Models · Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo GT buying guide
The GT is a four-seat coupé built on the 147 and 156 platform, in production from late 2003 to 2010 and on sale in the UK from 2004. It was offered with four-cylinder petrol engines, the 3.2 V6 and the 1.9 JTDm diesel.
The versions
- Petrol: 1.8 Twin Spark (140PS, added 2007), 2.0 JTS (165PS) and 3.2 Busso V6 (240PS, dropped in 2007)
- Diesel: 1.9 JTDm 16v, 150PS, or 170PS in later Cloverleaf form
- 1.9 JTDm Q2 from 2006 with a limited-slip differential as standard
- Manual gearboxes, with the Selespeed automated manual on a few cars
- Front-wheel drive coupé only
What to check on a Alfa GT
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Cambelt dates for each engine
What to look for: Ask for the bill for the last cambelt change and check it against the engine. On the four-cylinder petrols, look for a change within the last three years or 36,000 miles; on the V6 and the diesel, within five years or 60,000 miles, with a new water pump at the same time.
Why it matters: Every GT engine uses a cambelt, and a failure badly damages the engine. Alfa revised the four-cylinder interval down from its original 72,000 miles. Specialists single out the 3.2 V6 as the engine where proof of a recent change matters most.
Sills and floor
What to look for: Look along the curved sills from outside and underneath for bubbling, rot, or crushing where the car has been jacked in the wrong place. Underneath, check the floorpan and the drain holes ahead of the rear wheels, and be wary of fresh underseal over old rust.
Why it matters: Sound-deadening material inside the sills can trap moisture and rot them from within, and the curved sill shape is easily damaged by careless jacking and hard to repair neatly. If the sills are sound, specialists suggest removing the material through the rear interior panels.
Front wishbone bushes and rear tyre wear
What to look for: Drive slowly over speed bumps with the windows down and listen for squeaks from behind the dashboard or knocks from the front. Check the inside edges of the rear tyres for uneven wear.
Why it matters: The GT uses double wishbones at the front, and worn upper wishbone inner bushes squeak in a way that sounds like it comes from inside the car. Uneven inner wear on the rear tyres, sometimes with a bearing-like noise, points to worn rear hub bushes. Knocks are common but parts are readily available.
Also in the full guide
- Diesel smoke, swirl flaps and turbo pipes
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Alfa GT
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Alfa Romeo.