RE: Alfa Romeo 156 GTA: Unsung Hero

[carinaman]

crostonian said:

velocemitch said:

The 3.2 in the 166 was the same as the GTA engine.

Are you sure?

3.2 was used in GTA, GTV and 166:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_V6_engine

Update - yeah I forgot the GT.

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 2nd April 20:53

[cheekyron]

A mate of mine had a red one from new. It was a stunning looking car and they still look as good today in my eyes. Prefer the saloon without the rear spoiler. I never got to drive it but I do remember it had next to no leg room in the back...

[jaisharma]

There were certainly some of the 156 sport wagons that were v6 from the ship that had a fire
I loved my gta and was even thinking of getting another but probably a sport wagon
Wish they made that 159 gta with a v8 maserati engine - what a shame that never happened!

[Mighty Flex]

carinaman said:

Craikeybaby said:

No wonder I was struggling to find one when I looked!

I've previously mentioned what seemed a good one for £2250 for sale in Feb. It had the same or similary spoked alloys.

The How Many Left website isn't that accurate.

There are a few late registered pre-Facelift ones that were on a ship to the Far East that caught fire. I don't know if any those V6s were Sportswagons or if they were all saloons.

One of the reasons I am repeating what others have said about the inaccuracy of the How Many Left website is to help people see through some of the fluff in advertisements for what seems like many cars, not specifically Alfas.

My Sportwagon is simply described as a 156 2.5 V6, so I guess that's one more.

I am torn. Sensible days I want more economy (a really nice 2.4jtd would be just the ticket), and my mad side is thinking that this is a good time to find a well sorted GTA. The middle ground suggests I tidy up my current V6, with a view to running it for the next few years. It's not a bad dilemma to have, though.

[Matt_N]

This one on eBay is stunning in metallic blue, seems to have all the nice bits fitted too:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

[velocemitch]

z06tim said:

crostonian said:

velocemitch said:

The 3.2 in the 166 was the same as the GTA engine.

Are you sure?

Same engine, but detuned by 10bhp to 240bhp, as in the GT. I think it could be as simple as just the map on the engine managent that is different.

Also could be the exhaust arrangements, or maybe just AR making sure the GTA itself was the most powerfull.

[assadahmed]

Let me hit you guys with some porn..........

[Chimune]

assadahmed said:

Let me hit you guys with some porn..........

You could have given it a clean !


Beautiful

[Chimune]

Pwig said:

Chimune said:

Ran one for 5 years.
Utterly addictive but as the article says, the stock dampers and diff will do your head in (as will all the 5 point turns) on UK roads.

Take the snorkel off the airbox for a frankly spine tingling induction roar.

Id have another in a flash (love that charcoal grey!).

Edited by Chimune on Thursday 2nd April 17:18

That particular car I bought off you and then took it to Autodelta, spent thousands on it and then sold again

Got the Q2 on it and what have you.

Saw it on the A1 a few months ago. Sold it to a guy in Morpeth.

Hey. Yeh I saw it out side the pub in Alnmouth 18 months back. Hope you had fun in it !
The car I mean.....

[Zombie]

The best bit about these cars (The GT 3.2 &147GTA included) is the throttle response. It's simply epic.

[carinaman]

jaisharma said:

There were certainly some of the 156 sport wagons that were v6 from the ship that had a fire.

There's a Sporto (Automatic) V6 red with cream leather one on Autotrader for £3K on an 06 plate.

[Zombie]

carinaman said:

There's a Sporto (Automatic) V6 red with cream leather one on Autotrader for £3K on an 06 plate.

My Dad has a real oddity. a 2006 V6 SW which is unusual but not unheard of, but it's also pearl white in facelift Ti spec... I think I'd have it over a 156 GTA.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/motoring-images/232...

[Zombie]

The 147 is still the best option IMO, having owned all 3 (156GTA, 147GTA and 3.2 GT...)


IMG_7525 by chris147gta, on Flickr

Actually, I'm lying, I miss the GT I had. I loved the pillar-less windows, and the way it looked.





It was as practical as a 156GTA SW and better looking than the 156/147.

[carinaman]

Zombie said:

carinaman said:

There's a Sporto (Automatic) V6 red with cream leather one on Autotrader for £3K on an 06 plate.

My Dad has a real oddity. a 2006 V6 SW which is unusual but not unheard of, but it's also pearl white in facelift Ti spec... I think I'd have it over a 156 GTA.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/motoring-images/232...

Fantastic looking car!

The thread mentions 3 litre engine swaps. Alfa missed an opportunity there. All that 3 litre torque in a cracking looking saloon like the 156 would have been double cream poured over silk.

[s m]

Lovely pictures Zombie

[carinaman]

s m said:

Lovely pictures Zombie

They are, though I am not sure I spotted the two of the GT on his flickr stream.

[menguin]

43034 said:

Oh yes. I fking adore mine, the sound the looks the speed

Puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it.

Paid £4500 for mine with 92k on the clock (although full engine rebuild by Autolusso at 88k).

Surprisingly I only have a few pics of it...





Filthy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpKlvLrq5jg

93db static which is rather loud...

ETA:
This thread made me go out and take another photo. Needs a clean though.

Edited by 43034 on Thursday 2nd April 15:43

They do sound rather good.. This was my 2.5 with a fruity exhaust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIPdVUFgRcE

[only1ian]

The 147 GTA is a similar car which is equally transformed by the same mods

[Limpet]

MiniMan said:

That said with a clutch slipping, a cambelt due and the usual front suspension its either about to get very expensive or about to go.

I've done a clutch and a cambelt and water pump on a Busso 156. The belt wasn't as bad as we were expecting but needs special tools to time the cams and one of the tensioners wouldn't unbolt and had to be removed with the aid of a Dremel. But on the whole it wasn't too bad.

The clutch was a total pig and not something I'd ever want to do again. One of the bellhousing bolts can't even be seen, never mind accessed, and dropping the 'box out of the engine bay is like one of those spatial awareness tests, requiring the engine to be raised and lowered on its mounts at different points.

They are generally shocking things to work on, which I suspect is why most get neglected by third and fourth owners onwards and begin a terminal slide into bangerdom.

[Gompo]

Saw this one on London a few times, looked lovely.