Three Ways Alfa’s 156 GTA is BETTER Than BMW E46 M3!

Thanks for having the Alfa on Jack, and thanks everyone for the positive comments on my 156 :)

I miss my busso so much. It was only a 2.5 24v, but the sound, drama and fun was unbeatable for it's money

Damn I miss my 156! My friends all laughed and told me I'd bought a money pit when I got it but it gave me over 240 thousand km of trouble free service for half the price of an equivalent BMW. Great cars!

A 330 clubsport v alfa might be a good compassion. More similar on price now also.

I had a similar ish scenario back in the late 90's when I owned an E34 M5 along with an Alfa 75 V6. I respected the M5 greatly and it was truly superb, but I didn't love it. The tatty unreliable Alfa on the other hand always made me smile more. ❤️

Jack is always the kid in the candy shop. Sometimes, the cat that ate the canary. Always articulate, expressive, enthusiastic, entertaining, AND ACCURATE.

In 2006, after owning a 1.0 Micra for 2 years, at 21 I bought an immaculate 2001 156 1.6 Twin Spark, for £6,500. I could afford it because Alfas depreciated so heavily back then. At the time the GTA was my dream car and I loved the BTCC. I owned the 156 for 3 years and drove it every day on my 76 mile round trip commute, putting 45k miles on it and driving it SO hard everywhere I went. It proved very reliable. I then sold it to my Dad's colleague, who was after a car for his daily commute (and I was looking to buy an import MX5, which I did). He was an RSM in the SAS, and after buying the car from me, he drove me the 25 miles back home to my house and gave me some sound life advice, on the way. A very memorable drive home. I may change my e82 125i for a GTA, after watching this video!

Always had a soft spot for a 156, I’d be happy with any of the petrol versions

Drove a manual E46 M3 for 9 years & 138k miles back in the day. They are bloody brilliant.

All I'm gonna say is that my '02 156 GTA is my daily driver, has done 266,000km including 45,000km in two years I've had it. And it's my third V6 156. (BTW - with decent coilovers like mine, the GTA doesn't float and has phenomenal road holding capability).

I worked at a BMW dealer when the e46 came out, also when the e39 m5 came out, and the 320hp m roadster/coupe, they where all a huge step in performance from the previous generation in the USA, they were all great but the m5 and 320hp m coupe were the most memorably exciting on the street, the m coupe felt crazy fast.

As I live in Hong Kong now and don't need a car, all I can say is that is still miss my Alfa. That's why I am here and watch these videos. I suspect that most Alfisti think the same as me: I couldn't have cared less if another car was compared and assessed as the better one. If you want an Alfa, you get an Alfa. It is connected to your heart and soul. Just like a beautiful and temperamental woman with all her faults. But she is the one keeping you awake at night! Only Alfisti will understand that. 😃

Took my GT 3.2 V6 to a weekend away with a group of mates recently. Most of them car nuts, they all LOVED the GT. Recently did the exhaust upgrade and the noise ripping it through the country roads was just incredible. Such a fun car to have in the garage as an alternative to my daily which is an F30 335i.

PS The Alfa interior is just beautiful for me. Especially at night lit up in orange...

The E46 is simply timeless. What a machine.

Anyone else feel that the flaws of Alfas always get somewhat exaggerated in reviews? No car is perfect in all its aspects, as is clear from this comparison, yet BMW only rarely gets criticized for it. Very enjoyable review anyway, thanks Jack!

Great vid as always, but a little unfair perhaps. Would a 330i Sport not be a better comparison? I don't remember the GTA being marketed or reviewed at the time as a road weapon but rather more aimed at a certain sort of company car driver (think Mondeo ST). I may be wrong of course. I do realise you drive what you can so it's not a criticism, but perhaps these would be better presented as two short standalone vids rather than a comparison. Keep up the great work.

I remember that those Alfas had less space in estate form than as a saloon. Lovely things, even the 1.6 was great

Thanks for having us Jack. Really was a great day out. Joe’s Alfa is a lovely bit of kit.

I loved both my 75 V6 and my 156 Selespeed ❤❤