What's it like to live with an Alfa GTV?
Discussion
More curiosity than anything else, but can anyone shed some light on what it's like to live with a GTV V6 (of the recent FWD variety) every day? In particular, do they tend to generate big bills in servicing - can you give me an idea of what bigger things might need doing when you come round to an annual service and how much that would cost? What sort of MPG will you get at a decent motorway cruise (say 0.9 leptons or so)? Is there anything else that you'd need to factor into account?
Basically I'm trying to hatch a plan to justify getting one as a daily driver. Walked past a somewhat battered example in a car park yesterday and still wanted it more than most cars worth five times as much.
One more question... I always tend to think of the V6, but how different is the twin spark to own and run? I can't deny I'm largely motivated by the noise.
Basically I'm trying to hatch a plan to justify getting one as a daily driver. Walked past a somewhat battered example in a car park yesterday and still wanted it more than most cars worth five times as much.
One more question... I always tend to think of the V6, but how different is the twin spark to own and run? I can't deny I'm largely motivated by the noise.
Hi Joe. I asked broadly the same stuff a few months back and everyone was very helpful. Have a read at
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
In the end I have hatched a plan to keep the TVR and the boring daily driver for the moment but I still think the GTV is a great car.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
In the end I have hatched a plan to keep the TVR and the boring daily driver for the moment but I still think the GTV is a great car.
pdV6 said:
If you're thinking along those lines, a GT might be the best bet?
Regarding bike racks, the spoiler pretty much scuppers that. The few times I've had to use the GTV to ferry a bike around, the frame's gone on the back seats and the wheels etc into the boot.
I did look into that, but the V6s seem to be rather thin on the ground (I swore if I ever had an Alfa it'd be a red V6!) and they're quite a lot of money. Likewise, a 147 GTA would be a good compromise (I presume that's the only V6 147?) but it's quite a lot of money. The other advantage of something like a 156 Sportwagon is, despite not being quite as desirable as the coupes from the outside, they seem to cost an awful lot less - I could buy an average 156 V6 Veloce and run it for a year for less than the cost of buying a good GTV it appears. I'd still prefer a GTV, but that would sugar the pill somewhat.Regarding bike racks, the spoiler pretty much scuppers that. The few times I've had to use the GTV to ferry a bike around, the frame's gone on the back seats and the wheels etc into the boot.
Obviously externally there's a lot of difference between a GTV coupe and a 156 estate, but how different is the cabin, the noise, and the driving experience?
What I really need is three cars - TVR to play with, GTV to drive every day and something small yet spacious which the missus won't complain about (she doesn't like driving 'sporty' cars
) for load lugging.Also have a look at the blog in my profile too. It can get expensive to run one every day. The V6 drinks petrol to be honest but then its offset by the noise, which is awesome.
Just get one, you can always sell it if it gets too expensive. Theres no point in fannying about, you only live once remember!
Just get one, you can always sell it if it gets too expensive. Theres no point in fannying about, you only live once remember!
Slightly different motor, but I've got a Fiat Coupe 20vt.
Cost about £700 in terms of servicing keeping it on the road (service, new exhaust and 4 new boots) in a year.
Got the 3rd litre of oil in a year sitting in the boot waiting to go it, and you'll get 250ish miles to a 50 quid tank of petrol depending on what sort of mileage you're doing and how turbo happy you get.
By all accounts the V6 alfa is similar in terms of fuel, and they are pretty similar underneath.
At 133k miles it could do with a suspension freshen up. I'll let you know the wallet damage when it's sorted.
Cost about £700 in terms of servicing keeping it on the road (service, new exhaust and 4 new boots) in a year.
Got the 3rd litre of oil in a year sitting in the boot waiting to go it, and you'll get 250ish miles to a 50 quid tank of petrol depending on what sort of mileage you're doing and how turbo happy you get.
By all accounts the V6 alfa is similar in terms of fuel, and they are pretty similar underneath.
At 133k miles it could do with a suspension freshen up. I'll let you know the wallet damage when it's sorted.
jamieboy said:
JT said:
Can a tow bar be put onto the back of a GTV allowing a tow bar rack to be used for carrying bikes. If so it might get round the spoiler problem.
The spoiler was an option on the V6 anyway, so if it's a show-stopper then find one without it. 
On a random note, does anyone here know of an Alfa dealership called Veloces (in Barnet)? They're my local dealer (well, independent I think) and I might take a browse at their stock on Saturday.
If I did go down the Alfa route it would rather ironically polarise to a GTV or a 156 Sportwagon I think. Ironically, it's harder to find a manual V6 estate than it is a coupe.
ETA How do people find the driving position? I know Alfas of old had some interesting ergonomics and in one of the videos linked from Doug's thread Clarkson whinges about the seating position, but he is unnecessarily tall; would those of a more ordinary stature find it a problem?
Edited by JoePublic on Tuesday 8th September 10:46
JoePublic said:
How do people find the driving position? I know Alfas of old had some interesting ergonomics and in one of the videos linked from Doug's thread Clarkson whinges about the seating position, but he is unnecessarily tall; would those of a more ordinary stature find it a problem?
Hi, I'm just over 6 foot with no problem although it takes a little getting used to; it's a bit like a pillar box view, similar to having the sunvisor down hence why the sunvisors are tiny. I would say that the sense of occasion is greater in the GTV than the 156.One thought - do the seats fold to give you access into the boot on the 156 saloon? That might be another option...
The idea of a Fiat Coupe popped into my head again, but the two cars are so similar on paper that I'd spend my time kicking myself for not having the sound and soul of the Alfa I reckon.
The idea of a Fiat Coupe popped into my head again, but the two cars are so similar on paper that I'd spend my time kicking myself for not having the sound and soul of the Alfa I reckon.
pdV6 said:
A Fiat Coupé would be significantly better at transporting bikes than a GTV...
I know, but neither is a car I'd buy with my head. My current runaround is more than addequate in quantifiable respects, if I changed it'd be for something more desirable, and although the 'Coop is an option (I looked at buying one as an only car a few years ago) it doesn't have quite the appeal of the GTV. If it wasn't a six cylinder Alfa I'd probably go for something completely different like another 205 GTi, but I quite fancy leather, air con etc. for the long motorway trips I do relatively often. Something civilised as well as fun.ETA After I enquired in the cycle section:
bigandclever said:
Hollywood F3 Baja Universal Spoiler Rack fits.
If you go through the registration process, you can find photos at http://www.alfaowner.com/gallery
If you go through the registration process, you can find photos at http://www.alfaowner.com/gallery
That's the main hurddle out the way to be honest. I don't intend to do it regularly, but something that would just about cope at a stretch would be addequate. Of course it's a bad idea in all sorts of (largely financial) respects, but you only live once. Now just have to find a way of breaking this to the missus who only has two opinions on cars: Anything remotely quick or unusual will be too scary for her to drive and, secondly, all red cars breakdown.
PS If anyone else is interested, it looks like you can also get a bolt-on towbar for the GTV, sacriligeous as that may sound...
Edited by JoePublic on Wednesday 9th September 11:01
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