RE: Alfa Romeo GT Blackline | Shed of the Week
Discussion
daveco said:
I still have the old EVO magazine of the group test with the 3.2 litre version - it was rapid but ultimately not as dynamic as the E46 330ci or the 350Z. I think it finished third, so it was still considered better than the Audi TT 3.2, RX8 231hp, Holden V8, and the Crossfire.
Good to know, the 3.2 does sound great too.I can't get on board with the opinion that these are better looking than the Brera, however the design has aged very well and I certainly find them more attractive now than I did when they launched. The rear always just looked a bit tacked on.
Can't think of many better ways to look more stylish for the money though, excellent shedding.
Can't think of many better ways to look more stylish for the money though, excellent shedding.
Oh dear, we are just looking for a replacement daily runner for my wife, this would be a very nice stablemate for my white diesel GT. I also think the GT's are better looking than the Brera, but then I am biased. First jobs to do - cambelt, water pump change and then inspect the rear struts for corrosion (mine caught Covid in 2020 and collapsed). The tax is a bit steep though.
This used car seller is even more of a crook than most.
It's illegal for a business to sell a car to the public as a trade sale (no warranty or comeback), but hey as long as Pistonheads can make some money by advertising it anyway and paying a 'journalist' for an article they will look the other way.
I wonder why they are gushing about how fantastic it but are not willing to back up their claims.
It's illegal for a business to sell a car to the public as a trade sale (no warranty or comeback), but hey as long as Pistonheads can make some money by advertising it anyway and paying a 'journalist' for an article they will look the other way.
I wonder why they are gushing about how fantastic it but are not willing to back up their claims.
bmv6197 said:
Had an 08 Lusso in Nero Anthracito with the same JTS 2.0.
The engine though was a nightmare - no end of problems, and even on a good day, at 160ish horses (which I think was an ambitious estimate) it was disappointingly underpowered, drank like a sailor, and was pretty poor on emissions. The (also 08) Civic Type R (FN2) I ran at the same time (and still own) offered 40 extra horses, far better economy and bullet-proof reliability out of the same 2.0 litres.
Would love another GT but it’d have to be a Busso V6 one (although that’s not a shed-money proposition). And my wife would leave me. So I guess that’s an issue…
Great shed though - even with the JTS time-bomb.
Aside from the shedding aspect of it just being a cheap car, it’s a bit disappointing re the engine so I think i too would have to get the V6 The engine though was a nightmare - no end of problems, and even on a good day, at 160ish horses (which I think was an ambitious estimate) it was disappointingly underpowered, drank like a sailor, and was pretty poor on emissions. The (also 08) Civic Type R (FN2) I ran at the same time (and still own) offered 40 extra horses, far better economy and bullet-proof reliability out of the same 2.0 litres.
Would love another GT but it’d have to be a Busso V6 one (although that’s not a shed-money proposition). And my wife would leave me. So I guess that’s an issue…
Great shed though - even with the JTS time-bomb.
It doesn’t sound like they were proper sized horses for 165 of them so the engine must feel a bit ‘flat’. Some of the retro stuff reviewed recently like the Manta were passed off for being too slow for a 2-litre but despite being 40 years old are actually faster than this at legal speeds
Another of that era missing the target, likely because of Fiat's influence and bean counters.
The whole Fiat C platform should have been RWD or at least the less humdrum versions should have been with more design flare thrown at the V6 versions.
Imagine that and dropping the new TT V6 engine in. Happy days.
The whole Fiat C platform should have been RWD or at least the less humdrum versions should have been with more design flare thrown at the V6 versions.
Imagine that and dropping the new TT V6 engine in. Happy days.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the Recaro seat's in these. By far the comfiest seats I've ever sat in.
Had my GT (1.9JTDm) for 3 years, and with a decay and remap was pumping out 200BHp with a shed load (no pun intended) of torque, used to embarrass M3's of that era.
And yes, they are better looking than the fat ar5ed Brera's. And handle far better.
My GT. with Jet fins!
Had my GT (1.9JTDm) for 3 years, and with a decay and remap was pumping out 200BHp with a shed load (no pun intended) of torque, used to embarrass M3's of that era.
And yes, they are better looking than the fat ar5ed Brera's. And handle far better.
My GT. with Jet fins!
Edited by Geoffcapes on Friday 10th May 09:26
Brilliant car, brilliant SOTW.
I had a JTS QV (or Cloverleaf as they were known in those days).
Lovely car. Nicely weighted steering with a quick rack. Plenty of grip. Excellent handling with a few tweaks (Koni FSDs+Eibach) and a nice place to be. Fantastic for long runs too, seats are extremely comfortable and the cabin quiet. Rear/boot is huge for a coupe and rear headroom decent so you can actually get 4 people in.
I had mine for more than 8 years and about 50k miles. Nothing ever went wrong that hindered progress. Few niggly things - door handle mechanisms (shared with the Fiat 500), chocolate wishbones are a consumable but not that expensive to replace.
The engine is its weakest feature. They were an early DI engine and suffer from coking up so slow down over time - and they weren't that quick when new. Economy was low 30s on a run and they need frequent cambelt changes. Totally reliable though.
The only other thing of note was that mine (and I am told others) corrode the sills from the inside out. Alfa added a tube of sound deadening foam on the inside of the sills to reduce noise. As you can imagine, foam that holds water next to even galvanised metal is not ideal. Not the end of the world - remove foam and a simple weld for a couple of hundred quid solved it, but something to bear in mind. Worth noting mine was 12 years old at that point and this was likely exacerbated/accelerated due to an idiot fitter/mechanic crushing a sill when not using the jackpoints which I am sure hastened its appearance...
Other than that they are great cars and I haven't even mentioned the way they look...
I had a JTS QV (or Cloverleaf as they were known in those days).
Lovely car. Nicely weighted steering with a quick rack. Plenty of grip. Excellent handling with a few tweaks (Koni FSDs+Eibach) and a nice place to be. Fantastic for long runs too, seats are extremely comfortable and the cabin quiet. Rear/boot is huge for a coupe and rear headroom decent so you can actually get 4 people in.
I had mine for more than 8 years and about 50k miles. Nothing ever went wrong that hindered progress. Few niggly things - door handle mechanisms (shared with the Fiat 500), chocolate wishbones are a consumable but not that expensive to replace.
The engine is its weakest feature. They were an early DI engine and suffer from coking up so slow down over time - and they weren't that quick when new. Economy was low 30s on a run and they need frequent cambelt changes. Totally reliable though.
The only other thing of note was that mine (and I am told others) corrode the sills from the inside out. Alfa added a tube of sound deadening foam on the inside of the sills to reduce noise. As you can imagine, foam that holds water next to even galvanised metal is not ideal. Not the end of the world - remove foam and a simple weld for a couple of hundred quid solved it, but something to bear in mind. Worth noting mine was 12 years old at that point and this was likely exacerbated/accelerated due to an idiot fitter/mechanic crushing a sill when not using the jackpoints which I am sure hastened its appearance...
Other than that they are great cars and I haven't even mentioned the way they look...
Best shed in a long time - deffo Shed Of The Year. I had one of these as a courtesy car while my GTV spent 2 YEARS in the garage with a wiring problem - oddly enough I wasnt too bothered about the swap! Just think £3k would get you that and the silver GTV he mentions (by the way did anyone see a link to the ad itself?)
One of the most universally loved sheds I’ve ever seen I think?
Lovely looking car, practical, owners have said a decent steer, and wouldn’t look out of place pulling up to a meet at caffeine and machine etc, all for under £2k!
Do these have ISOFIX mounts in the back? I could be tempted to get one as a runabout if so.
Lovely looking car, practical, owners have said a decent steer, and wouldn’t look out of place pulling up to a meet at caffeine and machine etc, all for under £2k!
Do these have ISOFIX mounts in the back? I could be tempted to get one as a runabout if so.
What a pretty car. Yes it is the JTS engined version, but those saying "I'd get a V6" you will never find one of those for shed money. So its this or the 1.9 JTD (Fiat/Vauxhall lump). I suspect the performance figures are a little pessimistic, because the original 2 litre 156 did 0-60 in something like 8.1 secs and 100 in around 22 secs, so even with the extra weight, I can't imagine the more powerful GT coupe would be much slower than that. Nice to see a shed which has almost universal Pistonheads approval. Funny cars Alfas. Most of PH seems to approve, but only a tiny minority would actually buy one! Me, I've had a soft spot for Alfa since my little Alfasud which I sold nearly 34 years ago now. Never owned another, but did come close in the 90s as loved the 145 Cloverleaf and the 916 GTV.
griffsomething said:
Do these have ISOFIX mounts in the back? I could be tempted to get one as a runabout if so.
Yes they do, according to this. https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/child-seats-in-g...
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