Alfa Gta with the Selespeed gearbox?

jamiebee

Junior Member
Messages
31
I've been toying with the idea of getting an Alfa Gta for a while, as a sensible second car to go with the GranSport.

Over the summer I tried a few 147s, including a couple of Japanese imports with the Selespeed box. I know they don't get a lot of love but I thought the Selespeed was really rather good. Felt like a similar mechanism to the Maserati CC box, and delivered crisp changes that weren't much slower than the CC in sport mode. It requires a delicate touch to drive smoothly, again like the CC box, but when you get the hang of it the changes are sweet and the blips on the downchange sound wonderful. I definetly prefer the Selespeed to the rather flimsy Alfa manual box.

In the end I didn't buy one. Partly because getting an Alfa Gta as my sensible car felt mad, and partly because I thought the prices were a bit strong for a ten year old budget hatchback. Six months later I'm browsing the classifieds and... every single Selespeed car that was listed this summer is still for sale! Most at the same price as well. Are these gearboxes so unpopular that no-one will buy one?

It makes me tempted to go back and make a lowball offer, although it would mean when I need to get rid of the car (when the London ULEZ comes into force probably) I'm going to have the same problem and get stuck with it.
 

Andyk

Member
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61,038
Just from my experience with Selespeed...Don't do it....Nit a nice gear box and prone to issues. Go manual.....
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
My experience with Selespeed was that it will try to kill you and it's very expensive when it goes wrong. I'd avoid.


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MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
I had a brand new 156 Selespeed in 2000 when they first came out. No end of problems in the first year, but once they finally worked out how to fix it the car was fine for the 3 years I owned it. I bought a 147 Selespeed a few years later as a stop-gap car. Ran it for 9 months issue free.
 

lisknik

Member
Messages
5,524
The GTA selespeed system is totally different from the twinny selespeed and it's a good system, funnily enough it uses the Maserati pump, as opposed to the complete shite ssytem on the twinny's. From what I have heard they are really good, rare and for some reason expensive. Only a handfull in the country, but there is now a uk importer bringing them in from Japan.

Nick
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Interesting thread for me - I have just sold my Alfa 156 GTA (oh that noise!) due to my rather buggered knee and have considered the same cars you have seen advertised. As pointed out, the the GTA selespeed system is different to the standard one and based on the Maserati system I believe. From speaking to GTA selespeed owners the system seems fairly robust and just needs careful setting up and regular maintenance. Not sure using one as my daily car may be considered wise though! Price wise they seem to have stalled somewhat - only worry with Japan imports is trying to find out what history they have. I would budget for a full inspection and a cambelt change.

Olly
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
The GTA selespeed system is totally different from the twinny selespeed and it's a good system, funnily enough it uses the Maserati pump, as opposed to the complete shite ssytem on the twinny's. From what I have heard they are really good, rare and for some reason expensive. Only a handfull in the country, but there is now a uk importer bringing them in from Japan.

Nick

This. The GTA Selespeed system is completely different to the TS version and massively better.

I believe the 147 GTA race cars all use the selespeed gearbox as it's so much quicker.
However, having driven a selespeed, I'd rather have the manual.

Funny how I prefer the CC to the manual in the 4200.....
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
As all of the above, don't confuse the Silly speed box on the TS engined cars with that on the GTAs. I can see a Selespeed GTA being a very interesting and quick choice
 

jamiebee

Junior Member
Messages
31
I have considered the same cars you have seen advertised.
Olly

Did you drive any of them? It would be interesting to compare notes. I looked at all four for sale and thought that two of them were rubbish, but the other two were both quite tempting.
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Did you drive any of them? It would be interesting to compare notes. I looked at all four for sale and thought that two of them were rubbish, but the other two were both quite tempting.

Not yet as I was waiting to sell my 156 first. Was going to make some calls and preliminary research in the new year. I'd be interested to hear what you thought of them.
 

philw696

Member
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25,114
There's a few of them down here.
Fitted a couple of clutches in them not a bad job and they work well.
 

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,757
I had a selespeed from about the 2001 era. It worked great, right up until the moment it broke. Which was then, effectively, unfixable given the value of the car (which was buttons, as it was an Alfa). I have no idea what type it was and must assume they made the later ones far better.

My first and last Alfa. And Clarksons review of the 4C Spyder hasn't changed my mind, even though it's built at Maserati.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Newtons got one of the TS Sillyspeeds and he gets on alright with it. Cant say I have ever driven one but wouldn't mind a go, especially in a GTA, its sounds fun.
 

jamiebee

Junior Member
Messages
31
The two I liked were the silver one in Hertfordshire and the higher-spec red one in Middlesborough.

The silver Gta is cosmetically not great; paint chipped and faded, exterior plastics scuffed, teledials badly scratched. The interior is worse - the photos hide the damage well, in reality it looks like the inside of the car has been attacked by a wild animal. Despite all this, I thought it was the best one to drive. The engine felt very strong, gearbox shifted smoothly, and the aftermarket coilovers worked well. The exhaust was a bit loud and the ground clearance was pathetic. Overall I liked this car but reckon it would take quite a lot of money to make it look and feel 'nice' again, and look and feel are a big part of what makes Alfas special for me!

The higher-spec red Gta in Middlesborough was I thought the best of the three cars they have for sale. Unlike the silver car, this one has been stored in a garage and really looked after. Looks and feels almost like new. Badpoints - some signs of minor crash damage F+R, teledials are missing, loud fart-can exhaust system, the aftermarket suspension is not as well set up as the silver car. The selespeed gearbox was playing up when I looked at it, I don't know if it's a serious problem or just lack of use.

The red Gta is £9k and the silver one £7.5k. Manual cars in fair-to-good condition typically sell at £6-7k. As the Selespeed is less desirable I sort of feel that both of these cars are about £2k too expensive?

If you are serious about these cars then we should stay in touch. We want to avoid pushing the price up for each other by both trying to buy the same car at the same time. Or if you want to wait I'll buy one and then sell it on to you in 18 months when the London ULEZ starts?
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Cheers for that - interesting! The one I liked was the black one up north as it seemed the most standard and I prefer this colour (same as my old 156) - red would be my second choice. Silver I just can't get on with! I saw the one had been modified abit which if the right mods are done is not a problem - I prefer the teledials though. Did any have the q2 diff fitted - this is an essential in my view.

To be fair they all looked like they needed money spent on them - with this in mind they do look overpriced especially being imports. Having said that with the rarity of them over here they could commmand a bit of a premium - someone on the Alfa owner forum was selling theirs last year or so and was looking for £12k I think...who knows with the market at the moment!

I'll let you know how I get on!
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Many years back I was looking for a GTA drove the manual and Selespeed and the Selespeed just didn't do it for me. For me it just didn't suit the GTA and bear in mind it was one of the first of this type of box it is very old now and would imagine it feels even worse now things have moved on where as the manual will still be an engaging drive. Even when improved in the GTA it's still an expensive piece if the car if goes wrong. The one I had in the 156 was just dire....horrid gearbox that cost me much pound notes.nthe GTA one was improved but for me still not a nice gear box.....But that's just me and if you get out and drive them and like it then go for it.
 

Ian996

Junior Member
Messages
88
I've owned my manual 156 GTA for 11 years and, with the exception of the alternator going at 90,000 miles, it has been faultless (although, having said that, not necessarily cheap to maintain, taking the residual value of the car into consideration). I can't comment on the Selespeed, but don't discount the manual, it is a lovely box and suits the car really well. If you do take the plunge, Selespeed or otherwise, definitely budget for a Q2 diff if one isn't already fitted. The cars are notorious for eating the standard diffs as, in true Alfa fashion, they didn't upgrade the original to cope with the extra grunt of the 3.2.

If you are looking at a UK car in particular, check the front wheel arches for rust, any surface corrosion is an indication of something worse going on underneath. Even if the arches look good on the surface, I'd be tempted to have a bit of a poke under the liners to see whats going on. I'd also budget for a belt-change if there is not clear evidence of a recent one as these cars are getting to the point where owners will sell them rather than shell out for teh big maintenance jobs.

Other than that, they are epic cars for the money.
 

MrCoop

Junior Member
Messages
410
My 156 Selespeed was nothing but trouble. I bought it as a 3 year old (back in 2001) and I think I spent as much keeping it running as it cost me to buy. The gearbox was a complete pain in the ***. But what a looker (at the time) and it was a joy to drive whenever it worked properly.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
When my selespeed blew up it wasn't worth repairing as the cost silly. Sold the car for parts.