[Michael Woolfor]

As prices are on the rise and there are a few examples appearing for sale at what seem like very high prices; does anyone have an opinion they wish to share on what makes for example, a £10k car. This seems to be around the going price for a good example that's been looked after and had the necessary upgrades done. A quick look on eBay reveals 2 cars for sale at £12.5k and £15k, and a couple of others at sub £10k. Any advice?

 

[Olly Gta]

I would say between 7-10k should get a nice useable car with service history and just needs tidying up a bit.

Anything above 12k should be mint and want for nothing.

I'd say between 15k-20k for a timewarp car that been pampered from day 1 with low mileage!

Mods imo are a personal thing I bought the first standard car I found with NO Q2 I feel like a king everyday, get one now!

 

[silvervalver]

I think most of the grotty ones are long gone so prices will stay strong/rise.

I wouldn't be put off by mods and wouldn't pay over the odds for bog standard car as most owners have limited mods to things which are fairly easily returned to stock (e.g. exhausts) or changed things which were arguably sub-standard and held the car back in original spec (Q2 dif, ARB kit).

Because these cars have typically avoided the barry boy community, the presence of modifications is not a sign of an abused car but likely that the owner genuinely treasured it. I would argue that a completely standard car running original suspension and exhaust parts will require money spent on it sooner rather than later. My suspension was showing signs of wear with 40k miles and the exhaust had holes in its outer skin at 30k miles.

Once you get into the realm of suspension changes it is harder to change it back. I have coil overs but kept all the original parts should I even need to return mine to standard.

If you find one with lots of receipts (not just stamps in the book) and they are from reputable specialist, you are onto a winner. Likewise check for things like after market under-seal as if the owner has bothered to do that, they have most likely bothered to look after it generally.

 

[Spiritof76]

Agree with all the above......don't expect too much for £7k unless you're very lucky. I looked at a £7k car and whilst it was mechanically sound with full specialist history it was suffering quite badly visually and whilst you could have just jumped in it and used it if you are an enthusiast and a bit fussy like me it would be a matter of days before deciding to get it painted and really it all wanted doing bar the roof so £3k straight away......so walked away from that one as the engine bay needed sorting aswell so was going to be more than a £10k car by time i was happy with it !
In the end i bought a £10k car that i'm happy with and don't have the hassle of getting it up to a standard......so all good. I would say that some 147's are worth more than £10k if they're Concours sort of standard but then those cars only have very limited useability so of no interest to me atall !! Cars belong on tarmac not in glass cases, keep it nice by all means but drive it and go somewhere for gods sake lol, that's what it was designed and built for
If the black one on e-bay fetches 15k or close to that we owners should all be happy........if values continue to climb i guess more of the tatty cars will be bought up and restored which will be a good thing for keeping the marque alive

 

[Tracker Man]

Sold my 147 GTA last year for £6500. Cosmo Blue 67000 miles absolutely mint all the necessities ie Q2, recent cambelt etc refurbished alloys and calipers, private GTA plate, the car wanted for nothing. Judging by what's out there now the same car would now cost me £10k+. In my opinion it's not the car that's incerased in value by £3500 it's optimistic owners jumping on the "Modern Classic" bandwagon. It's happening across all marques of desirable cars of that era. There's many a thread on pistonheads about this subject.

 

[Pud237]

Sold my 147 GTA last year for £6500. Cosmo Blue 67000 miles absolutely mint all the necessities ie Q2, recent cambelt etc refurbished alloys and calipers, private GTA plate, the car wanted for nothing. Judging by what's out there now the same car would now cost me £10k+. In my opinion it's not the car that's incerased in value by £3500 it's optimistic owners jumping on the "Modern Classic" bandwagon. It's happening across all marques of desirable cars of that era. There's many a thread on pistonheads about this subject.

Its not 'advertised prices' that count though, its sales prices. No doubt the actually selling prices are lower than advertised prices. One of my old ones in almost identical age/mileage/spec to yours sold for 8k within 48hrs of the advert going live, that was earlier on this year.

 

[Spiritof76]

Anyone that wants a 147 GTA should get in now I reckon before they become unaffordable ! Either that or wait for the bubble to burst which it could well do but even then I doubt they will ever be cheap as chips again

 

[Tracker Man]

Its not 'advertised prices' that count though, its sales prices. No doubt the actually selling prices are lower than advertised prices. One of my old ones in almost identical age/mileage/spec to yours sold for 8k within 48hrs of the advert going live, that was earlier on this year.

I agree prices have risen and moved on. If I still owned said car it wouldn't be up for sale for £6800 ( I accepted £6500) but some of these owners (not all) are delusional such as the owner of the black £15k example on eBay. If that car is worth £15k than my old car if I still owned it and we're to sell it now is worth £17k ...... This is where it sarts getting silly like the Ford boys paying £15-20k for Rs Turbos that were beng sold for £3-5k 5 years ago, as for cosworths..well that another story. The main thing is where does it end are GTA's really going to be worth £20k+ in a few years ?????

 

[Pud237]

Why shouldn't they be worth £15k now? I've got over £30k's worth of invoices for one of mine to keep it in fine fettle, if you want one that is in 'like new' condition then there isn't a cheap way of getting one. I'd like to think mine is at least a £10k car despite having 110k miles on the clock.

Lets face it - as good as modern cars are, there won't be anything like the GTAs released again.

 

[goremohekan]

Why shouldn't they be worth £15k now? I've got over £30k's worth of invoices for one of mine to keep it in fine fettle, if you want one that is in 'like new' condition then there isn't a cheap way of getting one. I'd like to think mine is at least a £10k car despite having 110k miles on the clock.

Lets face it - as good as modern cars are, there won't be anything like the GTAs released again.

What is it about the GTA that modern cars don't/can't have I wonder?

Certainly it isn't speed...even though the GTA is too fast to drive hard on public roads....modern sporting cars just blitz the GTA.

I have a 156 GTA. Travelling along and comparing to other cars on the M2 this evening there doesn't seem to be any other cars quite like it...can't put my finger on it....the style, the sound, the interior, the ride/road feedback....the rarity...the way the engine pulls through the rev. range...

Pud, can you explain your statement please...

I think they will become collectable as they were the stand out Alfas of their era.

 

[Alfa.147GTA]

They are just one of a kind, with a lot of history. (Busso)
And the rarity also counts.

My tuned 147 GTA can keep up with a A45 AMG (360 hp) from a mate of mine so they are still quite quick.

They will rise in value.

 

[Pud237]

What is it about the GTA that modern cars don't/can't have I wonder?

Certainly it isn't speed...even though the GTA is too fast to drive hard on public roads....modern sporting cars just blitz the GTA.

I have a 156 GTA. Travelling along and comparing to other cars on the M2 this evening there doesn't seem to be any other cars quite like it...can't put my finger on it....the style, the sound, the interior, the ride/road feedback....the rarity...the way the engine pulls through the rev. range...

Pud, can you explain your statement please...

I think they will become collectable as they were the stand out Alfas of their era.

That engine is the biggest draw, plus the rarity. Also just look at the bodyshape, that low slung nose, wide arches. Also they drive really very well - tonnes of feedback, that 1.7 turn steering rack in a road car is frankly insane. The noise too, even stock standard they sound excellent.

You can say the same things about the M3s, look at the prices of E36 M3s now.

 

[DNG]

I've noticed that if ever a phase 3 GTV 3.2 comes up for sale they tend to be priced highly too. The GT 3.2 seems pretty good value at the moment compared to GTA's then considering it is the same engine. It is rare, in fact I have only seen one for over £10k. I'm going to put mine up for £6k with 81k, Q2, new clutch, top end rebuild, scorpion exhaust. Does anyone think the GT will go up in value anymore? If so I will do my utmost to keep it as it will be great to finally make money for once on a car

 

[alfabeat]

I think a lot of us have been through the same process of trying to replace our GTA's at some point (some more than once!) and have ended up keeping the GTA or coming back to a GTA.

I have considered selling mine several times in the 8 years I've owned it, but after test driving many different cars (all more modern and most quicker), they all fall short. As Pud says, its the rawness, the noise, feedback, direct steering, looks and rarity - oh and usability. Most modern cars have a huge slug of torque but run out puff and noise at 5k revs. This is the addiction of the Busso!

Unless financial circumstances change I really can't see me actually being able to part with it.

 

[Michael Woolfor]

Some interesting responses, although I can't say I'm surprised. The noise alone is enough to make me want one! It's extremely rare to hear a car that truly sings and the busso does it better than the few that do. There's just something about wanting to own an Alfa that is hard to explain. Couple that with the points already mentioned by others and that makes for a highly sought after car. It's a car you'd buy with your heart and not your head, I know I'd probably end up spending more than I had keeping the car in top condition. Would I get the money back? Unlikely, but who cares when you can turn the key and hear that wonderful noise, or pop the bonnet and look at the heart of the beast (even that's a thing of beauty), or simply stand back and admire what's in front of you.

 

[Almo]

Good thread, my thoughts are that although they might not be at the 15k stage just yet, it shows they are heading in the right direction. They're sitting in the same sort of price bracket as an e39 m5 at the moment, maybe a touch under, but that's not a bad place to be!

Also I think the real mint ones won't be changing hands too often, I gave mine away once and after getting it back I have no plans of ever doing it again!

 

[Tracker Man]

I think a lot of us have been through the same process of trying to replace our GTA's at some point (some more than once!) and have ended up keeping the GTA or coming back to a GTA.

I agree with this completely. Having owned all manor of hot hatches/performance cars over the years inc an E46 M3, Mk5 R32 and Gti's a Focus Rs and Evo 6 TME, only 2 cars have made me go back for 2nd dibs.... Dc2 Honda Integra Type R and the 147 GTA.

 

[EauRouge]

My tuppence worth, what they are actually looking for and what they get are two different matters. About 18 months ago I remember fellas have problems trying to shift at 5-6.5k , so imo thinking they are now worth £10k is delusional

 

[Pud237]

Good thread, my thoughts are that although they might not be at the 15k stage just yet, it shows they are heading in the right direction. They're sitting in the same sort of price bracket as an e39 m5 at the moment, maybe a touch under, but that's not a bad place to be!

Also I think the real mint ones won't be changing hands too often, I gave mine away once and after getting it back I have no plans of ever doing it again!

I've driven a couple of E39 M5s and been almost ready to buy one on a few occasions but never quite managed to pull the trigger. Something tells me it just wouldn't hold my interest like the GTA does. I had an E36 M3 for 18 months and I've had a couple of nice E30s, but the newer ones seem to be missing something. I think I'd quite like an E34 M5 but I am sure the GTA feels way sharper to drive than one of those, especially given they are all 20 years plus now.

My tuppence worth, what they are actually looking for and what they get are two different matters. About 18 months ago I remember fellas have problems trying to shift at 5-6.5k , so imo thinking they are now worth £10k is delusional

"Worth" is a funny word. Its hard to say what anything is worth, but there are a fair few GTAs changing hands in for 5 figures these days. Whether they are worth it or not, its hard to say. There are never many for sale and if you have the best one for sale you can ask what you like for it and often you will get it.

 

[shiggy]

37,000miles november 2004 car..i just sold for £10,500.

needs a cambelt and maybe a clutch but otherwise extremely well looked after.

prices of £15k plus are phantom...at the moment. i think the concern for most is the cost of remedial work against other classics and running costs