Alfa GTV V6 - Just Purchased, have I made a good buy?!
Discussion
Hi all
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Thought it's time to tap the collective knowledge of this great forum.
So I've got a new BMW 7 series as my daily driver. I love it but also love cars and only really now been in a position to get something on the side for a bit of fun. I didn't have a huge budget, about £3k, but decided on a GTV as my primary want, with a couple others as backup in couldn't find one. I happened to spot this today https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV-3-0-V6-6...
So I chatted with the seller and made an impulse offer of £2750. It's sight unseen of course, which is not always a great idea but like I said it was an impulse buy so if it all turns out to be a pile of nuts and bolts, I am ok with that, however, in the hope that its all good, what are your thoughts on the purchase?
He's listed quite a lot of the history in the advert, seems to have had a lot done to it and the essentials like belts and water pump have been done recently. I know its a high mileage car, that's the only negative I can see. Looking at the MOT history there were some advisories on a little corrosion but as it is due an MOT now, I haver asked the seller to do this prior to me actually handing over the cash so we will see what that throws up.
Apart from that, the stonechips and the mileage, have I done ok?!
Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Thought it's time to tap the collective knowledge of this great forum.
So I've got a new BMW 7 series as my daily driver. I love it but also love cars and only really now been in a position to get something on the side for a bit of fun. I didn't have a huge budget, about £3k, but decided on a GTV as my primary want, with a couple others as backup in couldn't find one. I happened to spot this today https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV-3-0-V6-6...
So I chatted with the seller and made an impulse offer of £2750. It's sight unseen of course, which is not always a great idea but like I said it was an impulse buy so if it all turns out to be a pile of nuts and bolts, I am ok with that, however, in the hope that its all good, what are your thoughts on the purchase?
He's listed quite a lot of the history in the advert, seems to have had a lot done to it and the essentials like belts and water pump have been done recently. I know its a high mileage car, that's the only negative I can see. Looking at the MOT history there were some advisories on a little corrosion but as it is due an MOT now, I haver asked the seller to do this prior to me actually handing over the cash so we will see what that throws up.
Apart from that, the stonechips and the mileage, have I done ok?!
Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
No idea on current values, but the Cup is certainly going to appreciate in value, and the 2.0 seems to have recovered from 'Shed territory' of late.
I liked mine, but it's an Alfa so you have to accept a certain level of unreliability, with Cambelt changes required every other Sunday.
I liked mine, but it's an Alfa so you have to accept a certain level of unreliability, with Cambelt changes required every other Sunday.
Yeah I've seen the cup values rising but I couldn't stretch to finding one of those.
I'm happy to accept the Alfa reliability, it's a second car and also I like getting my hands dirty so happy to try to maintain as much as I can myself. But really like to hear what thoughts are on the car itself?
I'm happy to accept the Alfa reliability, it's a second car and also I like getting my hands dirty so happy to try to maintain as much as I can myself. But really like to hear what thoughts are on the car itself?
Technoholic said:
Yeah I've seen the cup values rising but I couldn't stretch to finding one of those.
I'm happy to accept the Alfa reliability, it's a second car and also I like getting my hands dirty so happy to try to maintain as much as I can myself. But really like to hear what thoughts are on the car itself?
It's a great engine with a lovely sound. I think Clarkson has waxed lyrical about the V6 being one of the best examples of an engine in some form or another.I'm happy to accept the Alfa reliability, it's a second car and also I like getting my hands dirty so happy to try to maintain as much as I can myself. But really like to hear what thoughts are on the car itself?
I'm over 6' tall and found myself perfectly comfortable driving it - the boot is ridiculously tiny, mind. It's basically a Fiat Coupe, so plenty of shared parts and performance options out there for the chassis. I had to replace the control arm bushes due to a twitchy ride, after which it handled lovely.
It was the kind of car a girl would get in and ask "is this a Ferrari?", so they obviously come across as value-for-money based on the perspective of those who aren't familiar with cars (as daft as it sounds)
Clutch, Q2 and timing belt, exhaust are very expensive and good to see that they have been done recently (V6 has much longer intervals for timing belt than twin spark)
I had one for 8 years and they are well built and reliable overall with a strong engine and gearbox. The area you want to be looking at is the floor pans; they like to rust. If it is caught early no problem and even if you leave it until holed it is easy enough to repair.
Economy is decent on a run and terrible in town! Think about 20 mpg on average and you won't be far off.
I think you have probably done well. Enjoy!
I had one for 8 years and they are well built and reliable overall with a strong engine and gearbox. The area you want to be looking at is the floor pans; they like to rust. If it is caught early no problem and even if you leave it until holed it is easy enough to repair.
Economy is decent on a run and terrible in town! Think about 20 mpg on average and you won't be far off.
I think you have probably done well. Enjoy!
cj2013 said:
It's basically a Fiat Coupe, so plenty of shared parts and performance options out there for the chassis. I had to replace the control arm bushes due to a twitchy ride, after which it handled lovely.
To be more accurate it is based on the 90's Tipo platform, starting with the Fiat Tipo, spinoffs were, Fiat Tempra, Alfa 145/146/155, Fiat Coupe, and the GTV. The front end suspension design and geometry is basically the same, chassis mostly the same. The GTV was the only one on tue platform which got a multilink rear suspension, all the others were trailing arm. Bushes on the rear suspension do wear and negatively affect handling when worn, making the car feel skittish. Do have that checked. I reccommend a guy in Aylesbury by the name AforAlfa.
The busso V6 is one of the best sounding V6's out there and a very well regarded powerplant.
Rhe GTv is less prone to rust from all the chassis using the Tipo platform, but do have it checked and washed underneath. I would have the under body treated and would not use it when the roads are gritted during winter months. That should ensure its longevity.
Those wheels are not standard btw, they look like one of the 156 model wheels, or aftermarket lookalike.
Busso V6 + Q2 + decent suspension and geometry = good fun when pressing on. Enjoy.
If all of it stands up to the advert, its a bit of a bargain imo.
Technoholic said:
I was a little concerned about the MOT history too but was there anything specific that jumped out? I am waiting to see if it passes the mot before I pick it up which will reassure me a little but I expect to have to do some work on the floor in time
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV-3-0-V6-6-Speed-Lusso-24V-Q2-Diff-Cambelt-Replaced-Koni-Sport-/173520678537?hash=item2866a36e89%3Ag%3AIegAAOSw~Q9bD~ao&nma=true&si=ZlOIVRN3%252FdHKXzVPQq%252F0HUnO%252BEs%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557It was for sale for a while. It started at £3450 I think.
As you're looking to do work on the underside check Alfa Owner as there's guides there of where to check for rust.
It was probably the corrosion in the 2014 MoT and combination of other things that put me off. Proteo red doesn't appeal much and I think the advert said the paint could do with some attention. I wouldn't have paid £2750 for it without a valid MoT on it. I've owned Fiats and British Leyland cars so I get a bit sensitive about rust. I like that gloss primer Aviator Grey one that an Italian car specialist has up for sale twice recently but like many GTVs that's had rust in the floor sorted.
I've driven a couple of V6 Alfas that were owned by others and back in the day I never really considered the GTV as I was so taken with the Fiat Coupe, but now the GTV V6 has some following and are the price they are they're tempting me badly.
I desire one badly but know how much attention and work they can need. I was very tempted by a white 12V 164 that featured in a PH thread in 2014 or 2015 but felt I'd dodged a bullet when the buyer got it home and the big ends had gone which given the state of the bodywork wasn't worth mending. I also got close to buying a 3 litre 156 that the next buyer had to replace the floorpan on.
Regarding it being Tipo based it has a completely different back end from the Fiat Coupe which is why the Fiat Coupe has a boot and the GTV has a slot that one person may be able to sit in.
Along with about 30 others I watched it a few times on eBay. I was quite tempted but I won’t need another car until the spring.
Nice colour and good maintenance recently done made it a good car. I think the high mileage may have put some guys off at a guess. You definitely won’t go wrong at that price. Keep on top of any things needing doing and you will get your money back without fail.
You dun good OP!
Nice colour and good maintenance recently done made it a good car. I think the high mileage may have put some guys off at a guess. You definitely won’t go wrong at that price. Keep on top of any things needing doing and you will get your money back without fail.
You dun good OP!
Thanks everyone for feedback. I actually love the Proteo red, possibly controversially I think I prefer it to Rosso personally.
As for problems, well I've had a chat with the seller, and I asked directly about corrosion, especially regarding the previous MOT notes. He said that any rust was surface rust, was removed and was undersealed. There was a small area about the size of 50p that was welded and this was undersealed too. During the MOT this week he will make sure the underseal is topped up. I said I would probably look to replace the pans at some point down the line anyway and he said they won't even need doing anytime soon.
So that's good, obviously this is an unknown and Alfas are new to me anyway but I'm hoping it will be ok. I can deal with cosmetic issues, of which I expect there to be a number. I would love to give it a respray but that's for down the line, im sure there will be plenty of jobs to keep me going in the meantime.
Just need to work out how to get there to pick it up now!
As for problems, well I've had a chat with the seller, and I asked directly about corrosion, especially regarding the previous MOT notes. He said that any rust was surface rust, was removed and was undersealed. There was a small area about the size of 50p that was welded and this was undersealed too. During the MOT this week he will make sure the underseal is topped up. I said I would probably look to replace the pans at some point down the line anyway and he said they won't even need doing anytime soon.
So that's good, obviously this is an unknown and Alfas are new to me anyway but I'm hoping it will be ok. I can deal with cosmetic issues, of which I expect there to be a number. I would love to give it a respray but that's for down the line, im sure there will be plenty of jobs to keep me going in the meantime.
Just need to work out how to get there to pick it up now!
Dont rely in the seller's assurances about rust, he is after all wishing to complete a sale!
Just because someone slaps undersealni n it doesnt mean its ok, as you can do that wuth no prep and trap rust and moisture in which will do harm you are not aware of.
If you wish to keep the car long-term, have it inspected properly after purchase so you know what you are dealing with. There are various companies that can do this for you. Im sure aforalfa will allow you to investigate underneath if you ask nicely.
Ignorance isnt bliss in this respect Im afraid.
Just because someone slaps undersealni n it doesnt mean its ok, as you can do that wuth no prep and trap rust and moisture in which will do harm you are not aware of.
If you wish to keep the car long-term, have it inspected properly after purchase so you know what you are dealing with. There are various companies that can do this for you. Im sure aforalfa will allow you to investigate underneath if you ask nicely.
Ignorance isnt bliss in this respect Im afraid.
Yes I agree and I will have it checked at some point in the near future, but I was just commenting on how the issues presented in the previous MOTs have been addressed coming from the buyer. I know this has to be taken with a pinch of salt but I'm staying positive until I know otherwise.
Out of interest, if there is serious rust issues either now or down the line, is it common for a full floor pan replacement or do most people just do repairs to the existing metal?
Out of interest, if there is serious rust issues either now or down the line, is it common for a full floor pan replacement or do most people just do repairs to the existing metal?
I had two of these so feel somewhat qualified to comments on these. This one certainly looks like a good buy, despite the mileage, given all the most important work has already been done - Q2, Cambelt, etc. The seller seems to know what he's selling - not unusual to find ads from owners who don't seem to have a clue about the basics on these cars. As long as the receipts are there then you're good to go and spend some time and money on the bodywork.
There's a spot under the bonnet, just above the front wheel, where you will see a gap near where the bonnet hinge sits. I found a little patch of rust there on mine and treated it with some rust protection. The other major worry is the spring pan and the rust on those so look that up - or get the seller to send pictures of it. Those are rare to find and can be costly to replace. Suspension can be a bit crashy but with the right setup no issues - I had standard suspension but there's lots of information on Alfaowner for these cars.
In terms of modifications you can opt for adding a CF2 manifiold, in case yours is CF3 engine. You can tell by looking on the engine bay and the CF3 version had the ECU sitting on top of the rear bank of the engine. The manifold conversion alleviates heat in the boot area and the removal of the cats from the CF3 manifolds allows more grunt.
They're easy cars to work on so I wouldn't worry about getting your hands dirty. I had the rear suspension joints polybushed but I didn't like the ride after as it made the back end very stiff, so much so that I could feel the tension in my back. There's a few other niggles such as Airbag light coming on if seats are moved when car is switched on - easiy recitified, issues with the rear windscreen heating elements, check for if your car comes with self adjusting windows when opening and closing doors. Tonnes of info on all these issues on Alfaowner and all easy to fix.
The biggest expense on these can be the engine if needing a rebuild - check for servicing intervals and the type of oil used. The engine is a masterpiece and the whole package is just a lot of fun. I'm on my second 156 GTA after selling the GTV but I still miss it. You coming from a 7 series may not like the downgrade in comfort levels but ifright the v6 GTV gives any car a good run for value for money and it's solely down to the engine. Lots of low end torque and you can pull from standstill in 2nd and cruise in it all day in 6th never having to change gears. Sitting down so low and thrashing it - an Italian tune up often is a requirement of owning this V6 - is an exhilarating experience and makes it a truly fun car. You will not be disappointed if you take it for what it is, i.e., a Pininfarina design powered by a gem of an engine and an Italian interior that makes you feel you're driving a mini ferrari. Yes, it's not perfect but not many cars are and this ones makes up for it in what it delivers through the engine and the feel of the steering. You can however make it perfect by spending some money on getting the right suspension setup for you.
There's a spot under the bonnet, just above the front wheel, where you will see a gap near where the bonnet hinge sits. I found a little patch of rust there on mine and treated it with some rust protection. The other major worry is the spring pan and the rust on those so look that up - or get the seller to send pictures of it. Those are rare to find and can be costly to replace. Suspension can be a bit crashy but with the right setup no issues - I had standard suspension but there's lots of information on Alfaowner for these cars.
In terms of modifications you can opt for adding a CF2 manifiold, in case yours is CF3 engine. You can tell by looking on the engine bay and the CF3 version had the ECU sitting on top of the rear bank of the engine. The manifold conversion alleviates heat in the boot area and the removal of the cats from the CF3 manifolds allows more grunt.
They're easy cars to work on so I wouldn't worry about getting your hands dirty. I had the rear suspension joints polybushed but I didn't like the ride after as it made the back end very stiff, so much so that I could feel the tension in my back. There's a few other niggles such as Airbag light coming on if seats are moved when car is switched on - easiy recitified, issues with the rear windscreen heating elements, check for if your car comes with self adjusting windows when opening and closing doors. Tonnes of info on all these issues on Alfaowner and all easy to fix.
The biggest expense on these can be the engine if needing a rebuild - check for servicing intervals and the type of oil used. The engine is a masterpiece and the whole package is just a lot of fun. I'm on my second 156 GTA after selling the GTV but I still miss it. You coming from a 7 series may not like the downgrade in comfort levels but ifright the v6 GTV gives any car a good run for value for money and it's solely down to the engine. Lots of low end torque and you can pull from standstill in 2nd and cruise in it all day in 6th never having to change gears. Sitting down so low and thrashing it - an Italian tune up often is a requirement of owning this V6 - is an exhilarating experience and makes it a truly fun car. You will not be disappointed if you take it for what it is, i.e., a Pininfarina design powered by a gem of an engine and an Italian interior that makes you feel you're driving a mini ferrari. Yes, it's not perfect but not many cars are and this ones makes up for it in what it delivers through the engine and the feel of the steering. You can however make it perfect by spending some money on getting the right suspension setup for you.
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