Selling Alfa 156 GTA and want something a bit more 'modern
Discussion
After owning 3 Alfa 156 GTA's (and thoroughly loving them all), I have decided I want something a bit newer, but as quick and rewarding to drive.
Obviously I am not going to get the same feeling as driving a 3.2 V6 with practically no driver aids, but I'll have about £15,000 to spend.
It can either be a hot hatch, or a super-saloon, but I do not want massive running costs, so nothing exotic like a Maserati.
It needs to be a 4-seater, 2/3 or 4/5 door, petrol, pretty new (2015 upwards), and have at least 250bhp.
On my list so far is the Alfa Giulietta 1750 TBI (brand loyalty!)
I have owned a Abarth 595, and don't want to go there again, a V6 Brera (boring), and various classics, so I do like a bit of a quirky/rarer car.
Any suggestions?
Obviously I am not going to get the same feeling as driving a 3.2 V6 with practically no driver aids, but I'll have about £15,000 to spend.
It can either be a hot hatch, or a super-saloon, but I do not want massive running costs, so nothing exotic like a Maserati.
It needs to be a 4-seater, 2/3 or 4/5 door, petrol, pretty new (2015 upwards), and have at least 250bhp.
On my list so far is the Alfa Giulietta 1750 TBI (brand loyalty!)
I have owned a Abarth 595, and don't want to go there again, a V6 Brera (boring), and various classics, so I do like a bit of a quirky/rarer car.
Any suggestions?
If you are patient and wait around you could get a Q50 3.0t in budget, bit different and with 400 HP: (there is also a 350 hp hybrid version available from 11k +)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210020...
340 hp supercharged Jag XF (you can get these on a 15 I think):
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210020...
340 hp supercharged Jag XF (you can get these on a 15 I think):
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...
My top pick for you would be a Jaguar XE S with the supercharged 3.0 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...
Otherwise, it's a hot hatch
Peugeot 308 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212302...
Renaultsport Megane
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111...
Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211191...
Some left-field suggestions
BMW 330e plug-in hybrid - certainly modern and not bad at being a driver's car either
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...
Already been kind-of suggested, Infiniti Q50 3.5h hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...
Oh, the Giuliettas are a good idea. They actually make more like 260 bhp rather than the 230 bhp advertised, and can be remapped up to 290 bhp, making them properly quick as they don't weigh too much either. Full service history is a must as they are quite sensitive to oil age/quality (turbo failure) and try and find one with a fresh cambelt too if you can.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...
Otherwise, it's a hot hatch
Peugeot 308 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212302...
Renaultsport Megane
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111...
Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211191...
Some left-field suggestions
BMW 330e plug-in hybrid - certainly modern and not bad at being a driver's car either
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...
Already been kind-of suggested, Infiniti Q50 3.5h hybrid
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...
Oh, the Giuliettas are a good idea. They actually make more like 260 bhp rather than the 230 bhp advertised, and can be remapped up to 290 bhp, making them properly quick as they don't weigh too much either. Full service history is a must as they are quite sensitive to oil age/quality (turbo failure) and try and find one with a fresh cambelt too if you can.
Astra GTC VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205165...
Giulietta Quadrifoglio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203243...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...
Insignia VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211282...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...
PS 308 GTI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212302...
Leftfield
Q50 35h Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205165...
Giulietta Quadrifoglio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203243...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...
Insignia VXR:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211282...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...
PS 308 GTI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212302...
Leftfield
Q50 35h Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
You'll also get a nice sensible mileage V6 S XF Portfolio which has a very good drivetrain:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...
We had a 156 GTA some time ago and loved it, considered getting one again as an everyday classic. With a few cars in between we now have a Giulietta 1.75 tbi and that is a good car in my view. We have half an eye on a Giulia QF but other than that not sure what we would prefer for our usage.
The problem you have is that there aren’t many quirky/rare cars, from 2015, that aren’t a lot more than 15k.
The 1.75 guilietta, maybe a first edition version of the facelift, could be a decent option. I had a 2011 guilietta cloverleaf until recently, ran alongside a 147GTA, which I still have. Performance is similar, but the busso engine has character the guilietta can’t match, to be fair though, very few cars at any price have engines to match a busso for character, so it’s not a criticism at all of the 1.75, it’s a good, strong reliable engine. The mid range is stronger than the GTA, like most turbo cars.
You may get a guilia for 15k just about, not as rare as the 1.75 guilietta, but a more modern rwd platform. Plus, they would both be auto as the later guilietta were TCT only.
The 1.75 guilietta, maybe a first edition version of the facelift, could be a decent option. I had a 2011 guilietta cloverleaf until recently, ran alongside a 147GTA, which I still have. Performance is similar, but the busso engine has character the guilietta can’t match, to be fair though, very few cars at any price have engines to match a busso for character, so it’s not a criticism at all of the 1.75, it’s a good, strong reliable engine. The mid range is stronger than the GTA, like most turbo cars.
You may get a guilia for 15k just about, not as rare as the 1.75 guilietta, but a more modern rwd platform. Plus, they would both be auto as the later guilietta were TCT only.
Whatever you do don’t swap a GTA for one of those Infiniti’s linked to above, especially the one with the beige 80’s interior!! 


Can’t go from such a classic design to that monstrosity!
As a fellow GTA owner (also had 3, but of the 147 variety) it’s a difficult question of what to replace it with, without adding a chunk more money. The Jags above are nice, but a hell of a lot heavier than the GTA. The obvious choice is a Giulia, but it’d have to be a higher mile, 200bhp version for your budget (though these early 2.0 petrol 200bhp are the same engine as the 280bhp version, and can be remapped to 310-320).
Something like this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...
Other options:
BMW 435i or 235i
Audi S3 - not sure you’d get a saloon in budget but hatchback should be within reach
Golf R



Can’t go from such a classic design to that monstrosity!
As a fellow GTA owner (also had 3, but of the 147 variety) it’s a difficult question of what to replace it with, without adding a chunk more money. The Jags above are nice, but a hell of a lot heavier than the GTA. The obvious choice is a Giulia, but it’d have to be a higher mile, 200bhp version for your budget (though these early 2.0 petrol 200bhp are the same engine as the 280bhp version, and can be remapped to 310-320).
Something like this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...
Other options:
BMW 435i or 235i
Audi S3 - not sure you’d get a saloon in budget but hatchback should be within reach
Golf R
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff



