147 Gta

I've been trying too deicde whether to go for the 156GTA or 147GTA. My local Alfa dealer has recommended the 147GTA and I cannot get too test a 156GTA as the delaer doesn't have a demo. Also I am inclined to go for the 147GTA as a few magazine road tests have critisiced the low speed 156GTA ride ? Grateful if any current owners could give their views on the 156 ride - does it 'crash' around.

Also the dealer has completely refused any discount on the 147GTA as he reckons there is plently of demand and it will take a few months for the car to arrive from Italy ?? He wants £24k for the 147 which I don't mind paying as long as it's not over the odds !! The point is there are many internet car showrooms and supermarkets that always advertise Alfa's for massive savings. I'm going to the delaer this Saruday morning to order the car so views are very much appreciated !!

my dealer was offering to get a demo car in for me in almost any colour with leather etc drive it for 3 months as a demo car max 4k miles and let me have it for 20k

I would imagine the ride is very similar as the 147 and 156 are so closely related under the skin anyway. Neither will be as smooth and comfortable as a Peugeot. Comes down to personal choice then as to which you prefer.

Its always wonderful to obtain a new car however please keep the Alfa depreciation curve in mind. If you plan to keep this car forever you can probably stop reading.

However I've just purchased a pre-owned 2002 156 GTA with 17k miles. The car is in mint condition and I benefited from a 36% depreciation dip from the original purchase price.

Just food for thought as I think there are now a number of excellent pre-owned GTA's (at least in the UK) available.

Best luck with whatever you decide.

no doubt both the 156GTA & 147GTA share the same engine, basically the "same" platform and numerous othr similarities, EVEN SO, it shld be strongly noted tat BOTH the 156GTA & 147GTA still provide for a markedly different feel and overall drive...

"crashy" ride or what have u in a 156GTA i really cannot confirm - but very much believe it cld be sorted out wit a set of reasonable set of aftermarket suspension... Bilsteins etc..

i own a 147GTA meself and had the chance of driving me bud's 156GTA for a short time...

so the overall impression:

156GTA: surprisingly the ride is very refined (IMO and compared to me 147GTA on KW coilovers) and the engine note was more Ferrari like (higher pitch note) thereby it gave me more of the italian race car "feel". The owner fitted Koni adjustables on the front and Bilstein B8s on the rear wit stock springs and the car still had a hug the road feel...(he is waiting for his bilsteins coilovers and is a dealer of sorts in suspension... so... )

the gear shift seems somewat smoother in a 156 GTA too... dunno why tho... but certainly the car gave an overall more comfortable ride and still had the power to mak othrs !!!! in their pants...

147GTA: more of a wilder sibling of the 156GTA... more raw, very agile and chuckable WITH THE RIGHT SUSPENSION... very bassy exhaust - and a fun yet stylish car tat will certainly turn heads (156 GTA too..!).

i believe the different gear ratios & the chassis type contributes much to how both cars feel when on the road.. REGARDLESS, i gaurantee u tat the true potential of the STOCK 156GTA & 147GTA is not yet reached...

i wldnt exactly say which car is better than the othr cos they are suppose to serve slightly different target owners - but its a no doubt tat the 147GTA has more pizzaz and "get go" in it...

hope i didnt confuse u !!


cheers!

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!!

When I bought my 147 GTA the dealer wouldn't move on the base price, however I did get him to give me more for the car I was trading in (and fix the trade in price as I had to wait almost six months for the GTA). I also added Leather, Xenons & Comfort pack.. he also came down on those a little. The dealer I bought from (Simonstone, Bristol) is advertising a couple of brand new GTA's on Autotrader.. may be worth a look?

Originally Posted by Rosser

When I bought my 147 GTA the dealer wouldn't move on the base price, however I did get him to give me more for the car I was trading in (and fix the trade in price as I had to wait almost six months for the GTA). I also added Leather, Xenons & Comfort pack.. he also came down on those a little. The dealer I bought from (Simonstone, Bristol) is advertising a couple of brand new GTA's on Autotrader.. may be worth a look?

Think they've got an ex-demo one there at the moment as well.

If I were you I'd give strong consideration to second hand GTA's - leadtimes are terrible for brand new, which ironically helped me out when I bought my GTA. My dealer repeatedly failed to meet the expected delivery times. Apparently Alfa intervended in the end and I ended up with an upgraded 147 GTA spec to that I originally ordered for the original price (got metallic paint and sunroof for free).

I think the salesperson is having you on - shop about and consider second hand. PS - if your worried about depreciation - buy a mini.

Originally Posted by Jus1

If I were you I'd give strong consideration to second hand GTA's - leadtimes are terrible for brand new, which ironically helped me out when I bought my GTA. My dealer repeatedly failed to meet the expected delivery times. Apparently Alfa intervended in the end and I ended up with an upgraded 147 GTA spec to that I originally ordered for the original price (got metallic paint and sunroof for free).

I think the salesperson is having you on - shop about and consider second hand. PS - if your worried about depreciation - buy a mini.

Tell me about it. Ordered ours Feb 2003 with a suppposed June 2003 delivery. Got it beginning of Oct eventually.

Alfa compensated us ok though after giving them plenty of grief.