Considering an Alfa GTV Turbo
Poll: Considering an Alfa GTV Turbo
Total Members Polled: 43
Discussion
I know of several people who've owned and driven quite exotic and special cars and rate the Elise as the best driver's car they've ever driven. I haven't been quite so lucky, but I have driven a number of nice cars, and I agree. Therefore the question here is whether you can live with the lack of creature comforts of an Elise (especially the S1, which has that tiresome hood...), or would rather have the "get in and go" appeal of the Alfa. That's a question only you can answer really.
As much as I love the GTV, if the Elise was within my budget I wouldn't be considering the Alfa for a second. Not only is the driving experience nicer than a nose heavy FWD car, the fuel economy will be significantly better. Creature comforts and practicality not so great however, but if you can live with that then you need some Lotus in your life.
Dave_ST220 said:
Get the Alfa so we can all be educated as to how good the V6 turbo is 
Not as good as a 3.0, apparently: there's less torque, the turbo mutes the engine noise (which is criminal in a Busso) and the blowers tend to fail at 60k. Or so I've read.
Plenty of TBs around for €2-3k in France. 3.0s start at double that.
'punt
RobM77 said:
I know of several people who've owned and driven quite exotic and special cars and rate the Elise as the best driver's car they've ever driven. I haven't been quite so lucky, but I have driven a number of nice cars, and I agree. Therefore the question here is whether you can live with the lack of creature comforts of an Elise (especially the S1, which has that tiresome hood...), or would rather have the "get in and go" appeal of the Alfa. That's a question only you can answer really.
A hardtop (and correctly aligned windows) makes the S1 watertight and warm. 
I'm ambivalent about open-top motoring so I rarely drove my Elise with the soft top or with no roof at all.
300bhp/ton said:
OP have you considered a VX220? Slightly more easy to live with than an S1 Elise, but with all the same handling/driving traits and very similar ability.
He's in Belgium don't forget, it's the Opel Speedster over there (and is over 2 litres in N/A form so may have the same tax issues).soxboy said:
300bhp/ton said:
OP have you considered a VX220? Slightly more easy to live with than an S1 Elise, but with all the same handling/driving traits and very similar ability.
He's in Belgium don't forget, it's the Opel Speedster over there (and is over 2 litres in N/A form so may have the same tax issues).
Thanks for the replies so far!
Still haven't made my mind up (but it's a pleasant experience, to be honest).
In response to some of your remarks:
A thing of beauty, isn't it?
Still haven't made my mind up (but it's a pleasant experience, to be honest).
In response to some of your remarks:
phil1979 said:
300bhp/ton said:
OP have you considered a VX220? Slightly more easy to live with than an S1 Elise, but with all the same handling/driving traits and very similar ability.
Good suggestion, yet if I'd go in that direction, I'd rather go 'all the way' and go for the Elise.DrTre said:
The op stated beneficial tax reasons in Belgium, which where I assume they live
Correct.Matt_N said:
Someone on here had a 2l V6 turbo GTV, there was a thread in reader's rides about it. Can't remember who it was though.
Yes, found the thread: http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t... . Chap's known as Mc lovin apparently...I would say get the GTV, I loved mine and am thinking of getting another.
Not perfect by anymeans and certainly wasnt a cheap car to run but I ran mine for about 70k over a couple of years, it needed a new exhaust(all of it), got the belts changed twice, needed a new battery, and new rear suspension, few sets of tyres, the doors would freeze shut on a very cold day, the boot isnt massive but you soon get used to it and in the end the oil pump gave up without warning and it died (Plenty of oil and major service no more than 6 weeks before)
Wanted a V6 but couldn't afford the running costs, ended up with pretty similar MPG from the 2.0.
Not perfect by anymeans and certainly wasnt a cheap car to run but I ran mine for about 70k over a couple of years, it needed a new exhaust(all of it), got the belts changed twice, needed a new battery, and new rear suspension, few sets of tyres, the doors would freeze shut on a very cold day, the boot isnt massive but you soon get used to it and in the end the oil pump gave up without warning and it died (Plenty of oil and major service no more than 6 weeks before)
Wanted a V6 but couldn't afford the running costs, ended up with pretty similar MPG from the 2.0.
I'd go for the Alfa Romeo GTV turbo. I was after a Twin Spark GTV earlier this year but nothing came of it. The reports were that the cars are generally reliable but if they've been poorly looked after they can be nightmares, something about the rear end of the car getting warped if some components at the back wern't looked after...?
Anyway, that thought is lost to the sands of time but they look fantastic and sound like they should be a decent drive too. With a turbo I'd imagine they'd provide a lot of fun, while being stylish and rare.
Anyway, that thought is lost to the sands of time but they look fantastic and sound like they should be a decent drive too. With a turbo I'd imagine they'd provide a lot of fun, while being stylish and rare.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff