I've had my GTA for around a year now and I am about to sell it, so good time for a buyer's guide. I go through common issues, maintenance, engine and what to look out for on a test drive.
I had a Busso V6 and it never failed to make me smile, even a blip from idle to 1500 rpm would do it, but revving it out …. The build up and the crescendo of sound, there aren’t many production engines with such a tuneful and enigmatic soundtrack. To get anywhere close you’d need at least two more cylinders or possibly six. The GTV Lusso Aero I had was a mini Miura, always fancied a GTA but life got in the way. Always good to see it getting the attention it deserves and spreading the sonorous gospel of the baritone Busso
Great video Jack. Regarding running cost and things going wrong, keep in mind that this is now a nearly 20 year old car. Having owned numerous Busso powered Alfas, and doing mostly all the work on them myself, i can confidently say that these are not really more expensive than mostly anything else with a transversely mounted V6. Yes the timing belt service is a tad pricey, but so is the timing belt service on much less exciting V6 powered Hondas and Nissans etc. Regarding things going wrong, i have very briefly owned a 2009 Golf 6 TSI and had more small things go wrong on a regular basis than any of my Alfas, and, i hated looking at it, so i sold it. ANY 20 or so year old car (yes, even Toyotas) will have things fail and go wrong. Also if i may add, having owned 3.0, 3.2 and 2.5 liter versions of the Busso, the 2.5 is somehow just the best out of the 3 for me. Yes they may only have around 190-200 HP, but they rev much more eagerly than the larger engines, and have a wonderful scream above 4500 rpm. My 156 2.5 V6 is the one that i will never sell. Also, the 2.5’s are more sensible on fuel if that is something that you worry about. (In an Alfa you really shouldn’t..)
Over the years i have had many owners come to me complaining about a leaky rear main seal on these engines that appeared suddenly over night, and believe it or not, in most cases this was caused by silly air intake modifications, usually after replacing the factory rubber intake trunking (connecting to throttle body) with some Samco contraption. The reason for this is that the original trunking has a restricter orifice where the crankcase vent tube plumbs off just before the throttle. The purpose for this restrictor is to ensure that there is always a small amount of positive pressure in the crankcase. Replacing the original trunking with some aftermarket intake without this restrictor, you will have a slight vacuum in the crankcase, especially at wide open throttle. As the crank seals are designed to seal with a slight positive pressure in the crankcase, these tend to start leaking as soon as a slight vacuum is present in the case. In many cases, reverting back to the original intake, or fitting a restrictor into the crankcase vent tube made the leak disappear. Sounds crazy, give it a try.. The guys in the white coats who designed the intake on these kind of knew what they were doing. Never change the air intake in a Busso powered Alfa, the gains will be a leaky main seal, or a dead MAF sensor, and loss of torque somewhere where you don’t want it…
Thanks for sharing, I read more or less the same story on some forum when researching possibilities to optimize the air intake. Basically, Alfa did a really thorough job and this weird-looking appendage that everyone seems to find ugly and wants to get rid of, actually serves a purpose. I’ve left mine as-is!
Good video Jack, and good advices. Regarding the suspension take attention to any knocking in the front when going over rough surfaces, knocking behind the dash near the windscreen that will be the top wish bones bushes, they go like crazy, even upgraded, i use to change every year lol. Knocks under the drivers and passenger feet is the anti roll bar bushes. Other issues with the interior: the sun visors, avoid to use them as they come loose and can't be repaired and they are almost impossible to find in certain colours, the electronic dual zone AC buttons they become loose because some plastic bits snap, easy to fixe taking the unit a part, other thing is the glove box handle comes loose, easy fix drilling a small hole inside behind the handle and using a long alen key to tight up... I had some 147s in my life hahaha.
I've had mine since 2009 and haven't found it particularly expensive to run apart from the extra cost of 10w60 oil and an average 20mpg. Where it will cost are all the modifications you mention if they aren't already done. All of these things are more or less compulsory. Something to add to your really thorough guide might be ECU issues. These can fail due to excess heat from their location on the back of the engine and are often impossible to repair. Replacements are used only and becoming very pricey. Thanks for another great video Jack.
I’ve had my ecu rebuilt. The problem is the capacitor is glued to the pcb, over time it becomes loose. That just gets replaced and soldered. It’s not a terminal problem. I used guys at ecu testing, but think some others offer the same service. For anyone with a 147 gta for piece of mind get it rebuilt, before it fails. It’s totally possible to repair them.
@@red75v67 cool, yeah unfortunately some beyond saving but there is hope for some. Just wanted to make sure people dont just think they are disposable, some are fixable. Sorry urs wasnt
I love your honesty and true description when you talk about car info Jack 👍 Your one of the few people I actually enjoy watching...video's are always helpful....keep them coming mate 🙂👍
keep her forever. You won't easily find another "busso engined" car to enjoy. In my opinion keep the standard bushings. I never had issues in mine. It is true that the weight is up front due to engine's position & FWD (sad thing for a "Busso engined" Alfa, but this cannot alter). I also in my busso use better (red) liquid for the radiator (in the video I think I see you use green stuff, correct me if I am wrong). The engine is bulletproof. I never had electric issues in mine & I have the excellent bi xenon of the standard car (still from new!!!). Where I live maintenance in my Alfa Romeo independent mechanic "guru" for replacing the timing belts is about 700-800€ (every 4 years if you want piece of mind). In cruising with 170 km/hour in 6th gear she burns 9,2 lt of 95 octane gas or 8,8-9,0 lt in 100 octane gas (!!!) (not bad at all). Enjoy!!!
I’ve had a new manual 156 GTA and a used selespeed 156 GTA and had no major problems with either… the selespeed was so much better an absolute gem of a car .. wish I still had it
The large 'bush/cup' at the gearstick will cause a sloppy change and has to be changed from underneath after dropping the exhaust. The bush problem at the gearbox end is caused by the housing corroding and swelling tightening on pin/shaft this will make shift sticky and not naturally return to centre of the shift pattern. You can just lightly sand the bushes internally, it can be made worse by people oiling them with fluids that make them swell.
Had the 156 equivalent, and now a GTV V6, The Q2/Quaife diff and Bilstien springs transformed the car. Decent tyres are a must Eagle F1/ MPS.. My 156 had 3 sets of the original disk and pads under warranty due to them warping - the bigger disks sorted it totally. Also something to consider is the fact that All Busso CF3 cars (that includes all the GTAs) have precats, built in to the manifolds and right up against the heads and just below the ECU. Apart from improving cold start emissions these do nothing but bake the head of the back bank and the ECU especially when the car is idling, and this happens over time. Unfortunately it's of course an MOT fail to remove them and use CF2 or catless manifolds on a road car - in any case it's a big job (engine out) to sort (ask me how I know)
You have to love Alfa's. I've had many over the years. My favorite was my 1985 GTV6. So much character, but always going wrong. Still loved it, even if it made the F355 I've owned for 14 years seem like a Honda to maintain by comparison...
@@Rascularvideos the F335's always been reliable to be fair. The belt services are the main cost and I've had a few of those now. The GTV6 I loved, but it went wrong a lot, required a lot more work. Great car still.
Good overview. One small point - there's a misconception that the Selespeed system involves a different gearbox. It doesn't - the gearbox itself is the same as the manual, it just has the Selespeed change mechanism added on. It seems to be a bit of a lottery whether you get a good Selespeed or not, and they need regular calibration. I went for a manual when I bought mine :-) One thing that is essential is to have a good Alfa shop that you trust and are comfortable with. If you have a hoist you can do most of the work yourself, but the time difference between an expert and an amateur working on this car is amplified because of all the tight packaging. Plus, there are some jobs - including the belt changes - that you really want done by an expert.
Further to Tim's points, the Selespeed system isn't that scary to work on and isn't actually prone to failure. It's a reservoir, a hydraulic pump, some lines, the actuator mechanism and the gearbox ECU. They can be rock solid for many years, but if one does play up it's often resolved with a freshen up of the O Rings on the EV solenoids, replacing any worn position sensors, replacing pump or pump bushes, replacing the accumulator, and running the right calibration routines with Multiecuscan or Alfadiag. All fairly straightforward and fairly inexpensive, but workshops tend to freak out and just recommend replacing the entire actuator which is usually unwarranted. They can be a little painful to drive slowly around town, and a hoot to drive when you are up it. The later software improved a lot over the early ones and was quicker to shift, particularly above 5000 RPM. If I bought a GTA I'd love a full manual, but having owned and worked on 4 JTS and TS Selespeed equipped 156 and 147's I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. An added benefit is that they can usually be found cheaper.
Excellent vid there Jack. Although the Alfa is never going to feature on my "buy list" (have insufficient courage to go there) I appreciate what you've said. The advice is well worth knowing for those who want to take this car under their wing. I hope it goes to a good home 👍
I loved and hated mine at times, two gearboxes, multiple driveshafts, an engine rebuild, it ate drop links and tyres for breakfast. All that said on a good day there’s nothing like it, It’s not just about how the engine sounds though, when you start it up the whole car vibrates with the beating of that metal heart, that’s something you do not get in a lot of cars. It makes you feel so much more connected to the driving experience, there’s something irrational about these cars, a pluck of the heart strings that overrides practical thought processes and allows your emotions free reign for a while. It’s the rational part of the brain that ruins the perception of them really, here’s to a little Italian craziness. 😁
I don't know anything about Alfa's and whilst I love seeing you driving this one at speed and wish I could be your passenger, I had no idea it was a 3.2L V6. No wonder it blats along like it does. It's a lovely car, I like the design of it but it's never been on my 'to own one day' list. Pretty much the only vehicles on that list are Mini's. I have my f56 MINI but I'd love to own a classic Mini once again. My first car was a Mini 1000 and I had another a few years later which I bitterly regret scrapping. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have put it into storage until I could afford new Heritage panels for it. The other car on my 'own one day' list is a Ford Mustang GT in grabber lime. I saw one recently after taking my daughter to work in Boston, Lincs. I could see it on the opposite carriage way, he was heading towards me and we both had to stop for a pedestrian crossing, I could hear it and it was heavenly when he gave a little rev before he pulled off. The colour was spectacular. I'd need lessons on handling a RWD car if I could ever afford one. I don't recall ever driving anything rear wheel drive. I think I'd have my bum cheeks clenched if I drove a RWD and it got a bit frisky.
Have sampled a number of busso 24 valve V6 engined alfas (147 GTA, 156 GTA, Alfa GT) on some of the best driving roads that exist - many used as stages in Targa Tasmania....if you love alfas you have to own a busso. My personal faves are the busso twin cam in my 65 giulia super and the 2.5 V6 12 valve alfa 90.....on two wheels it's an air cooled ducati monster...and for wet work a lancia delta HF integrale - all glorious pieces of italian engineering
Own a 156 gta sw, had it 2 years. Nothing major just niggles but budget for £1000 to £1500 a year to repair/service. Fuel I get 22 to 23 around town etc pros rare as it gets, engine, sound, feels special every single tome you drive it. Steering is great. Downside interior quality is lacking now, mpg, parts are very very rare now so you are always paranoid of parking it and up miles away from where you need to be!
We owned one for 5 years from new. Quite trouble free, good quality cabin, yes- expensive to run. Needs to be carefully maintained to a really good standard. Wonderful car, we have fond memories. It should do 32 mpg on a run if you are careful. I'd have another but not one that has been messed with.
Italian car - and again the ISA standard seating. The steering wheel is too far for you. The shoulder should not separate from the seat when holding over the top steering wheel and still having the elbow slightly bend. The other known methdod is to keep the shoulder attached to the seat straighten your hand over and it should be the wrist that still goes beyond the top of the steering wheel. Of course this is also a question of preference but if the hands are too straight you tend to loose feel because you will need to use more force. Also what can happen with straight hands is that you start to take support from the steering wheel. If you are a tall guy the seating position can be bad in others than Italian cars too. Im 196 cm (6&6) and I have in my 996 a 64 mm steering column extension and it could still be a bit longer. Amazingly one of the best seating positions I have experienced was in an Italian car: 458 Italia in which the seat stays put but the pedal box moves. Maybe that is the way it should be done - obviously more expensive.
I have a Audi TT mk1 3.2 with the dsg gearbox, replacing the chains (no Cambelt)that is around a grand, it being 4 wheel drive makes the car handle well, I used to have a red 156 and loved it , I just wonder how well your Alfa would go up against my Audi spec is 250bhp not sure it would have that now mines a 53plate
I've had one of these. The car is all about the engine and the fast steering. But if you buy one you're gonna need at least a grand a year to look after them and be prepared for 20mpg if you're lucky. Oh and as others have said the ECU can go and they are expensive and difficult to replace, although I believe Autolusso can replace them now
All good points. I have KV1's on mine (it's a 156 though, so chassis different). It has also made it a bit crashy in town but on the smoother tarmac it made a huge difference. The only other upgrade that's worthwhile that don't think you mentioned are the Wizard manifolds. A bit more hp, yes but the main difference is they're de-catted and the engine bay stays much cooler. Allegedly, up to 20oC
@@red75v67 yeah, they relocated it at some point, for reasons best known to themselves. The decat manifolds are also cited as giving the ecu a break from the scorching temps
Chassis braces, real massive ones make a huge difference on those cars :) Had ultra racing stuff on mine (fron upper and front + rear lower) and it was extremely noticeable, steering got extremely precise. No noticeable negative impact on comfort...just cornerspeed went up and up and up...
I have had two alfas a 146 ts and a 147 jtd loved them both. Would love a gta or a v6 gt. The 146 was never designed to take the ts it was squeezed in between the rails and the turning circle was dire as there was no room for full lock on the steering. The 147 diesel ate front suspension bushes due to weight of engine.
From my time with the development mule (around 1999 - 2000) the biggest thing I remember is the torque steer. Maybe the Q2 diff helped. But, jeez, all it wanted to do was find the nearest hedge. I still want one, though.
Always liked these and the 156 before it ,the busso motor is legendary, only car I had it in was an imported lancia kappa ,it sounded beautiful .maybe after some brave pills I'll take the plunge on a gta ,integrales are now out of my reach
Don’t worry - the Busso engined cars of this era aren’t the only ones to eat suspension bushes and tyres……….the JTDM engined cars are exactly the same!!
My daily driver is a 2009 147 Ducati Corse! They're a really weird one, its the 1.9JTD engine, with the 2.4 injectors from factory. So its making 170bhp, and it has a limited slip diff from factory! And had 18 inch wheels as standard. I swapped on a set of GTA wheels like yours, because I was hoping they'd improve the ride and Alfa GTA wheels are one of the best looking OEM wheel ever made 😅 only 250 Ducati Corses were produced. Funnily enough its been the most reliable cars I've had. Itching to own a Busso someday, a proper petrol Alfa! Im just torn between a 147 GTA or a 156 GTA Sportswagon 😅
I have pondered on a GTA several times over the last 10 years should have bought one 10 years ago when they were 2.5k the last time which was recently after enjoying your vlogs I ended up buying a RS Clio R27 F1 which shares several traits... needs an LSD, great steering, eats front suspension, hard to work on, poor on fuel but great to drive if you want to review it i'd bring it to you I'm not far from u
The diff issue isn’t primarily handling: it’s durability. The original diff was under-specced, and tended to explode on pulling out of side roads. It simply wasn’t up to the job. The Q2 is much stronger; the handling improvement is just a side benefit…. Most important bit about a Busso engine? WARM IT UP before you spank it, as with any real Alfa. The piston crowns in the 3.2 are cooled by oil sprays, by the way.
The real issue here is not the car .. not even you, Jack. The emissions regulations; there won't be a car like this. If I had the money to keep one, like this, up .. I would not be willing to pass it for an electric umbrella / commuting pan.
But let’s be fair: one very positive element is the durability of the engine. Expensive to do the regular maintenance- but it easily clocks 250‘000 km without issues.
The floor, sills, rear arches are a known failure on the 147/157/GT. Selespeed is prone to failure if not maintained properly when new. Upper wishbones are known to creek, when changing it´s advides to take the bushings apart and apply grease even brand names like TRW are very poorly greased from the factory.
Did you borrow this thing from a neighbor on short notice or is there a rally stage on your daily commute? Alternatively, are you waiting for the free wash from the dealership at the next major service?
I owned a 156 GTA, I think they are better cars than the 147 GTA. I drove a couple of 147 GTA but the 156 felt more special for some reason. The worst part of the car was 18mpg around town.
Does this mean the Alfa is tip toeing out of the garage? Is there a French car in your future? And if buying a car like Jack's GTA...buy from an Alfa enthusiast who has taken care of the car.
Any car with character and emotion will have its down side. Its unfortunate. Thats just the price if admission. That said, life is too short to drive boring cars, or wear boring shoes.
Have you owned one? Have you driven one.? They are a flawed genius but they are fun to drive a great to own. Ours is a keeper. Admittedly not red, diabolical in New Zealand’s sun.
@@jamesgoodwin2450 Ours is a daily driver, and I struggle to lever my wife out of it. It’s maintained regularly by an independent specialist I have known and been using for my Italian cars for over 40 years. It was just serviced last week and there was nothing needed other than the oil and filters, he fitted new front pads for me and carried out our annual WOF check, your MOT.
You've obviously never driven one. They put a smile on your face every drive. I don't think you can compare a new Japanese homologation special 3 cylinder to what is fast becoming a modern classic.
Sorry for all busso lover, but from my only youtube point of view, 130i can be way better. Busso does sound like an e36 to my ears ( TO MY EARS do not arrass me because i think différent) And with an lsd rwd bmw can be funnier i'm sure. And n52 engine seems to be more reliable
I've driven 130i and I finally decided to buy the GTA. Your brain says to choose BMW but just few kilometers inside well maintained GTA and you will know that's Alfa is better drivers car.
You're choosing one of these for the heritage, the design, the desire as a child, the noise, the colour, everything that comes with it. You're buying a BMW because some influencer said "its the best bang for your buck" on RU-vid
Interesting engine aside...it's as ugly as a hat full of arseholes. Some design director looked at the model and went "Oh yes, now THAT'S an Alfa"? (groan) With all the flaws to go along with the good Alfa driving dynamics, I think it has to have some redeeming looks...this one doesn't.
My last Alfa was the one which turned me off them, and I haven't been back. In the decade before I got it, I'd had a 155 2.0 T-Spark, a GTV 2.0 T-Spark, a GTV 3.0, a 156 2.5 V6, and never had significant issues with any of them. Then I bought a GT 3.2 Busso. Oh my fucking word. It had full history, and only 2 owners. And something went wrong with it every single fucking time I got in it; I'm not exaggerating. It was so bad I kept it 6 weeks and traded it for a Civic Type R. I had the chance to buy a 147 GTA pre-Covid for $8000, and I was soooo tempted. But that GT burned me so badly I didn't want to risk it
