Alfa Romeo GT Coupe (2004 - To Date)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
When it comes to buying a used Alfa Romeo GT coupe, there will be a huge proportion of buyers who will disregard any objective advice given in reports such as this. The key criterion for such people is to get That Shape on their driveway for as little outlay as possible. Its a seductive looking thing and one that shows Alfa styling back at its brilliant best. If you want the prettiest shape currently gracing our roads for sensible money, heres what to buy.
Just be aware that the car can have a few idiosyncrasies.
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The script on the dials has been revised for the GT, the centre console has been redesigned and the material used for the dashboard is of a different texture to standard 147. Many will be sold on the GT long before their slacks hit the seats. Much of that will be due to the swoopy styling. Much of it is contemporary Alfa Romeo, particularly around the front end where few will be able to distinguish GT form 147 as it arrives in their rear view mirror.
As the GT slides by, however, a high-waisted scalloped flank is evident with a stub tail thats almost reminiscent of an early eighties Giulietta. Unlike the Giulietta, however, that boot is in fact a bit of automotive trompe loeil, opening to reveal a gaping hatchback. Theres 320 litres of room back there, which is a good deal more than a 147 hatch can muster with its rear seats in place and almost as much as the 156 saloon.
Both the JTD and the 2.0-litre model open at around £13,700 on a 2004 04 registration. Prices for the 3.2-litre car kick off at just under £16,700.
Insurance is straightforward. If theres a JTD badge on the comely rump its Group 15, 2.0-litre cars are rated at Group 16 and the 3.2-litre V6 a heady Group 19.
The GT feels well built and for those who do know how to wield a spanner it isnt the nightmare to work on the Alfas of yore were. The Selespeed model should be tried before you buy as its a love/hate thing. It also has an appetite for clutches if used predominantly as an urban scoot. Check the big alloys for kerbing damage.
The interior trim is generally of good quality although the metallic paint on some of the plastic surfaces isnt too durable. Check the underbody, front spoiler and sump on the 3.2-litre model as enthusiastic driving on bumpy B-roads can bring these parts into contact with terra firma.
(based on a manual 2.0) A clutch assembly is around £138. Front and rear brakepads are around £50 per set of each, a rear exhaust box about £143 (excluding catalyst), a starter motor around £190. A replacement headlamp is about £145.
Three engines made the cut for the UK, including a 162bhp 2.0-litre JTS petrol unit or the even more advanced 148bhp 1.9-litre M-Jet 16v diesel. Flagship buyers get a 3.
2-litre V6 petrol model. The asking figures dont appear too steep for a car that makes plenty of more expensive rivals look decidedly frumpy. Track down a used GT with the optional 18-inch wheels and it looks devastating. The big wheels wont utterly destroy the ride either as the suspension on the GT feels a good deal more compliant than anyone with experience behind the wheel of 147 and 156 models might expect.
That said, theres also less roll, although an extended test on the sort of British B-roads that rather exposed the 147 GTA would be recommended. The body is 15 per cent stiffer than a 147 hatch and this gives the suspension engineers a much better baseline to work from. Theres still some dive under braking in the diesel version which maybe doesnt bode so well for the heavier engined V6 model but otherwise its a very creditable showing. The steering lacks feel but the rack is very sharp and youll be able to jink the GT around corners with virtually zero hesitation.
The VDC stability control system is probably the second best in the whole car industry after Porsches PSM in the way that it allows a little bit of fun before gently and reassuringly reverting things to a keel more even. Performance from the 2.0-litre JTS engine is punchy, the engine accelerating the GT to 60mph in 8.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 135mph, but the 1.
9-litre M-Jet 16v diesel is the star of the show here. On-paper performance figures are only slightly down on the petrol car at 9.6 seconds and 130mph respectively but the 225lb/ft of torque means that it feels almost comically powerful in the mid range for such a modestly sized engine. The big payoff comes in terms of fuel economy, averaging over 42mpg.
The emissions of 178g/km are a fair return for such a fun vehicle.
You can forgive a lot of faults when a car looks this good. When the faults have largely been ironed out, you know youre onto a winner. Recommending used Alfa Romeos has often been a risky business, but heres one that merits the thumbs up.
