Alfa GTV6/75 V6 mechanicals
Discussion
Hi,
What are the rear wheel drive alfas like to work on? Italian cars always conjure up images of horror stories about having to take the engine out to change the plugs or something stupid (ok, I'm exagerating, but you get the idea)
Does anyone know the service intervals for them?
I'm not a mechanic, so I'd only pluck up the courages to do basic things like services or swapping dampers over, would probably leave cambelts and anything to do with the clutch or transaxle to someone who knows what they're doing!
What are the rear wheel drive alfas like to work on? Italian cars always conjure up images of horror stories about having to take the engine out to change the plugs or something stupid (ok, I'm exagerating, but you get the idea)
Does anyone know the service intervals for them?
I'm not a mechanic, so I'd only pluck up the courages to do basic things like services or swapping dampers over, would probably leave cambelts and anything to do with the clutch or transaxle to someone who knows what they're doing!
I'm currently part way through sorting out my 3rd 75, but......if you're not too mechanically minded they're a bit of a pain!
The transaxle & rear brakes are a little difficult to sort out if you don't know what you're doing- after a while they get easy! The front suspension's OK, as are the brakes.
The motor's honestly the best part, but is somewhat "challenging" for certain jobs eg. steering rack, clutch & brake master cylinder, and starter motors on the V6 (due to access).......cambelts are a bit of a pain on the V6 if you do them according to the manual too!
Service intervals are (or were) every 6K, spares are becoming a little difficult to obtain, would I buy one YES! But I'd be prepared to wait for parts to arrive, and fairly hefty mechanics bills.......
The transaxle & rear brakes are a little difficult to sort out if you don't know what you're doing- after a while they get easy! The front suspension's OK, as are the brakes.
The motor's honestly the best part, but is somewhat "challenging" for certain jobs eg. steering rack, clutch & brake master cylinder, and starter motors on the V6 (due to access).......cambelts are a bit of a pain on the V6 if you do them according to the manual too!
Service intervals are (or were) every 6K, spares are becoming a little difficult to obtain, would I buy one YES! But I'd be prepared to wait for parts to arrive, and fairly hefty mechanics bills.......
I'm actually an automotive engineer, but have to admit I'm not much of a mechanic. Think for critical jobs, I'd ratehr leave it do someone whos done the job before.
...so parts availability isn't great then? Is that just for major parts or would it apply to consumables too?
Are the mythical Alfa reliability gremlins real then?
...so parts availability isn't great then? Is that just for major parts or would it apply to consumables too?
Are the mythical Alfa reliability gremlins real then?
If you're struggling to find parts try here:
http://www.classicalfaparts.com/
I ordered a stack of stuff that's NLA from Alfa UK from them a couple of weeks ago - all in stock, and all arrived in 3 or 4 days.
http://www.classicalfaparts.com/
I ordered a stack of stuff that's NLA from Alfa UK from them a couple of weeks ago - all in stock, and all arrived in 3 or 4 days.
Well, haven't got one at present. The general consensus on the GTV6 forum seems to be I'd need my head examined to use one as a daily driver.
But, if it's a blood red one of these,
Driving the right set of wheels with a nice sonorous V6 or a subjectively better, but souless piece of teutonic engineering like a 3 series, I might have to consider renewing my AA membership. It's a real dilema! Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
But, if it's a blood red one of these,
Driving the right set of wheels with a nice sonorous V6 or a subjectively better, but souless piece of teutonic engineering like a 3 series, I might have to consider renewing my AA membership. It's a real dilema! Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
Chris71 said:
Well, haven't got one at present. The general consensus on the GTV6 forum seems to be I'd need my head examined to use one as a daily driver.
But, if it's a blood red one of these,
Driving the right set of wheels with a nice sonorous V6 or a subjectively better, but souless piece of teutonic engineering like a 3 series, I might have to consider renewing my AA membership. It's a real dilema! Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
My last 75 was used as a daily driver until I sold it! Thing with the GTV6 is they seem to command a premium over the 75, and you can pick up a better 75 than GTV6 for the same cash........similar thing with the SZ/RZ - 75 with a party frock!But, if it's a blood red one of these,
Driving the right set of wheels with a nice sonorous V6 or a subjectively better, but souless piece of teutonic engineering like a 3 series, I might have to consider renewing my AA membership. It's a real dilema! Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
As I said previously, if you get a good (sorted) one they're great - if you have to sort one out yourself they're OK, but I wouldn't buy a "cheap" example without reciepts/bills and expect no problems.
A 3-series of similar age i.e. e30 isn't a patch on a V6 75, my mate used to have one (at the same time I had my last V6) and we regularly used to "compare them" on the backroads - the 75 obliterated the 325i consistantly both on handling and power!
Edited by neejah on Saturday 16th June 14:46
Our 75 TSpark was a daily driver for 3 years, covering 20k miles. (I did 10k in the first year, then my wife did less miles in it during years 2 and 3) before I took it off the road for a bodywork restoration.
Things that needed doing in that time were limited to a new clutch and slave cylinder.
We did, however, have the gearbox rebuilt when the diff. whine got a bit too loud for comfort.
It's only since it became a 'toy' that things have given me any hassle.
I reckon a 75 needs using to keep it running sweetly and I wouldn't hesitate to use one daily.
Things that needed doing in that time were limited to a new clutch and slave cylinder.
We did, however, have the gearbox rebuilt when the diff. whine got a bit too loud for comfort.
It's only since it became a 'toy' that things have given me any hassle.
I reckon a 75 needs using to keep it running sweetly and I wouldn't hesitate to use one daily.
Chris71 said:
Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
My 2.0L did exactly that. Best car I've ever shared a piece of hard shoulder with. I knew mine would be unreliable before I bought it, and I just accepted that. I bought the car so that I'd have a good looking set of wheels that was fun to drive. In that sense, the GTV was 100% reliable.Alfanatic said:
Chris71 said:
Would I still love it, the first time it expired in a cloud of steam and made me late for work?
My 2.0L did exactly that. Best car I've ever shared a piece of hard shoulder with. I knew mine would be unreliable before I bought it, and I just accepted that. I bought the car so that I'd have a good looking set of wheels that was fun to drive. In that sense, the GTV was 100% reliable.(in a good way)
Arggh, it's so hard to call.That said I still haven't sold my current car and the frequency with which half decent GTV6's come up with, means I probably won't have to worry. I'll have seen 10 944's and 12 BMW's and doubtlessly bought one of them before anything firey ant Italian can tempt me!
.richard said:
Neejah. Your mama has just seen your comparative roadtest
Well, 
I hope you mentioned the "comparative" roadtest with your Jag and the 75........ 
Now begone my poor little munchkin, back to the world of lardy British machinery and second rate Japanese softroaders, never darken this doorway again!
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