Alfa Romeo GT Review (2005 to date)

Quick Summary

You can forgive a lot of faults when a car looks this good. When the faults have largely been ironed out, you know you're onto a winner. Recommending used Alfa Romeos has often been a risky business, but here's one that merits the thumbs up.

Overall:

Models Covered: (3dr Coupe [2.0, 3.2 petrol, 1.9JTD diesel])

SLEEK, CHIC & FLAVOUR OF THE WEEK

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. It's 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, here's what to buy. Just be aware that the car can have a few idiosyncrasies.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale

History of the GT

Building cars is an expensive business. We only have to look at the demise of MG Rover to realise quite how much it costs to put a new model on the road. Therefore when manufacturers get the opportunity to spread the investment in a new model over a few different variants, it makes financial sense to do so. Alfa's 147 hatch had enjoyed notable success, picking up a Car Of The Year gong upon launch, and retaining the same chassis but grafting on a sleek coupe shape was a cost effective and expedient way of adding a car to the line up to replace the ageing GTV model.Few realised quite how right the resulting shape would look. Launched in March 2004, the styling house Bertone were responsible for most of the design and the GT was originally pencilled in to be assembled at their Turin plant where spare capacity had been freed up by the demise of the Fiat Punto Cabriolet. After many beans were counted, however, Alfa Romeo thanked Bertone very much for their penmanship and decided to build the GT alongside the 147 at their Pomigliano d'Arco plant just outside Naples. The range was launched with 2.0-litre and 3.2-litre petrol engined variants and a 148bhp JTD turbodiesel.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale

Alfa Romeo GT Road Test

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 don't 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 won't 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, there's 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. There's still some dive under braking in the diesel version which maybe doesn't bode so well for the heavier engined V6 model but otherwise it's a very creditable showing. The steering lacks feel but the rack is very sharp and you'll 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 Porsche's 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.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale

Buying an Alfa Romeo GT

The GT feels well built and for those who do know how to wield a spanner it isn't the nightmare to work on the Alfa's of yore were. The Selespeed model should be tried before you buy as it's 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 isn't 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.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale

Alfa Romeo GT Typical Pricing

Both the JTD and the 2.0-litre model open at around £11,200 on a 2004 04 registration. Prices for the 3.2-litre car kick off at just under £13,400. Insurance is straightforward. If there's a JTD badge on the comely rump it's Group 15, 2.0-litre cars are rated at Group 16 and the 3.2-litre V6 a heady Group 19.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale

Alfa Romeo GT Parts

(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.
Used Alfa Romeo GT for sale