Discussion
I'm thinking of taking a trip down to Mangoletsi this weekend and having a look at their GTAs.
I read the short write up in EVO, recently. I'd just like to know if there is anything else that I need to consider?
Are there any particular options, etc that I need to look at?
Thanks in advance.
I read the short write up in EVO, recently. I'd just like to know if there is anything else that I need to consider?
Are there any particular options, etc that I need to look at?
Thanks in advance.
If you haven't already, have a look at the GTA forum over on alfaowner.com - loads of owners with tons of experience of the cars.
i had a 156 gta, make sure its 03 onwards as i had a 52 plate and warped about 3 sets of front discs in a year, they then changed the front discs for a better setup for 03 onwards.
great cars, i miss the one i had, tried to buy it back from the guy who bought it but he loves it and wants to keep it
great cars, i miss the one i had, tried to buy it back from the guy who bought it but he loves it and wants to keep it
hollowpockets said:
i had a 156 gta, make sure its 03 onwards as i had a 52 plate and warped about 3 sets of front discs in a year, they then changed the front discs for a better setup for 03 onwards.
Note for future use: http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_braked...1 thing to bear in mind - the prices suggested in the Evo article were very optomistic (from the buyers point of view). You would be exceedingly hard pressed to buy a good example for the prices they suggested.
I know of people who are quite happy with the 300mm brakes, but if you're worried about it, it doesn't necessarily mean getting an 03 or later car, a lot of the earlier cars have had the upgrade done on them now. If you can find yourself a picture of a 300mm and a 330mm set up side by side, you'll see that it's very easy to tell the difference between them. Basically with the smaller ones the little black nipple is at the very end of the calliper, with the larger it is not.
I bought my GTA SW from Mangos in Feb, and have been very happy with it. I've not had any reason to go back to them, but as we were finishing off the buying they were very helpful in a couple of instances.
I know of people who are quite happy with the 300mm brakes, but if you're worried about it, it doesn't necessarily mean getting an 03 or later car, a lot of the earlier cars have had the upgrade done on them now. If you can find yourself a picture of a 300mm and a 330mm set up side by side, you'll see that it's very easy to tell the difference between them. Basically with the smaller ones the little black nipple is at the very end of the calliper, with the larger it is not.
I bought my GTA SW from Mangos in Feb, and have been very happy with it. I've not had any reason to go back to them, but as we were finishing off the buying they were very helpful in a couple of instances.
Here's a picture of a 300mm calliper:
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/attachments/alfa-gt...
Here's a picture of (my) 330mm one:
http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gta03cj8.j...
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/attachments/alfa-gt...
Here's a picture of (my) 330mm one:
http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gta03cj8.j...
I wouldn't consider another GTA without the bigger brakes, the difference in both performance and cost is phenomenal .. EBC redstuff ceramic work particularly well in this setup.
depending on mileage, history and mechanical sympathy, be prepared to need a cambelt and clutch at around 30-35k, around £600 for each at a dealer, less at a specialist
.. and if it's important, don't expect better than 25mpg from a tank, no matter how hard you try
if that all sounds like doom and gloom, it's not. I loved my 147GTA until it was stolen, used in various armed robberies, filled with petrol and eventually taken apart by forensics
... and circumstances/finances permitting, I'd have another in a flash
depending on mileage, history and mechanical sympathy, be prepared to need a cambelt and clutch at around 30-35k, around £600 for each at a dealer, less at a specialist
.. and if it's important, don't expect better than 25mpg from a tank, no matter how hard you try
if that all sounds like doom and gloom, it's not. I loved my 147GTA until it was stolen, used in various armed robberies, filled with petrol and eventually taken apart by forensics
... and circumstances/finances permitting, I'd have another in a flashIt's a great choice. I bought my '05 156 GTA back in May and so far I'm very pleased with it.
In fact, I just drove it 2,000 miles from London to Moscow last week and it was a thoroughly excellent steed.
I was advised to go for one of the post-2004 cars as apparently they benefitted from some detail upgrades as well as the bigger brakes (which are phenomenal).
In fact, I just drove it 2,000 miles from London to Moscow last week and it was a thoroughly excellent steed.
I was advised to go for one of the post-2004 cars as apparently they benefitted from some detail upgrades as well as the bigger brakes (which are phenomenal).
I've got a 147GTA on 305mm brakes, and while they could be better, the smaller brakes are more than adequate for road use.
Had mine for a couple of months, and really like it so far. I get about 23mpg average, performance is good, they tend to tramline a fair bit, and suspension is typical alfa - they don't cope brilliantly with badly rutted, potholed roads. Steering is superb.
If you hunt around a bit, and are prepared to travel, you can get 147GTAs under £10K, which is pretty good value I reckon. 156s look good too, but I don't know much about them.
Had mine for a couple of months, and really like it so far. I get about 23mpg average, performance is good, they tend to tramline a fair bit, and suspension is typical alfa - they don't cope brilliantly with badly rutted, potholed roads. Steering is superb.
If you hunt around a bit, and are prepared to travel, you can get 147GTAs under £10K, which is pretty good value I reckon. 156s look good too, but I don't know much about them.
Thanks for all the information guys. I test drove a 156 and a 147 on Saturday morning at Mangol's.
I preferred the 147 'dynamic' as it felt more of a rollerskate, like my Elise. I found the 156 a bit soft. Don't flame! This is just a personal point of view. Coming from an Elise both cars felt soft. Its just the 147 felt not-so-soft.
Additionally, the back seats on their 156 didn't fold down, which I want.
The only problem was I wasn't too keen on the colours they had, Sky Blue with a black interior. The salesman, Kevan, promised to have a look for the right combination.
In the end, we came to a deal on the phone yesterday and I'll be picking her up on Friday.
My first Alfa!
I preferred the 147 'dynamic' as it felt more of a rollerskate, like my Elise. I found the 156 a bit soft. Don't flame! This is just a personal point of view. Coming from an Elise both cars felt soft. Its just the 147 felt not-so-soft.
Additionally, the back seats on their 156 didn't fold down, which I want.
The only problem was I wasn't too keen on the colours they had, Sky Blue with a black interior. The salesman, Kevan, promised to have a look for the right combination.
In the end, we came to a deal on the phone yesterday and I'll be picking her up on Friday.
My first Alfa!
stuartalfa said:
there are only 390 147 GTA's in the UK so you have a very rare car.
Wow!, I didn't realise that there were so few.TBH, I didn't want to get an Alfa as the local dealer is rubbish. When your Girlfriend is calling out the Sales Manager to give him a kicking. It makes you think twice about backup.
However, the whole experience has been pretty good. True to his word, Kevan at Mangos gave me a call on Monday to see how it all was going. (Interestingly, they monitor the forum as he knew I'd posted photos.)
We had a run out to Leeds, over the weekend, it was quite an interesting run out. Clearly people think it is just a 'kitted 1.6. An Audi, several Beemers and a few Mercs (hmm is there a German car supremecy theme here?) have all come to think differently.
Thanks for all the comments guys.
We had a run out to Leeds, over the weekend, it was quite an interesting run out. Clearly people think it is just a 'kitted 1.6. An Audi, several Beemers and a few Mercs (hmm is there a German car supremecy theme here?) have all come to think differently.
This happens a lot with Scoobys at high speed, great fun
Stu
This happens a lot with Scoobys at high speed, great fun
Stu
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