Alfa 2.0 GTV's any good? / advise
Discussion
Cheers for all of the info very useful
I think it would be the 4 cylinder car is end up with over all performance isn't te end of the world. I'm fortunate enough to own a couple of other quick cars and the alfa would be for daily 20 mile each way commute.
I think the biggest appeal is the looks and individuality of the gtv over other options, was slightly disappointed to hear the seats aren't great, they look really nice
I'd almost talked myself out of the GTV, then tonight whilst out cycling rode past a car I've been watching on eBay. In red with 66k miles, first impressions were that it looked pretty clean. Interested if any one has any opinions on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231931891679?_trksid=p20...
I think it would be the 4 cylinder car is end up with over all performance isn't te end of the world. I'm fortunate enough to own a couple of other quick cars and the alfa would be for daily 20 mile each way commute.
I think the biggest appeal is the looks and individuality of the gtv over other options, was slightly disappointed to hear the seats aren't great, they look really nice
I'd almost talked myself out of the GTV, then tonight whilst out cycling rode past a car I've been watching on eBay. In red with 66k miles, first impressions were that it looked pretty clean. Interested if any one has any opinions on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231931891679?_trksid=p20...
andye30m3 said:
I'd almost talked myself out of the GTV, then tonight whilst out cycling rode past a car I've been watching on eBay. In red with 66k miles, first impressions were that it looked pretty clean. Interested if any one has any opinions on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231931891679?_trksid=p20...
While I'm also in the V6 or nothing camp, that looks very nice indeed. Spoiler and 17s, late model. Reasonably low mileage - well worth a look.
That one looks ok. Twinnies are always a bit of a lottery secondhand. High oil usage can be constant headache. I was meticulous with mine and still almost got caught out with the distractions of life. Oil starvation will mean bottom end failure at some point and it's not really possible to check for damage. Rebuilt units go for about £1300 and there are plenty about (which tells you something in itself)
looks nice - as already mentioned, aero rear spoiler and 17 teledials are nice additions. unless it's already been done there's a belts service coming up
if you wanted to "try before you buy" so to speak there is a Ph1 in red also on the bay of dreams with a long-ish MoT and a stamped service book (but, again, belts due) for £600.
a quick trawl around t'interweb shows AforAlfa offering an all-in price for belts change (includes variator but w/pump is +£45) of £385.
paul
if you wanted to "try before you buy" so to speak there is a Ph1 in red also on the bay of dreams with a long-ish MoT and a stamped service book (but, again, belts due) for £600.
a quick trawl around t'interweb shows AforAlfa offering an all-in price for belts change (includes variator but w/pump is +£45) of £385.
paul
Slightly belated response to the thread -
I had a twin spark Spider for 6 years and it was far more reliable than any of my mates and family thought it would be. Rear suspension bushes was powerflexed and it never gave me any trouble. There was some wear and tear at the front but nothing expensive. It ate its crank temp sensor after 4 years with me, so it wouldn't start when hot. £35 replacement part. Back box fell off at 72k miles. I put a ragazzon back box on, which sounded sublime at high revs.
Post 98 models have the nicer interior. The Momo seats do look amazing and they're not as bad as you think, they're very comfortable but just don't hold you in laterally as much as you'd like if you're cornering hard. Thing is, these cars have immense amounts of grip and direct steering so you want to corner it hard. The ride in the GTV is much better than the Spider (I had a courtesy GTV while mine was in for its MOT, service and a few other cosmetic bits).
Best tyres are goodyear eagle GSD3s. Falken do a similar tyre that's 90% as good.
I managed 30mpg no matter how I drove it. Might have squeezed 34mpg on long motorway runs.
My boot release switch seemed to short out with the alarm, so I disabled it. The electric aerial needed replaced twice. Can't remember any other electrical gremlins.
Buy one with good service history, a cambelt change and an owner who keeps a spare bottle of oil handy and you'll have a decent car.
I had a twin spark Spider for 6 years and it was far more reliable than any of my mates and family thought it would be. Rear suspension bushes was powerflexed and it never gave me any trouble. There was some wear and tear at the front but nothing expensive. It ate its crank temp sensor after 4 years with me, so it wouldn't start when hot. £35 replacement part. Back box fell off at 72k miles. I put a ragazzon back box on, which sounded sublime at high revs.
Post 98 models have the nicer interior. The Momo seats do look amazing and they're not as bad as you think, they're very comfortable but just don't hold you in laterally as much as you'd like if you're cornering hard. Thing is, these cars have immense amounts of grip and direct steering so you want to corner it hard. The ride in the GTV is much better than the Spider (I had a courtesy GTV while mine was in for its MOT, service and a few other cosmetic bits).
Best tyres are goodyear eagle GSD3s. Falken do a similar tyre that's 90% as good.
I managed 30mpg no matter how I drove it. Might have squeezed 34mpg on long motorway runs.
My boot release switch seemed to short out with the alarm, so I disabled it. The electric aerial needed replaced twice. Can't remember any other electrical gremlins.
Buy one with good service history, a cambelt change and an owner who keeps a spare bottle of oil handy and you'll have a decent car.
inspired by this thread i have this evening brought my V6 out of storage, aka the back garden hardstanding (summer car only but last summer was so pants it hardly got used)
i've driven it from the back of the house to the front but already i'm smitten with it again despite it locking me out with the main keys inside it - go figure, that's a feature of the security system that i didn't know about
just for info - this was a cheap V6 (sub £2k) and i knew work would be required. it had been lowered and had a few less than desirable (to my mind) additions. however, it was within spec for the belts and the spring pans had been done. it was up and running with a long MoT and i've been able to "pace" my spending. spent quite a bit in the first year as i elected to renew all the suspension (the previous owner lowering it was a mistake despite quality parts being used, take my word for this)
my thoughts are that a V6, needing work but useable day to day as a rolling resto, is not as financially crippling (or even as harebrained) as "they" would have you believe. you'll need to look long and hard to drop on one for less than £2k these days but they are still out there and the difference between the TS and the Busso is night and day. i suspect that they will increase in value so creating a good one will probably repay you at sale time
just a comment on the belts thing with TS's. I've had literally dozens of TS engined alfa's and most, if not all, have been overdue a belts service. to this day i have never experienced a belts failure despite completely ignoring the impending catastrophe and driving them into the ground. my luck really isn't that good so ?? as to why i have consistently gotten away with it. mind you, i had a sillyspeed that worked perfectly so maybe i'm automotively blessed
paul
i've driven it from the back of the house to the front but already i'm smitten with it again despite it locking me out with the main keys inside it - go figure, that's a feature of the security system that i didn't know about
just for info - this was a cheap V6 (sub £2k) and i knew work would be required. it had been lowered and had a few less than desirable (to my mind) additions. however, it was within spec for the belts and the spring pans had been done. it was up and running with a long MoT and i've been able to "pace" my spending. spent quite a bit in the first year as i elected to renew all the suspension (the previous owner lowering it was a mistake despite quality parts being used, take my word for this)
my thoughts are that a V6, needing work but useable day to day as a rolling resto, is not as financially crippling (or even as harebrained) as "they" would have you believe. you'll need to look long and hard to drop on one for less than £2k these days but they are still out there and the difference between the TS and the Busso is night and day. i suspect that they will increase in value so creating a good one will probably repay you at sale time
just a comment on the belts thing with TS's. I've had literally dozens of TS engined alfa's and most, if not all, have been overdue a belts service. to this day i have never experienced a belts failure despite completely ignoring the impending catastrophe and driving them into the ground. my luck really isn't that good so ?? as to why i have consistently gotten away with it. mind you, i had a sillyspeed that worked perfectly so maybe i'm automotively blessed
paul
my experience also ^^ although i'd respectfully suggest that you can run them cheap if you're OK with just doing the essentials and are able and prepared to chuck it away if it goes bang; i've had alfas that i have literally just thrown oil and petrol at but done nothing else to them. mind you, i always have at least one other vehicle ready to go as back-up should it be required
as above, i have never been stranded by an alfa despite buying them for pennies and abusing them mercilessly. which is more than can be said for my (anecdotally) reliable saabs
paul
as above, i have never been stranded by an alfa despite buying them for pennies and abusing them mercilessly. which is more than can be said for my (anecdotally) reliable saabs
paul
Edited by paulmakin on Friday 6th May 20:17
I've had my 2.0 GTV for a year now and (after some preventative maintenance at the start) it's been pretty reliable, with only a flat battery letting it down. Main expenses have been putting back some original parts a previous owner had changed; but I agree the seats and the driving position aren't great. The ride is very firm too, even on standard 16"s and that would put me off geting bigger wheels even is they do look better.
Only real gripe is the lack of bark from the engine - I keep reading how good these engines sound but mine is so quiet. I can live with the performance but the characteristic Alfa sound seems very subdued.
Only real gripe is the lack of bark from the engine - I keep reading how good these engines sound but mine is so quiet. I can live with the performance but the characteristic Alfa sound seems very subdued.
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