Yes I know I've always said I would keep the Coupé forever but I am seriously thinking of moving on. Loosing the 166 has had me looking for a replacement and this now has me questioning if I really want to keep my Coupé, unfortunately too few reasons seem to exist for me to keep it

I'm so tempted to get something like a 3.2 Brera / Alfa GT for the garage and a Focus, or another Grande Punto, for the commuting work. There are so many options, I've even been looking at the 2 litre MX5's, and have entertained the thought of a 3.2 DSG TT Quattro as a garage car!

There are a few options that see me keeping the Coupé. I could go for a late 156 / 159 2.4d Sportwagon or something similar.... I just don't know!

Bob - sounds like you're in a very similar situation to me

I was running the Coupe for 90+ miles a day and it was killing it (and my wallet). A set of tyres, a pair of discs, a set of pads and most of a Helix clutch since December makes for fairly expensive commuting.

In the end, the decision came when I measured my average speed during my commute - 27mph. Unless my arithmetic is seriously wrong, 480bhp is overkill for such mundane use.

So - I knew I wanted a diseasel, but I also wanted to keep the Coupe for weekend fun.

I'm now just over two weeks into Alfa GT ownership and I wish I'd done it years ago. Comfortable, quiet, economical, but still quite rare (only about 80,000 made - about 8,000 more than the Coupe).

I filled up on the day I bought it, and again last Friday - its doing roughly double the mpg of the Coupe. On the basis that I was spending about £6k a year on fuel in the Coupe, the GT will have paid for itself in about 18 months AND I'll start to enjoy the Coupe again.

The only way I'd sell the Coupe now is to get something much more hardcore, like a Westfield for proper trackday use.

I considered a 159, but the fuel consumption was just a bit too heavy - its a heavy car (as is the Brera) and it struggles to reach 40mpg average. I'm already getting mid-40s from the GT from the daily slog, with over 50 on a run.

If you've ever in the Midlands and fancy a drive out in the GT, let me know - happy to lend it to you for an hour or two

Thanks for the Offer Nigel but I'm off to see a couple of GT's this afternoon.

I had an Alfa GT 3.2 as well as my Coupe and the performance was disappointing - outright stats are about the same but the Coupe has a much stronger mid-range.

The Alfa also had pretty harsh suspension so if you have typical UK roads that could be an issue.

Having said that it's a gorgeous car (the Alfa, as well as the Coupe) sounds great in V6 form and is fairly practical.
I'd have another but it would have to be in addition to the Coupe, not as a replacement.

Horse for Courses..... I was interested in a Brera before I bought the LE - an 'S' only. As lovely as it was/is I could not justify spending x4 times the price (4 years ago) of a Brera S over the Coupe. It was not that more special.
That said I'm only doing 3k a year...........
The Alfa GT's are good value at the moment though.

Well that was an interesting trip around some local, ish car dealers.

First stop a small industrial unit near St Ives. Have to say all this fellows cars were all quite tidy. I looked at a really nice Focus ST170, a couple of Merc Coupes (CLK 220 & 270 diesels) Two 3 series beemers, nope... Hated them! and a rather special Saab 9-5 HOT.

I then made my way down the A1 to Sandy to check out, what looked like a nice, Alfa GT Blackline This car was an absolute dog Yes it looked fine from a distance but once you got close. there was poorly repaired / painted accident damage around the rear bumper and loads of bodywork dents and scratches. Inside the edges of the drivers seat were worn, and suspiciously so was the lower door edge strip. Far worse than that of my 100,000 mile plus 166! it looked like a car that had covered significantly more than the stated 65,000 miles.

Disheartened I decided to check another GT at another dealer. This one was a well specified 1.9td GT in blue with a quoted + 110,000 miles. I wasn't expecting much to be honest but have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised. OK the car looked like it had done the miles but it was in significantly better condition than the blackline, and it was £1500 cheaper!

I also checked out a Red 3.2 Audi TT. I don't like Red cars and I'm still not convinced about the TT.... but my goodness did it shift!!!

Bob, we need to talk!

Watch out on GTs for the floor pan rusting. My dads 3.2 was a right rusty bastard underneath.

Oh cheers Paul, I'll keep an eye open for that...

I like the look of this one but it's Miles away

Oh dear

Hmmm... a Boxter S, even in red it looks good

But better in Silver

You'll love this Bob, I detailed one a few years ago > CLICK for VIDEO

Just looked at the videos of my 2 Phil. I'd forgotten how good you made them look

Sadly it appears that the Alfa GT isn't going to happen.

I've looked at a lot of them now ranging from 57,000 miles to 130,000 miles, 2004 - 2008 and prices have ranged from just over £4K to just under £9K. Every single one of them has had issues with no less than three of the cars being absolute dogs! The Alfa GT build quality is significantly worse than that of the Alfa 166

I've just completely stripped my 2000 Alfa 166 and the only rust I found was the front bumper brackets, the ones that bolt to the front wings, and lower radiator mount. Some of these 2007 GT's seem riddled with rusty bits and early signs of worse to come!

On the flip side I've looked at just three Audi TT's. All were at less than £6k with one, a 180 Quattro, being a £3.5K 2002 car. All of them, including the worst, a 2004 3.2 DSG, were in far better condition than the best Alfa I've yet seen.

Alfa gt is a poor car (sorry to the owners)
They suffer with corrosion,and multiple suspension and electrical issues.
Not to mention the poor build quality.

If I were to buy one then it would be the JTD,but for the money they fetch I would and did buy the much better Audi A4 tdi.
Sold that as got offered good money for it over what I had paid and then bought a Volvo s60 D5.

I have had 2 Alfa GT JTD's 2004 and 2006, and twice i have returned to a Coupe!

Strangely for different reasons as to what is stated in this thread. Both of my GT's were lovely, no issues, really solid tidy cars. I just found myself getting bored of them, and the driving experience isn't great, not what you expect of an Alfa anyway!

If i ever chopped in my LE (I promise I wont) i'd look at the 159 or Brera...

How about this option, Boxsters for Coupe money

Boxter on Gumtree

Could be fun

Looked at a couple of 3.2 Boxer S's today. Bit more money than that one but they just didn't do it for me.

I looked at a Brera 2.4 diesel. It looks fantastic but it is a big car. It would also take all my budget to buy a nice one leaving no money for a second car.

I am looking at 996 C4S as the one to go for..or a Yellow Plus ...

Off to see a really nice looking 3.2 TT DSG in the morning

Oh dear

Aren't DSG gearboxes supposed to be unreliable - at least at higher miles?

The DSG box hands down is the best semi auto gearbox on the market in terms of driving.
Failures aren't unheard of but if you worry about any cars potential Achilles heel then you would never own anything beyond a Kia.

hi bob not sure of your circumstances but at least reference mk1 tt the rear seats are impossible for anyone above 3 ft to sit comfortably but in terms of quality worth a go having owned one a 225 last yr they are more planted but dont seem to have the soul of a coupe! cant comment on the alfas! but was pleasantly suprised with volvo! d5 variants are supposed to be really good i had an s6o t5 which was great value premium !

Didn't get that 3.2.. The fact there are so many is making choosing difficult and you can afford to be fussy.. It wasn't a bad car by any means, but the service history had too many gaps for me! They are a blooming quick car though. So I'm off to see a couple of Mk1 facelift 225's tomorrow

what about an xk8 its the only car I've seen in anywhere near the same price range that compares for looks alone

It would never fit in the garage....

Go for a Merc, you'll love it, performance and luxury.

C32, pocket rocket, or E55 - 500bhp 4 door saloon!