RE: Shed of the Week: Alfa Romeo GT
Discussion
We had a brand new V6 3.2GT. It was very comfortable, beautiful and practical. It was also surprisingly slow, handled like a pregnant sow on ice skates and had a drink problem.
The beautiful black paint literally fell off. I mean fell off. Not got dented, not rusted, not abused; it just said screw it, and fell off in pieces.
Utterly gorgeous, but terribly flawed. I wouldn’t bother.
The beautiful black paint literally fell off. I mean fell off. Not got dented, not rusted, not abused; it just said screw it, and fell off in pieces.
Utterly gorgeous, but terribly flawed. I wouldn’t bother.
Scary!! An Alfa GT for shed money!!!!!! As a then dyed in the wool Alfisti, I bought a 3.2V6, in dark metallic grey with black interior new in 2003, and ran it for 3 years and 40,000 miles. It was my 5th Alfa, and followed a S3 Spider, a new 156 2.0TS, an almost new 164 3.0V6, (which was one of the greatest cars I have ever owned - fabulous 8v V6, and 185,000 glorious miles in 14 years), and a 166 2.0TS company car. Being a pre-Q2 model the GT did suffer from dreadful torque steer, and had bone hard run flat tyres, but it looked great in that colour combination, and was a terrific GT, completing several trips across Europe. For an Alfa it was surprisingly reliable as well, the only issues I had were the clutch exploding (literally!) at 13,000 miles, fixed under warranty, and a strange area of peeling paint on the roof. I eventually traded the GT for a 3 year old Mercedes SL500, which over the next 4 years made Alfa Romeo reliability look absolutely impeccable!!!!
J4CKO said:
Where did the GT fit in with the Brera, they look sort of similar, is the Brera a successor to the GT ?
Not really, the GT is based on the 147/156 platform, the brera is based on the 159. Oddly enough though, the GT ran from 04-10, the brera from 05-10Platform, engine and practicality wise they are two rather different cars, the GT is lighter/nimbler, has the older true alfa engines. The brera is more of a mile muncher, has mostly GM based engines and is heavier and smaller inside.
Mainly it was just alfa being alfa and doing the weird thing, but both cars have their purpose/niche, and as a GT owner, i wouldnt trade mine for a brera
Colin-t4n2y said:
... fabulous 8v V6...
Ah you can't beat 1.33 valves per cylinder Jokes aside, there an unofficial rule (!) that everyone should own an Alfa at some stage of their motoring experience. My soiree was with a 156 2.4JTD, a 140bhp beast that actually handled ok too. I don't think that engine even found its way into the GT, probably because it was too heavy compared to the 1.9 16v unit.
All this talk of the Busso engine, but can someone clarify which engines were GM, as I thought the 3.2 belonged to that set (as it did in the 159 & Brera)? Or is this one from the GTA heritage? Happy to be enlightened.
BFleming said:
Ah you can't beat 1.33 valves per cylinder
Jokes aside, there an unofficial rule (!) that everyone should own an Alfa at some stage of their motoring experience. My soiree was with a 156 2.4JTD, a 140bhp beast that actually handled ok too. I don't think that engine even found its way into the GT, probably because it was too heavy compared to the 1.9 16v unit.
All this talk of the Busso engine, but can someone clarify which engines were GM, as I thought the 3.2 belonged to that set (as it did in the 159 & Brera)? Or is this one from the GTA heritage? Happy to be enlightened.
The 2.4 did not make its way into the GT, it was used in 20v form in the later 156, the 159 and the breraJokes aside, there an unofficial rule (!) that everyone should own an Alfa at some stage of their motoring experience. My soiree was with a 156 2.4JTD, a 140bhp beast that actually handled ok too. I don't think that engine even found its way into the GT, probably because it was too heavy compared to the 1.9 16v unit.
All this talk of the Busso engine, but can someone clarify which engines were GM, as I thought the 3.2 belonged to that set (as it did in the 159 & Brera)? Or is this one from the GTA heritage? Happy to be enlightened.
As for the busso, it started life as a 12v 2.5 engine, had various other forms along the line (2.0 12v turbo, 3.0 12v, 2.5 24v, 3.0 24v), but ended up at 3.2 24v, used (in different stages of tune) in the last gen GTV, the GTAs and the GT. The 159/brera/spider also had a 3.2, but this is the GM lump. If you dont know by model, just keep an eye out for "JTS", except for the 2.0 JTS, all other JTS engines are GM, and the 3.2 in the 159 is also called "3.2 JTS V6" or something to that effect.
officially the GM V6 has more power, but is generally regarded as a less characterfull engine. It also comes with some timing chain issues.
BFleming said:
All this talk of the Busso engine, but can someone clarify which engines were GM, as I thought the 3.2 belonged to that set (as it did in the 159 & Brera)? Or is this one from the GTA heritage? Happy to be enlightened.
This is roughly speaking a GTA without the A There's some history on wikipedia about the production end of the bussos - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_V6_engine...
"Engine designer Giuseppe Busso died within three days after the last engine was produced in Arese."
My wife had a red V6 GT which featured in Fifth Gear used car show with VBH.
https://youtu.be/zHXqB7dlPbc
It had the Wizard exhaust & Q2. Did loads of Euro blasts in it including the Alfa Centenary in 2010.
Sounded epic, was solid enough inside & built pretty well.
It became trigger’s broom after a fk up with engine powder coating at a well known Speciaist.
Hence, it needed a new engine. This binned my idea of a matching numbers future investment keeper.
Shame. I had a V6 Brera at the same time. Different engine but from the factory, a significantly better car (despite what the Alfa snobs say).
https://youtu.be/zHXqB7dlPbc
It had the Wizard exhaust & Q2. Did loads of Euro blasts in it including the Alfa Centenary in 2010.
Sounded epic, was solid enough inside & built pretty well.
It became trigger’s broom after a fk up with engine powder coating at a well known Speciaist.
Hence, it needed a new engine. This binned my idea of a matching numbers future investment keeper.
Shame. I had a V6 Brera at the same time. Different engine but from the factory, a significantly better car (despite what the Alfa snobs say).
Edited by Squadrone Rosso on Friday 17th August 12:58
What cracking value, not surprised it has sold.
I am a Alfa GT 2.0 JTS owner having had one for about 6 years now (with approaching 90k on the clock!). I steering rack is quick, the suspension is sufficiently tight, the seats are fantastic, the boot space is frankly ridiculous (in a positive way) with the seats down and it looks great.
Mine is on 90k and in the 40k miles I have done in it, it has cost me a couple of cambelts, regular oil changes, an upper wishbone, a backbox, tyres and I think that is about it.
With a yatour Bluetooth module you have music/calling via your phone and retain the steering controls/original look.
I am looking to replace it now, as I am going to be doing more miles and fancy some slightly more modern tech but what to replace it with. Looking at a budget of £15-20k for soemthing used and sub 50-60k miles
Similar cars - Scirroco (plain jane), 1/2/4 series coupe (all fine but don't really tickle my fancy), latest C class coupe (lovely but 25k+ for a used one), A5 (plain jane), Toyota GT86 (not a jap fan), 2014 E Class Coupe Petrol (rare and a bit too lux/exec for my needs)
Then going into other
Coupe but more powerful - Granturismo (Gorgeous but sub 20mpg everywhere) and a bit over budget but worth it if had something near 30mpg, Porsche 911 (a 2005/6) has no fold down rears or really any storage, Cayman has no rear seats. Audi TT is fine but doesn't really interest me
Saloons - C Class Petrol (2014 onwards) - meets most of the criteria but is a saloon, IS300H - Something a bit different but the CVT box is apparently very average, Ghibli - Only real option is the diesel but a diesel in a Maserati ...hmm
For me it has been surprisingly difficult/impossible to find a coupe I find attractive, reasonably premium, with quick steering, good handling and loads of rear space with fold down seats with seating for 4.
I even considered buying another GT with the 3.2 v6 but I am overly familiar with the GT now. Time to move on.
I am a Alfa GT 2.0 JTS owner having had one for about 6 years now (with approaching 90k on the clock!). I steering rack is quick, the suspension is sufficiently tight, the seats are fantastic, the boot space is frankly ridiculous (in a positive way) with the seats down and it looks great.
Mine is on 90k and in the 40k miles I have done in it, it has cost me a couple of cambelts, regular oil changes, an upper wishbone, a backbox, tyres and I think that is about it.
With a yatour Bluetooth module you have music/calling via your phone and retain the steering controls/original look.
I am looking to replace it now, as I am going to be doing more miles and fancy some slightly more modern tech but what to replace it with. Looking at a budget of £15-20k for soemthing used and sub 50-60k miles
Similar cars - Scirroco (plain jane), 1/2/4 series coupe (all fine but don't really tickle my fancy), latest C class coupe (lovely but 25k+ for a used one), A5 (plain jane), Toyota GT86 (not a jap fan), 2014 E Class Coupe Petrol (rare and a bit too lux/exec for my needs)
Then going into other
Coupe but more powerful - Granturismo (Gorgeous but sub 20mpg everywhere) and a bit over budget but worth it if had something near 30mpg, Porsche 911 (a 2005/6) has no fold down rears or really any storage, Cayman has no rear seats. Audi TT is fine but doesn't really interest me
Saloons - C Class Petrol (2014 onwards) - meets most of the criteria but is a saloon, IS300H - Something a bit different but the CVT box is apparently very average, Ghibli - Only real option is the diesel but a diesel in a Maserati ...hmm
For me it has been surprisingly difficult/impossible to find a coupe I find attractive, reasonably premium, with quick steering, good handling and loads of rear space with fold down seats with seating for 4.
I even considered buying another GT with the 3.2 v6 but I am overly familiar with the GT now. Time to move on.
Edited by V6Alfisti on Friday 17th August 14:31
Had one in the same colour with a red leather interior. Wonderful car. I should never have sold it.
The later ones do rust on the floorpan so I'd check that out. Other than that they are pretty reliable, certainly no worse than other cars around at that time.
Drive well, fast steering, and great interior and the seats are the best I've been in.
BJ55FVB where are you now?
The later ones do rust on the floorpan so I'd check that out. Other than that they are pretty reliable, certainly no worse than other cars around at that time.
Drive well, fast steering, and great interior and the seats are the best I've been in.
BJ55FVB where are you now?
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