Alfa GTV V6 as a daily
Discussion
Looking for some back up and if possible real life experience with the wonderful GTV V6.
I've been offered a GTV that I know is a great example so no worries there, I can't however keep my current 147 JTDm as well because the wife will suspend all privileges indefinitely.
I am conscious that it is an older car and currently I do 86 miles a day. I know mpg will be worlds apart but I'm not bothered about that, I am just trying to work out if the car will take it. My 147 has been great so I'm not keen on shooting myself in the foot, because as I say it will have to go.
So an real world experience you may have will be gratefully received.
Cheers.
I've been offered a GTV that I know is a great example so no worries there, I can't however keep my current 147 JTDm as well because the wife will suspend all privileges indefinitely.
I am conscious that it is an older car and currently I do 86 miles a day. I know mpg will be worlds apart but I'm not bothered about that, I am just trying to work out if the car will take it. My 147 has been great so I'm not keen on shooting myself in the foot, because as I say it will have to go.
So an real world experience you may have will be gratefully received.
Cheers.
Best clarify what you mean here. A GTV V6 would be a 916 Car, ie the last shape of GTV, FWD and built up to the mid 2000's. Apart from fuel economy I can't see why that would be any less good as a daily rive than a 147.
A GTV6 would be the 116 series Alfetta GT with the Busso V6 in it. A much older design which whilst still a cracking Car would be harder to live with day to day. Simple stuff like demisting etc will be far less efficient than a modern Car. It will of course be more vulnerable to the old Tin Worm which eats old Alfa's for fun.
A GTV6 would be the 116 series Alfetta GT with the Busso V6 in it. A much older design which whilst still a cracking Car would be harder to live with day to day. Simple stuff like demisting etc will be far less efficient than a modern Car. It will of course be more vulnerable to the old Tin Worm which eats old Alfa's for fun.
No reason not to use it as a daily, as long as it's been cared for. I have a GTV V6 and it's been reliable, but then again as an occasional car. I often think cars that are used daily are more reliable though.
It'll be other stuff that would ruin your experience of it - electricals, rust, yadayadayada
I have a 166 3.0 V6 too and thats great, mechanically. It's all the other s
t thats getting my goat - the on-off central locking, the phantom warning lights, all the usual alfa gubbins.
Sounds great though, and that counts for a lot. Just buy it
It'll be other stuff that would ruin your experience of it - electricals, rust, yadayadayada
I have a 166 3.0 V6 too and thats great, mechanically. It's all the other s
t thats getting my goat - the on-off central locking, the phantom warning lights, all the usual alfa gubbins.Sounds great though, and that counts for a lot. Just buy it
I was in a not dissimilar position a couple of years ago. Running a modded Fiat Coupe 20VT as a daily driver for about 90 miles a day. It was great fun to drive and I always enjoyed being a bit left-field when compared with the thousands of boring euro-boxes on the road.
However, the running costs were difficult to justify, and I suspect the OP's running costs for a similarly aged Alfa would be in the same ballpark.
I used to get 25mpg, so three to four gallons of fuel a day = £25-ish. Add in oil changes every 6k, brakes, tyres and general wear & tear, and I was probably spending around £30 per day just to get to work and back. That's about £7,500 pa from net pay, meaning I was using up about £13,000 of my gross salary (also bear in mind I was working part-time at an Italian car specialist, so I was getting all my maintenance at cost)
I had run an earlier Coupe as a daily for seven years, putting almost a quarter of a million miles on it, but it eventually succumbed to rust and had to be scrapped. The GTV would be similarly vulnerable if used all year round. We had an absolutely gorgeous GTV Cup in the workshops last week - VERY shiny and sounded amazing. Shame about the gaping holes in the sills and floors though.... - No matter how good it looks, its still 15+ year old Italian steel
I decided that an Alfa GT diesel was the solution (so very close to the OP's 147 diesel) - now getting 50+ mpg and much less general maintenance costs. The difference is that I kept the Coupe as a weekend toy. I had the same threat from SWMBO, but I figured it was a price worth paying....
I'd suggest that the OP will need very deep pockets, a lot of patience, an Alfa specialist on speed-dial and a good breakdown insurance policy.
However, the running costs were difficult to justify, and I suspect the OP's running costs for a similarly aged Alfa would be in the same ballpark.
I used to get 25mpg, so three to four gallons of fuel a day = £25-ish. Add in oil changes every 6k, brakes, tyres and general wear & tear, and I was probably spending around £30 per day just to get to work and back. That's about £7,500 pa from net pay, meaning I was using up about £13,000 of my gross salary (also bear in mind I was working part-time at an Italian car specialist, so I was getting all my maintenance at cost)
I had run an earlier Coupe as a daily for seven years, putting almost a quarter of a million miles on it, but it eventually succumbed to rust and had to be scrapped. The GTV would be similarly vulnerable if used all year round. We had an absolutely gorgeous GTV Cup in the workshops last week - VERY shiny and sounded amazing. Shame about the gaping holes in the sills and floors though.... - No matter how good it looks, its still 15+ year old Italian steel
I decided that an Alfa GT diesel was the solution (so very close to the OP's 147 diesel) - now getting 50+ mpg and much less general maintenance costs. The difference is that I kept the Coupe as a weekend toy. I had the same threat from SWMBO, but I figured it was a price worth paying....
I'd suggest that the OP will need very deep pockets, a lot of patience, an Alfa specialist on speed-dial and a good breakdown insurance policy.
Can't agree with Ice on this one. I love the seats/seating position and find it very comfortable for long journeys. Try it for yourself is my advice!
Also, my GTV gets the hump if I don't use it during the week. It's desperate to be a daily driver even though I cycle to work - so I drive it for fun almost every day instead.
Also, my GTV gets the hump if I don't use it during the week. It's desperate to be a daily driver even though I cycle to work - so I drive it for fun almost every day instead.
I had a GTV V6 as a daily. Always thought it was a comfy place to be. Had probably nearly 2 years of putting about £400/month in fuel into it doing about 20-35 miles, twice a day during the week, and a bit at the weekend. Reasonably reliable, when my mileage dropped I had to replace the alternator which I don't think is common. The V6 engines are tough. I think at the end of my ownership the wipers may have got a bit 'buggy', other than that no other electrical problems. I took mine from about 55k->95k.
Edited by Esseesse on Monday 23 February 16:58
The GTV v6 is a fantastic car - but as a daily drive? Not exactly built for chugging along in commuting traffic / congestion - clutch certainly on the 3.0 is fairly heavy and coupled with the short gearing soon becomes wearing... Not exactly nimble in town eaither - the turning circle comparable to your average aircraft carrier
The car will doubtless - if maintenance kept on top of - do the job admirably...given the free flowing open road there's few cars I'd prefer to be in - but as a commuter? No.... currently using diesel 156 for that!(have words with the Mrs keep your 147 for the daily and stash the GTV for weekends (although I guarantee if you ignore the GTV for a few days the battery will be flat!)
The car will doubtless - if maintenance kept on top of - do the job admirably...given the free flowing open road there's few cars I'd prefer to be in - but as a commuter? No.... currently using diesel 156 for that!(have words with the Mrs keep your 147 for the daily and stash the GTV for weekends (although I guarantee if you ignore the GTV for a few days the battery will be flat!)
Edited by Tim-D on Wednesday 25th February 11:10
Tim-D said:
The GTV v6 is a fantastic car - but as a daily drive?
The car will doubtless - if maintenance kept on top of - do the job admirably - but as a commuter? No....
Currently using diesel 156 for that!
I have run a couple of 3.2 GTVs as daily drivers, but with my current mileage now use a diesel 156 for the grind.The car will doubtless - if maintenance kept on top of - do the job admirably - but as a commuter? No....
Currently using diesel 156 for that!
Ice White Socks said:
The leather Momo interior looks amazing but possibly the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in. You kind of sit on them- almost over the level of the side bolsters. Whilst I'm not fussy on seats as a rule there is no way I would have considered using mine as a daily :-(
A GTV V6 can easily be used as a daily driver, subject to the following caveats.The seats really are the worst car seats ever.
The ground clearance is pants.
The turning circle is awful.
The flanks of the body are hopelessly prone to dings.
The frameless windows leak and make lots of noise on the motorway.
They are a bit claustrophobic, the rear seats are useless and the boot is a bit small.
26mpg is not a lot if you are doing more than 20,000 miles a year.
But they are lovely old things.
I found a 2.5 V6 156 a much better compromise for daily duties. Nicer dash, more comfortable, more practical, better built, and more robust. Just as much fun from the driver's seat, but nothing like as sexy to behold.
They're fine as a daily. I pop 50 miles a day on our V6 and it loves it.
Things will wear out, so budget accordingly but it's probably only the same as depreciation on something new/newer.
Sounds bloody lovely too
...and that's despite it heading for the garage next week, aiming for the usual £500-£1k range again.
Things will wear out, so budget accordingly but it's probably only the same as depreciation on something new/newer.
Sounds bloody lovely too
...and that's despite it heading for the garage next week, aiming for the usual £500-£1k range again.
I use my V6 as a daily and the car seems to love doing lots of miles. It hasn't put a foot wrong lately and really is a pleasure to drive, though my commute isn't a stop start one too much (I drive from York to Thirsk, so most the journey is on the A19 which normally allows 50 - 60 mph).
As mentioned, the seats aren't the best and the suspension is hard, but somehow, don't ask me how, it is quite a pleasurable long distance car. It shouldn't be, but I think it's fine. I really enjoy the 200 mile drive south to visit my parents and friends regularly.
Wind noise is awful though.
But hey, just look at it!
As mentioned, the seats aren't the best and the suspension is hard, but somehow, don't ask me how, it is quite a pleasurable long distance car. It shouldn't be, but I think it's fine. I really enjoy the 200 mile drive south to visit my parents and friends regularly.
Wind noise is awful though.
But hey, just look at it!
strangehighways said:
Wind noise is awful though.
Nice looking car, and indeed this might be one of the worst things about the GTV. Even with everything fitting nicely you get out after a few hours and realise you're slightly deafened. I wonder if long periods in the GTV (backbone removed) gave me the tinnitus I occasionally notice.strangehighways said:
I use my V6 as a daily and the car seems to love doing lots of miles. It hasn't put a foot wrong lately and really is a pleasure to drive, though my commute isn't a stop start one too much (I drive from York to Thirsk, so most the journey is on the A19 which normally allows 50 - 60 mph).
As mentioned, the seats aren't the best and the suspension is hard, but somehow, don't ask me how, it is quite a pleasurable long distance car. It shouldn't be, but I think it's fine. I really enjoy the 200 mile drive south to visit my parents and friends regularly.
Wind noise is awful though.
But hey, just look at it!
Snap As mentioned, the seats aren't the best and the suspension is hard, but somehow, don't ask me how, it is quite a pleasurable long distance car. It shouldn't be, but I think it's fine. I really enjoy the 200 mile drive south to visit my parents and friends regularly.
Wind noise is awful though.
But hey, just look at it!
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