Thoughts on a high-mileage GTA

[awph]

I'm looking to join the exclusive 156 GTA club and I've come across this high-mileage one on AO. It's had the Q2, new clutch and all-important belt changes, so all seems good on paper, but I'm interested to know if any of you have had experience of high-mileage GTAs and whether you think this represents a sound investment? Thanks.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/classifieds/showpro...

[velocemitch]

Link doesn't seem to work, but is it the mettalic Black one with 108 on the clock?.

Car itself sounds good, but price seems a bit top end for a 52 plae car with so many miles.

Mind you there isn't much else about in that price range is there!. GTA's seem to be on the up.

[awph]

Try this link:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/classifieds/showpro...

Spot on though with the car! Pricing GTAs at the moment isn't easy - as you say, prices seem to be on the way up, but for such rare cars they're taking a long time to sell - and I've not seen another for sale with 108k on the clock...

[swanny71]

I reckon that's a pretty good car (even for that price) as it has obviously been very well cared for and has two of the most desireable upgrades (330mm's & Q2) Also looks as if it'll be serviced again by now.
There are plenty of high mile v6 166's on Alfaowner which implies the engine is capable of many more miles.
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-and-166/11...

[MattGTA]

Everything about it says regular motorway miles doesn't it - serviced at regular intervals, the mileage has been applied evenly, nose resprayed for stone chips etc. I'd bet it's been a daily commuter for most of it's life. If that's the case, it probably feels tighter than a 50,000 miler that's been crashing over pot holes and speed bumps all it's life.

I think it'd be a good buy - especially with the recent service, and Q2.

Go on - do it, do it.

MG

[MattGTA]

There's a £6k 70,000 miler in silver on there too.

[velocemitch]

Doesn't have the Q2 though. GTA's do take a long time to sell, 6 months in my case. Mine was an odd colour though, which probably didn't help.

[awph]

Thanks for your thoughts chaps. Might be worth making a punt at it, but not sure it's quite worth what he's asking for it...

[MLC166]

A well cared for V6 will do 250000 miles with just routine servicing i.e. oil/filters and cambelts.

[awph]

You're right, and I don't doubt the longevity of the V6 - it's been around in various itterations for so long - it's the price I'm baulking at more at the moment, given that a 70k 156 was recently up for £6k and an 85k one for £5.5k, albeit they were were both of slightly lower spec.

[daphantom]

awph said:

You're right, and I don't doubt the longevity of the V6 - it's been around in various itterations for so long - it's the price I'm baulking at more at the moment, given that a 70k 156 was recently up for £6k and an 85k one for £5.5k, albeit they were were both of slightly lower spec.

You could get the Q2 done on the 70k one and probably break-even on price in a couple of years - as it prob still wont have done 100k miles

[wrinx]

Bit of haggling will possibly knock £500 or so off the price, which puts it more in line with the others.

I wouldn't have a problem buying one with those miles, the V6 is bullet proof so long as the belts and water pump are changed on time.

One of my all time regrets was not swapping my old 156 for a GTA (burnt orange colour) many years ago.

wrinx