Alfa Romeo GTV 916 Phase 3 (2003–2005) Price Guide

The Phase 3 GTV is the most powerful and the most problematic. A Giorgetto Giugiaro facelift at Italdesign refreshed the nose for 2003, a 3.2-litre V6 producing 240bhp replaced the 3.0, and a new 2.0 JTS direct-injection engine replaced the beloved Twin Spark. The JTS was the car’s defining flaw: unreliable, thirsty, and prone to bearing and bore wear that the Twin Spark had never suffered.

What Changed

The Italdesign facelift revised the front bumper, headlamps, and grille into a cleaner, more integrated look that divided existing owners between those who preferred it and those who considered it an unnecessary intervention. The 3.2-litre Busso V6 — the same engine fitted to the 147 GTA and 156 GTA — produced 240bhp and lowered the 0–62mph time to under six seconds. The 2.0 JTS direct-injection four-cylinder replaced the Twin Spark with 165bhp. Phase 3 production ran from late 2002 to 2005, overlapping with the final-year Spider variants. Very few Phase 3 GTVs were produced — it was a short final chapter before the model was discontinued without a replacement.

Engine Verdict

The 3.2 V6 is the engine to have. It is the final and finest Busso application and sounds magnificent. It shares its known maintenance requirements with the 147 and 156 GTA versions: coil pack wear, MAF sensor failure, and the ECU heat-soak issue from its engine-bay mounting. The 2.0 JTS is the engine to avoid. It was developed under time and cost pressure and suffered from premature bearing wear, bore scoring, and a general unreliability that specialists consistently flag. The JTS GTV is cheap for a reason.

Buying

Buy the 3.2 V6. A Phase 3 V6 with documented service history and low mileage is the rarest and most desirable 916 GTV. Production numbers were small, and the combination of the final Busso V6 with the Giugiaro-refreshed styling makes it the definitive version of the 916 concept. Avoid the JTS unless the price reflects the engine’s reputation and you have budgeted for a rebuild. The Phase 3 was the last coupe in Alfa’s range until the 4C arrived nearly a decade later.