MODERNCLASSICS 29
ALFAROMEO 147 GTA
Engine 31 79cc,6-cyl,DOHC
TransmissionFWD, 6-speedmanual
Power 24 7bhp@6200rpm
Torque 22 1lb-ft@4800rpm
Weight 13 60kg
PERFORMANCE
0-60mph 6. 3sec
Topspeed 146 mph
Economy 23 .4mpg
seekingsomethingmorebespokeand
exoticsuchas thisGTA.‘Thesecars
canbe a moneypit,’saysLamport,‘so
buy right;put themoneyintotheright
car andit willlookafteryou.’
It’snotjustfailuresor glitchesthat
canupsetyourbudget,butalsothe
costof servicing.Neglectto check
whetherthetimingbelthasbeen
changedbeforebuyingoneandyou
mightfindyourselffacinga billfor
£1k;anynewpurchasewillrequire
somework,andeverycarhasa
servicingcostattachedto it,butthis
isofteneasilyoverlooked.If
appreciationis yourbag,don’tforget
thiskeyfact–as a handfulof billswill
easilyobliteratemostincreases.
Furthermore,eventhoughtheseare
comparativelymoderncars,don’tjust
assumeyoucandriveandusethem
withoutthought.Hurdlethese
obstacles,though,andyoucouldbe in
for quitetheexperience.‘Theonecar
thatI'vedrivenandabsolutelyfellin
lovewith,buthaven'tboughtyet is the
AlfaRomeo 147 GTA,’saysLamport.
‘Iwouldcertainlyhaveoneif I could.’
Allis notlostif thehighentryprice
for a fineexampleis problematic.‘I
think the GTVwiththe same3.2-litre
V6is justas muchfun,andmore
affordable,’saysDaniels.
The GTVdoesn'thavethebrutal
presencethe 147 GTAhas,however.
Combinedwiththe torqueyhigh-
revvingengine,it'sa carthat'sdeeply
addictiveto itsfans.Manybuy
anotherquitesoonafterselling.Time
tosamplethegatewayAlfadrug?
Buythebestyoucanfind
Top-drawer GTAs
command up to £15k but
good cars can be had for
less. However, you need
to go in with open eyes;
buy a cheap example and
you could easily spend
your purchase price again
on repairs alone. A £7k
car with £7k in repairs
does not, remember,
necessarily result in a car
with the inherent quality
of an example costing
£14k straight out of the
gate. Otherwise, if
possible, just remember
to go for a manual GTA.
I BOUGHTONEFERGUSCAMIER
‘It’s a visceral car. Sometimes
absolutely brilliant, sometimes
annoying – especially in a tight
spot, as the turning circle is
planetary. But never boring; it has the
most soulful engine ever made this side of
any supercar. Buying advice? Alfas,
especially of this age, require copious
evidence of passionate care and servicing
regardless of cost.'
WAYNE LAMPORT STONE COLD
'THE ONE CAR THAT I'VE
DRIVEN AND ABSOLUTELY
FELL IN LOVE WITH, BUT
HAVEN'T BOUGHT YET'
£25,000
£15,000
£20,000
£10,000
£5000
£0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
Price new
in 2003:
£22,360
Price
now:
£10,000
Price in
2015:
£6750
Price in
2025:
£14,000
For best returns,
opt for a manual.
