Hi All, I had a 156 JTS Selespeed a few years ago but sold it due to paranoia (Selespeed)
I've had a few cars since and now currently have a boring Lancer.
Just wondering what people reckon of this?
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/greenslopes/cars-vans-utes/2008-alfa-romeo-gt-jts-monza-blue-5-speed-manual-coupe/1187264635
Cambelt appears to be 12 months overdue but under k requirement, looks like it was done in 2014.
It seems a bit cheap too?
It looks good in the photos, but if I am reading the service stamps correctly, it seems to indicate the belt was changed twice in 18 months (mid 2012, and again in Jan 2014, after only about 15,000k). That looks odd - . And what's with the service at 70,000k that has been scrubbed out? Has there been anything done since then (odo now reads 94,000km).
Also looks like it is unregistered. So if you add back the cost of the belt change, and getting it re-registered to the purchase price, it might explain the "cheap" list price.
If you are seriously considering it, you would definitely need a pre-purchase check by an Alfa specialist (maybe contact Bazzbazz - he's a Bris Alfa mechanic).
Yeah I'm a bit suss on the service book, I'll never buy a car from a dealer uninspected again, been burned more times by dealers than I can even remember.
Might look at getting it inspected, looks like an ok example provided it's been cared for, in any case I'd need to do cambelt, aux and WP asap.
Ambitiously priced, I would keep looking.
1. Suspension wear and tear may be issues at the mileage
2. Yes; belts, coil packs, injectors can all give concern
3. JTS fuel pump weepage, stuff of infamy
4. Orange rot to the door trim inserts - note sagging at NSR and probably headlining too
5. Wheels appear non original
Nope, dealer tried 8k trade on my 2016 Lancer with 7,000k, recently had trade offers of 12k, redbook is 10-11.8k
I get a bit twitchy when a see a dealer name like Cheap Car Co. Doesn't usually scream decades of repeat customers. Or that they have any useful understanding of the history of the car at issue.
Yeah, they'd list Lancer for 6-8k more. Might refinance and sell privately.
I'd suggest the only GT which has a chance of holding some value longer term is a full fat Busso. Every other one will likely follow a similar depreciation to the 3 door four-pot 147s.
My point is you could have the same fun for less buying a 147...
*********
Edit: And a mea culpa - the wheels I thought aftermarket I have now seen on several other GTs after some internet searching. So there is unlikely to be an insurance hike from this.
Quote from: Citroënbender on June 20, 2018, 02:56:17 PM
I'd suggest the only GT which has a chance of holding some value longer term is a full fat Busso. Every other one will likely follow a similar depreciation to the 3 door four-pot 147s.
My point is you could have the same fun for less buying a 147...
^^^^
This is good advice.
After sitting in a couple of GT's (and I'd Love a Busso one day), I then got back into my 147 TS, tilted the driving seat back a little further than before, and it felt pretty much the same.
And mine is a 5 door.
I agree with the Bender. There is no value in a 4pot from this chassis (147/156/GT) at the moment unless it's a 1.9 derv.
It's not too cheap, its worth nothing really. Offer them $2.5K, let 'em talk you up to just under $3K.
Then it's warranty free for them and a bag of JTS cambelt, coked heads, chocolate suspension and worn brakes or trouble for you.
That said, it's a nice colour.
Pity is not a V6, or a Sportwagon.
... but of course, then it would be sold.
There are eleventy billion Lancers out there, and they're so cheap most will pay a little more for a brand new one simply for the warranty (free servicing?) and peace of mind (new car smell, choice of colour, latest bits, etc).. you will need to suck that up and factor into your private sell price - shift it quick and cheap before it gets older. Like pulling off a bandaid, then forget about the loss and move on
(and it's EOFY, so they're all going to be cheap until end of August)
Sorry :)
Quote from: ugame on June 20, 2018, 03:31:44 PM
This is good advice.
After sitting in a couple of GT's (and I'd Love a Busso one day), I then got back into my 147 TS, tilted the driving seat back a little further than before, and it felt pretty much the same.
And mine is a 5 door.
It is the same.. fairly identical even. The GT is 156 Sportwagon chassis, drapped in a slinky Bertone body with all the bits from the 147 bolted into instead
(as 156 production ended for the 159)
Actually, was it Bertone?
My mind is slower in winter (24DegC here today, brr)
My advice - forget the GT and forget a 147. Look out for a decent 156 with V6, 6sp manual, and decent service history. A good Series 1 (my preference over the "gussied up" facelift model) should cost you less than $5k. And even a later face lift model is unlikely to be more than $6k.
Why? Because I prefer sedans over hatches.
And once you've had wagon you'll never go back. (Willingly, at least!)
The 156 Sportwagon is definitely one of the best looking wagons of the last 25 years. And in V6 manual form, its a brilliant bit of kit. But I still prefer the sedan.
guys guys guys.....
Coupe > Sedan > Hatch > SUV > 4x4 > Any other shape > Wagon
You know I'm right.
Well you almost have the order right. ;)
Quote from: ugame on June 20, 2018, 04:35:29 PM
guys guys guys.....
Coupe > Sedan > Hatch > SUV > 4x4 > Any other shape > Wagon
You know I'm right.
Ha, of course you're right.. they're in order of increasing desirability and value (practicality, children, dogs, toys, tools, stuff).
Life gets you in the end :)
hmmmm
in my school we were taught that ">" means "greater than" ;)
x > y
x is greater than y
Small cars are for city parking squeezes, roundabout terrorism and traffic light RT drags. Sports cars are for winery touring. Wagons are for FUN - family holidays, dirty weekends camping, renovating, IKEA raids, outings with multiple friends, and towing. Utes are for rubbish runs and buying new baths, couches or hot water systems. Sedans for people who are afraid to take a position.
So there. :P
None of the wagon activities you listed sound like much fun to me. I was with you on dirty weekend - til you added "camping".;D
In my old fashioned world - sedans (must be >4 cylinders) are for blokes.
Wagons are for blokes with kids.
Utes are for blokes in the country.
Coupes - well it depends on the coupe.
Hatches are for first cars ...
(NB my '81 GTV is both a hatch and a coupe, but yet somehow neither!)
Quote from: ugame on June 20, 2018, 04:35:29 PM
guys guys guys.....
Coupe > Sedan > Hatch > SUV > 4x4 > Any other shape > Wagon
You know I'm right.
You are right for sure.
I had a 156 JTS Silly pre facelift, I prefer the front of Facelifts.
147's look a bit shopping mama for me.
Yes, the Lancer is a big regret, I want to get rid of it asap, bought for reliability sake after a horror 9 months with a Renault Migraine 225, but the Lancer is crap.
Shame about the RSM, there's an ex-Bakers (Albury) chap called Kenny who is pretty good with them.
I can see the angle of shopping trolley perception for the 147, mostly what I can see of the car from inside is what I like to dwell on.
It's worth noting that if you are thorough when doing a Sele clutch vs a manual clutch, there's about a $325 bias in favour of the manual, which isn't so much as one might imagine - plus once-annual recalibration thereafter.
If you are prepared to visit Laurie and Noelene in Sylvania Waters, you can get this tidy manual Busso 156 for $5k.
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sylvania-waters/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo-156-v6-manual/1186804000 (http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sylvania-waters/cars-vans-utes/alfa-romeo-156-v6-manual/1186804000)
Uncanny, I have a silver 147 originally from a chap in that area called Aaron Pilz.
Quote from: poohbah on June 20, 2018, 05:38:08 PM
None of the wagon activities you listed sound like much fun to me. I was with you on dirty weekend - til you added "camping".;D
Lol mate great minds and all that.
That is exactly where my mind went lol.
Agree 100% with your whole post actually but this part was gold.
May I point out that when one owns a Porsche Cayman most other cars seem to become tedious quickly. ;)
Its the natural order of life.
Hmm, found out ACA did an investigation on that dealer in 2012, I reckon he modified the log books, told me belt was done in 2011 so I laughed and said no way, the add was then modified with picture of logbooks, 2013 changed to 2014 and timing belt scribbled in, anyone could have scribbled it on.
Consider that in a sense you've landed on your feet here.
Somebody like Bazz may well know of an interesting Alfa that represents better value than the blue car.
Most of this era Alfas have no structural difference from the four-pots to the V6s, if one was bored and had the space/time a full transplant doesn't require metalwork...
Bear in mind, that the "orange rot" stalks interiors at least to 2010 (headlinings, door cards, fabric upholstered seats) and Craig's comments about chocolate suspension apply equally to 147, GT, 156 models. If I wasn't handy I'd not advocate owning one unless paying for rather involved service processes was a comfortable option (for example, it's an arse to get the roof lining out of 147 because the trim panels overlap in a stupid order).
Cb, I've never had any issues with orange rot in either of my 156s. And my current car is going on 19yrs old. Wonder if there was a different trim put in 156 series compared to the rotters.
Try rubbing your roof liner in a hidden place, and see if the impressions stay. Or pop out a courtesy lens and check stickiness on the edge of the backing foam where the fabric is trimmed away.
If you have a light touch with cars and store them in a cool environment, the decay is often slow to reveal. Harsh treatments like steam cleaning the fabric on fifteen year old door cards, brings it up almost right away.
It's a chemical decay, not the result of any external process like detailing or air fresheners.
Quote from: bazzbazz on June 21, 2018, 08:06:32 AM
May I point out that when one owns a Porsche Cayman most other cars seem to become tedious quickly. ;)
Its the natural order of life.
Except Bazz...the 4pot 916 GTV.
Odd little thing still brings me a grin every time.
The exhaust helps :D