Alfa Romeo GTV V6
Discussion
Thought I'd stick this up to try and make my mind up what to do!
Early last year I was running a Rover 75 diesel as a daily with a Mk1 MX5 for giggles. I ended up writing off the Rover, and with the insurance pay off set about finding a replacement. Using man logic I felt the best replacemenr for an economical diesel would be a 3.0 V6...
The GTV was an itch i really had to scratch, one of (IMO) the best looking coupes ever designed with the legend that is Alfa's Busso V6. And it didn't disappoint.
Yes, its not the last word in handling, but it does a surprisingly good job in spite of the front wheel drive and big engine up front.
A suspected leaky headgasket presented me with a dilemma - break it or fix it? I couldn't let something that beautiful die, so the MX5 went to pay for a big refresh up at Autolusso. A full manifold back custom stainless exhaust was put on as well to let the engine sing a little better!
Heres the thing though - since I bought it my yearly mileage has nearly doubled, and Im starting to need a bit more boot space. Id like to go back to a derv daily and a little ragtop for summer (when and if it ever gets here). But without fail, every single time I get out I cant help looking back. And when im in it, i cant help but love that engine. The man maths are starting to suggest I run it as a weekend car. But then, for the high days i'd like a soft top.(and TBH, RWD. Arrgh!)
So what would you do?
Early last year I was running a Rover 75 diesel as a daily with a Mk1 MX5 for giggles. I ended up writing off the Rover, and with the insurance pay off set about finding a replacement. Using man logic I felt the best replacemenr for an economical diesel would be a 3.0 V6...
The GTV was an itch i really had to scratch, one of (IMO) the best looking coupes ever designed with the legend that is Alfa's Busso V6. And it didn't disappoint.
Yes, its not the last word in handling, but it does a surprisingly good job in spite of the front wheel drive and big engine up front.
A suspected leaky headgasket presented me with a dilemma - break it or fix it? I couldn't let something that beautiful die, so the MX5 went to pay for a big refresh up at Autolusso. A full manifold back custom stainless exhaust was put on as well to let the engine sing a little better!
Heres the thing though - since I bought it my yearly mileage has nearly doubled, and Im starting to need a bit more boot space. Id like to go back to a derv daily and a little ragtop for summer (when and if it ever gets here). But without fail, every single time I get out I cant help looking back. And when im in it, i cant help but love that engine. The man maths are starting to suggest I run it as a weekend car. But then, for the high days i'd like a soft top.(and TBH, RWD. Arrgh!)
So what would you do?
OP...great colour combo & it looks sparkly too!! l see the tell-tale sports exhaust as well.
IMO l cannot see you finding much else for the same money which makes your choice very difficult & there little else which will sound/look as good for the money. My next toy will be a GTV V6 as l think they offer great VFM if you buy a good one
IMO l cannot see you finding much else for the same money which makes your choice very difficult & there little else which will sound/look as good for the money. My next toy will be a GTV V6 as l think they offer great VFM if you buy a good one
Thanks for the ideas/positive comments.
I have in the past test driven some 2.4 jtd 156's - its what got me onto the Alfa itch in the first place.
They do sound rather nice as diesels go!
The daily/weekend would be split from whatever i could make from the car - weekend car realistically is another MX5 (never got the chance to do what I wanted with the old one.)
Daily has to be something that at least looks good and has a bit of character. Might look back into 156's. Also, for all its Werthers Original image, I actually had a big soft spot for that old Rover - so much so that i would like to try it in ZT guise.
If I kept the Alfa it would mean a sub-£500 banger daily. TBH if im driving something every day I want at least to like driving it!
Hmmm...still no nearer to a decision!
I have in the past test driven some 2.4 jtd 156's - its what got me onto the Alfa itch in the first place.
They do sound rather nice as diesels go!
The daily/weekend would be split from whatever i could make from the car - weekend car realistically is another MX5 (never got the chance to do what I wanted with the old one.)
Daily has to be something that at least looks good and has a bit of character. Might look back into 156's. Also, for all its Werthers Original image, I actually had a big soft spot for that old Rover - so much so that i would like to try it in ZT guise.
If I kept the Alfa it would mean a sub-£500 banger daily. TBH if im driving something every day I want at least to like driving it!
Hmmm...still no nearer to a decision!
ks. Good choice on the V6 as well. Friend has one of these o his drive that he parked up 2 or 3 years ago when he got a bike and hasnt used since, he was on about letting it go for a couple of hundred qd the other day as it's stood so long. Same colour as OP one, same wheels but black leather interior. Bloody criminal.
I'd second the notion of a cheap derv hack, Focus / Golf / Pug etc and keep the Alfa - as much as they can be problematic they are gorgeous looking machines and with the way things are going it will be unlikely that engines like the one you have will ever be produced again. Who knows in a few years time a well sorted and cared for GTV like yours might begin to appreciate.
ST270 said:
I'd second the notion of a cheap derv hack, Focus / Golf / Pug etc and keep the Alfa - as much as they can be problematic they are gorgeous looking machines and with the way things are going it will be unlikely that engines like the one you have will ever be produced again. Who knows in a few years time a well sorted and cared for GTV like yours might begin to appreciate.
Thirded. The world's moving to small capacity turbos and a V6 coupe will be an increasing rarity in years to come. And for all their quirks, Alfas are lovely 
If you bought a cheap diesel (306 is a good idea, the engines are nice and simple and they're at least as entertaining to drive as anything else) you could still use the Alfa occasionally for work, it doesn't have to be a weekend car only.
Thing is, ive not really got much more cash to put on another runaround (I could 'afford' it but most of our spare cash is going into savings for a house move) so I would be buying two cars with whatever I got for the Alfa. As well as that, I have other hobbies that not only seem to suck cash out of my wallet, but I need to drive long distances and transport lots of gear, so I would really like something 'better' for that than a runabout.
Plus, the sun out today made me really ache for the little MX5 again!
I've put it up for sale (just on the free ads at the moment) to see if I get any interest - Im going to take the 'if it sells, it sells' attitude - and let fate decide.
Plus, the sun out today made me really ache for the little MX5 again!
I've put it up for sale (just on the free ads at the moment) to see if I get any interest - Im going to take the 'if it sells, it sells' attitude - and let fate decide.
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