Alfa GTV - To buy or not to buy?
Discussion
Wolfsbait said:
I need a cheap runaround - ideally with a bit of character - and I'm tempted by an Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 (circa 2000).
Am I mad? Won't be doing many miles, but are they a potential money pit?
Any Alfa fans out there who can advise?
Want to spend no more than 5k
cheers
a
I was in the exact same mind 12 months ago. Needed a new (2nd hand) car and there was a GTV in metallic Italian Racing Green for £2k......only the insurance quotes put me off Am I mad? Won't be doing many miles, but are they a potential money pit?
Any Alfa fans out there who can advise?
Want to spend no more than 5k
cheers
a
I ran one as a daily driver for a while, doing about 1500 miles a month.
I'm a bit of an Alfa fanboy, so I'm probably biased but I really liked it. Obviously they can be a bit thirsty, I was getting less than 250 miles to a tank.
Makes a nice cruiser, smooth, quick and a lovely engine note.
Rear suspension is a common problem and the cambelt/waterpump is expensive to change. But it felt special to me!
I'm a bit of an Alfa fanboy, so I'm probably biased but I really liked it. Obviously they can be a bit thirsty, I was getting less than 250 miles to a tank.
Makes a nice cruiser, smooth, quick and a lovely engine note.
Rear suspension is a common problem and the cambelt/waterpump is expensive to change. But it felt special to me!
Do it 
Just do your homework first and you'll be ok. £5k will get you a good one. Not especially cheap to run but they're lovely cars - performance bargain, looks fantastic, fabulous interior and the best engine made by Alfa Romeo and arguably one of the best V6s ever made.
I'm on my third GTV and second V6. I got my current one after I sold my Ferrari and I don't feel particularly short-changed
Usual complaints are that it's wrong wheel drive
though stick a Q2 diff in it and it's much better, unreliable - in my experience no more than any other performance car provided you look after it properly. The Momo seats aren't particularly supportive during hard cornering 
Standard brakes don't have much feel and can lead to a lack of confidence in them. Common mods include suspension - adjustable Konis and firmer Eibach springs, induction and re-map to take it from 220 to 240bhp. Standard exhaust is quite restrictive and too quiet, especially on later cars with 4 cats(!). Stick decent sports exhaust on at it will sound glorious - rather like half an Aston Martin DBS
Boot is very small and rear seats suitable for very short trips/kids/paraplegics only.
Just do your homework first and you'll be ok. £5k will get you a good one. Not especially cheap to run but they're lovely cars - performance bargain, looks fantastic, fabulous interior and the best engine made by Alfa Romeo and arguably one of the best V6s ever made.
I'm on my third GTV and second V6. I got my current one after I sold my Ferrari and I don't feel particularly short-changed
Usual complaints are that it's wrong wheel drive
though stick a Q2 diff in it and it's much better, unreliable - in my experience no more than any other performance car provided you look after it properly. The Momo seats aren't particularly supportive during hard cornering Standard brakes don't have much feel and can lead to a lack of confidence in them. Common mods include suspension - adjustable Konis and firmer Eibach springs, induction and re-map to take it from 220 to 240bhp. Standard exhaust is quite restrictive and too quiet, especially on later cars with 4 cats(!). Stick decent sports exhaust on at it will sound glorious - rather like half an Aston Martin DBSBoot is very small and rear seats suitable for very short trips/kids/paraplegics only.
Buy it! £5k should get you a very decent example....maybe an 02, with 60k miles that has had a recent cambelt change! (Aerokit + teledial alloys a must IMO)
I have had mine for 7 months now and have had to have the slave cylinder replaced, which cost £110 at main dealer (warranty company paid). Oh, and replaced a couple of tyres...got Falkens for £80 per tyre.
All in all she has been pretty reliable and was left for 7 days during the heavy snow and started first time!
One thing I would advise you to be wary of is that the locks freeze up very badly in the cold. Just google 'gtv frozen locks' and you will see, however, I believe there are preventative measures that you can take (or you may have a garage in which case there is no problem)
I have had mine for 7 months now and have had to have the slave cylinder replaced, which cost £110 at main dealer (warranty company paid). Oh, and replaced a couple of tyres...got Falkens for £80 per tyre.
All in all she has been pretty reliable and was left for 7 days during the heavy snow and started first time!
One thing I would advise you to be wary of is that the locks freeze up very badly in the cold. Just google 'gtv frozen locks' and you will see, however, I believe there are preventative measures that you can take (or you may have a garage in which case there is no problem)
Wolfsbait said:
Love the theatre of the Alfa, but also the classic potential of a low mileage Corrado...
FWIW I've looked at buying both and preferred the driving experience in the Corrado. From what I've heard either can be pretty expensive to run. Before I bought my old TVR I went to see a guy who had a 400SE (one of the more extreme wedges) and he reckoned it cost him less to run than his GTV V6 before it had. That's pretty sobering for a mass produced FWD coupe. They do look and sound the nuts though. 
Took the plunge week before last...
99 GTV6 with aero pack and teledials - only 68,000 miles and loaded with history.
So far so good...utterly addictive engine note beyond 5k, which is inversely proportional to the frown you get when forking out £1.20 for a litre of fuel, something it's rather partial to!
Can't recommend enough. (Well at least until something drops off / seizes up / explodes)
99 GTV6 with aero pack and teledials - only 68,000 miles and loaded with history.
So far so good...utterly addictive engine note beyond 5k, which is inversely proportional to the frown you get when forking out £1.20 for a litre of fuel, something it's rather partial to!
Can't recommend enough. (Well at least until something drops off / seizes up / explodes)
Wolfsbait said:
Took the plunge week before last...
99 GTV6 with aero pack and teledials - only 68,000 miles and loaded with history.
So far so good...utterly addictive engine note beyond 5k, which is inversely proportional to the frown you get when forking out £1.20 for a litre of fuel, something it's rather partial to!
Can't recommend enough. (Well at least until something drops off / seizes up / explodes)
Pics !99 GTV6 with aero pack and teledials - only 68,000 miles and loaded with history.
So far so good...utterly addictive engine note beyond 5k, which is inversely proportional to the frown you get when forking out £1.20 for a litre of fuel, something it's rather partial to!
Can't recommend enough. (Well at least until something drops off / seizes up / explodes)
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