Considering an Alfa GTV Turbo

[Church of Noise]

So, after driving my Alfa 156 (1.9 JTD SW, 2002) for about two years, I fancy a change. Mainly because it's too large for my needs (single 29 yo, only doing +- 8k miles a year), because it's a diesel and therefore rather uninspiring to drive and because its handling isn't really razor sharp, obviously.

I've been checking out S1 Lotus Elises for a while, but rather coincidentally, got to know of someone selling an Alfa GTV 2.0 Turbo (which is, for tax reasons, interesting in Belgium).

I am rather smitten by an Elise (though I've never driven one) and I'm not really frightened by the lack of practicality, yet the added luxury of comfortable leather seats, AC, CD changer etc does have its appeal. That's where the Alfa GTV comes into play.

So basically, I could do 3 things:
- keep my 100k mile 156 JTD (sensible, yet kind of boring)
- get an Elise (fun, rather less practical but hey, you only live once)
- get a GTV (more fun then the 156, less then an Elise I suppose, bit of the advantages of both perhaps?)

Secondly, does anybody know of 'horror stories' concerning these GTVs? (specifically with the turbo engine)

Cheers!

[kambites]

Which GTV are you talking about here? The modern FWD one, or the older RWD one? I wasn't aware of there being a 2.0 V6 in either, let alone a turbocharged one?

[Church of Noise]

FWD one

[BrewsterBear]

In its modern guise there was a 2.0 Twinspark and a 3.0 V6. Neither of which were turbocharged from the factory. If it genuinely has a turbocharger on it then it'll be aftermarket and could lead to a lot of complications.

[Kickstart68]

kambites said:

Which GTV are you talking about here? The modern FWD one, or the older RWD one? I wasn't aware of there being a 2.0 V6 in either, let alone a turbocharged one?

The 2L V6 turbo was available in some markets. Alfa had made a 2L V6 for quite a while but it didn't appear in many cars / markets (there was a 2L V6 version of the Alfa 90).

I got taken for a spin in a played with one about 12 years ago (in Belgium) which had about 240hp I think. It certainly shifted.

All the best

Keith

[phil1979]

BrewsterBear said:

In its modern guise there was a 2.0 Twinspark and a 3.0 V6. Neither of which were turbocharged from the factory. If it genuinely has a turbocharger on it then it'll be aftermarket and could lead to a lot of complications.

Wrong. They did a 2.0 Turbo on the continent to avoid high tax rates, particularly in Italy.

[minimatt1967]

I've never heard of such a thing. I can only think Italian tax dodge special. A GTV is probably less practical than an Elise, my best mate had one and there was just about enough room in the boot for a sausage roll.

[Vocal Minority]

I have a 2.0 t-spark, and the turbo certainly wasn't an option in the UK. I would ring round some alfa specialists and see if they have experience/knowledge before commiting.

[kambites]

minimatt1967 said:

A GTV is probably less practical than an Elise, my best mate had one and there was just about enough room in the boot for a sausage roll.

Well yes, but whilst the rear seats might be a bit useless for people, they'll hold rather more luggage than the boot of an Elise.

[VR6 Turbo]

no this was only available in main land Europe and in Ireland. its to do with EU emissions I think. I would go for the elise from a driving point of view as the V6 is based on the Busso V6 (2.5,3.0,3.2 variants) I believe so quite nose heavy in a FWD too.

VR

[phil1979]

Here's a vid, avec awful music, which shows the 2.0 V6 Turbo lump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyHiCE6fwlc&fea...

[Mr2Mike]

BrewsterBear said:

In its modern guise there was a 2.0 Twinspark and a 3.0 V6. Neither of which were turbocharged from the factory. If it genuinely has a turbocharger on it then it'll be aftermarket and could lead to a lot of complications.

As Kickstart says the 2.0 V6 turbo was a factory fitted engine, it simply wasn't sold in the UK but rather was made to fall within a lower tax bracket in Italy. It makes about 200bhp in standard form, not as quick as the 24v 3.0L V6.

[300bhp/ton]

Church of Noise said:

FWD one

+1 on what others are saying.... is this a modified car? Not heard of the 2.0 V6 GTV before, let alone turbocharged.

[phil1979]

300bhp/ton said:

Church of Noise said:

FWD one

+1 on what others are saying.... is this a modified car? Not heard of the 2.0 V6 GTV before, let alone turbocharged.

[RobCrezz]

300bhp/ton said:

+1 on what others are saying.... is this a modified car? Not heard of the 2.0 V6 GTV before, let alone turbocharged.

As others have said, it was only available in other countries, but it was a factory engine.

[Kickstart68]

Hi

The 2L V6 turbo was a standard production car. Made from 1994.

From an Alfa book

Price 52,300,000 lire. 1996cc. 8:1 compression. 80x66.2 bore and stroke. 200hp at 6000rpm. 28.5kgm torque at 2400rpm. Top speed 232kph.

They also put the same engine in the Spider

All the best

Keith

[RicksAlfas]

Can people please read the thread and not just the first post and then wade in with both feet?

There was a 2.0 V6 turbo sold in Europe.

[300bhp/ton]

RobCrezz said:

As others have said, it was only available in other countries, but it was a factory engine.

Ta, when I clicked quote nobody had said, guess I shouldn't have taken so long to submit.

[soad]

Interesting engine lump in that case.
Like those japanese two litre v6 versions (mitsubishi fto)

[Kickstart68]

Hi

From memory the 2L versions of many Italian cars were primarily to get around Italian VAT. Cars over 2L were treated as a luxury and subject to VAT at 38% rather than their normal 19% VAT. Hence loads of 2L cars that rarely made it out of Italy such as 306hp Maserati Ghiblis and Ferrari 208.

All the best

Keith