Friday 27th April 2007

Coupe from the dark side

Alfa Romeo GT Blackline arrives

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Special edition GT, but no V6 version

Alfa’s GT coupe has been given the special edition treatment. The new ‘Blackline’ models are available with either the 2.0 litre JTS petrol engine or the 1.9 JTDM diesel unit and feature metallic black paint and unique 18” alloy wheels.

Inside, the cars feature ‘interior sports styling’ which equates to black leather sports seats, red stitching on the steering wheel and aluminium pedals and gear knob. You also get a BOSE stereo fitted.

Blackline models cost less than their entry-level equivalent: the JTS is £19,980 (£19,995 for standard model) and the diesel is £20,980 (£21,200).

[craigw]

i dont get where this fits into the lineup along side the brera?

[jamieboy]

craigw said:

i dont get where this fits into the lineup along side the brera?

It's a four-seater against the Brera's 2+2, and it's roughly £5k cheaper like for like.

[Wombat Rick]

craigw said:

i dont get where this fits into the lineup along side the brera?

I don't get why it matters?

[craigw]

it doesnt, just interested

[chauffeur]

Th GT is a great car based on the 147/156 whereas the Brera shares the Premium Platform with the Brera/159.

It also has the proper 'Alfa 3.2 v6' rather that the GM modified one.

full details here www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/alfa_romeo/08/gt_facelift/1308.html

I will be replacing my 156 Sportwagon with one next year.

[rob05]

Awful car to be honest and i dont know why we bought it!The only positive imo is the engine which is a real gem in jtd form.

[chauffeur]

rob05 said:

Awful car to be honest and i dont know why we bought it!The only positive imo is the engine which is a real gem in jtd form.

what is awful about it? please elaborate.

[bencollins]

Worth buying on interior alone.

[mikes3]

Having a MAJOR wobble on these, half of me wants to trade the Chim and the C5 in for a GT...and the other half (oddly the practical side) wants to keep the cars I've got...why did alfa have to build such a desirable diesel hatchback!

Echo the point, the interior is amazing, and the outside ain't bad as well

Edited by mikes3 on Friday 27th April 15:23

[michaelp]

I rented one of these a year ago while in Italy. Great engine, just pulls and pulls (JTD). Awful turning radius. Awful rear and rear 3/4 visibility. Fairly inexcusable for a basic daily driver.

[joey deakon]

I have to say my 3.2 V6 was the best car I've ever owned. Alfa red with black leather, simply stunning

Maybe not as fast, or as great handling as my current Z4 coupe, but she made me grin like a loon every time I drove her.

And the noise, the noise........













Why did I change again?

Edited by joey deakon on Friday 27th April 15:31

[chauffeur]

michaelp said:

I rented one of these a year ago while in Italy. Great engine, just pulls and pulls (JTD). Awful turning radius. Awful rear and rear 3/4 visibility. Fairly inexcusable for a basic daily driver.

Yea i agree about the turning circle - manouvering my 156 is a bit embarrasing sometimes.
But you would have the same issue with a Fezza...

As for rear visibility - that's the 1st rule of Italian Driving

"whatsa behind izzn't important"

Edited by chauffeur on Friday 27th April 15:36

[rob05]

And to add to the last guys comments
Constant recalls stodgey handling cheap interior plastics coupled with the constant rattling sound track.
Add to that possibly the worst after service care Ive ever experienced it justs adds up to an awful car
I'd love tell it differently but I'd be lying
I have had many alfas in the past including 156 v6 146 ti and a 164 3.0 super all had faults but not drove as badly or were as uncomfortable and cramped like this one.
Its a dog with a veil.

[mikes3]

wobbling slightly less, Citroen and TVR combo beginning to look the favourite option!

[michaelp]

chauffeur said:

Yea i agree about the turning circle - manouvering my 156 is a bit embarrasing sometimes.
But you would have the same issue with a Fezza...

As for rear visibility - that's the 1st rule of Italian Driving

"whatsa behind izzn't important"

In a Ferrari or something exotic, I can excuse some of the "practicality" issues, but on a car like this, it's just ridiculous.

Oh and I forgot to add that the A pillars are so wide that most Fiats easily hide behind them.

Edited by michaelp on Friday 27th April 16:34

[sandys]

rob05 said:

And to add to the last guys comments
Constant recalls stodgey handling cheap interior plastics coupled with the constant rattling sound track.
Add to that possibly the worst after service care Ive ever experienced it justs adds up to an awful car
I'd love tell it differently but I'd be lying
I have had many alfas in the past including 156 v6 146 ti and a 164 3.0 super all had faults but not drove as badly or were as uncomfortable and cramped like this one.
Its a dog with a veil.

Hmm I'd hardly call one recall loads

www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

That list may not be exhaustive as I do recall be called in for a software update to the ABS, perhaps that wasn't an official recall but nothing else, certainly no different to any other manufacturer really, you make it sound liek its in every week. The other Alfas you mention can't match the GT for handling, well the 156 would be close as they are basically the same car but otherwise can't see where you are coming from, I have had a few Alfa and Fiats and the GT is the best so far.

[chauffeur]

I am glad only a few people 'get' Alfas.

The latest 159/Brera derivatives seem to be trying too hard to be german - Alfa GT is the last of the 156 generation and this edition is proper old skool Alfa with red stitched cloth seats.

It is at the top of my wish list for the next car, along with a Panda 100HP/new 500 Abarth.

[rob05]

Yes i do see your point on the recall side mine has had two so endless or constant is incorrect,i think it was the fiat seicento sporting that my girlfriend once owned that was haunting me.
I never meant to say the other Alfas handled better,they were just better cars imo.Compared to other cars in its class it doesn't handle at all and imo after owning the best budget price Italian sports car including such class as the intergrale,strada abarth i know how an Italian sports car should handle and the gt doesn't come close.
Also if you had to use my local alfa dealer in Darlington(20 miles away) then you might not be so enthusiastic.
I cant comment on the new alfas but i can assure you of this,that no mater how good the new cars my be i will never buy another alfa until they improve the dealship net work and customer service.

Edited by rob05 on Saturday 28th April 10:40

[rimmer]

how can you not like this car? its great

[sjn2004]

rob05 said:

Yes i do see your point on the recall side mine has had two so endless or constant is incorrect,i think it was the fiat seicento sporting that my girlfriend once owned that was haunting me.
I never meant to say the other Alfas handled better they were just better cars imo.Compared to other cars in its class it doesn't handle at all and imo after owning the best budget price Italian sports car including such class is the intergrale,strada abarth i know how an Italian sports car should handle and the gt doesn't come close.
If you had to use my local alfa dealer in Darlington(20 miles away) then you might not be so enthusiastic.
I cant comment on the new alfas but i can assure you this that no mater how good the cars my be until they improve the dealership net work i will never buy another alfa.

You mean a Fiat dealer with a desk and bit of red carpet in the corner? Alfa has dumped a lot of dealers if they won't provide proper facilities, however their network is now somewhat sparse.

The 159 is now the best handling in its class, the 3 series comes second(according to a test on German TV/magazine).

Edited by sjn2004 on Saturday 28th April 00:04