Alfa GT 2.0 JTS Coupe running costs
Discussion
Hey up, first ever post.
Looking to get a new car, been driving a Focus zetec for a few years and it's time to get something a bit nicer, bit faster, bit more fun!
Anyway, my budget is £5-£6k and have narrowed it down to an A3, or an Alpha GT (suggestions on others welcome though, want something a bit prestige with plenty of grunt)
Bit bothered by the running costs of an Alpha, can someone advise what kind of ballpark we're talking to keep it on the road (I do about 11k a year mileage, usually a 12mile commute and city driving)?
(one i'm looking at is 05, 52k)
Cheers
Looking to get a new car, been driving a Focus zetec for a few years and it's time to get something a bit nicer, bit faster, bit more fun!
Anyway, my budget is £5-£6k and have narrowed it down to an A3, or an Alpha GT (suggestions on others welcome though, want something a bit prestige with plenty of grunt)
Bit bothered by the running costs of an Alpha, can someone advise what kind of ballpark we're talking to keep it on the road (I do about 11k a year mileage, usually a 12mile commute and city driving)?
(one i'm looking at is 05, 52k)
Cheers
Edited by Fitzchiv on Monday 23 January 22:32
First bit of advice - call them Alfas, not Alphas or you will never get taken seriously. It's a bit like calling a BMW a MWB.
You'll average 30 mpg on a mixed route driving, clearly less so in town. Parts are surprisingly cheap for somethings, surprisingly normal for others, ridiculously expensive for the odd bit here and there. A wheel bearing is only about £35, so it's a helluva lot cheaper than a VAG car.
The GT is effectively a 156 floorpan and similar chassis setup. It tends to go through bushes a lot and therefore if they're not replaced quickly, the rest of the suspension gets damaged. This is mainly at the front and particularly so on the heavier diesel engined cars. Make sure the suspension is aligned, or you'll also go through a lot of tyre wear.
Otherwise, check your fluids more regularly than you would in your current car and you'll be surprised how little they cost to run in comparison with 'normal' cars. It's only the V6s that have very thirsty engines and the diesel units, especially the 1.9, are pretty reliable. The older twinspark is a great engine, just a bit thirsty on oil and needs the cambelt and ancillaries changed a bit more often than most cars.
You'll average 30 mpg on a mixed route driving, clearly less so in town. Parts are surprisingly cheap for somethings, surprisingly normal for others, ridiculously expensive for the odd bit here and there. A wheel bearing is only about £35, so it's a helluva lot cheaper than a VAG car.
The GT is effectively a 156 floorpan and similar chassis setup. It tends to go through bushes a lot and therefore if they're not replaced quickly, the rest of the suspension gets damaged. This is mainly at the front and particularly so on the heavier diesel engined cars. Make sure the suspension is aligned, or you'll also go through a lot of tyre wear.
Otherwise, check your fluids more regularly than you would in your current car and you'll be surprised how little they cost to run in comparison with 'normal' cars. It's only the V6s that have very thirsty engines and the diesel units, especially the 1.9, are pretty reliable. The older twinspark is a great engine, just a bit thirsty on oil and needs the cambelt and ancillaries changed a bit more often than most cars.
Here's a guide to (indy) service prices. Note the short cam-belt interval recommendations. http://www.autolusso.co.uk/servicing/gt-servicing....
Wishbones may go (squeaking when you hit a bump is a good sign) - Autolusso charged me £120/side all in
Tyres on my diesel are about 120 each P zero 215/45 x 17
Wishbones may go (squeaking when you hit a bump is a good sign) - Autolusso charged me £120/side all in
Tyres on my diesel are about 120 each P zero 215/45 x 17
My GT JTS has not cost a lot so far and is the same spec as the one you desire, age and mileage wise. I had the tyre wear on the front, looked good on the outside edge and fooked on the inside edge, needed a new centre section exhaust, had front wishbones and ARB drop links replaced. It's not let me down YET but I must say it never has nothing wrong with it, currently in need of a gear selector bush as finding gears is becoming awkward but supposedly an easy and cheap fix.
It's not massively powerful but very smooth and flexible on the m-way, a comfortable and attractive interior helps on the commute too! I don't know how the niggle count compares to other marques though.
It's not massively powerful but very smooth and flexible on the m-way, a comfortable and attractive interior helps on the commute too! I don't know how the niggle count compares to other marques though.
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