RE: Alfa Romeo GTV | Shed Buying Guide
Discussion
Had my V6 for 6 years and had no problems, however it does only do around 1200 miles a year and the previous owner had just had Autolusso fit all the goodies GTA flywheel. clutch, Q2, short shift, new shocks, polybushed blah blah. No rust, no advisories; I had a bespoke cat back exhaust fitted and it now sounds lovely. A well maintained GTV V6 is a beautiful car to drive and own conversely a cheap dog of an example is not. I hope we don't get the usual b
ks of the V6 doesn't handle with a Q2 etc the cornering is sublime especially given it has no electronic ste interfering with the drive, it's proper old school you and the car not the ECU managing everything for you. Build quality is good, all my electrics work, the seats have been modifed to sit in rather than 'on' them. I have garaged mine since purchase. The prices are all over the shop as there are still some utter snotters out there; £5-10K will get a decent one. The prices have doubled in 6 years since I bought mine and I reckon will continue to appreciate especially for the Busso V6 and Alfa's current renaissance; only issue is getting hold of some parts is apparently getting nigh on impossible.
ks of the V6 doesn't handle with a Q2 etc the cornering is sublime especially given it has no electronic ste interfering with the drive, it's proper old school you and the car not the ECU managing everything for you. Build quality is good, all my electrics work, the seats have been modifed to sit in rather than 'on' them. I have garaged mine since purchase. The prices are all over the shop as there are still some utter snotters out there; £5-10K will get a decent one. The prices have doubled in 6 years since I bought mine and I reckon will continue to appreciate especially for the Busso V6 and Alfa's current renaissance; only issue is getting hold of some parts is apparently getting nigh on impossible.Edited by Flanners on Thursday 15th August 11:51
I've had two of these, both V6s.
I thought it was an itch to scratch, but once you do, the itch never really goes away.
I'd love one as a second car, but they don't like being stood around and I couldn't stomach the running costs for something that covered so little mileage. Particularly the expensive, 4 yearly timing belt change.
I thought it was an itch to scratch, but once you do, the itch never really goes away.
I'd love one as a second car, but they don't like being stood around and I couldn't stomach the running costs for something that covered so little mileage. Particularly the expensive, 4 yearly timing belt change.
Edited by UnderSteerD on Thursday 15th August 12:22
Flanners said:
Had my V6 for 6 years and had no problems, however it does only do around 1200 miles a year and the previous owner had just had Autolusso fit all the goodies GTA flywheel. clutch, Q2, short shift, new shocks, polybushed blah blah. No rust, no advisories; I had a bespoke cat back exhaust fitted and it now sounds lovely. A well maintained GTV V6 is a beautiful car to drive and own conversely a cheap dog of an example is not. I hope we don't get the usual bks of the V6 doesn't handle with a Q2 etc the cornering is sublime especially given it has no electronic ste interfering with the drive, it's proper old school you and the car not the ECU managing everything for you. Build quality is good, all my electrics work, the seats have been modifed to sit in rather than 'on' them. I have garaged mine since purchase. The prices are all over the shop as there are still some utter snotters out there; £5-10K will get a decent one. The prices have doubled in 6 years since I bought mine and I reckon will continue to appreciate especially for the Busso V6 and Alfa's current renaissance; only issue is getting hold of some parts is apparently getting nigh on impossible.
Hi Flanners, some info on the seat modification would be highly appreciated.ks of the V6 doesn't handle with a Q2 etc the cornering is sublime especially given it has no electronic ste interfering with the drive, it's proper old school you and the car not the ECU managing everything for you. Build quality is good, all my electrics work, the seats have been modifed to sit in rather than 'on' them. I have garaged mine since purchase. The prices are all over the shop as there are still some utter snotters out there; £5-10K will get a decent one. The prices have doubled in 6 years since I bought mine and I reckon will continue to appreciate especially for the Busso V6 and Alfa's current renaissance; only issue is getting hold of some parts is apparently getting nigh on impossible.Edited by Flanners on Thursday 15th August 11:51
I bought a 132,000 Mile 2001 V6 Spider for £4500 a year ago.
Despite the mileage the car was in exceptional condition.
It's got the 3.0 24V engine and now has a Wizzard exhaust.
Honestly the best bang for buck of any car I've bought.
With a few tweaks here and there it's a lot more fun to drive than you would think and has so much charm.
Both my partner and I have loved using it.
Despite the mileage the car was in exceptional condition.
It's got the 3.0 24V engine and now has a Wizzard exhaust.
Honestly the best bang for buck of any car I've bought.
With a few tweaks here and there it's a lot more fun to drive than you would think and has so much charm.
Both my partner and I have loved using it.
2007, time to change my fuel guzzling tuned wrx for a small city car, C1 type thing.....
Came home with my first Alfa, ph1 GTV twinny, loved the looks, not at all keen on the engine.
Couple of weeks later I was on the M62 going to show the car to my brother, found the sweet spot on the engine, the car had a very rare Larini exhaust fitted, my god it zinged and sounded glorious.
Fell in love, that car introduced me to a new world with AO.
20 Alfa’s later including 7 GTV’s and 2 spiders I still love them.
Came home with my first Alfa, ph1 GTV twinny, loved the looks, not at all keen on the engine.
Couple of weeks later I was on the M62 going to show the car to my brother, found the sweet spot on the engine, the car had a very rare Larini exhaust fitted, my god it zinged and sounded glorious.
Fell in love, that car introduced me to a new world with AO.
20 Alfa’s later including 7 GTV’s and 2 spiders I still love them.
Ultrafunkula said:
Wanted one of these in the early 2000's but the 3.0 V6 running costs put me off and I bought a Nissan 200SX instead.
'In certain LHD markets, an interesting 197bhp turbocharged 2.0 V6 GTV was available.' Why didn't they sell this engine in the UK? Seems like it might have sold well.
The 2.0 V6 was for Italy market only to get around higher tax on >2.0 cars 'In certain LHD markets, an interesting 197bhp turbocharged 2.0 V6 GTV was available.' Why didn't they sell this engine in the UK? Seems like it might have sold well.
george123 said:
Ultrafunkula said:
Wanted one of these in the early 2000's but the 3.0 V6 running costs put me off and I bought a Nissan 200SX instead.
'In certain LHD markets, an interesting 197bhp turbocharged 2.0 V6 GTV was available.' Why didn't they sell this engine in the UK? Seems like it might have sold well.
The 2.0 V6 was for Italy market only to get around higher tax on >2.0 cars 'In certain LHD markets, an interesting 197bhp turbocharged 2.0 V6 GTV was available.' Why didn't they sell this engine in the UK? Seems like it might have sold well.
Nerdherder said:
Hi Flanners, some info on the seat modification would be highly appreciated.
Sure, AlfaOwner has some posts about this here is one that will help:https://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-andamp-91...
I have a V6 coupe and a TS spider. The spider is a nicer drive but of course the V6 sounds better. I would not recommend buying one with electrics issues and hoping for a cheap fix. They can reduce an auto electrician to tears and not of laughter. Seat bolsters can wear badly. Be aware spider seats are different due to the seat belt mounting. I saw a lot of spiders with the wrong (coupe) seats fitted. You also want all the keys including the brown master. Of course, there are lots missing and sellers will tell you don't need it. Make your own mind up but I'd want money off if it wasn't present.
Have owned 2 x GTV 3.0 V6's ... best cars I've ever owned. It was even better, more responsive / quicker & felt more special than the BMW Z4M Coupe I had after. I still miss that wonderful V6, it totally dominates the car in a good way.
Like everyone above says, so long as you get a well-cared for example with everything done they are fantastic machines. It's definitely worth paying a lot for a decent one. And they are v reliable so long as you maintain them, get any odd noises sorted out ASAP etc. Mine never ever left me stranded.
A V6 Busso can do 150k+ miles easily if well-maintained - it's a very under-stressed unit & been in production / continual development since the mid-70's.
They're not for everyone eg) I can imagine an Audi driver hating them, but for those who do like them REALLY like them.
The bloke I sold my 2nd GTV V6 to actually phoned me up a week later just to say "Fantastic. Best car I've ever owned" ... and he's had TVR's. Lotus, Beemers etc. Never had that before after selling a car.
Like everyone above says, so long as you get a well-cared for example with everything done they are fantastic machines. It's definitely worth paying a lot for a decent one. And they are v reliable so long as you maintain them, get any odd noises sorted out ASAP etc. Mine never ever left me stranded.
A V6 Busso can do 150k+ miles easily if well-maintained - it's a very under-stressed unit & been in production / continual development since the mid-70's.
They're not for everyone eg) I can imagine an Audi driver hating them, but for those who do like them REALLY like them.
The bloke I sold my 2nd GTV V6 to actually phoned me up a week later just to say "Fantastic. Best car I've ever owned" ... and he's had TVR's. Lotus, Beemers etc. Never had that before after selling a car.
Edited by defonsecca on Thursday 15th August 17:07
defonsecca said:
Have owned 2 x GTV 3.0 V6's ... best cars I've ever owned. It was even better, more responsive / quicker & felt more special than the BMW Z4M Coupe I had after.
After my 3.0 V6 I had an E46 M3 convertible that I only kept for a year as I missed the rarity of my Alfa, so bought a Z4MC, but it had to be black with a red interior as an homage to my black and red Alfa 
This was my GTV TS -
Bought for £1k or so as a second car, probably spent almost as much on necessary maintenance in the (less than) year I had it. Alternator and other bits and pieces.
A quick online check suggests it's currently SORN and MOT expired last month. Still only on 85,000 miles.
I still look at these on ebay etc. and am tempted by the current prices, but then remember the anxiety this one caused me at the time. Unless I have deep pockets, I don't think I would again. Lovely looking cars to me though, and the v6 would be an even more tempting proposition I suppose, if I had the funds.
Practicality is rubbish by the way, couldn't fit even the smallest pushchair in the boot - had to carry it inside. Not a worry for most I suppose, though.
Bought for £1k or so as a second car, probably spent almost as much on necessary maintenance in the (less than) year I had it. Alternator and other bits and pieces.
A quick online check suggests it's currently SORN and MOT expired last month. Still only on 85,000 miles.
I still look at these on ebay etc. and am tempted by the current prices, but then remember the anxiety this one caused me at the time. Unless I have deep pockets, I don't think I would again. Lovely looking cars to me though, and the v6 would be an even more tempting proposition I suppose, if I had the funds.
Practicality is rubbish by the way, couldn't fit even the smallest pushchair in the boot - had to carry it inside. Not a worry for most I suppose, though.
Miss my twinnie immensely... They aren't that fast but it really doesn't matter, why?
Well because they do everything so dramatically, you may get outrun by a mildly warm modern hatch but inside the GTV the engine is howling, you are clinging on as it bucks and weaves around it's torque steer and love of tramlining, the wind noise making you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you've just passed the double ton.
It's impossible to explain but it's the kind of car where you go everywhere at eleven tenths, not very quickly and laughing your head off all the way, then you get home, get out and spend the evening staring at it.
Well because they do everything so dramatically, you may get outrun by a mildly warm modern hatch but inside the GTV the engine is howling, you are clinging on as it bucks and weaves around it's torque steer and love of tramlining, the wind noise making you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you've just passed the double ton.
It's impossible to explain but it's the kind of car where you go everywhere at eleven tenths, not very quickly and laughing your head off all the way, then you get home, get out and spend the evening staring at it.
Just below the paragraph explaining the engine range is the picture of the blue Phase 3 model that came with the updated I4 JTS, or the 240 bhp 3.2 Busso (slightly de-rated from the 147 & 156 GTA). This made it the fastest Alfa ever for the time period (not counting the 8C), surely worth mentioning? There were only 50 odd brought to the UK however. If you do end up with one of these, make sure the 90 degree bend-section on the air intake is in good condition - mine had been bodged / repaired with electrical tape. A replacement was exorbitantly priced - it was slightly different to the parts found on the 3.0 models, as well as different from the 3.2 147 /1 56 versions!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff