On a short 4-mile commute the difference in fuel won't be much.
Tax will be identical for pre March 2001, may be slightly more for later V6, but not much more.

Insurance is an impossible question to answer as so much depends on where you live. Go through the various comparison sites and check it out.

Personally, I'd go for the 3.0V6 GTV (I nearly did a couple of years ago, but went in a different direction in the end).

 

I had a 2.0 GTV for eight years and loved it.

Throughout this time I always thought I really wish I had got a 3.0. When the GTV died I bought a 3.0 Spider - that was three years ago and I have put 20k miles on it since which is not bad when 90% of that was purely for the pleasure of it. I have spent a fortune but don't begrudge a penny of it.

However if you have a limited budget make sure that the cambelt is reasonably new (expensive). If the oil cooler and radiator are original you can bet your life that they will need replacing soon whatever the mileage. Original clutches are expensive to replace because often the DMF flywheel will need doing at the same time. Many (me included) go for the GTA replacement and solid flywheel at half the cost. If you can find one with a Q2 or Quaff diff fitted so much the better but don't be put off if you can't.

Front wishbones are quite cheap but the bushes don't last long. Check the rear tyres for wear on the inside - often worn bushes - again nothing major but all expense. This applies to the 2.0 models too.

For the mileage you intend a 3.0 seems like a reasonable proposition - just make sure you get one with all of the above done.

 

However if you have a limited budget make sure that the cambelt is reasonably new (expensive).

That applies to the 2.0TS too.

The 2.0TS has more belts and more sparkplugs than the 3.0V6
(just in case you are looking for excuses to get the V6 :wink_org: )

 

I had a very similar dilemma and went with the v6, mostly down to the situation of not needing the car for anything other than fun and the occasional commute. I was firmly in the get the v6 before i have to get something sensible for when i have kids, need a bigger car, etc.

My main argument to myself was that i had previously had a twin spark and needed to try out a busso!

 

you done the wrong thing by test driving the 3.0 model.......................... this is a petrol head must have car, i have driven the 2.0 and its great quick enough and great sound for a 2.0 but as a comparison on the 3.0 its the one for me every time no question

 

There is a heavy cost difference between the two at purchase time, running costs and maintenance. V6 insurance will also be more. About the only thing that costs the same is likely to be Road Fund Tax (bizarrely).
It really does depend how big your wallet is!

 

I have both and the V6 is a better performance car but....the associated costs can significantly lighten your wallet. Why not buy a TS (good ones aren't exactly big money) have some fun, get used to the marque and its foibles and if, in a years time you need to scratch a V6 itch, look for one then.

The TS don't disappoint, I always end up back in mine and I've had it for sixteen years! It just feels right.

 

I've owned a TS for 14 years and it breezed its MOT yet again today nothing to be done.
Got a V6 about 7 years ago and the engine was not right when i got it and the car never got under my skin so I sold it after a year...I had kept the TS all that time and just switched back.
If I was to ever lose it I would get a V6 again but while my TS looks and goes like it does its fine by me as it is part of the family.

 

Despite my love and obsession with the V6 :lol: ... My first Alfa was a lovely 156 Veloce 2.0TS and it was great, very light car and great Rev range. Enjoyable!

I'd imagine a TS GTV would feel similar.

V6 ownership is a long term thing and works best as an occasional, summer time driver. Well for me anyway, as I don't like getting it dirty. :lol:

Just be mindful V6 prices are on the increase now and I wouldn't leave it too long TBH.

But both!!

 

That's what I am afraid of, I would get a 2.0 to start with as Jurdy said but with V6s getting more expensive and harder to find a good example I think its one of those things that I have to make a decision on in the near future/now.

If I did get a V6 it would be a car to commute the 4 miles to work (not exactly practical I know) but would clean it every weekend :biglaugh:

 

I have had a couple of V6's, and personally I wouldn't even consider the 2.0

The V6 is more reliable, faster, sounds better and has enough power to outperform most other cars.

The 2.0 will get it's backside kicked by Diesel repmobiles. Although you will still look good going slower.

 

Thanks for the responses :thumbup:

With the budget I have allowed myself I could get the V6 but as jurdy says it is down to associated costs. Which in your experience would be more reliable long term? as the 1.6TS in my Alfa did limp to the barn towards the end aranoid:

Do maintenance costs like servicing and replacing the parts which are prone to failing on each engine differ that much between the 2 engines?

I may have to try out a 2.0 as I think I have underestimated it somewhat but hearing the V6 and feeling the power is really tempting.

 

The belts on a 2.0 are a bit over £200 if you have them done at a Specialist. The belts on a V6 are £700+.
The 2.0 doesn't have an oil cooler and as someone else posted the pipes and cooler are prone to failure. Autolusso do a good replacement cooler. OEM pipes are like rocking horse pooh.

Otherwise maintenance is similar. The brakes are different on a v6 but not massively more expensive.

The thing about the v6 is that every time you drive you will grin from ear to ear but you will want to fix everything and improve it. The 2.0 won't quite have the same impact IMHO

 

The belts on a 2.0 are a bit over £200 if you have them done at a Specialist. The belts on a V6 are £700+.

Where are those prices from...?
I can't help thinking you are not comparing like for like there.....!!!

 

I found my TS 156 to cost more than my V6 GTV in service/maintenance and cambelts every other week frequency ****ed me right off, as I was doing 20k pa.

You said it was a second car, so if we're talking say 3k miles pa, V6 all day long.

It's very evocative and it's pure Aural Pornography when the Busso hits it's sweet spot with a nice exhaust system!

 

Whereabouts are you? I'm hosting a V6 run on April 17th - see SE forum. If you're in this area, pop along for it.

 

Thanks Big Green Zebra, that cost is quite a big difference but as the belts need changing every 60k??/4years it lessens the blow over that period of time.

I'm generally a keep-everything-standard-boring guy.. maybe a sweet sounding exhaust as PJ says but this car on paper is a major improvement on my previous cars: Pug 205 diesel, Suzuki Swift 1.0, Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 so exhaust will be a future purchase if I will get one.

PJ - I am at the ae end of Heathrow :biglaugh: I will take a look on the SE page now and will let you know

 

If you are serious take a look at the v6s Clive at CG Trading has in stock. They are top end price wise but very well prepared with all the wrinkles sorted. He only shows by appointment.

If you want as much advice as you can possibly get then pop down to Spring Alfa Day at Beaulieu on Sun 17/4. Someone there will know the answer to every conceivable question that you may have.

 

I've got my V6 on Classic Car Insurance and this helps with costs. If I remember, when I had my GTV TS, that was also on Classic Car Insurance and there wasn't a massive difference. I think I paid about £700 all in for the two.

If you're a dab hand with the spanners, you can reduce costs that goes without saying. The V6 Front Suspension is likely to wear quicker given the lump up top. However in my experience there are age related things such as oil coolers, clutch slave cylinders, corrosion, exhaust leaks and brake lines. A lot of this stuff would be things I would be looking to have been done when you're searching given that most of the fleet is likely 15 or more years old. In another sense though, I've enjoyed getting to know my GTV V6, repairing it and bringing it back to life. The only thing that annoyed me was the rusty sills as I couldn't repair that but all good now!

It doesn't get mentioned much because of the engine but one thing I really do prefer about the V6 is the gearbox. I find it much smoother and effortless. It's a treat to drive and operate. However for winding roads the TS gearbox is probably a little more engaging.

They're both great cars in my opinion. I loved taking my TS on the meandering country bends and weekends away. I felt like I could drive the TS without things ever getting hairy; pushing it a bit more in other words. The GTV V6 is a little less forgiving and the handling is not as sharp but it just wants to go. A full freshen up of the suspension, Q2, polybushing and some ARB upgrades are worthy upgrades.

I've been without my GTV TS for around 4 months now and I replaced it with a 156 2.5 V6 and I think that I will probably revert back to a TS one day. It is more fun than the 156 for me; simple as that. I grew a bit tired of the silver colour in truth. However, the GTV V6 is something else. Money just doesn't even come into the equation with that car.

I live in Sipson right outside Heathrow - my GTV is in the garage at the moment but I would happily take you to see it, tell you everything I have had done to it, costs etc. Don't have the TS anymore but can certainly help out.

 

Agree on the spending for a V6, it's something you don't mind putting money into.

I certainly put some coin into mine, but just look at her

 

Agreed - you go out of your way to spend on it. I even bought spares for when I need them.

Nicely turned out GTV :thumbup:

 

Thanks..

I've got a spare set (new) chrome pipes, full set of engine rockers, coil plate and plenum. Getting them done in Rosso Corsa and Silver, plus various (now hard to get) items .. Becomes an addiction :lol:

If I had the space, I'd get a donor V6, but got x3 cars as it is. Would like to have a Fiat Coupe Turbo in Blue with the LE kit.

:lol:

 

I have some on my P3. They do look "right" on the GTV in the same way Trledials do compared to Teardrops.

 

Ok make it £300 & £650

Autolusso - Fixed price servicing

I don't use Autolusso for servicing so I haven't paid those prices but ...

 

I have owned both the GTV TS and the GTV V6 and the better half has a TS 147 which I drive regularly. Firstly I must say the extra power of the V6 is very noticeable, it is a bit worse on petrol but the TS isn't exacly frugal. The changing of the cam and aux belts is a bit more say £150-£200, but you do only have to change them every four years on the V6 as oppose to three years on the TS.

Wear and tear and general maintenance on cars of this age is going to vary more on what sort of life the car has lived, than if its a V6 or a TS. You could buy a ramped and ill maintened TS that will cost you a lot more than a well maintained V6, plus you never know what might go wrong with any car.

I'd say 85% of the components of the cars are common to both, so prices to mend niggley little things will be very similar.

But I suspect this is what you'd most like to know........there's no way i'd go back to the TS, the near extra 50% increase in power just makes for a more fun drive. The prices for the V6 have risen so much faster in the past three than the TS, so get a V6 before they become to expensive.

 

I have a 2.0 ts GTV and a 3.2 v6 GT and often drive them back to back.

The GTV is not a perfect car and has loads of quirks that take getting used to. The extra thick doors and tiny boot mean it is usually my last choice when going out however it is hard to argue with 30mpg vs 22mpg. The 2.0ts is a fantastic lump and sounds really good even in stock form.

The timing belt costs work out around the same if you factor in the variator in the 2.0 but if you DIY the one time tool cost is a bit higher on the V6 however you have an extra year between changes compared to the TS. The V6 also eats clutches and diffs so ongoing maintenance is a little bit higher.

Going between the 2 cars the engine is usually the last thing I notice. The 2.0 loves revs and is very responsive. If you are in the right gear you don't really notice it as underpowered. The v6 sounds amazing and doesn't need to be downshifted for corners but the 2.0 isn't lacking either.

 

I have coped well with the 147 I had as I made it as impractical as possible :biglaugh: .. I had a custom-made box sub and sound system in the boot and the car ended up rattling at the sight of any bump on the road.

It looks as though there isnt much difference in the MPG figures but then again Im sure I will realise the difference if I get a V6 haha.

Reliability wise, is the V6 more solid than a TS?

 

Nah. Get a spider. If you can put up with the extra creaks and rattles then it's the only way to travel. V6 are rare and pricey but £1500 get you a decent twinnie.

 

I'd say the T'S really comes alive at 5000rpm and above, the V6 is better at cruising and you always feel like you have something in reserve.

As for the exhust sound you really need to change some of the boxes before you start to roar. Standard exhaust is pretty quite when you're sat driving.

 

Thanks Knoppy, that would be great to see your V6, but my PM has not been activated so I dont know how to message you.

PJ the car I tested was in blue and wasnt to keen but yours is like a deep blue, I didnt think anything else other than teledial style wheels would suit the car but it sits lovely on those.

 

PJ the car I tested was in blue and wasnt to keen but yours is like a deep blue, I didnt think anything else other than teledial style wheels would suit the car but it sits lovely on those.

I know there was a blue on the Spider called "Victoria Blue" which is very different by contrast. The GTV blue was "Vela Blue" metallic finish, with a nice silver fleck in the paint.

Maybe the car you looked at hadn't been polished properly and looked flat?

When I got mine back in 2012, it was a bit flat and it's been fully corrected to the deep blue you see today. DA-polisher was a god send !!

They are a nice rim - the "Enzo" look from the later PH3 models. I like them as it shows off MTEC Disks, Refurbished Calipers and Braided Hoses.. Plus easy to maintain, but I will remove the wheels once a year for a complete detail and protective wax treatments. :lol: