay (twice as many as there was in Nov), hopefully your Alfaowners forum login will come through soon, as it's probably the place to be. Lovely cars though, there is a lengthy owners thread on here which would be worth a read although it's a bit frightening.
There are actually 9. 5 ended on eBay without sale, 3 of them only within the last week. PH also has 1 extra, the white GTA which would make it 10 in total but I know that one sold. It was on facebook being reduced heavily. Final selling price was less than 7k and whites are very rare.Edited by delta0 on Sunday 21st February 10:15
227bhp said:
Weird, I can only see 4 on Ebay, 2 black, one grey and one red. Where are the others?
Unsold. I have them on my ended watch list. 2 red, 1 black, 1 silver/blue and 1 blue. PH also has 1 white that I know did actually sell. The unsold just sit there for a few weeks and reappear usually at a lower price. A few have been doing this over the last few months. The cheapest was listed for £5,295 with a Q2 and didn't sell. Edited by delta0 on Sunday 21st February 11:28
Ran a 147GTA for the years and the best guide I can give is:
- well looked after, cambelts done every 3 years regardless of mileage (about £700 a time)
- 330mm brakes not the crappy 300mm ones
- Q2 diff fitted, totally transforms the car
- a very clean engine bay, you can spot the well looked after cars as they are immaculate including the chrome intake tubes. Any with corrosion on have just been buffed up for sale.
- a regular place of service not just anyone. I always used an independent who specialised in Italian stuff. He loved the GTA as it was the only one he ever looked after (plenty of classic Lambo's always in for service though)
- water pump is better replaced with the GTV one with the metal impeller as it is more reliable
Personally my favourite course combo was always red with black and tan leather which is what I had. Not many around though.
I do like the pearlescent white though
- well looked after, cambelts done every 3 years regardless of mileage (about £700 a time)
- 330mm brakes not the crappy 300mm ones
- Q2 diff fitted, totally transforms the car
- a very clean engine bay, you can spot the well looked after cars as they are immaculate including the chrome intake tubes. Any with corrosion on have just been buffed up for sale.
- a regular place of service not just anyone. I always used an independent who specialised in Italian stuff. He loved the GTA as it was the only one he ever looked after (plenty of classic Lambo's always in for service though)
- water pump is better replaced with the GTV one with the metal impeller as it is more reliable
Personally my favourite course combo was always red with black and tan leather which is what I had. Not many around though.
I do like the pearlescent white though
Pretty good guide to the 147 & 156 GTA here:
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gta/89970-156-...
They're wonderful cars - not cheap to maintain by any means but just so much fun to drive. I've had one for nearly 11 years (now on 96,500) and it's still as tight as a drum. Couple of big bills over the last few years - notably MAF and lambda sensors - with the cars now being 10+ years old, if these parts haven't been replaced , they'll need to be replaced at some point, and it's not a cheap job.
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gta/89970-156-...
They're wonderful cars - not cheap to maintain by any means but just so much fun to drive. I've had one for nearly 11 years (now on 96,500) and it's still as tight as a drum. Couple of big bills over the last few years - notably MAF and lambda sensors - with the cars now being 10+ years old, if these parts haven't been replaced , they'll need to be replaced at some point, and it's not a cheap job.
Thanks folks
I just wondered if anything else had cropped up over the last few years, seemingly not.
Maintainance costs are just part of ownership, none of the costs seem too bad, about par with my Clio Trophy with expensive cambelts and shock rebuilds etc
Now just to keep my eyes peeled for the right car for me (would love a blue one or white now I've seen a few for sale)
I just wondered if anything else had cropped up over the last few years, seemingly not.
Maintainance costs are just part of ownership, none of the costs seem too bad, about par with my Clio Trophy with expensive cambelts and shock rebuilds etc
Now just to keep my eyes peeled for the right car for me (would love a blue one or white now I've seen a few for sale)
I'm also looking at 147 GTAs at the moment but I'm not ready to buy just yet, so no inquiries made.
I don't know if you saw it, but there was a tidy looking red one for sale on eBay which ended last week - I don't think it sold. It's in the same town as me, Stone in Staffordshire, but here's another thing to look for: red ones can suffer from the dreaded sun bleach which can't be just polished out, as they are also lacquered.
White would definitely be my first choice.
I don't know if you saw it, but there was a tidy looking red one for sale on eBay which ended last week - I don't think it sold. It's in the same town as me, Stone in Staffordshire, but here's another thing to look for: red ones can suffer from the dreaded sun bleach which can't be just polished out, as they are also lacquered.
White would definitely be my first choice.
roystinho said:
Brother in law has just picked up a rather nice GTV V6 and after a little play have decided I need one of these engines in my life.
Does it really need to be a 147 GTA?They are a very expensive way into Alfa V6 motoring.
The Alfa GT 3.2 does everything that the GTA does, but has none of the brash styling. They are significantly less expensive.
And if you don't need 250bhp, then there is always the 156 2.5 V6. The 2.5 sounds better and revs harder than the 3.2 and they are an absolute bargain.
I bought a Phase 3 GTV V6 to replace my 2.5 156, but liked the little V6 so much that I couldn't bring myself to sell it.
In the end, I sold the GTV. I'm still driving the 156 and it is a fantastic old thing.
The engines are tough. You will spend more on sorting out knackered suspension arms and anti roll bar bushes.
GT, GTV, GTA or the lowly 156 2.5? A nice example of any one of these is a delight.
Pat H said:
Does it really need to be a 147 GTA?
They are a very expensive way into Alfa V6 motoring.
The Alfa GT 3.2 does everything that the GTA does, but has none of the brash styling. They are significantly less expensive.
And if you don't need 250bhp, then there is always the 156 2.5 V6. The 2.5 sounds better and revs harder than the 3.2 and they are an absolute bargain.
I bought a Phase 3 GTV V6 to replace my 2.5 156, but liked the little V6 so much that I couldn't bring myself to sell it.
In the end, I sold the GTV. I'm still driving the 156 and it is a fantastic old thing.
The engines are tough. You will spend more on sorting out knackered suspension arms and anti roll bar bushes.
GT, GTV, GTA or the lowly 156 2.5? A nice example of any one of these is a delight.
Hmmm. Yes and no. They are a very expensive way into Alfa V6 motoring.
The Alfa GT 3.2 does everything that the GTA does, but has none of the brash styling. They are significantly less expensive.
And if you don't need 250bhp, then there is always the 156 2.5 V6. The 2.5 sounds better and revs harder than the 3.2 and they are an absolute bargain.
I bought a Phase 3 GTV V6 to replace my 2.5 156, but liked the little V6 so much that I couldn't bring myself to sell it.
In the end, I sold the GTV. I'm still driving the 156 and it is a fantastic old thing.
The engines are tough. You will spend more on sorting out knackered suspension arms and anti roll bar bushes.
GT, GTV, GTA or the lowly 156 2.5? A nice example of any one of these is a delight.
My qualifications: I have a (somewhat modified) 156V6. A GT 3.2. And I've just bought a complete shed of a 156 GTA Sportwagon as a project. I knew it was a shed when I bought it, I like sheds.
156 V6 - in good condition, and with sorted suspension, it is a very competent car. Cornering is limited by my ability to stay in the driver's seat. Upgrading to a Quaife and Eibach ARBs makes it a complete roundabout monster - regularly humiliating machinery that is (in theory) far more competent. The engine is rev happy, and makes you want to thrash it - above 4000 RPM it comes alive and really delivers. Downsides: most of them are sheds with knackered suspension and rusty floor pans. But they are cheap.
GT 3.2. The 3.2 is obviously more powerful, you notice it lower in the rev range where the torque is really handy. above 4K all hell breaks loose and the traction control kicks in if you are cack-footed. I find the handling uninspiring as standard - there is nothing wrong with mine, it is just "meh" in the handling department. Needs upgrades, badly.
GTA 3.2. So mine is officially a shed (as determined by the local specialist). Knackered lower wishbones, shocks are leaking, needs huge amounts of spanner work. Exhaust is blowing badly, engine is idling badly, but is glorious when opened up. For all that it is a fantastic drive - the power is clearly there, and for all the knackered suspension, it handles like a kart. I can't wait to fix everything and see what it is capable of. I drove it 250 miles down south after I bought it, and at quite "respectable" speeds on the M40 at 12:30 at night, it was a wonderful thing.
So - my advice. Any of the V6s are good. They all have potential. I love the 156 2.5 - when tweaked, it is fantastic. The GT is indeed a cheaper way into 3.2 motoring, I like mine a lot (I rebuilt the engine myself), but it's no GTA. GTA is much better as standard - but you'll pay a premium for a decent one. Mine was three grand - if I was doing the work at a garage, it would be catastrophically expensive to get into shape. I reckon I'll spend about three grand on parts to get mine to where I want it. And quite a few days skinning knuckles underneath it.
Edit - and to answer the original question: Alfaowner.com, GTA section. Loads of info and advice there.
The Alfa 3.2gt is a 156 sport wagon chassis with the GT coupe body on top and a 147 based interior and electrics.. It was made actually 15% stiffer though than the gta sport wagon which enabled it to have a slightly smaller rear arb for a more compliant ride.
Other than that the engine and everything else is the same. In no way out of the factory should a gta be any better than a 3.2gt or a 147gta. They are all as near as dammit the same.
The engines on all 3 make around the 247bhp mark as standard. Only they quote the gt as 'only' having 240bhp as a non gta badged car cannot be as quick as the gta badged cars for marketing purposes.
The gta's do seem to be shooting up in value now and it looks like the 3.2gt is followed suit. There were 2 on autotrader last week for £9500+. Yes they may not sell for that but there are just so few around now that prices will inevitably rise.
Anyway great cars dominated by a master piece of an engine that's sounds truly exotic with a wizard/unicorse exhaust. Budget around a grand a year minimum to run one though.
Other than that the engine and everything else is the same. In no way out of the factory should a gta be any better than a 3.2gt or a 147gta. They are all as near as dammit the same.
The engines on all 3 make around the 247bhp mark as standard. Only they quote the gt as 'only' having 240bhp as a non gta badged car cannot be as quick as the gta badged cars for marketing purposes.
The gta's do seem to be shooting up in value now and it looks like the 3.2gt is followed suit. There were 2 on autotrader last week for £9500+. Yes they may not sell for that but there are just so few around now that prices will inevitably rise.
Anyway great cars dominated by a master piece of an engine that's sounds truly exotic with a wizard/unicorse exhaust. Budget around a grand a year minimum to run one though.
I've got a 53 plate one if you want to ask any questions. Things to look for:
- history, history, history
- water pump change from plastic to metal impellor. Normally done with cambelt change.
- cambelt change done recently
- uneven tyre wear
- clunky suspension noises.
- normal car electric stuff - AC etc.
- MAFs are almost a disposable item and you should expect to see one in the history.
- Q2 diff
My headlight levelling switch doesn't work. Think the motor / lifting unit on the driver's side is a bit shot as I can see it wobbling at night and I don't think it's just due to the suspension....also, the ipod connection doesn't work with an iphone. Found a soaking wet t shirt inside where the pollen filter is. Wondered why the passenger floor was wet. It's eaten one MAF. Otherwise that's been it (so far) since August. It'll need a belt change with its MOT in a few months and the back box is looking a bit worse for wear. Tempted to just keep a standard one on - sounds epic as it is and at least it's bearable on the motorway, but will take advice from others.
There's some amount of bumpff in the alfaowner.com website which will also help you. However, don't get put off a car with the smaller disk brakes. There's nothing wrong with them if you upgrade the pads. Previous owner tried to upgrade the disks as well; despite having 17" teledials, they still wouldn't clear them so it runs on normal disks but some sort of fancy fast road pad of which I can't remember the brand off hand.
- history, history, history
- water pump change from plastic to metal impellor. Normally done with cambelt change.
- cambelt change done recently
- uneven tyre wear
- clunky suspension noises.
- normal car electric stuff - AC etc.
- MAFs are almost a disposable item and you should expect to see one in the history.
- Q2 diff
My headlight levelling switch doesn't work. Think the motor / lifting unit on the driver's side is a bit shot as I can see it wobbling at night and I don't think it's just due to the suspension....also, the ipod connection doesn't work with an iphone. Found a soaking wet t shirt inside where the pollen filter is. Wondered why the passenger floor was wet. It's eaten one MAF. Otherwise that's been it (so far) since August. It'll need a belt change with its MOT in a few months and the back box is looking a bit worse for wear. Tempted to just keep a standard one on - sounds epic as it is and at least it's bearable on the motorway, but will take advice from others.
There's some amount of bumpff in the alfaowner.com website which will also help you. However, don't get put off a car with the smaller disk brakes. There's nothing wrong with them if you upgrade the pads. Previous owner tried to upgrade the disks as well; despite having 17" teledials, they still wouldn't clear them so it runs on normal disks but some sort of fancy fast road pad of which I can't remember the brand off hand.
carinaman said:
It is listed as black, and the pictures just looks like a slightly dirty black car photographed with poor lighting.And Imho, 8k for an import with an Auto box? i'd probably skip it
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