RE: SOTW: Alfa Romeo GTV T Spark

[BILL PAYER]

crostonian said:

Any one with a PH name of BILL PAYER is never going to be an Alfa fan. My experience of cars as a trader is that on the whole they are all sh*t. No matter what you buy someone will have a horror story. If you like it buy it.

Well as a man once said to me "They are all noted for something" as we were talking about various cars and their weaknesses

[craigynett]

I've got a 2002 GTV V6 Lusso with Aero kit. Apart from the usual wear & tear parts like track rod ends etc the only part that's actually failed on this car was the thermostat & 1 front wheel bearing!!

Same goes for the Mrs' 147. In the year we've had that car we've only had to replace the thermostat & the clock spring that knocks the indicators off!!

[Bing o]

I loved my GTV, apart from the servicing costs - dropping 2k per year on servicing a 2 litre was ridiculous. It says something when I bought an Elise for lower running costs!

Great cars, but very poor components.

[pSyCoSiS]

I love the looks on these Alfas.

I can say I am a Petrolhead as I owned a 166 2.0 TS earlier this year. It was a lovely car, and I did not have any trouble with it at all.

It is worrying though, when you search for these, how many are listed as "spares/repairs".

Good SOTW.

[iain014]

Just to chip in, I've had two of these, a black 2.0 with red leather and a gtv cup. Black one was the most reliable car that I've ever owned (my edition 30 Golf has more niggles), needed a thermostat and a service in the 2 years that I had it.
Gtv cup needed a radiator and nothing else, the 147gta that I had was more troublesome but not awful by any means.

Only problems with the design of the gtv in general was that the doors are HUGE, getting out of it in a carpark was a nightmare. Boot is tiny, although a set of clubs will squeeze in if need be (use back seats for more). Those back seats are basically useful as a shelf, a passenger with any legs will not fit behind anyone over 5ft6, sitting on the left can be fine though if you are not massive.
2.0 handles as well as any front driver I've been in, the v6 is a bit nose heavy but is noticably quicker, more of a point and squirt type car. Im sure a q2 diff will liven it up a bit. Both engines sound wonderful, obviously the v6 is better but the 2.0 isn't disgraced at all.

I'm selling the golf and boxster (when the sun comes out) and paying cash for another GTV, probably a 3.0 in nuvelo blue (pearlescent), with the big teledials. Personally don't see the need to be paying monthly for anything newer, I dont think there is anything that has the balance between interior and exterior beauty, general driving abilities, rarity and value for money out there (£4k~). Shame that the Brera is such a let down driving wise, there are far better cars in that price bracket.

Should have kept the 2.0, was only 19 though and needed to sample other cars/manufacturers. Grass isn't always greener and all that.

[dibblecorse]

Pete

Good purchase, sounds like it could be a good'un, I loved my Spider 2.0 TS, so if anyone knows where S255 CUG is, I'd love to know its still alive .....

[Riggers]

thetwistys said:

I love you riggers! Just had my insurance settlement yesterday, and was looking for a sign to take the plunge. Hope approx. 2 grand + careful inspection will shield me from the worst of the moneypit problems. Again rigggers - thank you!

I'll happily take the praise, but am I absolved from blame if (heaven forbid) it all goes wrong?!?

[MiniMan64]

pete is pistol said:

HELLOO

Its mine... i just bought it could hours ago before i realised it was SOTW

and must admit....
It was fully bought with my heart not my head.... but did give a good look over..
no horrible knocks or bangs.. also the guy was really nice i got it from.. and he had looked after it very well..

also loving the interior..
my first alfa....

Keep us up to date!

[scrumpy]

I had a GTV TS from new for 12 years and 88k miles. It was great. Some TS engines use a bit too much oil for comfort but not mine - only about a pint every 6000 miles (I always changed the oil at 6k miles and used Selenia Racing 10-60 grade). If the servicing is done on time it will be reliable unless you are unlucky. I only needed to replace one rear suspension link and it was not an expensive job. (It is the 3 litres which have rear suspension problems mostly). Always use a genuine Alfa specialist independent from the main dealers for servicing and repairs and you should be OK. It handles well for its era and is great fun to drive. Not particulatly practical but if you want practicality you need a hatch back! Those 'standard' alloys aren't worth much - I bought four pristine ones for £20! Front tyres wear in about 10k miles although my right foot always wore mine in about 9k miles. However, set the fron wheels with zero toe out (ie running dead straight) and they will last over 11k miles with only a little extra tramlining. (Ok on 16 inch wheeels like these but not worth trying with 18 inchers as I found out - too much tramlining for comfort). The trouble with buying a secondhand one like this will be if the previous owners did not keep on top of the servicing and attention to details, you could be chasing faults and niggles for a year or two. But at this price it has to be worth a punt surely? Just have a good test drive, check it over with your eyes wide open and make sure everything works properly. If you subsequently get too much grief with it just sell it on. Even if you loose a few £100s so what - you had an Alfa!

I also had a 3 litre GTV for a while - awesome performance and the handling isn't too much affected by the extra engine weight.

[jake15919]

Alfas of this vintage are evil bds that will work their way through your bank balance quicker than a good/bad divorce lawyer.

It wont start with anything big. Oh no, it will start with little things like switches, relays etc. The sort of thing you don't mind spending a few quid on.

Then comes phase two, paying for the previous owner. The MOT ends up costing a couple of hundred quid more than you expected and you get an advisory on the exhaust or tyres etc. Thats OK it's only a couple of hundred and the other bits can be bought as they go. Come on, it still looks great and makes you smile when you drive it.

Phase three is where the cost starts going up. Electric motors go, along with seemingly non vital engine bits, and the alarm develops a mind of it's own. You've already put in more than you paid for the car so another few hundred pounds worth of bills whilst unwelcome doesn't stop you. To use a poker term at this point you are 'on tilt'.

Now, and only now it's cost you three times what you paid for it, comes the big'un either belt's or gearbox. And finally you scream 'enough'.

Then you go and buy another.

[pete is pistol]

well i have had a few days with it now....

and i love it.. really do love it

I know it will prob end up costing me a bomb etc.. ( i hope not and will keep up the servicing)

gonna get the brake fliud changed cam belt changed and oil changed.. as a matter of course...

yesterday was the first sunny day with it... it was a great drive out..
i have had much more powerfull and expensive car (650hp supras, mr2's scoobs etc).. but this is awesome.. it is a car i can go out and polish all day on a sunday..and have a good laugh driving

it is very italian..

the previous owner was very "posh" guy names Charles. He loved it had it 2 1/2 years also owned a TVR and just bought a jag hence selling the alfa. he had looked after it well... got brand new tire on.. not my choice of tire by anymeans.. but they will do me till the wear out.
he got a bit tearfull when saying good bye.

the only fault i have found so far is the "boot open" ligh on the dash stays on when ignition is on.. but its a small light and not bothering me at the mo... will check it out though
and the alfa forums are very helpful..
charles even sent me though the alfa workshop manual he bought. and been emailing me asking how it is..

very please with my purchase....
ill keep ya updated

cheers

[jason156v6]

Pete - good on ya

While the GTV may cost you more than the 900 quid or so you paid in "extras" over a bit of time. You won't regret it though. Many happy long drives home await.

There's loads of good indie garages, web suppliers, website forums and like minded enthusiasts who will be helpful when you need it and also a "shoulder to cry on" when things get tough and point you in the right direction. She'll cost you now and then again but preventive maintenence will ensure no side of the road breakdowns - they really aren't as bad as pub talkers make out, no heart attacks - they just wear out socks, braces,shoes and "belts" quicker than others!

Have fun - you will

J

[pete is pistol]

gotta find somewhere decent to cambelt it and service it for me.. in kent.. any recomendations:

[dbdb]

I hope it behaves itself and goes well for you. These cars are not about the ultimate in performance or handling, but the way they make you feel. They are lovely cars and so pretty that every time you park up you'll look back at it with pleasure as you walk away.

[Peppka]

pete is pistol said:

gotta find somewhere decent to cambelt it and service it for me.. in kent.. any recomendations:

Look on AROC website www.aroc-uk.com several independents advertise there. I take my GTV to Jamie Porter Alfa Workshop at Royston Herts www.alfaworkshop.co.uk he is very close to me just 4 miles that is why I bought a GTV and not a Porsche 968 at the time. Know it is some way for you but you could always visit Duxford while car is being done, suggest at the very least have a look at Alfa Workshop website very useful and informative.

[thetwistys]

Riggers said:

thetwistys said:

I love you riggers! Just had my insurance settlement yesterday, and was looking for a sign to take the plunge. Hope approx. 2 grand + careful inspection will shield me from the worst of the moneypit problems. Again rigggers - thank you!

I'll happily take the praise, but am I absolved from blame if (heaven forbid) it all goes wrong?!?

No worries riggers, won't blame it on you... (until im pulling my hair out on the hard shoulder!). Seriously though, the impression i get from this thread and various forums is that most of the people trotting out the 'cost me twice the purchase price in the first year' stories are either
A) a bit mechanically clueless/lazy i.e. pay people a couple of hundred quid labour to change oil/filters/pads/discs,
B) not doing their homework when looking at potential purchases,
C) seriously unlucky.

Hope i don't end up in the 'C)' camp! I'll let you know how it goes...

(P.S. Anyone interested in a well maintained black puma? And yes i did buy it 'cos of sotw a couple of months ago!)

[robsco]

euroboy said:

If you dont mind the drive Autolusso near Luton are very, very good at servicing and repairs and have a bone yard full of GTVs and Spiders so getting cheap second hand parts is very easy.

They know the cars inside out too.

+1

Loads of GTVs and Spiders there when I made the trip from Yorkshire for a set of wheels!

[Chris Type R]

John Boy 616 said:

it is top gears fault, the episode which they went to racing track etc had such passion, alsomost made me buy one. Almost

A bought a GTV 3.0 V6 not long after (same colour) - quite probably inspired by the TG episode.

[carinaman]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2337759.htm

[Brigand]

Well, as a bit of thread necrophilia, I found this SoTW article and was surprised to find it was of my car!

I got the car a few months back off the chap who'd bought it in this thread, and I can report that although it just failed it's MoT, (age related things, nothing major) it is still going strong.

It's off the road for a while, so I can fix the MoT points then give it some nice TLC, but once that's all done she'll be a really nice car again.