Owning a GTV cup

[lucebayjack]

Hello all,

I'm considering venturing into Alfa ownership, i have never had one before but keep finding my self drooling over 146 cups in the classifieds and watching Youtube vids just to hear the sweet exhaust note.

Just wanting to know what they are like to own, are the running costs really that bad? My fathe in law was an ex Alfa dealer and he has warned me to stay away, but surely they can't be that bad?

Any advice on what to look for? Of course full history is essential but what are the big things i should check have been done? cam belt, clutch etc.

Thanks for any help,

Jack

[lucebayjack]

Okay, is no one responding due to being insulted by my typo? Does anyone know how i can edit the title of this topic to correct said typo?

[crostonian]

Not sure if you are referring to mis-spelling 'owning' or the fact that a 146 'Cup' doesn't exist

[jamieboy]

lucebayjack said:

Does anyone know how i can edit the title of this topic to correct said typo?

Not sure if you can, I think only a moderator could change the thread title.

As above, though - the only sporty 146 that I know of is the 146ti, whereas "Cup" instantly makes me think of a GTV Cup. I was curious to see if anyone else could shed any light on it, but I can't add much myself.


_____________

Off topic, but I know your part of the world well. Struggling to remember the name of the couple who ran the caravan park when I lived down that way, but I remember he had a Cavalier SRi 130, which was quite something back then.

[BussoV6]

Hi Jack
As has been mentioned, there never was a 146 Cup, though I'm sure someone will have probably advertised one as that!
The top spec 146 is the Ti - thats the 2.0 16V with 150 BHP
The main things to look for when buying are recent cambelt change (inc variator as these are around £400 at a specialists) and rust in the floor. Alfa galvanised the bodies, but unfortunately not the floors, so they are now usually rotting.
If you head over to alfa145.com there is a comprehensive buying guide, a heap of enthusiastic owners and possibly a couple of cars for sale too.
I had two 145 Cloverleafs and they really are alot of fun!

[lucebayjack]

Firstly i would like to apologies. I did make quite a major typo in the topic title. This is now amended (thanks mods!).

Thanks for all your 146 help but as the title now states I'm actually looking into GTV cup ownership.

The car will be strictly for fun. If i'm making a trip where i need to worry about MPG i have another far more suitable less exciting vehicle. It will be garage stored and probably keep quite a low millage. That said it will be used and not a complete garage queen.

I'm looking at the cup over other GTV's mainly as it looks amazing but also i hope that if i was to buy with the right knowledge and guidance it should hold its value. I have come to this conclusion due to the limited production run but have noticed a surprising number for sale considering there were only 150 built. There are 7 for sale on the PH classifieds at the moment. Are some fakes? are they terrible cars to own so people flip them frequently?

From my limited research it seems the cam belt is the main thing to look out for.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

[PJ3074]

Have a read through the GTV buyers guide: http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_romeo_gtv.shtml

The CUP is very nice, but quite alot of money when compared to a 3.0V6 GTV with an AeroKit, will be upto £3K cheaper. Paint fade on the red is quite common between panels, where you have the plastic components on the bumper areas etc.

The main issue (£££s) on the GTV is the rear-subframe and suspension components. The above guide will give you the full SP on what to look out for. Then you can click around this site for ball park costs on parts and servicing.

Other sites to look on:
AlfaOwner
AutoLusso
Day & Whites
Veloces of London

My general rule of thumb, low number of owners (2-4) based on age of the car. If the car is sitting on Woo-Wung Special Tyres (aka Ditch Finders) then I wouldn't bother as a sign that the owner is not bothered with their car. Good Luck.

Edited by PJ3074 on Friday 14th October 11:25

[JR]

lucebayjack said:

i hope that if i was to buy with the right knowledge and guidance it should hold its value.

Further to what PJ has said the cup is more money for less (eg half leather) and IMHO it is less likely to hold it's value than a well specced V6.

[Robertf]

3.0 V6s are reliable but can be fairly pricey to maintain - cambelt services are not cheap! The cup is likely to retain a premium in my opinion, though if it were my money and I wanted a GTV that would appreciate I'd chance a later 3.2 car.

Otherwise I'd be buying a nice 3.0 at a lot less money, after all the driving experience is the same!

[vantastic]

I was looking at cups but went for the facelift 3.2 as very rare and faster

[robsco]

Aa already posted, there's no conceivable reason you would pay so much more for a Cup than a standard 3.0 V6 unless exclusivity means a lot to you. Even then, how many GTVs of any variant do you see on the road these days... very few. The Cup bodykit looks rather heavy handed too IMO, though that is purely subjective.

[crostonian]

If you buy a low mileage, low ownership Cup and never use it it may be worth something in 20 years, or it may not. I would look for a 3.2 which seem to be at Cup money or for less a 3.0 with the Aerokit. My personal 916 GTV Choice would be a 3.0 6 speed in a dark metallic with a tan or red leather interior. The rarest option was the electrically adjustable Recaros which are far more comfy than the standard slabs.

[lucebayjack]

Thanks for all the info. I think i may just keep an eye out for a decent 3.0 or 3.2.

I never realised the rear sub frames were so complicated and expensive to fix if anything went wrong!

[robsco]

Look for one that's been Powerflexed at the rear.

[AlfaPapa]

The other thing to bear in mind is that, on paper, the Cups are slower than a 'normal' 3l V6.

If you do chose to buy one, the first thing I would recommend is spending a bit of money getting cam belt, tensioners and water pump changed (the water pump impeller should be metal bladed but if it's been changed in the past and the cheaper twinny plaster badger's been put on then it's not worth risking it).
While you're at it, get whoever does the job to time it up to GTA spec, makes a HELL of a difference to how the car feels and the delivery of power.

MPG isn't too bad on long runs, I do a fair few miles and find over a long steady journey there is little difference between the MX5 and the GTV whereas round town (and stuck in traffic) the '5 is preferable.

Obviously I'm biased because I love mine (£2.5k later after a new engine... eeek) but they're a fantastically fun car, and you'll never get bored of looking at/polishing the beautiful busso