Buying a 156 gta sportwagon, help.

[C2996]

If it's still for sale I might go and have a look at this car on the weekend http://www.imperialmotorcompanyltd.co.uk/13268/imp...
The blue alfa on page 3 if this link doesn't work

Any advice on what to look for on these cars or at this mileage what should have been done to it, i.e. should a cambelt change be on the service by now.

any advice welcome, especially a link to a buying guide and even better if someone knows the history of the car

thanks.

[P17_GTA]

Look for buying guide in the GTA section of alfaowner website.

It looks good and at that age it should have had the belt done anyway.

[C2996]

Thanks, I'll do that now.

[velocemitch]

Looks nice, very similar to the age and mileage of the Car I sold six months back. Price is similar too.

Go for you will love it

[sixpot]

This car was high on my list of viewings a month or so back, but decided to go for the more sensible 159 in the end. It does look like a very good example though. I'd go for it, if you are in the market for this car and can justify the additional running expenditure.

[C2996]

would the running costs be that high?
I'm only doing about 4-5k a year at the moment

[priley]

I've been looking for 156 GTA recently and checked out the Imperial car mentioned.
Looks nice in the pics but is rather unloved. Drivers seat bolster badly marked, front nearside brake air outlet cover missing, needs front tyres, no tax, had a cambelt snap, hardly any main dealer history.
Could be OK for 7k but with the lack of history a bit of an unknown quantity and probably why it's been advertised for months now.

Pete

[velocemitch]

C2996 said:

would the running costs be that high?
I'm only doing about 4-5k a year at the moment

Not really, the Engine is pretty bullet proof, you aren't doing enough miles to worry too much about suspension wear, as long as it's OK to begin with.
You get the odd electrical glitch, but nothing major. Driven sensibly you should see 25 to 30MPG. Insurance is gr 19 though so that might hurt a bit.