159 SW Ti for a GT 3.2?
Discussion
Hello all.
I wanted to get thoughts on my scenario.
Thinking to change my car. It's a red Ti sportwagon, one of the last run ones with 40 k on the clock. It's a great car, rare spec and I've owned since new. I have been offered 11.5k for it with 16 monthly payments left before I own it outright. I do fancy a change and owning a Busso v6 before these are all on big miles would be cool. Veloces have a nice GT for sale for 7,950. It looks well kept. If I bought it and ran it for 2 years until the Giulias are out, it would be essentially a trade in and no payments which I'd put aside for a new car.
These seem to be holding their value at the moment/going up. This particular GT has 79k on the clock and had 4 owners. I believe it's been owned by someone in the Bedfordshire section of AO. I only do 7-8k a year so wouldn't put much on the clock. let's say I want to sell it in 2 years would I get close to my money back for it? Or should I hold on for one with 50-60k on the clock. Or will it make much difference in order to enjoy one?
Thanks,
Iain
I wanted to get thoughts on my scenario.
Thinking to change my car. It's a red Ti sportwagon, one of the last run ones with 40 k on the clock. It's a great car, rare spec and I've owned since new. I have been offered 11.5k for it with 16 monthly payments left before I own it outright. I do fancy a change and owning a Busso v6 before these are all on big miles would be cool. Veloces have a nice GT for sale for 7,950. It looks well kept. If I bought it and ran it for 2 years until the Giulias are out, it would be essentially a trade in and no payments which I'd put aside for a new car.
These seem to be holding their value at the moment/going up. This particular GT has 79k on the clock and had 4 owners. I believe it's been owned by someone in the Bedfordshire section of AO. I only do 7-8k a year so wouldn't put much on the clock. let's say I want to sell it in 2 years would I get close to my money back for it? Or should I hold on for one with 50-60k on the clock. Or will it make much difference in order to enjoy one?
Thanks,
Iain
I have no real clue about values in the UK market, but a well looked after V6 GT will always be worth something, just look at the GTVs, the 4 pots are going for shed money because most have been neglected, but a well kept V6 is worth 5-6K easily, even with a lot of miles.
Im sure you will know most of this, but keep an eye on the usual 147/156/GT issues, rusty floor plan, front wishbones are the biggest ones. Timing belt is off course an important item.
Im sure you will know most of this, but keep an eye on the usual 147/156/GT issues, rusty floor plan, front wishbones are the biggest ones. Timing belt is off course an important item.
I have the 3.2gt and my old man has a 10plate 159ti 2.0jtdm in white.
Depreciation on the 159ti's especially the 2.0 diesel is great. My old man has lost about £2k in 3 years which is not bad on a £12k purchase price.
But the 3.2gt's are only now going up in value and veloces seem to be leading the charge! I paid £4100 for mine 1 1/2 years ago at 68000 miles and have spent a good £2k since on maintenance including servicing, tyres etc.
They are not as you know cheap to run but mine makes me smile every time I drive it even though it will always need something doing to it. Fit a wizard exhaust and they really are something special.
I would imagine that if you brought a £8k then you probably get that back the way prices are going after 2 years as long as you keep the mileage down. I would also imagine that after another 2 years your 159 would be around the same value so for me I would get the GT V6 and enjoy one while you can.
The build quality compared to the 159 will be an eye opener but with that engine it will feel just as special if not more. They also drive better as they are lighter, my old mans 159 feels like a tank compared to my GT when I drive it!
Depreciation on the 159ti's especially the 2.0 diesel is great. My old man has lost about £2k in 3 years which is not bad on a £12k purchase price.
But the 3.2gt's are only now going up in value and veloces seem to be leading the charge! I paid £4100 for mine 1 1/2 years ago at 68000 miles and have spent a good £2k since on maintenance including servicing, tyres etc.
They are not as you know cheap to run but mine makes me smile every time I drive it even though it will always need something doing to it. Fit a wizard exhaust and they really are something special.
I would imagine that if you brought a £8k then you probably get that back the way prices are going after 2 years as long as you keep the mileage down. I would also imagine that after another 2 years your 159 would be around the same value so for me I would get the GT V6 and enjoy one while you can.
The build quality compared to the 159 will be an eye opener but with that engine it will feel just as special if not more. They also drive better as they are lighter, my old mans 159 feels like a tank compared to my GT when I drive it!
Thanks very much for both your thoughts. I've asked the question. This one doesn't appear to have had any mechanical issues with it. They've given it a proper once over sorting the brakes, suspension, cal opera and wheel refurbishment. Obviously I'll check servicing, timing belt and any rust issues before expressing proper interest. My only concern is even with doing low miles, I will put 8k X 2 years on to 78k =94k. I think that's still going to warrant good returns if I looked well after it?
Cheers!
Iain
Cheers!
Iain
_Superleggera_ said:
Veloces put quite a premium on their cars. I would wait and buy a private one with less miles for less money!
Wise words...There was a really good one for sale in Auto Italia magazine (Apr 2016 edition) a couple of months back, it was the one you'd always see featured in their articles on the GT 3.2 (T14 M**). Alfa red as well, 53K miles and £7950 based in West Sussex. No vested interest whatsoever in the car, won't post the number up for obvious reasons.
Make sure it's sound underneath. I've seen a few early GTs on ebay recently that have had welding done to their sills, particularly the back end in front of the rear wheelarches. Not sure if it's as a result of neglect through poor jacking or kerbing of the sills or if it's a characteristic of the model.
Everything else, other than welding the underside about these cars seems easily fixable to me.
Everything else, other than welding the underside about these cars seems easily fixable to me.
I went from a GT on 18 inch wheels to a 159 TI on 19s.
I loved that GT, but my God the suspension was hopeless. If you could fit all the beefier gear from the 159 to the GT, it would be a dream.
But, alas, going back to the GT for me would be impossible. I would simply lose all my teeth from gritting them every time I even got within 5 meters of a pothole.
I loved that GT, but my God the suspension was hopeless. If you could fit all the beefier gear from the 159 to the GT, it would be a dream.
But, alas, going back to the GT for me would be impossible. I would simply lose all my teeth from gritting them every time I even got within 5 meters of a pothole.
Great choice...quite envious really !
I would agree with a previous post re the wheels. I have a 2005 156 JTDM 150 ( remapped ) that came to me on the GT 17" alloys. I had heard that they were quite prone to damage as they are 'soft', in fact my car had a buckled wheel that the selling garage denied all knowledge of....but that's another story !
Having owned a 156 TS on the Teledial 16s, I knew that they were fine as a compromise and they were a strong wheel. I actually found some refurbished 16' Selespeeds which I have had on the car for about 50,000 hard miles, and they have been fine.
Those 18's (?) on yours will take a lot of looking after as well...!
Yours is a great colour and great car by the way....
If I ever change mine I shall go for a GT, with the 1.9JTDM 150 engine ( and it shall get remapped of course !) as I really like the lighter more responsive 156/GT chassis. I drove a 159 and was disappointed that the car felt so heavy and 'numb' compared to my 156 Veloce.
I would agree with a previous post re the wheels. I have a 2005 156 JTDM 150 ( remapped ) that came to me on the GT 17" alloys. I had heard that they were quite prone to damage as they are 'soft', in fact my car had a buckled wheel that the selling garage denied all knowledge of....but that's another story !
Having owned a 156 TS on the Teledial 16s, I knew that they were fine as a compromise and they were a strong wheel. I actually found some refurbished 16' Selespeeds which I have had on the car for about 50,000 hard miles, and they have been fine.
Those 18's (?) on yours will take a lot of looking after as well...!
Yours is a great colour and great car by the way....
If I ever change mine I shall go for a GT, with the 1.9JTDM 150 engine ( and it shall get remapped of course !) as I really like the lighter more responsive 156/GT chassis. I drove a 159 and was disappointed that the car felt so heavy and 'numb' compared to my 156 Veloce.
Paul S4 said:
I drove a 159 and was disappointed that the car felt so heavy and 'numb' compared to my 156 Veloce.
There is the two hundred kilo extra to lug around. The longer wheelbase and heavier wheels may also dull the experience slightly too. Still, the 156 was a fairly light car in its day!I drive a diesel GT as my daily commuting hack and my son runs a diesel 159SW - the two cars are poles apart
The GT is (relatively) light and nimble and quicker than the 159 with the same engine. Handling is pretty good, but it doesn't really have the power to challenge the chassis. Ride can be jiggly on 18", but they look good.....Amazingly, the boot space of the GT is about three quarters of the 159SW - its actually very practical. Its also VERY comfortable - the seats in mine are amongst the best I've ever sat in - can easily do a 500+ mile trip without discomfort. Economy is quite similar to the 159. I'd say the GT's ride is definitely inferior to the 159, but the handling and "feel" is superior
The 159 is a great cruiser - quite refined (for an Alfa) with good NVH levels. It definitely feels like the more modern car that it is compared with the relatively ancient GT on its 156/147 platform. With good tyres on, the 159 handles pretty well for a big car, although the extra weight over the GT can be felt when trying to change direction quickly. The steering is also a bit wooden, but its probably due to over-assistance due to the weight. It has a few annoying features - auto-wipers are a menace and the MP3 player always starts when the ignition is turned on, even if the head unit was switched off when the car was last turned off. The TI model looks great, but the 19" wheels often get shod with Accelera tyres - I wouldn't touch them, but you can understand owners not wanting to fork out £100 - £150 a corner for proper tyres.
Personally, having had experience of both, I'd keep the 159TI for daily duties and have a gleaming GT V6 for weekend fun - best of both worlds
Reminds me - I really need a Busso in my life - off the the classifieds (again)....
The GT is (relatively) light and nimble and quicker than the 159 with the same engine. Handling is pretty good, but it doesn't really have the power to challenge the chassis. Ride can be jiggly on 18", but they look good.....Amazingly, the boot space of the GT is about three quarters of the 159SW - its actually very practical. Its also VERY comfortable - the seats in mine are amongst the best I've ever sat in - can easily do a 500+ mile trip without discomfort. Economy is quite similar to the 159. I'd say the GT's ride is definitely inferior to the 159, but the handling and "feel" is superior
The 159 is a great cruiser - quite refined (for an Alfa) with good NVH levels. It definitely feels like the more modern car that it is compared with the relatively ancient GT on its 156/147 platform. With good tyres on, the 159 handles pretty well for a big car, although the extra weight over the GT can be felt when trying to change direction quickly. The steering is also a bit wooden, but its probably due to over-assistance due to the weight. It has a few annoying features - auto-wipers are a menace and the MP3 player always starts when the ignition is turned on, even if the head unit was switched off when the car was last turned off. The TI model looks great, but the 19" wheels often get shod with Accelera tyres - I wouldn't touch them, but you can understand owners not wanting to fork out £100 - £150 a corner for proper tyres.
Personally, having had experience of both, I'd keep the 159TI for daily duties and have a gleaming GT V6 for weekend fun - best of both worlds
Reminds me - I really need a Busso in my life - off the the classifieds (again)....
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