Never had an Alfa....
Discussion
...having sold some cars this year, I'm in need of something exciting in the garage. The sort of exciting that really makes you want to go out on a clear winters day and just drive. I've got a BMW 650 but while that is perfect for many things, stirring emotions isn't one of them.
I've never had an Italian car, largely because I get very upset if I break down
Doing a bit of an internet search for something fun, and around the £2k mark, I happened on Alfa GTV V6s.
These are great looking cars, and while most of them for sale seem to be around the 13 year old mark, tinworm hasn't killed them. Some have done respectable sub-100k mileages too. I'm only looking at the 3.2 V6. Basically i'd use it for track days and generally pootling about in a La Dolce Vita kinda way.
Am I bonkers to even consider it? Are they ruinously expensive or so unreliable that any journey is fraught with misery?
I've never had an Italian car, largely because I get very upset if I break down
Doing a bit of an internet search for something fun, and around the £2k mark, I happened on Alfa GTV V6s.These are great looking cars, and while most of them for sale seem to be around the 13 year old mark, tinworm hasn't killed them. Some have done respectable sub-100k mileages too. I'm only looking at the 3.2 V6. Basically i'd use it for track days and generally pootling about in a La Dolce Vita kinda way.
Am I bonkers to even consider it? Are they ruinously expensive or so unreliable that any journey is fraught with misery?
Just selling my 2.0l TS after a great year and half, wouldn't be selling it but a dog and a mountain bike habit means it never used, so I bought myself a fun estate.
I only have experience of the 'little' engine, which most say is a better steer, but it has been very reliable, the only issue I had being a diff failing to allow the wheels to turn at different rates, which is almost unheard of on the 2.0l so I guess some idiot in the past has been a traffic light grand prix specialist!
Great little car, well built in my opinion and with the 2.0l it feels very nimble when pressing on in twisty bits.
And (something which I think is important in car design) was that is always seemed to take a look back after parking it, it just looks right!
I only have experience of the 'little' engine, which most say is a better steer, but it has been very reliable, the only issue I had being a diff failing to allow the wheels to turn at different rates, which is almost unheard of on the 2.0l so I guess some idiot in the past has been a traffic light grand prix specialist!
Great little car, well built in my opinion and with the 2.0l it feels very nimble when pressing on in twisty bits.
And (something which I think is important in car design) was that is always seemed to take a look back after parking it, it just looks right!
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=129...
The trick is to buy one that's been fully sorted otherwise things can get very expensive very quickly unless you're good with the spanners. Even if you are good with the spanners new parts aren't cheap, though like any car of that vintage there are specialist breakers that can offer savings.
I believe trying to get at the alternator on the Busso V6 is like trying to reach down into the depths of hell. Having climbed the spiral steps inside the duoumo in Florence I am reminded of the scene in the mural where satan is sticking a trident somewhere painful into some unfortunate sinner.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=129...
The trick is to buy one that's been fully sorted otherwise things can get very expensive very quickly unless you're good with the spanners. Even if you are good with the spanners new parts aren't cheap, though like any car of that vintage there are specialist breakers that can offer savings.
I believe trying to get at the alternator on the Busso V6 is like trying to reach down into the depths of hell. Having climbed the spiral steps inside the duoumo in Florence I am reminded of the scene in the mural where satan is sticking a trident somewhere painful into some unfortunate sinner.
bqf said:
These are great looking cars, and while most of them for sale seem to be around the 13 year old mark, tinworm hasn't killed them.
I think the concensus of opinion is that they're more rust resistant than the Fiat Coupe and Alfa 156. I was looking at a late 90s 156 a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised that there were no floorpan corrosion issues.carinaman said:
bqf said:
These are great looking cars, and while most of them for sale seem to be around the 13 year old mark, tinworm hasn't killed them.
I think the concensus of opinion is that they're more rust resistant than the Fiat Coupe and Alfa 156. I was looking at a late 90s 156 a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised that there were no floorpan corrosion issues.
Is that normal? Sounds bonkers to meI think the rust proofing varies from car to car. Sometimes they got bored and didn't bother properly treating all the way to the edges of the floors and sills in the factories. Other cars are great. My 2001 156 is very good but various scrapes and bumps underneath mean I am aiming to get it over the pit and re underseal it to prevent any rust from forming.
The V6 is a lovely engine in everything but the extra weight in the nose. Depends how you drive as to how much it bothers you, as far as I can tell.
The V6 is a lovely engine in everything but the extra weight in the nose. Depends how you drive as to how much it bothers you, as far as I can tell.
Probably not the confidence inspiring comment I think it is but last Christmas Eve I purchased a V6 156 for £1200. The brake pads fell apart (literally) immediately and then the radiator decided to lose it's ability to hold water. I kept the car for 3 months and then was forced to sell.
After losses on insurance, tax, parts, fitting etc. it probably cost me about £4 a mile but I can say with all honesty that it was the best car i've ever owned. I regret making the 'sensible' decision to sell it. It sounded like heaven and went well considering it's weight.
It certainly wasn't the pinacle of handling excellence but there was something special about the way it drove and it rewarded spirited driving.
Even writing this makes me upset that it's gone...
http://youtu.be/M0Nljli-6DQ?t=11s
After losses on insurance, tax, parts, fitting etc. it probably cost me about £4 a mile but I can say with all honesty that it was the best car i've ever owned. I regret making the 'sensible' decision to sell it. It sounded like heaven and went well considering it's weight.
It certainly wasn't the pinacle of handling excellence but there was something special about the way it drove and it rewarded spirited driving.
Even writing this makes me upset that it's gone...
http://youtu.be/M0Nljli-6DQ?t=11s
Mine had no rust whatsover, but did suffer some paint lacquer issues (I think this is more common on the red ones). The Alfa forum is pretty good for helping sort things out.
Loved mine though - it had some bigger wheels (18s) which did cause the ride to be very harsh. Could feel every bump. Did handle lovely for something with a big engine in the front. Sounded amazing with the custom exhaust as well.
There are a few different issues that you'll come across - but the electrical issues are down to Bosch components, so you can't blame the italians too much.
Loved mine though - it had some bigger wheels (18s) which did cause the ride to be very harsh. Could feel every bump. Did handle lovely for something with a big engine in the front. Sounded amazing with the custom exhaust as well.
There are a few different issues that you'll come across - but the electrical issues are down to Bosch components, so you can't blame the italians too much.
bqf said:
One of the GTVs I am looking at had some inner sill welding done at 50,000 miles Is that normal? Sounds bonkers to me
Check the specialist Alfa forums. They don't rust that much. I'd have more concerns about rust in the sills of a 944 than a GTV. I'm not sure there's a correlation between mileage and rust. Is that normal? Sounds bonkers to mecarinaman said:
bqf said:
One of the GTVs I am looking at had some inner sill welding done at 50,000 miles Is that normal? Sounds bonkers to me
Check the specialist Alfa forums. They don't rust that much. I'd have more concerns about rust in the sills of a 944 than a GTV. I'm not sure there's a correlation between mileage and rust. Is that normal? Sounds bonkers to meLook carefully and let us know how you get on.
Some of them squeak and rattle like a McLaren F1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POQMEoVWioA
Some of them squeak and rattle like a McLaren F1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POQMEoVWioA
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