PETERS

Re: the prices of Alfa GTA's - I checked Autotrader and there are a couple of recent 147GTA's being sold privately for about £19k with low mileage. Interesting. A bit sceptical however of cars which have been brought brand new privately for £25k and then being sold less than one year ?

Thanks for all the comments. It's a pity you can't hire GTA's from anywhere, as it's always nice to try cars for a couple of days before you finally decide ! ... About 12 years ago I changed an Alfa 33 1.7ie, which I had bought nearly new for a Alfa 75 2.0 LE which I hated. Ended up selling the Alfa 75 back for a 33ie. The whole changing cars business cost me a fortune and gave my bank account a severe hemorrhage!! Definately don't want to make similar mistake.

Overall long term Alfa deprecation doesn't really worry me. I bought an Alfa 146ti (cracking car) for £12k back in 1997 kept it four years and then sold it for £3k, just prior to the major cambelt service and with the car in very average condition. I think a Golf Gti second hand for the same year were selling for about £5-£6k. Bearing in mind the Golf cost more to begin with, coupled with the fact that the Alfa needed the cambelt service, the depreciation didn't compare too badly in my books!!