E39 525 touring to an alfa gt diesel
Discussion
My daily car is a boosted mx5 but I have an E39 touring to cart the dogs about in. I have the opportunity to buy an alfa GT. I know the previous owner who has taken good care of the car but, like many alfas it has had to have a fair amount of money spent on it to keep it in good nick. It's the diesel version with 100k on the clocks.
The 525 does everything I need and is more efficient than my mx5 but I find it a bit boring. It's massive and really feels it after driving my other car.
So would you do it. Risk financial ruin just to drive the better looking car or stick with what you know. The alfa will cost me about an extra grand but is about 33% more efficient. I may even lay the mx5 up over winter and use the alfa as my only car.
The 525 does everything I need and is more efficient than my mx5 but I find it a bit boring. It's massive and really feels it after driving my other car.
So would you do it. Risk financial ruin just to drive the better looking car or stick with what you know. The alfa will cost me about an extra grand but is about 33% more efficient. I may even lay the mx5 up over winter and use the alfa as my only car.
I've driven it a few times. Its probably about as fast but handles a little better as its not quite as soft as the bmw. It is a lot nicer place to sit in though with the tan leather sports seats, and the styling from the outside is better too.
It will get the occasional longer run (once a week) and even my 6 miles drive invloves a couple of miles on the motorway.
It will get the occasional longer run (once a week) and even my 6 miles drive invloves a couple of miles on the motorway.
I went from a 3.0 SE Jaguar X-Type to an Alfa GT 1.9 JTD. I did it because I thought my commute was going to double in distance so the Alfa was the best combination of attention grabbing looks, practicality (because it was a hatch and my daughter's buggy needed to fit in the back), driving satisfaction and economy.
Looking back it was a mistake. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but if I told you now that I chopped in the Alfa (with 40 something 'k miles on it, timing belt and water pump change, pristine condition inside and out) for an E90 330i which has been objectively more troublesome and less reliable in 12 months than the Alfa was in three years but I love it more, would it make sense?
Thought not...!
I think what I am trying to say is that the diesel Alfa GT appears on the face of it (as it did to me at the time) to be the car that straddles the Pistonhead and the sensible head requirements perfectly. Having tested that assumption I'm afraid it doesn't. I wish at the time I'd gone for a good 3.2 petrol GT. Looking for one now means paying loads or buying a dog.
(PS. I regret every day selling the Jag...!)
Looking back it was a mistake. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but if I told you now that I chopped in the Alfa (with 40 something 'k miles on it, timing belt and water pump change, pristine condition inside and out) for an E90 330i which has been objectively more troublesome and less reliable in 12 months than the Alfa was in three years but I love it more, would it make sense?
Thought not...!
I think what I am trying to say is that the diesel Alfa GT appears on the face of it (as it did to me at the time) to be the car that straddles the Pistonhead and the sensible head requirements perfectly. Having tested that assumption I'm afraid it doesn't. I wish at the time I'd gone for a good 3.2 petrol GT. Looking for one now means paying loads or buying a dog.
(PS. I regret every day selling the Jag...!)
Edited by r11co on Wednesday 18th June 19:48
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