3.0 GTV or 2.5 166
Discussion
Hello chaps - my first post here.
I'm in the market for a cheap second hand Alfa - I'm looking at either the 2.5 166, or the 3.0 GTV, and I was looking for a bit of buying advice.
The car wont be a regular driver, so fuel economy and reliability are not of paramount importance, but I do want it to be reasonable to run.
Which should I be going for? Any tips or experience gladly welcomed.
I'm in the market for a cheap second hand Alfa - I'm looking at either the 2.5 166, or the 3.0 GTV, and I was looking for a bit of buying advice.
The car wont be a regular driver, so fuel economy and reliability are not of paramount importance, but I do want it to be reasonable to run.
Which should I be going for? Any tips or experience gladly welcomed.
Last December I bought a 3.0 GTV V6, Petrol wise once you limit your right foot the car's not bad. I obtain 28+ but this using it as weekend car and longer runs. Insurance is no problem as i'm 50+ and have a limted mileage policy. I've had one service and that was less than £300. I have replaced a few small items like the door spring, thermostat and top engine mount also the front wishbones, all done by myself. No real problems with the car although the wipers are working when they want to! Cambelts and clutches are not cheap to replace on these and this will be done at the garage and not by me. Plenty of specialists around the country provide good service. If you are usefull with a spanner/tools this will save you money.
Opening the bonnet always brings a smile to my face. Treat it as a two seater and it will be fine. I have had someone in the back back but it only realy works it the passenger seat is all the way forward.
Good luck with the search and try for one with teledials as they look the "dogs dangles"
Opening the bonnet always brings a smile to my face. Treat it as a two seater and it will be fine. I have had someone in the back back but it only realy works it the passenger seat is all the way forward.
Good luck with the search and try for one with teledials as they look the "dogs dangles"
A good GTV 3.0 will be more expensive than the 166, hence don't understand why you specify a 2.5 rather than a 3 litre. I would avoid the auto in the 166 as it makes a huge difference in mpg and saps performance. I would have a good 3 litre 166 over an average GTV any day, but a good GTV will give you lots of pleasure and should hold it's money well.
Utterly different cars.
GTV has a tiny boot - roughly 70 litres if you take the space saver wheel out. That's big enough for 2 trolley dolly cases and then you've got the back seat to use. Steering / handling is very sharp and direct, although the heavier engine means the car is more prone to understeer than the lighter twin spark. Go for a post 1998 ph2 car which has the much nicer interior.
166 are absolutely lovely, but it's a luxury car not a sportscar. Fantastic interiors - some good toys if you go for the right spec e.g. upper spec stereo ICE are supposed to be absolutely brilliant.
Costs will be about the same for both cars, I would have thought. The GTV was insurance group 19 (twin spark was 17 in catholic money), so shop around for insurance quotes.
If it was just a weekend toy, I'd be much happier in the GTV than a 166. If it was my only car, I'd still take the GTV, however I have no kids and rarely carry more passengers than just the missus. If I did need the extra room, I'd be delighted to have a 166.
GTV has a tiny boot - roughly 70 litres if you take the space saver wheel out. That's big enough for 2 trolley dolly cases and then you've got the back seat to use. Steering / handling is very sharp and direct, although the heavier engine means the car is more prone to understeer than the lighter twin spark. Go for a post 1998 ph2 car which has the much nicer interior.
166 are absolutely lovely, but it's a luxury car not a sportscar. Fantastic interiors - some good toys if you go for the right spec e.g. upper spec stereo ICE are supposed to be absolutely brilliant.
Costs will be about the same for both cars, I would have thought. The GTV was insurance group 19 (twin spark was 17 in catholic money), so shop around for insurance quotes.
If it was just a weekend toy, I'd be much happier in the GTV than a 166. If it was my only car, I'd still take the GTV, however I have no kids and rarely carry more passengers than just the missus. If I did need the extra room, I'd be delighted to have a 166.
It all depends on what you want from the car really. If its something to blast about in on a weekend using far too much right foot, the GTV is the car you'll be best suited to. The steering is very sharp and direct, and the front end in V6 guise isn't as nose heavy as people would lead you to believe. Performance is impressive, and the 3 litre picks up with an almost surreal smoothness, from any gear at any revs. The noise is just outrageous. The Phase 2s have a far smarter interior and were modernised slightly on the outside with less black plastic blighting the Pininfarina design, so that's the one to go for.
The 166 is actually the only "modern" Alfa I've not had the privilege of driving, so I couldn't really offer any first hand experiences of one. That said, I had a 156 with the same 2.5 litre V6 under the bonnet, which was just incredible. The 2.5s aren't as quick, definitely not as torquey but arguably the more enjoyable engine to use at nine tenths. They feel a bit more freer revving, and if anything make an even more heavenly noise. The only way you're going to decide really is to get out there and drive them both and make your decision based on what's important to you.
The 166 is actually the only "modern" Alfa I've not had the privilege of driving, so I couldn't really offer any first hand experiences of one. That said, I had a 156 with the same 2.5 litre V6 under the bonnet, which was just incredible. The 2.5s aren't as quick, definitely not as torquey but arguably the more enjoyable engine to use at nine tenths. They feel a bit more freer revving, and if anything make an even more heavenly noise. The only way you're going to decide really is to get out there and drive them both and make your decision based on what's important to you.
Go onto the alfaowner.com website - there's a buyers guide there that covers everything.
Go for a phase 2, post 1998 car as they have a much nicer interior than the ph1s. The rear suspension of the GTVs is prone to bush wear that eventually leads to ££££ subframe damage. The good news is that they beefed it up for the V6s, but a common upgrade is to polybush the rear instead.
Electrics are the other usual gremlin, so check that everything works as it should. Airbag lights are a common one, due to the switch being badly put together at an awkward spot under the seat.
Enjoy it!
Go for a phase 2, post 1998 car as they have a much nicer interior than the ph1s. The rear suspension of the GTVs is prone to bush wear that eventually leads to ££££ subframe damage. The good news is that they beefed it up for the V6s, but a common upgrade is to polybush the rear instead.
Electrics are the other usual gremlin, so check that everything works as it should. Airbag lights are a common one, due to the switch being badly put together at an awkward spot under the seat.
Enjoy it!
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