Buying a GTA

[kmd]

Just been to see this;
2003 53 Reg ALFA ROMEO 156 3.2 V6 24v GTA Sport Wagon, 21,800 miles, Metallic Silver. Alloy wheels, ABS, Adjustable seats, Air conditioning, Body kit, CD, Central locking, Colour coding - Body, Computer, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Foglights, Front armrest, Head restraints, Headlight washers, Heated seats, Leather seats, Multi function steering wheel, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Side airbags, Traction control, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Anti theft system, CD Multichanger, Climate Control, Full service history, Leather upholstery, Metallic paintwork. £14,495.

Wow what a car! Will be test driving it tomorrow. Couple of questions;
1. What does everyone think price wise (there are so few about to compare it with)?
2. Anything I need to look for in particular on the GTA? (over what you normally look for on a 156)

I've been offered £4k on my 156 2.5 Sportwagon with 91k. Guess thats about right!?!

[SCOOTERMAN]

Check to see if it's had the brake disc modification/recall done: if not, expect to be replacing warped discs every fortnight.

[jwyatt]

I have a 2005 GTA sportwagon. It's a superb car, see my feelings on www.auto-journals.com (second review up shortly) and also my review on this site if it ever gets approved and added. I love mine to bits. It's had a couple if niggles - indicators, air con, rear washer, and a rattle when new - but the major stuff feels very sound. I absolutely love the looks and drive, and the exclusivity- there are 107 in the UK. Plus the engine is one of the best out therm, period, and the performance is still better than any hot hatch bar it's little brother 147 (which is slower at high speed doe to aerodynamics) and the pricey 130i.

That price sounds a tad steep - in fact, steep. The car only came out mid 2002 and I've seen mint early examples go for £10,500 to £12000. They depreciate like a stone from new then don't really dip below £10k, saloon or SW. I've seen a 6-month old 3k miles example go for less than £17k. A 2003 might be worth about £13k, typically, but trade always asks for more. The rarity of them may not help you lower the price, but they don't sell fast so hope he's had it a while. The standard spec was massive and it's all standard bar a crap sat nav and xenons, so don't take any crap about it being worth more because it's got the high-back leather heated seats or Bose or automatic wipers or whatever - all the 156GTA's do.

Issues - most owners happy, check the air con, all electrics (as with any Alfa!), suspension for clonks, and ideally ensure it has the 330mm brakes which were standard from the end of 2003 and a free upgrade if you argued hard enough for earlier cars. That said, the initial ones were 4-pot brembos as big as the competition, the pad/disc material was probably just incompatible so a skim (or new discs) and a pad change to something aftermarket should make them fine - people have raced with those brakes with no issues!

Do it - you'll love the car, it is a superb bit of kit. See:

http://channel4.com/4car/road-tests/d

www.topgear.com/drives/A0/B8/roadtests/06/01.html

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/

[kmd]

Tanks for the advice. I'll be looking at another 03 example this weekend on my way to Wales (much cheaper car but higher miles). Will let you know how it goes!