Help! Buying either a IS220d 07 or new Alfa GT

bg

m between buying a brand new alfa GT monza 2 150bhp tdi with 60mls on the clock or a 2007 is220d with 45000mls on the clock.

Both are practically the same price ??

Im afraid of the GT but I think it looks amazing. Im afraid it will leave me on the side of the road or when i go to sell it in 2 years I will be offered 2p for it?

The IS220d is surely the safe option it should be reliable and hold its value reasonably well, but it feels like a lot of money when i can buy the GT with 60mls on it for same price.

Any thoughts ?
Asked some of my friends in the industry and they both said not to touch the Alfa.


VS

Mr.David

Alfa no question.

Its got electronics niggles but mechanicals are sound. The lexus is just sooo dull.

You'll always regret it if you dont!

Eoin

The FIAT diesel engine in the Alfa is one of the best in its class; I'd have no worries about its reliability - no more than any other brand anyway. Purely on what I've read here, the Lexus diesel engine isn't supposed to be that refined.

Why not check out the prices of Alfa GT's that are 2 years old now to get a really rough idea of their depreciation. The beauty about Alfa's is that they depreciate a lot, meaning you can snap up a bargain a few years down the road.

bg

im leaning towards the Alfa just afraid of it... resale etc.. maybe my fears are unfounded..

death1234567

If it was me I'd buy the IS220, no question.

Eoin

bg wrote: »

im leaning towards the Alfa just afraid of it... resale etc.. maybe my fears are unfounded..

Resale may well be a factor - reliability issues are grossly overstated; in particular in that engine (1.9 jtd I presume?).

Why spend all that money though? There must be some cracking older examples that someone else has already taken a hit on.

bg

eoin wrote: »

Resale may well be a factor - reliability issues are grossly overstated; in particular in that engine (1.9 jtd I presume?).

Why spend all that money though? There must be some cracking older examples that someone else has already taken a hit on.

Its 1.9jtd 150bhp, there would be very little warranty on a used model.
Alfa Ireland are taking a 15000 hit on this model they are reduced from list price!

DanGlee

Alfa... its a beast... if you don't have kids, make the most of a 2 door sporty coupe while you can!

I had to buy a vectra, be a few years before i get another coupe!

Good luck with it.

Eoin

bg wrote: »

Its 1.9jtd 150bhp, there would be very little warranty on a used model.
Alfa Ireland are taking a 15000 hit on this model they are reduced from list price!

Well, have a look at 2007 models to see what they're going for - but the depreciation on a newer one might be higher again if it's closer to the end of the lifespan of the model - I don't know. Residuals on the newer models seem to be better than they used to be, but any new car is going to take a big hit - and Alfa will probably be higher than most.

unkel

If the two year old Lexus costs the same as the brand new Alfa, then the Lexus is way overpriced. Buy the Alfa and enjoy

CountingCrows

bg wrote: »

im leaning towards the Alfa just afraid of it... resale etc.. maybe my fears are unfounded..

Bought a 06' GT for 14K last month (with 12month warranty) if that's of any help for a resale reference.

bg

lexus is 23000 alfa is 25500
not the same price - but one brand new and one with 50000mls on it

CountingCrows

bg wrote: »

lexus is 23000 alfa is 25500

Grandon Car Sales in Cork quoted me 22K for a brand new Alfa GT 1.9

R.O.R

I don't think there is much of a decision here. Much as I like the look of the IS, and have my reservations about Alfa's reliability - if I were in your position, I wouldn't be sitting here typing, I'd be down the dealer signing on the dotted line!

We sold a 1.9JTD GT in black last year. Undercut the cheapest on Carzone by €2,000. Went up on Friday afternoon, on Monday morning a Girl was in the office after driving up from Cork with cash.

We have a few 159's on our fleet with the same engine, and they are probably less troublesome than the Passat's. Had a couple of 1.9JTD 120ps 147's that have been through multiple clutches, but nothing really on the 159's.

unkel

bg wrote: »

lexus is 23000 alfa is 25500
not the same price - but one brand new and one with 50000mls on it

Lexus price is ridiculous. It's nearly 3 years old and the tax is old-regime (€823) vs new low emissions for the Alfa (€447). Will be hard to sell on because of that and won't be worth much when it is (nearly) 5 years old. No brainer really

CountingCrows wrote: »

Grandon Car Sales in Cork quoted me 22K for a brand new Alfa GT 1.9

I don't know what they list for, but that seems a very good price!

Lex Luthor

CountingCrows wrote: »

Grandon Car Sales in Cork quoted me 22K for a brand new Alfa GT 1.9

sure its the diesel?

and doubtful its a monza spec though....

still a good price but I wouldn't buy a new GT as it will depreciate like a rocket in the first 3yrs

I recently sold a 07 GT Monza 1.9JTDm for just over 18k....Alfas hit the pocket but who cares....

Bluefoam

Lex Luthor wrote: »

sure its the diesel?

and doubtful its a monza spec though....

still a good price but I wouldn't buy a new GT as it will depreciate like a rocket in the first 3yrs

I recently sold a 07 GT Monza 1.9JTDm for just over 18k....Alfas hit the pocket but who cares....

€18k for a two year old car that is currently €25k new, is not too bad...

NewApproach

Alfa would be more exciting, the lexus is plain boring. I agree there will be more dep'n with the Alfa, but why not just buy a 1 or 2 year old one and keep the difference for a holiday or to run it or something?

CountingCrows

Lex Luthor wrote: »

sure its the diesel?

and doubtful its a monza spec though....

still a good price but I wouldn't buy a new GT as it will depreciate like a rocket in the first 3yrs

I recently sold a 07 GT Monza 1.9JTDm for just over 18k....Alfas hit the pocket but who cares....

Yep Diesel but not Monza spec

unkel

Bluefoam wrote: »

€18k for a two year old car that is currently €25k new, is not too bad...

That is a very low depreciation taken into account the new car comes with a manufacturers warranty and there is no come back at all when buying a second hand car from a private seller. I reckon Lex Luthor got hit hard on his car because new car prices have come down and private selling is very difficult at the moment (you can only sell if it is dirt cheap)

RobAMerc

Lex Luthor wrote: »

I recently sold a 07 GT Monza 1.9JTDm for just over 18k....Alfas hit the pocket but who cares....

Are you serious !

Thats fantastic resale value - I've just been offered 23k for a BMW I paid 34k 11 months ago !

OP - Alfa no contest - the Lexota is boring as hell and the interior is cheap and nasty in them. Its also a middle aged man with kids car - if you can consider a Alfa GT you have no business looking at a Lexus IS220 snoozebox

VolvoMan

I don't like the current IS, so it's the Alfa for me too.

galwaytt

DanGlee wrote: »

Alfa... its a beast... if you don't have kids, make the most of a 2 door sporty coupe while you can!

....what's kids got to do with it ? The rear seats in the GT are adult size, so it's perfectly acceptable, space-wise.

OP - buy the Alfa. I have that engine in my Saab, and it's a peach.

PADRAIC.M

yeah alfa is a nice looking car but nowhere near as reliable as the lexus, buy the gt but sell it before warranty runs out,

Lex Luthor

RobAMerc wrote: »

Are you serious !

Thats fantastic resale value - I've just been offered 23k for a BMW I paid 34k 11 months ago !

OP - Alfa no contest - the Lexota is boring as hell and the interior is cheap and nasty in them. Its also a middle aged man with kids car - if you can consider a Alfa GT you have no business looking at a Lexus IS220 snoozebox

ya but my GT cost close to €38k in Jan 2007

Lex Luthor

unless Grandons are on their knees, I find it hard they are selling NEW 1.9GT's for 22k...

List price for the 1.8 Turismo is €35k and the 1.9 Lusso is 36.5k

I'd say they meant to say €32k or is it a typo?

They have a couple of 04 models for the 14k money..22k for a new one..pull the other one

testicle

Here is the beast

http://www.grandons.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200937195158631

R.O.R

testicle wrote: »

Here is the beast

http://www.grandons.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200937195158631

Now that looks like value for money!

bg

thanks everybody for your input and advice,

I have put a deposit on the GT... But still unsure about it ! !

I drove the IS220d found a lot of turbo lag and notchy gear shift.
At the end of the day it was 07 and had 50000 mls and it was only 2 k cheaper

Alfa is brand new and under 100 mls on it.

I hope I'm not MAD!! and regret it in 2 years when I'm trying to sell it!!

Bluefoam

Enjoy it! Well wear...

cadaliac

Well wear, and you should be comfortable in the knowledge that you have a very desirable car in your possession.
Don't think about the resale, well until you sell in two years at least. Anyway, you will still be better off with the Alfa in two years than with a five year old Lexus with an Avensis engine.

unkel

cadaliac wrote: »

Well wear, and you should be comfortable in the knowledge that you have a very desirable car in your possession.
Don't think about the resale, well until you sell in two years at least. Anyway, you will still be better off with the Alfa in two years than with a five year old Lexus with an Avensis engine.

+1

Enjoy

galwaytt

...wow, just looked at the pic of the interior....: wow - fab ! Excellent choice!

Bargain, tbh.

HashSlinging

Thats the bargain of the century! damn love those alfa interiors.

bg

I put the deposit on the car but strongly thinking of backing out. Anybody I talk to in the trade says I'm stone mad ( have few friends in the trade) that I will never sell it on again and if I do it will be worth nothing. Really confused now. Feel like if I go through with the sale il regret it, but I really like the car ??
What to do??????????????

galwaytt

bg wrote: »

I put the deposit on the car but strongly thinking of backing out. Anybody I talk to in the trade says I'm stone mad ( have few friends in the trade) that I will never sell it on again and if I do it will be worth nothing. Really confused now. Feel like if I go through with the sale il regret it, but I really like the car ??
What to do??????????????

my 0.02?......you won't regret it any more than regret not buying it at that price.

Unless your 'friends' are offering to put up their money, then, frankly, it's irrelevant. If they are basing comments on 20yr old prejudice's about Alfa's, then, tbh, they're not up to much. Besides, they're probably peeved you're not buying whatever it is they sell......

And, you're forgetting, if you buy it cheap, you can sell it cheap, and lose no more than anything else, inbetween.

There is always a buyer for a good car, at the right price, irrespective of the badge on the front.

Bluefoam

I'm on my second alfa, 6th in the family, and for some reason main dealers of other brands have it in for them. I spoke to a guy last week who deals in premium cars who reckons they are no worse than a Audi or BMW, he said aston martins are much worse for electrics.

Zube

bg wrote: »

What to do?

I know a guy who thought I was mad to buy a Ford because his Cortina broke down once in the 70s. Don't worry about it. People "in the trade" are just as likely to be talking complete sh!te about cars as anyone else.

Moanin

bg wrote: »

thanks everybody for your input and advice,

I have put a deposit on the GT... But still unsure about it ! !

I drove the IS220d found a lot of turbo lag and notchy gear shift.
At the end of the day it was 07 and had 50000 mls and it was only 2 k cheaper

Alfa is brand new and under 100 mls on it.

I hope I'm not MAD!! and regret it in 2 years when I'm trying to sell it!!

I must say I noticed the serious turbo lag also from the lexus.It's really bad for a 2.2 Turbo!

R.O.R

Zube wrote: »

I know a guy who thought I was mad to buy a Ford because his Cortina broke down once in the 70s. Don't worry about it. SOMEPeople "in the trade" are just as likely to be talking complete sh!te about cars as anyone else.

FYP!


OP - I'm in the trade and would buy that GT in a flash if I had the cash.

They are no where near as bad as they used to be, the reputation of the 156 really damaged them recently but we've not had that many issues (clutch on diesel 147's as mentioned previously) and we have a relatively high number of Fiat/Alfa's on fleet as one of our customers is part of the FIAT group.

Lex Luthor

bg wrote: »

thanks everybody for your input and advice,

I have put a deposit on the GT... But still unsure about it ! !

I drove the IS220d found a lot of turbo lag and notchy gear shift.
At the end of the day it was 07 and had 50000 mls and it was only 2 k cheaper

Alfa is brand new and under 100 mls on it.

I hope I'm not MAD!! and regret it in 2 years when I'm trying to sell it!!

how will you regret it when you're getting a 09 for 22k...

That car has an engine in it??? Just seems too good to be true

you'll still sell in 2yrs for about 17-18k. NO BRAINER

CountingCrows

bg wrote: »

I put the deposit on the car but strongly thinking of backing out. Anybody I talk to in the trade says I'm stone mad ( have few friends in the trade) that I will never sell it on again and if I do it will be worth nothing. Really confused now. Feel like if I go through with the sale il regret it, but I really like the car ??
What to do??????????????

Just look how few GT's are available for private sales at the moment. You'll have no problem selling it.

samsemtex

You'll have no problem getting rid of it man. Buy it. That lexus is a piece of ****. Awful car for something that is supposedly a premium car.

People in the trade are always bad mouthing Alfas. Thats because most of the time the lads selling cars know **** all about them and base it on the few things they have heard from other idiots who know feck all about them.

BUY THE ALFA!

siralfalot

I've just bought an Alfa GT 1.9, I bought it off the MD who has ironically replaced the GT with an IS220, a decision he now regrets.

IMO the Alfa is far far superior to the Lexus, the lexus is a dog to drive, and power delivery is the worst I've come accross in a modern turbo diesel, its so laggy, even when its on boost I wonder when its ever going to move like the 2.2 engine suggests it should, alas it never does.

The Alfa is sublime to drive, and the interior is just fantastic, go with the Alfa you will not regret it.

Redsoxfan

My €0.02

I've had a 2004 GT (diesel) since Feb 2008. I imported it, and when all was said and done, I paid over €20,000 for a model with 17" alloys, leather and 39,000 miles on the clock. So the prices being mentioned in this thread seem like great value to me!

There are probably more refined diesel engines out there (320ds and Audis I've driven are certainly smoother around town), but the GT is still a great drive.

I wouldn't really say that it's a great car to be hauling kids around-unless you had a second car in the house I would look at something else.

If you get the GT, don't hesitate to get it remapped asap-unless the warranty issue scares you-it makes a huge difference. The Q2 diff ain't a bad addition either. Other than these mods, I haven't spent any money on the car other than tyres and servicing.

Nonoperational

The GT isn't a car that causes many problems. That diesel is pretty bulletproof and really the only area the GT can be a bit troublesome in is the front suspension needing a few bits and pieces over time (however this has much improved in the last few years ) and wont be an issue for 5 years or so anyway. If your getting a new diesel GT for 22K youd be foolish not to buy it. As far as I know you can get an autodelta remap and it wont void warranty if you ask in Grandons they'll tell you...

bg

gpf101 wrote: »

The GT isn't a car that causes many problems. That diesel is pretty bulletproof and really the only area the GT can be a bit troublesome in is the front suspension needing a few bits and pieces over time (however this has much improved in the last few years ) and wont be an issue for 5 years or so anyway. If your getting a new diesel GT for 22K youd be foolish not to buy it. As far as I know you can get an autodelta remap and it wont void warranty if you ask in Grandons they'll tell you...

I'm not buying from grandons getting better price on part exchange from dealer in Dublin so staying with them, car is costing me €25950.


A remap that doesn't void the warranty very interesting il have to find out more about that!! I was thinking of revo or the like but it would void the warranty I'm sure!

Any gt owners fitted iPod aux inputs to their cars ? Would like to do it the gt I have ordered has a changer in the boot but I don't have any cd's anymore !
Will also need to fit a car phone kit, iv fitted parrot kits to a few cars nut never an alfa!

** edit** Just realised Revo are mainly VAG cars oops!

Nonoperational

Phone kit should be no problem. I think its still the blaupunkt highline silver stereo thats in my 156 and for the ipod you need the following:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/OEM-iPOD-Interface-Adaptor-Kit-Alfa-Romeo-147-156-GT_W0QQitemZ250500815301QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP?hash=item3a530319c5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

You may have to disconnect the cd changer though Im not certain on that.

Grandons certainly got a guy from Autodelta over before to to a remap day any more details after that Im not sure. I know some dealers in the UK offer autodelta remaps as options when purchasing!

As for the resale, diesel alfas are actually not that bad at all. The 1.9 has a very good reputation and they don't tend to loose a huge amount.

Have a look at a few threads like this: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/173862-anyone-familiar-with-the-auto-delta-1-9-jtd-remap.html if your interested in remaps etc. Can be made into a serious car although If your pushing 200bhp and the clutch goes I doubt any warranty would even entertain you!

Bluefoam

I had a blaupunkt adapter in my 147 that plugged an ipod directly into the the stereo and did Bluetooth too\ btw the interior in the gt is a very nice place to be

Lex Luthor

I wouldn't bother with the ipod adapter if its going to cost you a lot to retrofit and the car can play MP3's thro the head unit. I had a 10CD changer and never used it. Just carried 1 or 2 full MP3 CD's

As for a bluetooth kit....get yourself a Parrot CK3100. It fits right in the ash tray like my old GT


The ashtray door closes aswell

bg

Lex Luthor wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with the ipod adapter if its going to cost you a lot to retrofit and the car can play MP3's thro the head unit. I had a 10CD changer and never used it. Just carried 1 or 2 full MP3 CD's

As for a bluetooth kit....get yourself a Parrot CK3100. It fits right in the ash tray like my old GT


The ashtray door closes aswell

The car kit looks great there good idea!