RE: Shed of the Week: Alfa GTV
Discussion
Ares said:
Really? Which suspension pack? Mine had the Sport 3, and at the time both Willie Green and Kurt Luby, when they drove it on an RMA track day, said it was possibly the best handling FWD car they'd driven?
A colleague had a 1.9D and my overriding memory of that car is how frequently it would bottom out and scrape itself on the road. Had some very memorable trips around mid and north Wales with him in that car though, he could make very rapid progress.Ive got a ts spider in black with tan interior
Bought for 2100 pounds 3 yeats ago. 2 engine rebuilds later, rear calipers, clutch, slave cylinder, and loads more stuff that I can't bring myself to remember I think i've spent at least 9k on it.
Its uncomfortable, the turning circle is ridiculous, its slow and hates the cold weather and I think the rear suspension needs doing.
On the right roads, on the right day its epic which is probably once a leap year
I love it, and will never, ever sell it
Bought for 2100 pounds 3 yeats ago. 2 engine rebuilds later, rear calipers, clutch, slave cylinder, and loads more stuff that I can't bring myself to remember I think i've spent at least 9k on it.
Its uncomfortable, the turning circle is ridiculous, its slow and hates the cold weather and I think the rear suspension needs doing.
On the right roads, on the right day its epic which is probably once a leap year
I love it, and will never, ever sell it
I work part-time at an Alfa / Fiat indy - we have quite a few GTVs and Spiders in - mostly owned by enthusiasts (or 'addicts'?....). We have a lot of modern Alfas in as well and I'd say the newer stuff is more prone to issues than the classic / near-classic stuff. However, this is down to the owner, not the car - owners of Giuliettas and Mitos are more inclined to treat the car as a device for moving them around than as a machine that needs to be worked with. As the cars get older, the owners are more likely to be enthusiasts who expect to have to lift the bonnet once in a while
We get the occasional shed GTV / Spider, but generally, if they are coming to us, the owner is happy to spend a bit of cash on maintenance and they will be inherently reliable. Its generally the cars owned by people with no inclination to spend money on maintenance that break down and give the brand a bad rep.
My own '08 Alfa GT is about to go in for its third clutch from new along with its 20th service - 234,000 miles and full service history. It is used and abused as a daily commuter hack, but maintained on a "prevention is better than cure" basis. The only breakdown in my ownership was down to a fractured earth lead to the block that prevented it starting. I think this could be classed as reliable...
Alfa is no different to just about any other brand - skimp on the maintenance and it will eventually bite back
We get the occasional shed GTV / Spider, but generally, if they are coming to us, the owner is happy to spend a bit of cash on maintenance and they will be inherently reliable. Its generally the cars owned by people with no inclination to spend money on maintenance that break down and give the brand a bad rep.
My own '08 Alfa GT is about to go in for its third clutch from new along with its 20th service - 234,000 miles and full service history. It is used and abused as a daily commuter hack, but maintained on a "prevention is better than cure" basis. The only breakdown in my ownership was down to a fractured earth lead to the block that prevented it starting. I think this could be classed as reliable...
Alfa is no different to just about any other brand - skimp on the maintenance and it will eventually bite back
Having had a number of Alfas over the years, Personally I'd hesitate to buy another one from this era. I had two 156s, one a 1.8 ts lusso, the other one a 2.4 jtd. Both of them went well when almost new but I hated the way the ride became really nasty and brittle combined with wallowy handling on both cars after relatively low mileages. With the notable exception of the 2.4 jtd my Alfas have been reliable enough and I have never yet been let down by an electrical glitch or encountered significant corrosion.
If the floorpan and the suspension are good, this one looks like a fun shed for weekend use.
If the floorpan and the suspension are good, this one looks like a fun shed for weekend use.
Edited by Gliaviate on Friday 13th October 11:35
Edited by Gliaviate on Friday 13th October 11:37
YellowCar said:
Great choice of car, and a lot of style for not a lot of cash, but it kind of goes against my ideas of the shedding ethos to pay extra for somebody else's tarting-up.
I'd sooner save a few quid and live with bit of scruffy paint.
Chaps, this is my car.. and you'd not be paying for anyone else's tarting up. this was first and foremost an impulse buy for my youtube channel as I could not resist at £1200 and always wanted to experience one of these. I paid £1200, spent £100 in bits, some of which were necessary such as £50 for the split air intake. So all I'm looking for is to cover those costs. I'd take £1300 bottom line in interests of simplicity and there is no profit in that for me. Otherwise I'll just use it as a winter hack!I'd sooner save a few quid and live with bit of scruffy paint.
s m said:
Pereldh said:
Had many Fiats (incl top whack 340bhp Coupe 20V Turbo) which never gave me much headache. Last summer I bought my first Alfa, ok not new, 75 3.0 V6 1990. Sure enough - it's by far the crappiest car I've ever had and - it's broken down.
What also seems typical is I'm now eager to rebuild it with a 24V 164 engine. I'm "hooked".
Now we're talking......What also seems typical is I'm now eager to rebuild it with a 24V 164 engine. I'm "hooked".
I really like that 75
My late father took me along to see a demo 75 2L TS in the late 80s and, although it wasn't for him, the appeal has remained strong for me since. Will act on it one of these days I think
They are great cars for not a lot of money.
Where I have a problem with the TS engine is they can use oil and if their not topped up then its a case of when not if they blow up. Ive had 2 engine rebuilds as a result. The first wasn't my fault, the second may have been. How you know if the engines been cared for is a bit of a lottery.
My first engine went in spectacular fashion, roof down overtaking an Audi, beautiful day then all of a sudden i had thick white smoke everywhere and bits of engine coming over the top of the bonnet into the cabin. I had to phone the council to come and clear the carriageway of my engine parts.....
Where I have a problem with the TS engine is they can use oil and if their not topped up then its a case of when not if they blow up. Ive had 2 engine rebuilds as a result. The first wasn't my fault, the second may have been. How you know if the engines been cared for is a bit of a lottery.
My first engine went in spectacular fashion, roof down overtaking an Audi, beautiful day then all of a sudden i had thick white smoke everywhere and bits of engine coming over the top of the bonnet into the cabin. I had to phone the council to come and clear the carriageway of my engine parts.....
CarlosSainz100 said:
Where I have a problem with the TS engine is they can use oil
It's a double whammy. They can use oil AND they have a very small sump. Not a good combo.Incidentally I had two Twin Sparks from new and in both cases thrashed the nuts off them from day one.
Neither used much oil.
JoeBolt said:
There is a 3rd engine choice for the GTV in addition to the TS and V6. That is the JTS. The cars can be identified by a bigger intake grill (as well as JTS lettering on the boot lid).
Was tempted by one a while back. Does anyone have experience of the JTS?
JTS: Just Too Slow...Was tempted by one a while back. Does anyone have experience of the JTS?
As mentioned a development of the TS block using a different head and fuel injection system which never worked as well as intended.
Coking up of the inlet manifold is common along with excessive cam lobe wear, supposedly 165 BHP though many have been found to be as low as 130.
Rarely is a good word said about these engines, a rare duffer from Alfa it has to be said...coupled with the iffy Phase 3 looks they won't be as popular as a cherished Phase 2 generally speaking...
I am relatively new to 916 spider ownership but I am smitten with my twin spark.
I was pushed away from the JTS engine models but chats with marque specialists as being the ones with problems. The twin spark is a classic engine and so far an easy thing to work on.
I was originally looking for a V6 but was persuaded by those on here to consider a twinny. As a result I now have a great looking car for not much money. So far new horns, battery and changing the cam cover gasket is the sum of what's been done.
I will do some suspension bushes and so on in due course.
If I had space I rather fancy a GTV cup.
I also have a 159 which I love AND a Saab 2.8 aero cabrio and I used to have a 306 cabrio which I also loved.
Unless you own a drop top you have no idea about the joys of motoring these days. Cameras everywhere so bimble along at one with nature!
I was pushed away from the JTS engine models but chats with marque specialists as being the ones with problems. The twin spark is a classic engine and so far an easy thing to work on.
I was originally looking for a V6 but was persuaded by those on here to consider a twinny. As a result I now have a great looking car for not much money. So far new horns, battery and changing the cam cover gasket is the sum of what's been done.
I will do some suspension bushes and so on in due course.
If I had space I rather fancy a GTV cup.
I also have a 159 which I love AND a Saab 2.8 aero cabrio and I used to have a 306 cabrio which I also loved.
Unless you own a drop top you have no idea about the joys of motoring these days. Cameras everywhere so bimble along at one with nature!
|https://thumbsnap.com/MotisIAA[/url][url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/0AdDGnr7[/url]RicksAlfas said:
It's a double whammy. They can use oil AND they have a very small sump. Not a good combo.
Incidentally I had two Twin Sparks from new and in both cases thrashed the nuts off them from day one.
Neither used much oil.
Thats ironically the advice I was given when I collected my brand new 145 Cloverleaf in 1996. In 2 years and 50,000 miles it didn't miss a beat and went like a sports car. Back in the day, it was the fastest & most fun Hot Hatch around...with it's 155bhp. How that market has changed.Incidentally I had two Twin Sparks from new and in both cases thrashed the nuts off them from day one.
Neither used much oil.
Ares said:
sgtBerbatov said:
Ares said:
Eygpt isn't a country mate
Egypt is though
Fair point.Egypt is though
Are there any more vacancies at the grammar police or are you all fully booked out? :P
sgtBerbatov said:
Ares said:
sgtBerbatov said:
Ares said:
Eygpt isn't a country mate
Egypt is though
Fair point.Egypt is though
Are there any more vacancies at the grammar police or are you all fully booked out? :P
....and if your autocorrect changes Egypt to Eygpt, I'd give it a kick (or stop using Windows
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