Help! Buying either a IS220d 07 or new Alfa GT

bg · 16-09-2009 01:39PM #1

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 · 16-09-2009 01:53PM

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 · 16-09-2009 01:53PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:00PM

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

death1234567 · 16-09-2009 02:02PM

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

Eoin · 16-09-2009 02:05PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:08PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:13PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:14PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:15PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:23PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:28PM

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

CountingCrows · 16-09-2009 02:40PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:42PM

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 · 16-09-2009 02:46PM

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 · 16-09-2009 03:07PM

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 · 16-09-2009 03:35PM

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 · 16-09-2009 03:38PM

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 · 16-09-2009 03:47PM

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 · 16-09-2009 04:37PM

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 · 16-09-2009 04:53PM

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 · 16-09-2009 05:00PM

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

galwaytt · 16-09-2009 05:01PM

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 · 16-09-2009 05:34PM

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 · 16-09-2009 06:57PM

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 · 16-09-2009 07:01PM

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 · 16-09-2009 07:29PM

Here is the beast

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

R.O.R · 16-09-2009 07:36PM

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 · 16-09-2009 08:38PM

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 · 16-09-2009 08:49PM

Enjoy it! Well wear...

cadaliac · 16-09-2009 08:58PM

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.

Help! Buying either a IS220d 07 or new Alfa GT

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