RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa GTV
Discussion
daveinaravecave said:
I bought a '00 TS model 8 months ago for £500 with no history and still using it as a daily. It'd had 4 new types and new rear brake discs pads and calipers as well as a fresh MOT. The front calipers ended up being a bit sticky after a few months so replaced the front brakes too. I've probably spent about £800 all in replacing various parts on it and it's thirsty on fuel, but it's one of the most fun cars driven due to the amount of grip it has. It's a bit slow off the line as it's geared to 40 in 1st, but after that it's similar in pace to EP3 and FN2 Civic Type R's. Either that or the two I've had a blast with weren't driving them right.
I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
I've owned a TS and a Civic Type R (EP3) and the CTR will absolutely destroy the TS if both are driven flat out. The CTR needs to be worked hard to get the best from it though which means the driver has to be on it. My current work car is an Alfa although of the diesel variety. I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
The CTR is vastly quicker in every area.
Still the TS engine is a lovely thing and delivers decent performance!
I still have my twinnie... Now owned for 11 years and counting. The only reason it's ever been on a breakdown truck is due to punctures and the foam can being worse than useless.
It's been as good as gold. Always looked after by Alfa Aid who keep it in top condition and it just never goes wrong... You need to keep on top of maintenance. It will cost you an arm and a leg every year (plus point is that hardly any other car will ever worry you in running costs again) but it won't leave you at the side of the road.
As far as I'm aware, the only common reason for them running out of oil is because the owner didn't check the oil regularly (some engines drink oil) mine has never touched a drop of oil but keep checking!
Fuel consumption is not great on b roads and surprisingly excellent on motorway hauls.
Interior quality, I've found to be variable across several that I've been in over the years. Some are brilliantly put together (like mine) and are much more solid than most other cars, even modern ones, others rattle and flex like nobodies business. I advise driving several before any purchase.
You also know exactly if something is wrong with it months before it will be a problem because you can get and feel everything in that car.
It handles well. Learn it (and left foot braking) and you can be happily going sideways around runabouts all day long. In the rain on a greasy road it can get a lot of understeer at the limit that needs some effort to dial out and that's my only real issue with the handling.
Suspension is... Um... Firm... You get used to dodging pot holes and with the low roof you will be screaming 'ow!' before you even hit a drain cover.
The boot is small but fine. I've done tours in Europe with the Mrs and it's been no problem.
So my one and only true problem is that no matter how many test drives I do and how many cars I investigate... I can't find another car that I want and that's REALLY annoying... The 4c is my great hope. I sat in one and liked it. Now I need to drive one (and wait for the price to drop)
I recommend driving everything else before you but one because they are really hard to let go of.
It's been as good as gold. Always looked after by Alfa Aid who keep it in top condition and it just never goes wrong... You need to keep on top of maintenance. It will cost you an arm and a leg every year (plus point is that hardly any other car will ever worry you in running costs again) but it won't leave you at the side of the road.
As far as I'm aware, the only common reason for them running out of oil is because the owner didn't check the oil regularly (some engines drink oil) mine has never touched a drop of oil but keep checking!
Fuel consumption is not great on b roads and surprisingly excellent on motorway hauls.
Interior quality, I've found to be variable across several that I've been in over the years. Some are brilliantly put together (like mine) and are much more solid than most other cars, even modern ones, others rattle and flex like nobodies business. I advise driving several before any purchase.
You also know exactly if something is wrong with it months before it will be a problem because you can get and feel everything in that car.
It handles well. Learn it (and left foot braking) and you can be happily going sideways around runabouts all day long. In the rain on a greasy road it can get a lot of understeer at the limit that needs some effort to dial out and that's my only real issue with the handling.
Suspension is... Um... Firm... You get used to dodging pot holes and with the low roof you will be screaming 'ow!' before you even hit a drain cover.
The boot is small but fine. I've done tours in Europe with the Mrs and it's been no problem.
So my one and only true problem is that no matter how many test drives I do and how many cars I investigate... I can't find another car that I want and that's REALLY annoying... The 4c is my great hope. I sat in one and liked it. Now I need to drive one (and wait for the price to drop)
I recommend driving everything else before you but one because they are really hard to let go of.
I have always lived these - and there cousin the Fiat Coupe. I would be tempted to spend a grand or two extra and get V6. Consider the potentially ruinous running costs not against the price of the car but against the fact that its a min Ferrari (as Clarkson called it)
http://lamacchina.co.uk/alfa-romeo-gtv-v6/
http://lamacchina.co.uk/alfa-romeo-gtv-v6/
TdM-GTV said:
It's been as good as gold. Always looked after by Alfa Aid who keep it in top condition and it just never goes wrong... You need to keep on top of maintenance. It will cost you an arm and a leg every year (plus point is that hardly any other car will ever worry you in running costs again) but it won't leave you at the side of the road.
If its costing you an arm and a leg every year, I'd reconsider your choice of garage. AntiLagGC8 said:
daveinaravecave said:
I bought a '00 TS model 8 months ago for £500 with no history and still using it as a daily. It'd had 4 new types and new rear brake discs pads and calipers as well as a fresh MOT. The front calipers ended up being a bit sticky after a few months so replaced the front brakes too. I've probably spent about £800 all in replacing various parts on it and it's thirsty on fuel, but it's one of the most fun cars driven due to the amount of grip it has. It's a bit slow off the line as it's geared to 40 in 1st, but after that it's similar in pace to EP3 and FN2 Civic Type R's. Either that or the two I've had a blast with weren't driving them right.
I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
I've owned a TS and a Civic Type R (EP3) and the CTR will absolutely destroy the TS if both are driven flat out. The CTR needs to be worked hard to get the best from it though which means the driver has to be on it. My current work car is an Alfa although of the diesel variety. I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
The CTR is vastly quicker in every area.
Still the TS engine is a lovely thing and delivers decent performance!
A GTV6 would be similar performance though
dinkel said:
Maybe check the 2.4 Diesel. No, serious. It's a quick one.
A one off: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...
?
TA14 said:
dinkel said:
Maybe check the 2.4 Diesel. No, serious. It's a quick one.
A one off: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...
?
s m said:
AntiLagGC8 said:
daveinaravecave said:
I bought a '00 TS model 8 months ago for £500 with no history and still using it as a daily. It'd had 4 new types and new rear brake discs pads and calipers as well as a fresh MOT. The front calipers ended up being a bit sticky after a few months so replaced the front brakes too. I've probably spent about £800 all in replacing various parts on it and it's thirsty on fuel, but it's one of the most fun cars driven due to the amount of grip it has. It's a bit slow off the line as it's geared to 40 in 1st, but after that it's similar in pace to EP3 and FN2 Civic Type R's. Either that or the two I've had a blast with weren't driving them right.
I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
I've owned a TS and a Civic Type R (EP3) and the CTR will absolutely destroy the TS if both are driven flat out. The CTR needs to be worked hard to get the best from it though which means the driver has to be on it. My current work car is an Alfa although of the diesel variety. I got a phone call earlier today about a V6 GTV at a decent price and just waiting for the pictures to be sent over so I may find myself owning 2 of them very shortly
The CTR is vastly quicker in every area.
Still the TS engine is a lovely thing and delivers decent performance!
A GTV6 would be similar performance though
The other comment about it being hard to get rid of are true. I've driven cars with a more than double the power yet it's easy to get back in to and still enjoy driving it. It's the longest I've ever kept a car and I usually change it every few months.
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