156 V6 or GTV V6?
Discussion
I've decided to postpone the car buying for a little bit while I sort out a few other things, but I think I'm leaning towards a GTV.
Nonetheless, if anyone's considering a 156, I'd recommend taking a look at this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322418756041?ssPageName=...
Only realised after I'd emailed him about it that I know the owner and I can vouch for the fact he knows his stuff. It's also free of any past nasties on the MOT history, unlike the other 156s and GTVs I've considered.
Nonetheless, if anyone's considering a 156, I'd recommend taking a look at this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322418756041?ssPageName=...
Only realised after I'd emailed him about it that I know the owner and I can vouch for the fact he knows his stuff. It's also free of any past nasties on the MOT history, unlike the other 156s and GTVs I've considered.
having owned that one briefly i can confirm that it's one of the nicest i'd seen. i only got rid as the GTV V6 i currently have came up for sale just after i bought that 156 and, at the time, couldn't have both.
the next owner after me also invested time and effort fixing a couple of things, one potentially expensive job got done at that time
paul
the next owner after me also invested time and effort fixing a couple of things, one potentially expensive job got done at that time
paul
Vitorio said:
woody166 said:
I ended up with a 155 TS Wide body instead so it wasn't all bad news ! Bl**dy loved that car !
155s do look very nice, i'd have a potent one (as in 2 litre TS or a V6) as a toy in a heartbeat, give the engine some fettling and sort out the suspension and pretend im in DTM. Sadly they are becoming very scarce and expensive for a good onePooh said:
I had a wide body V6 155, I absolutely loved it and only sold it because I could not get two child seats and a booster in the back. It was very reliable, handled brilliantly and had a fantastic engine.
Not being able to fit three kid seats into most halfway non-depressing cars is part of the reason i think 2 kids is enough Vitorio said:
Not being able to fit three kid seats into most halfway non-depressing cars is part of the reason i think 2 kids is enough
Two probably is enough but I have four and am quite happy with that even though I had to swap the 155 for a Fiat Multipla . The Multipla was also a great car but in different ways.Chris71 said:
On a random note. Anyone know if either come with or can be fitted with IsoFix mounts?
Supposedly standard fit from 2002 onwards, option prior to that, but I've heard of some post 2002 cars that apparently were missing them. Easy enough to check - there are cutouts in the leather on the rear seats and the loops are in there.From my experience of owning 156s and a lot of reading up on GTVs, you can expect to spend twice as much keeping a GTV going as you can a 156, regardless of which engine is in it. Costs for V6 engine stuff (cambelt etc) seem to be broadly comparable between the two; it's suspension/brakes/exhaust stuff that will end up costing you more on the GTV.
Ditto on the TVR thing, something just appeals there. Would have another any day.
Anyway....back to subject.
If you want the sense of occasion then it is pretty simple - GTV.
The GTV has slower steering, is less agile than a 156 and has seats that feel more like park benches, but it feels special and more like a baby ferrari from an interior perspective. The 156/GT is more mainstream.
There is a reason that the GTV values are higher, and the above is a large reason for it. I did find the GTV more fragile than all of my other Alfa's but not bad.
Anyway....back to subject.
If you want the sense of occasion then it is pretty simple - GTV.
The GTV has slower steering, is less agile than a 156 and has seats that feel more like park benches, but it feels special and more like a baby ferrari from an interior perspective. The 156/GT is more mainstream.
There is a reason that the GTV values are higher, and the above is a large reason for it. I did find the GTV more fragile than all of my other Alfa's but not bad.
DamienB said:
From my experience of owning 156s and a lot of reading up on GTVs, you can expect to spend twice as much keeping a GTV going as you can a 156, regardless of which engine is in it. Costs for V6 engine stuff (cambelt etc) seem to be broadly comparable between the two; it's suspension/brakes/exhaust stuff that will end up costing you more on the GTV.
Wow, that's quite sobering. Any idea how the later GT would compare? Have to be honest, I prefer the looks of the GTV and, coming from a Mk1 MX-5 daily driver, I'm expecting any of them to be a step up in refinement so I've sort of overlooked the GT until now.Chris71 said:
Wow, that's quite sobering. Any idea how the later GT would compare? Have to be honest, I prefer the looks of the GTV and, coming from a Mk1 MX-5 daily driver, I'm expecting any of them to be a step up in refinement so I've sort of overlooked the GT until now.
The looks of the GT are more subtle - in my view it's elegant, but not from all angles. Rear leg-room is good enough for adults, and the front seats are about 10 times more comfortable than a GTV (these have they looks). [url]
The GT is very practical - 5 x 80L bins go in the back with space to spare.
|http://thumbsnap.com/Uy7TYtOj[/url]
Both cars benefit from a Q2/LSD.
Chris71 said:
Wow, that's quite sobering. Any idea how the later GT would compare? Have to be honest, I prefer the looks of the GTV and, coming from a Mk1 MX-5 daily driver, I'm expecting any of them to be a step up in refinement so I've sort of overlooked the GT until now.
Id be interested in GT running costs as well, i have a 1.6 147 right now, and if a 1.8 GT would be in a similar range, then trading up will be very high on the list, as i absolutely adore the GTs looks, im just not sure if it is pretty much a 147 coupe in terms of running cost, or more expensive.Vitorio said:
Id be interested in GT running costs as well, i have a 1.6 147 right now, and if a 1.8 GT would be in a similar range, then trading up will be very high on the list, as i absolutely adore the GTs looks, im just not sure if it is pretty much a 147 coupe in terms of running cost, or more expensive.
GT's are pretty identical to the 156/147 and thus the same running costs.Certainly cheaper than a GTV to run!
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