Discussion
Yep, I've got a TS Lusso, brought it as wanted a good looking and dare I say it reliable daily driver, looked at a 7th gen celica aswell, but just didnt compare to the Alfa.
The windscreen is a bitch, you find yourself stopping about 5 metres back from the traffic lights so you can see the green light lol
Don't think about one if your over 5'10
The windscreen is a bitch, you find yourself stopping about 5 metres back from the traffic lights so you can see the green light lol
Don't think about one if your over 5'10
I've used my 3.0V6 as a daily driver for the last 3 years. I'm 6'2" and have no problem with headroom. I have, however, tried a sunroof-equipped car and don't recommend it if you're over 6'.
See my history to see what the experience has been like, but the bottom line is: do it
Pick a fairly recent one up cheap as chips these days - difficut to think of something that looks as good or goes as well for the money (ok, ok a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo maybe, but the Alfa looks better IMO)
Avoid the dealership network, unless there is one of the very few good ones near you. Find a specialist to look after it for you.
See my history to see what the experience has been like, but the bottom line is: do it
Pick a fairly recent one up cheap as chips these days - difficut to think of something that looks as good or goes as well for the money (ok, ok a Fiat Coupe 20v turbo maybe, but the Alfa looks better IMO)
Avoid the dealership network, unless there is one of the very few good ones near you. Find a specialist to look after it for you.
Good question - I'm mulling over going back to a GTV, and fancy a quick one. My 2.0 Lusso was ace. Had minor electrical 'issues' like the arial not moving, but nothing that was worrying.
Sadly, it was my first car, and I bought one with too many owners, which meant the car was missing a few things it should have had (like the security key!), and so it had to go.
Dan
Sadly, it was my first car, and I bought one with too many owners, which meant the car was missing a few things it should have had (like the security key!), and so it had to go.
Dan
GTV's like most Alfa's have the odd nigly problem but in general they are realy not too bad (from my experience all car manufacturers knock out the occasional friday afternoon car) . The V6's are probably the more reliable of the engines on offer, the 4 cylinder ones seem to lunch there cambelts long befor the official interval (dealers are now supposed to be keeping an eye on this and should include a cambelt inspection within the first 30k miles).
The handling is supposed to be pretty good, according at least to magazine reviews courtesy of Evo and Autocar. Not up to Ford Puma or Integra Type R standards but apparently up to good hot hatch. standards
The handling is supposed to be pretty good, according at least to magazine reviews courtesy of Evo and Autocar. Not up to Ford Puma or Integra Type R standards but apparently up to good hot hatch. standards
gazzab said:
Tell me more about GTV V6 s ?!?!
Whats the score?
I fancy one.
what would i pay for a good one and what spec do I want? eg 6 speed? aero kit etc?
Are they terrible reliabitiy and awful handling?
Price
Highly dependent on condition, age & milage (as with any car), but see here for a few.
Spec
You'll find very little variation in spec on the V6 models, as most of the options are standard at this level.
Depending on age, you might find that there's no choice between a 5 or 6 speed 'box; all the later ones are 6-speed. Don't let the 5sp put you off, though, as this is one of those engines with plenty of torque, so no need to keep stirring the stick to get rapid travel.
Sunroofs are optional and I wouldn't suggest one if you're over 6ft. The phase-II cars (chrome grille surround, colour coded sills) have climate control rather than a/c, so no need for a s/r anyway.
Speaking of phase-II, the interior is nicer than phase-I, with aluminium-look centre console, Momo seats & Momo wheel.
The standard Clarion stereo is crap, so you're likely to see an aftermarket unit in the dash... some fit well, others look silly in there.
Standard interiors are either black, red or tan, but there are optional "blue-style" and "red-style" interior packs that, IMO, look awful anyway!
Aerokit - again, you might have no choice dependent on age of the car (Alfa went through various phases of offering it as an option or non-deletable standard) E.g. My car (2001 Phase-II) is 6-speed with aerokit but at the same time you could buy a 5-speed without
Handling
Contemporary reviews had the GTV down as a fine handling car. Seeing as they've now been on the road for 8 years or so, the game has obviously moved on a bit, so don't expect a Clio Sport experience!
All GTVs have a complex linkage system at the rear that gives passive rear wheel steering. Basically the harder you turn-in, the better the chassis grips (up to a point!). These linkages are a weak point on the 2.0TS, but the V6 is all rose jointed at the back, so things are a lot tougher.
The V6 lump is a bit of a heavy old thing, so there's understeer around if you're not careful (the TS, having a lighter front, end doesn't suffer quite as much). Also, the turning circle of the V6 is a joke (12m odd, Lambo territory!), but the super-quick rack helps a lot here (2.2 turns lock to lock).
There is suprisingly little torque steer, given that there's 220bhp driving the front wheels with no electronic aids. If you find one that torque steers badly, then either you're driving like a loon or the front suspension/tracking is out of whack (tracking needs looking at quite regularly).
V6s are somewhat renowned for eating front tyres, but careful attention to the tracking will prevent this.
That's all I can think of for now, but if you have any more questions, just fire away!
Forgot:
Reliability
Alfa still suffers from a bad image when it comes to reliability. The GTV is not generally deserving of this, though. Sure, you'll find some bloke at the pub who knows someone who heard of sombody that saw one explode into a million pieces, but that's the same for any car...
I've used mine as a daily driver for 3 years and 33000 miles and its never let me down yet. Have a look at my profile to see the detailed history - I know there's not that much in there, but that is literally everything that's ever happened to it - A Good Thing in this context.
{edited to add:} The airflow meters are a bit of a weak point (its a German part, in case anyone wants to blame Alfa directly!). Having said that, though, it would seem that chipping the ECU and/or aftermarket airboxes/filters can have a detrimental effect on its lifespan, so maybe its best to avoid modded cars.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Friday 30th April 09:58
Reliability
Alfa still suffers from a bad image when it comes to reliability. The GTV is not generally deserving of this, though. Sure, you'll find some bloke at the pub who knows someone who heard of sombody that saw one explode into a million pieces, but that's the same for any car...
I've used mine as a daily driver for 3 years and 33000 miles and its never let me down yet. Have a look at my profile to see the detailed history - I know there's not that much in there, but that is literally everything that's ever happened to it - A Good Thing in this context.
{edited to add:} The airflow meters are a bit of a weak point (its a German part, in case anyone wants to blame Alfa directly!). Having said that, though, it would seem that chipping the ECU and/or aftermarket airboxes/filters can have a detrimental effect on its lifespan, so maybe its best to avoid modded cars.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Friday 30th April 09:58
pwig said:
pwig said:
On the offical service schedule, the cambelt is checked at 36k
That must be a revised schedule, then, as its been 72k (- don't do it!) for ever.
I said checked not changed you wazzock!
So you did. Sorry for the slip.
Now
off & stop slinging insults for no reason.they are bloody awful cars.... i hate mine with a vengance!
sure they look good and they have a soundtrack to melt hearts.. BUT.. they are uneconomical, heavy, have a crap visibilty, an awful boot, pathetic rear seats, and the 2.0TS is just bloody slow.
2.0 GTV owners are used to continually replacing parts of the suspension every 5 minutes.. this is no exageration.
mine looks pretty stunning with met black paint, 18" multispoke alloys and eibach springs (i have just over 1" clearance under the plastic sump tray!)
I would buy one for £5k as a cheap motor but would never (again) pay over £10k for one.
Fingers crossed and it'll be gone soon,, to be replaced by either:-
Lotus Elise (had one before and is 10x more practical and enjoyable than the GTV)
Honda NSX
Porsche Boxster
...sorry,, having a bad day in the office.
sure they look good and they have a soundtrack to melt hearts.. BUT.. they are uneconomical, heavy, have a crap visibilty, an awful boot, pathetic rear seats, and the 2.0TS is just bloody slow.
2.0 GTV owners are used to continually replacing parts of the suspension every 5 minutes.. this is no exageration.
mine looks pretty stunning with met black paint, 18" multispoke alloys and eibach springs (i have just over 1" clearance under the plastic sump tray!)
I would buy one for £5k as a cheap motor but would never (again) pay over £10k for one.
Fingers crossed and it'll be gone soon,, to be replaced by either:-
Lotus Elise (had one before and is 10x more practical and enjoyable than the GTV)
Honda NSX
Porsche Boxster
...sorry,, having a bad day in the office.
ayjay said:
they are bloody awful cars.... i hate mine with a vengance!
time to get rid, then?
ayjay said:
sure they look good and they have a soundtrack to melt hearts.. BUT.. they are uneconomical, heavy, have a crap visibilty, an awful boot, pathetic rear seats, and the 2.0TS is just bloody slow.
Practical cars they are not. You don't buy one for its load-carrying ability!
ayjay said:
2.0 GTV owners are used to continually replacing parts of the suspension every 5 minutes.. this is no exageration.
mine looks pretty stunning with met black paint, 18" multispoke alloys and eibach springs (i have just over 1" clearance under the plastic sump tray!)
Rear suspension components on the TS are a weak point. Replacing the stock bushes with Powerflex items will stop you needing to keep replacing them. Also, lowered, hardened springs are a real killer; looks aside you'd be better off with the stock springs.
ayjay said:
I would buy one for £5k as a cheap motor but would never (again) pay over £10k for one.
Fingers crossed and it'll be gone soon,, to be replaced by either:-
Lotus Elise (had one before and is 10x more practical and enjoyable than the GTV)
Honda NSX
Porsche Boxster
...sorry,, having a bad day in the office.
pwig said:
I said checked not changed you wazzock!
And how do you check a cambelt exactly?
Leave it on the car and just peer at the top of it?
Take it off and examine every tooth?
The simple answer is you can't check a cambelt.
It's an Alfa UK bluff to pacify people whose belts have snapped before the original 72k limit, which was a nonesense only brought in to bring costs per mile down to attract the fleet market.
So you should change it, plus the balancer shaft belt, and the tensioners every 3 years or 36000 miles to be safe.
pwig said:
We visually check on the condition of the Timing belt at 36l and then advise depending on the condition if it needs doing or not.
Yes, I know the party line, but I still can't see how it makes a blind bit of difference?
Anyway, I would still recommend a swap and not a peer.
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