Discussion
I just had to get back to Alfa. It was not a rational decision.
Last year, I had a GTV V6 in Blue...I made a thread about it here..
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
Well, in May last year, a lorry driver decided to make mincemeat of it on the M1 at 10pm driving in a 50mph average speed zone. I was hit on the passenger side rear and spun... the car was written off.
Then I got an E34 540i BMW. See here http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
I just kept hankering after another busso V6 powered Alfa though. As great as the BMW was, I needed another Alfa. It is that simple. It is not something I can quantify. I saw this GTV for a good price and snapped it up quickly.
Reasons I bought the car:- busso v6 engine, the noise, the power delivery, the throttle response, the engine telling you to rev it till you hit the redline, the looks. It just feels special. Sorry for the cliches, but it's true. GTVs do have a fair few niggles though eg. wind noise around the window seals, crashy ride at low speeds, weird driving position.
Don't listen to people say they are unreliable etc. As long as you keep the oil level topped up and get it serviced when it should be serviced, it should be ok. Also, the car is galvanised, so there should not be any rust issues. There isn't a spot on mine. It's ironic really, as many people mention rust in association with Alfas, yet even the 164 in the early 90s was galvanised and my previous 164 had no rust on it either. (L574SGJ where are you?).
73k miles, cambelt just done, all bushes recently done, 6 speed, red leather interior.
Here are a few pics. I will get some better ones at some point.
Last year, I had a GTV V6 in Blue...I made a thread about it here..
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
Well, in May last year, a lorry driver decided to make mincemeat of it on the M1 at 10pm driving in a 50mph average speed zone. I was hit on the passenger side rear and spun... the car was written off.
Then I got an E34 540i BMW. See here http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...
I just kept hankering after another busso V6 powered Alfa though. As great as the BMW was, I needed another Alfa. It is that simple. It is not something I can quantify. I saw this GTV for a good price and snapped it up quickly.
Reasons I bought the car:- busso v6 engine, the noise, the power delivery, the throttle response, the engine telling you to rev it till you hit the redline, the looks. It just feels special. Sorry for the cliches, but it's true. GTVs do have a fair few niggles though eg. wind noise around the window seals, crashy ride at low speeds, weird driving position.
Don't listen to people say they are unreliable etc. As long as you keep the oil level topped up and get it serviced when it should be serviced, it should be ok. Also, the car is galvanised, so there should not be any rust issues. There isn't a spot on mine. It's ironic really, as many people mention rust in association with Alfas, yet even the 164 in the early 90s was galvanised and my previous 164 had no rust on it either. (L574SGJ where are you?).
73k miles, cambelt just done, all bushes recently done, 6 speed, red leather interior.
Here are a few pics. I will get some better ones at some point.
Edited by strangehighways on Monday 7th January 19:19
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Alfa is running well.
Had it MOT'd and all it needed was a new wheel, as one of the rear ones was bent.
If anyone wants to know what a standard GTV V6 sounds like from inside, here is a video......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdLM3Tx6y58
Had it MOT'd and all it needed was a new wheel, as one of the rear ones was bent.
If anyone wants to know what a standard GTV V6 sounds like from inside, here is a video......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdLM3Tx6y58
Your GTV looks lovey. Do I spot red leather interior?Fancy posting some pictures up of that?
I've always wondered about alfas as I like the GTV and the facelift 147 but have been wary from people saying they are unreliable. Although reading around here, It seems to be exaggerated, and as long as you stick to the regular upkeep it'll be fine (as with any car i guess).
I've always wondered about alfas as I like the GTV and the facelift 147 but have been wary from people saying they are unreliable. Although reading around here, It seems to be exaggerated, and as long as you stick to the regular upkeep it'll be fine (as with any car i guess).
These cars are great, and all that old stuff about Alfas being unreliable is just old stuff. Of course, with any car that is ten years old or more, you must expect some niggles, but that's just part of the deal. It is good to see an example of this car that has not, it appears, been mucked about with, as some have. Alas, most of the surviving Fiat Coupe Turbos have fallen into the hands of the boy Barry and his pals. The GTVs seem to remain in more discerning ownership.
They're exceptionally pretty and time is kind to them as it always is to good design. My brother had a Twinspark Spider in the mid 1990s, I guess he was unlucky because it was hellish unreliable and fragile - but beautiful too. He still talks fondly of it even though he sold it at eight months old.
ambuletz said:
Your GTV looks lovey. Do I spot red leather interior?Fancy posting some pictures up of that?
I've always wondered about alfas as I like the GTV and the facelift 147 but have been wary from people saying they are unreliable. Although reading around here, It seems to be exaggerated, and as long as you stick to the regular upkeep it'll be fine (as with any car i guess).
I'll get some pics of the interior in the next couple of days for you. I've always wondered about alfas as I like the GTV and the facelift 147 but have been wary from people saying they are unreliable. Although reading around here, It seems to be exaggerated, and as long as you stick to the regular upkeep it'll be fine (as with any car i guess).
Sorry I took so long to post pictures of the interior. Here are some.
Car is running well but has thrown up a few bills here and there. The engine fan stopped working and had to be sorted.
I use it to commute every day to work and even try and find any excuse to drive it through the countryside at the weekend. Windows down, V6 screaming.....
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/UY5fGbH3.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/JERk1L3j" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/JERk1L3j.jpg)
Car is running well but has thrown up a few bills here and there. The engine fan stopped working and had to be sorted.
I use it to commute every day to work and even try and find any excuse to drive it through the countryside at the weekend. Windows down, V6 screaming.....
That is pretty much my dream car (well, in dark metallic red, tan leather and the same wheels but silver...) right there, that or the V6 Turbo one.
I hope you enjoy that car for years to come, i'm alfa-less sadly right now, but i know there will be one in my future, a GTV if at all possible.
I hope you enjoy that car for years to come, i'm alfa-less sadly right now, but i know there will be one in my future, a GTV if at all possible.
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