buying an Alfa GTV/Spider
Discussion
Hi all,
first post on pistonheads, I am more of a biker than a driver, I currently own a Ducati monster, but I am looking to add to my Italian stable with an Alfa.
This is definitely a heart before head purchase, and I am set on picking up a mid-late 90's GTV or Spider, I'm no stranger to spannering so not to worried about the inevitable fettling and breakdowns that may result.
Can anyone give any advice on what to look out for and what to avoid when purchasing an Alfa, I am off to see a GTV this afternoon, so any advice would be appreciated
Cheers in advance
Darren
first post on pistonheads, I am more of a biker than a driver, I currently own a Ducati monster, but I am looking to add to my Italian stable with an Alfa.
This is definitely a heart before head purchase, and I am set on picking up a mid-late 90's GTV or Spider, I'm no stranger to spannering so not to worried about the inevitable fettling and breakdowns that may result.
Can anyone give any advice on what to look out for and what to avoid when purchasing an Alfa, I am off to see a GTV this afternoon, so any advice would be appreciated
Cheers in advance
Darren
Lots of info in this thread : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
oil useage is one thing to check, they use it and its normal, rear subframe bushes can wear out - which causes the subframe to rub on the suspension which is where the £1k bill comes from!
rust shouldnt be an issue, they are galvanised.
if you want to have a poke about one, your more than welcome to look at mine.
ETA: its only on the 2L that you get the suspension wear.
rust shouldnt be an issue, they are galvanised.
if you want to have a poke about one, your more than welcome to look at mine.
Edited by S3_Graham on Thursday 13th August 14:38
ETA: its only on the 2L that you get the suspension wear.
Edited by S3_Graham on Thursday 13th August 14:39
For what its worth, here's my personal recollections of owning one for 8 yrs.
I owned a GTV 3.0 24v 6-speed, from new. T reg / 99. I did 76,000 miles in it, most of which involved daily hammering down 18 miles of highly enjoyable B roads on the way to work. Other than the odd horse and tractor I wouldn’t see more than a few other cars. And yes, this was in the middle of England !
I bought it as a UK spec RHD car as new, via the internet from a German Alfa Dealer, and after paying VAT and import dues into the UK I saved approx 10k on the UK price at the time. Whole process went very smoothly, and the dealer was doing roaring trade with Brits at the time, courtesy of some daft UK / EU rules which naturally have since been changed.
Colour was silver bodywork, and red leather interior. Sounds odd to most people, but on sight all people loved it. Especially wimin.
Not much went wrong with it to be honest. Nothing like the tales of woe that older Alfas suffer from.
Plus points :-
• Looks
• Sound
• Classy looking Italian interior, if not quite up to Maserati quality !
• Actually pretty quick at covering ground, with good mid range punch.
• Reliability - relatively speaking ..
• I just loved the smooth round telephone dial wheels for some reason (see profile pic)
• Looks !
Negative points :-
• Brakes used to squeak, but this came down to being the dust shield rattling
• Stock brakes not up to the job bearing in mind the engine power/car weight
• Air flow meter went pop about 3 or 4 times when it got to the 70,000 mile stage, and this actually stops the engine from running. Was cheap to replace each time on warranty, but this was the one time it left me stranded, so I carried a spare.
• The was no spare-wheel in the boot because with one in place you had no useable boot. Without it, the boot isn't too bad although the space is 'vertical' rather than into the car horizontally.
• Door seals are a bit hit and miss. Mine had an irritating miss-fit just by drivers right ear resulting in annoying wind noise at speed, but if it did occur I eventually resorted to stuffing a bit of cut-up black sock into the corner of the window frame .. ah the joys of Alfa ownership :-)
• Alfa dealers are very hit and miss when it comes to customer service.
• Crap back seats for anything other than bottles of booze, bags of shopping or very small people laying down sideways etc.
I owned a GTV 3.0 24v 6-speed, from new. T reg / 99. I did 76,000 miles in it, most of which involved daily hammering down 18 miles of highly enjoyable B roads on the way to work. Other than the odd horse and tractor I wouldn’t see more than a few other cars. And yes, this was in the middle of England !
I bought it as a UK spec RHD car as new, via the internet from a German Alfa Dealer, and after paying VAT and import dues into the UK I saved approx 10k on the UK price at the time. Whole process went very smoothly, and the dealer was doing roaring trade with Brits at the time, courtesy of some daft UK / EU rules which naturally have since been changed.
Colour was silver bodywork, and red leather interior. Sounds odd to most people, but on sight all people loved it. Especially wimin.
Not much went wrong with it to be honest. Nothing like the tales of woe that older Alfas suffer from.
Plus points :-
• Looks
• Sound
• Classy looking Italian interior, if not quite up to Maserati quality !
• Actually pretty quick at covering ground, with good mid range punch.
• Reliability - relatively speaking ..
• I just loved the smooth round telephone dial wheels for some reason (see profile pic)
• Looks !
Negative points :-
• Brakes used to squeak, but this came down to being the dust shield rattling
• Stock brakes not up to the job bearing in mind the engine power/car weight
• Air flow meter went pop about 3 or 4 times when it got to the 70,000 mile stage, and this actually stops the engine from running. Was cheap to replace each time on warranty, but this was the one time it left me stranded, so I carried a spare.
• The was no spare-wheel in the boot because with one in place you had no useable boot. Without it, the boot isn't too bad although the space is 'vertical' rather than into the car horizontally.
• Door seals are a bit hit and miss. Mine had an irritating miss-fit just by drivers right ear resulting in annoying wind noise at speed, but if it did occur I eventually resorted to stuffing a bit of cut-up black sock into the corner of the window frame .. ah the joys of Alfa ownership :-)
• Alfa dealers are very hit and miss when it comes to customer service.
• Crap back seats for anything other than bottles of booze, bags of shopping or very small people laying down sideways etc.
Edited by Stealth-wagon on Thursday 13th August 15:13
You want a post 98 phase 2 one - nicest interior by far. twin spark is swift rather than fast. Electric hood motors fail badly and expensively - my car is a lusso with nice leather but manual hood, which takes me about 5 secs to drop and about 10 secs to put back up, but you do have to get out of the car. A lot of cars have poly bushes on the rear suspension which solves the sub frame issue.
Ask the owner about oil consumption and what brand he uses - if he's vague then he's not checking enough.
Ask the owner about oil consumption and what brand he uses - if he's vague then he's not checking enough.
Thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated.
I am going to look at a 98 spider tomorrow that has done 150,000 miles, but apparently had a recon engine put in at 140,000. Not sure about the car at all, but i am taking my brother (a mechanic!) to have a look with me.
any idea how long these things keep running for? it apparently has a full service history and has had a fair bit of work done, but I will see tomorrow, presumably if the engine is sound, i need to have a good look at the rear suspension after that much mileage.
cheers
Darren
I am going to look at a 98 spider tomorrow that has done 150,000 miles, but apparently had a recon engine put in at 140,000. Not sure about the car at all, but i am taking my brother (a mechanic!) to have a look with me.
any idea how long these things keep running for? it apparently has a full service history and has had a fair bit of work done, but I will see tomorrow, presumably if the engine is sound, i need to have a good look at the rear suspension after that much mileage.
cheers
Darren
didn't buy the car i mentioned above, but am picking up a different one today, 100k miles, full service history and most of the bits that people have mentioned are dodgy have been replaced. 12 months mot, £1600. a bargain i think.
the only bad bit is the paintwork, it has quite a lot of stone chips and minor blemishes, looks great from a few yards back but a bit ropey under close scrutiny. Polish will be out this afternoon.
Also the panel that covers the hood when it is down has an odd finish, the top layer of lacquer has blistered up and looks bad. i think some fine wet and dry paper and a new coat of lacquer should solve the problem, but any suggestions would be welcome.
Darren
the only bad bit is the paintwork, it has quite a lot of stone chips and minor blemishes, looks great from a few yards back but a bit ropey under close scrutiny. Polish will be out this afternoon.
Also the panel that covers the hood when it is down has an odd finish, the top layer of lacquer has blistered up and looks bad. i think some fine wet and dry paper and a new coat of lacquer should solve the problem, but any suggestions would be welcome.
Darren
Sounds about right! Bonnets are very very prone to chipping - touched mine up last year and it's covered with chips again already. Decided to leave it until it looks really appalling or when I sell it. I also have the same lacquer bubbling issue on one side of the cover, but intend to leave it until selling time. It's not really noticeable unless you're the one that washs the car.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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