Prospective GTV V6 owner

[MrC986]

I've kicked the tyres on a few & seen some optimistic sellers, read all the helpful advice offered here (including GTV vs other similar cars for the budget) & l'm hoping tomorrow to press the button on buying a PH1 car witb aerokit that has apparently had all the big ticket mechanical jobs done with good history & probably needs a proper clean & a wheel refurb hopefully (& maybe a small exhaust mod). I'm excited & yet experiencing understandable trepidation given the reputation for being costly if you get a bad one. l will post up the photos when l have it (fingers crossed) though found they are starting to get more & more scarce, hence why l have a 300 mile round trip tomorrow!

.....& I've got my check list too for focusing on the job of inspecting it, in case l get overwhelmed by the noise when it gets started up

Edited by MrC986 on Friday 10th January 13:55

[bqf]

Good luck with it - I bought a 3.0 V6 two months ago and it's terrific - great noise!!

[DazzyGTV]

Nice one & good luck.
You buying private or trade?
Check out alfaowner.com for loads of info if you are not already aware of it.
Photos please when you have it?

[MrC986]

DazzyGTV said:

Nice one & good luck.
You buying private or trade?
Check out alfaowner.com for loads of info if you are not already aware of it.
Photos please when you have it?

Dazzy. ..I think I must have large b**ls as I'm buying privately, though they might be shrivelled to peanuts if it goes wrong! I'm just deciding whether I post a picture before or after its first clean (it won't be going straight home as l haven't 'fessed up yet to the Management & l want the wheels redone straight away!)

[DazzyGTV]

Funny that, I didn't tell her indoors about mine until the day it was delivered!
Service & parts history is very important for these great cars, as long as you know what has been done and when then that can be reflected in the purchase price.
ps. They do sound sooooo good

[MrC986]

DazzyGTV said:

Funny that, I didn't tell her indoors about mine until the day it was delivered!
Service & parts history is very important for these great cars, as long as you know what has been done and when then that can be reflected in the purchase price.
ps. They do sound sooooo good

I've just been 'busted' on the way home on the phone by SWMBO...my life is a constant battle with her horsey hobby & she thought l was off to Autosports & was planning on filling my Saab Estate with horse paraphernalia & pushed me to a confession that l want it for its towbar!

[MrC986]

Well, l am now the proud owner of an early 6 speed GTV V6 & have completed my 300 mile round trip complete with trailer to inspect & collect it. The trailer was necessary as the car was Sorned & my plans are to do some 'fettling' for a few weeks before re-taxing it - l did road test it accordingly before purchasing on a private road BTW.

The pic shows the little car having a 'ride' home looking a bit grubby as the roads were filthy for most of my journey. lt sadly appears that if the previous owner hadn't sold it to me that he would probably have broken it for spares as he thought he would get more for it - so another GTV escapes the breakers.

Cynically, Mrs C said l need some Alf friends....she clearly doesn't understand PH & the way Alfa owners apparently admire each other's cars on the road

Anyway, interior-wise it is good save for 2 easily replaceable trim parts. Externally the wheels will be off for refurbing on Monday (it also needs new tyres but l had a 'proper' branded set strangely already!) and then some minor bodywork & hopefully some engine bay detailing (Andy655 has not helped by showing what can be done if you set your mind on it. and I also want to do the calipers

.

Of all the cars I've owned (& there are a few from the 'Fatherland'), I think the GTV is the one that has the greatest character although Mrs C thinks it might be a fad (I'm off to clean the garage....)

Edited by MrC986 on Saturday 11th January 20:30

[DazzyGTV]

Well done sir!
What colour combo is it?
Look forward to the photos
Any questions? Just ask.

[MrC986]

Dazzy, not the most photogenic of colours. ..dark blue with blue leather!

[MrC986]

Thanks for your words of support/enthusiasm.

The wheels will be shortly off to the refinishers and I wondered what colour you would have them if it were your choice? I don't think a dark colour would suit, though I wonder if a high-power silver or light 'smoked' silver might work especially against the repainted red calipers? I have 'previous' with dark coloured wheels having had gloss and matt black on little German cars and my daily driver has dark grey (although it is a strange light bluey colour) and I think the GTV's colour will be more sensitive to wheel colour.

Thanks

[Andy665]

There's something wrong if you don't experience some trepidation buying an Alfa but you won't regret it

I went out this afternoon to have a look at he central locking that decided to not work about a week ago - went out, tried the remote and what do you know - working perfectly

I guarantee it will get under your skin - just be prepared to be patient with her

If you ever want help, guidance, use of the scanning software etc just let me know

[MrC986]

Andy665 said:

There's something wrong if you don't experience some trepidation buying an Alfa but you won't regret it

I went out this afternoon to have a look at he central locking that decided to not work about a week ago - went out, tried the remote and what do you know - working perfectly

I guarantee it will get under your skin - just be prepared to be patient with her

If you ever want help, guidance, use of the scanning software etc just let me know

Andy, thanks. l think I'm going to buy a workshop manual too! I've just put it away & noticed it has xenons too (& they work)...it gets better all the time & the owner gave me an original spare (still in its cover) & the compressor also is still in its bag.

It might not be as good condition wise as l know yours was when you started (I saw the ad) but l know it will take time, patience & a few £s...I've already been on fleabay researching.

I've a friend (Dunny) who lives/works your way & sometimes meet for a Sunday breakfast if you fancy a run out one day?

Cheers, MrC

[waynedear]

Looks fab that, what are the interior trim pieces you need ??

[MrC986]

waynedear said:

Looks fab that, what are the interior trim pieces you need ??

The driver's side A post/pillar trim & the right hand side of the transmission tunnel in black by your knee/gear selector as it has a slight crack

[Andy665]

MrC986 said:

Andy, thanks. l think I'm going to buy a workshop manual too! I've just put it away & noticed it has xenons too (& they work)...it gets better all the time & the owner gave me an original spare (still in its cover) & the compressor also is still in its bag.

It might not be as good condition wise as l know yours was when you started (I saw the ad) but l know it will take time, patience & a few £s...I've already been on fleabay researching.

I've a friend (Dunny) who lives/works your way & sometimes meet for a Sunday breakfast if you fancy a run out one day?

Cheers, MrC

They are not actually a difficult or complicated car to work on but they certainly have their flaws

Would be good to meet up one day - I must make the effort to get to the Shropshire PH meet as well

[waynedear]

MrC986 said:

The driver's side A post/pillar trim & the right hand side of the transmission tunnel in black by your knee/gear selector as it has a slight crack

I will have a rummage in my boxes of GTV bits and see

Had a rummage, sorry nowt there

Edited by waynedear on Monday 13th January 20:04

[MrC986]

Well, the fettling has begun. I am a little like a magpie and like shiny things so the first job was to tackle the poor wheel finish on the teledials. The wheels would be bearable to many though I am quite pedantic about how I look after my wheels and won't stand for kerbing! The wheels were stripped, 2 straightened, and then fully powder coated with the wheel bolts repainted at the same time to match. A complete set of appropriate tyres were applied too (I had a spare set in the 'man cave' conveniently )



I have repainted all the brake calipers (3 were original paint and turning pink, one was not and hence unpainted) and the required Alfa graphics applied to the front ones. The car has been lowered all round slightly previously and hence needed some planning to get it onto the axle stands.

I have already found that the availability of touch up paint isn't a Halfrauds thing and the next job is to attend to the paintwork/scratches and car park dings whilst the car is Sorned. Once it is re-taxed, I will get all the fluids changed and the cambelt changed (purely on a time basis rather than miles) though the replacement of the only OEM piece of exhaust, the back box, will have to wait a few months as the car had the rest of the system replaced last year. If I do take it to Le Mans in June (a discussion with my fellow traveller) it might spur me to treat the car to a new rear freer breathing box as a friend has a more expensive little 'red' Italian cousin and it would be good to annoy him through the tunnels/away from the peages

The car is best described as 'honest' and won't trouble Andy665s on overall quality unless it has a full respray though I am also considering doing something with the seats (I am 6 ft 2) as I have the possibility of changing the front seats for a non OEM fixed back seat (& putting the original seats in the loft for safe keeping) and might even look at removing the rear seats as I will never have any passengers as we have no small people in our house - I know it is controversial to start 'mickeying' about with the interior though it won't be permanent and is easily reversible and if I do, I will put up some photos. A front seat change/rear seat delete will also give the car a little diet.

I hope to get along to a few PHSS as the Alfa count is sadly low and might even darken the door of the local regional Alfa meetings once the spring arrives and the nights shorten! Thanks for all your words of wisdom/support so far