156 V6 or GTV V6?

Author
Discussion

robbo 2006

107 posts

171 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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I've not driven a 2.5 but can only say the 3.2 in stand guise is something else. Add an aftermarket exhaust system and you've got a mini Ferrari on your hands. A GTV would be great fun and value. I've got a GT and for what it's worth it's quite a practical coupe.

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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You people are making me busso-hungry with this talk

The 2.5 apparently also responds well to having having 3.0/3.2 intake runners fitted, although those appear to be getting scarce/expensive.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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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.

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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That 156 looks very nice.

paulmakin

653 posts

140 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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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


Pooh

3,692 posts

252 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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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 !cloud9
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 one


cloud9
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. smile

Mr E

21,583 posts

258 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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Ahbefive said:
A TVR and an Alfa? Glutton for punishment.
We ran a 156 an an Elise at the same time.
The Alfa had 130k on it....

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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Pooh 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. smile
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 hehe

Pooh

3,692 posts

252 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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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 hehe
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 smile. The Multipla was also a great car but in different ways.

Pooh

3,692 posts

252 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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Ahbefive said:
A TVR and an Alfa? Glutton for punishment.
I have had three TVRs and seven Alfas and I do think that they both appeal to a certain type of car enthusiast.

DamienB

1,189 posts

218 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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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.

V6Alfisti

3,305 posts

226 months

Saturday 18th February 2017
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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.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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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.

Chris Type R

8,018 posts

248 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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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.

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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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.

V6Alfisti

3,305 posts

226 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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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!

woody166

251 posts

107 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
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V6Alfisti said:
GT's are pretty identical to the 156/147 and thus the same running costs.

Certainly cheaper than a GTV to run!
These days they are all pretty much cost neutral tbh. Nothing different with the GTV except age. Need to watch the rust with the 156.

Johnny 89

824 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Ahbefive said:
A TVR and an Alfa? Glutton for punishment.
That's my garage at the moment.. Although it could be argued possible the most easy to live with pair!

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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V6Alfisti said:
GT's are pretty identical to the 156/147 and thus the same running costs.

Certainly cheaper than a GTV to run!
That is encouraging! Shame most GTs over here have the JTS lump, id prefer a good old TS

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Johnny 89 said:
Ahbefive said:
A TVR and an Alfa? Glutton for punishment.
That's my garage at the moment.. Although it could be argued possible the most easy to live with pair!
Judging by the profile pic, your Chim is even the same colour as mine!