Punting the Alfa Romeo 156GTA as a candidate to catch it while you can is - on the surface - the unenviable errand of mercy you give to a hopeless romantic. Since when has rationality been on the agenda in the world of fast Alfa Romeos? And right now, the 156 GTA seems to be on the turn.
No plastic cover to hid this beauty of a motor
It's reached the point when it's moved out of the comfort zone of your local servicing agent, but hasn't quite made the value leap into the protective bosom of the typical classic specialist. Bangerdom is perhaps a strong word for a car that costs between £3,500-8,000, but the expense of keeping a shabby 156 GTA on the road must be an increasing factor in the car's long term survival. And yet, despite all this, I find myself dangerously trawling the classifieds, and having one of those dangerous 'what if' moments.
And that's understandable. In September 2001, when the 156 GTA was launched, for one brief moment, it looked as though Alfa Romeo was capable of taking a seat at the the top table. But there was no secret formula, and it wasn't a clever car. An orgasmic 3.2-litre 250hp Busso V6 was installed where the 2.5 with 190hp once resided. Other changes included bespoke lowered and stiffened suspension, a chiselled body kit that did the beautiful Walter da Silva-styled body no favours (but did lessen lift noticeably), and some of the most beautiful alloy wheels ever made.
Mods detract from purity of looks but it still works
Upgrades intended to improve the dynamics included huge Brembo brakes, and even quicker steering - now down to a staggering 1.7 turns from lock-to-lock - although the atrocious turning circle remained. But in essence, the name Gran Turismo Alleggerita (which means 'lightweight GT'), seemed plain wrong for a car that was 91kg heavier than its donor, and amounted to little more than a shoehorn job.
So, it was a bit of a mixed bag - brilliant in places, distinctly average in others. And because of that, the road testers at the time panned it when it came anywhere near something more capable, such as a BMW 330i. Company drivers couldn't stomach its high fuel consumption (23.3mpg combined, 15.6mpg urban), nor its CO2 figure of 287g/km; while the rest of us wouldn't want to be caught within a bus ride of a typical Alfa Romeo dealer (personal experience here). And that's why in the UK, fewer than 500 were sold between its launch here in 2002, and its untimely death in 2005.
So with those criticisms aimed at the 156 GTA, why the hell would I recommend it to anyone?
Plenty of style in here too
Despite front-wheel drive, and a distinct lack of traction if you're ham-fisted, the 156 GTA is actually very poised and balanced if you're an understanding driver. Steer with your fingertips, and apply the throttle with a delicate touch, and you'll be surprised how much this car will hustle - it's not a tidy car for those who like to hoon, but for thinkers, it can be devastatingly rapid.
Then there's that engine - open the bonnet and behold its beauty. There's also no other V6 that's ever graced a four-door, which comes close to matching the 156 GTA's incredible soundtrack and creamy delivery. Acceleration is deceptive, too, and although baseline figures of 0-60mph in 6.3 seconds and a maximum speed of 155mph are no great shakes today - it builds up speed with such disdainful ease, you'll end up questioning the validity of those numbers.
So it's a car for the heart, not the head. Owners - addicts - love their GTAs and willingly forgive their faults, while the rest probably don't get it. And that leaves us with the enigma of the cheap 156 GTA, in those tempting £3,500 small ads. Head says no, heart says yes.
Buyers were few - catch it while you can
But for once, I'll let common sense kick in. If you fall for the charms of a 156 GTA, buy the best you can - there's no shortcut. There are
three that stand out
in the PH classifieds right now, all with less than 100k on the clock. Just for once, buy and think of the future. I'd consider
the blue GTA
with 85K on the clock, but only after a very long chat with the seller to work out why his description is so skinny.
Good GTAs will end up going up in value - that's a historic precedent, and only a matter of time - so why not enjoy yourself, sparingly, while you wait it out? This way, perhaps, romance and rationality can go together hand in hand...