Realistic GTV 2.0TS running costs?
Discussion
So, I've busted my arse at work for the last year and a bit, and I've finally got a bit of spare cash to spend on something nice.
I've been looking for the last 6 months on-and-off, GTV's initially then BMW 3-series coupés, then Mazda MX-5s, Toyota MR2s, Jag X-types....the list just goes on and on and on......but I always come back to the GTV and I think someone's trying to tell me something!
The only thing I'm concerned about are the running costs...I AM on a budget, despite how much I'd like to say i'll just throw caution to the wind and take it all in my stride.....
So, what I'm really looking to find out is how much, on average you think it costs to run a 2L GTV?
Specific things I'd really like to know:
Servicing costs: Indie or Dealer etc...
Thirst: Regular/Super...MPG.....oil.
Bits n Bobs: Anything that regularly needs forking out for that wouldn't normally be considered.
Insurance: Are there any specialists offering a good price? (Bear in mind I'm 22).
Tax?
I basically want to know worst/best case scenario because I really do LOVE these cars. So much style and class, and from what I hear, a fantastic drivers car too.
So, convince me!
I've been looking for the last 6 months on-and-off, GTV's initially then BMW 3-series coupés, then Mazda MX-5s, Toyota MR2s, Jag X-types....the list just goes on and on and on......but I always come back to the GTV and I think someone's trying to tell me something!
The only thing I'm concerned about are the running costs...I AM on a budget, despite how much I'd like to say i'll just throw caution to the wind and take it all in my stride.....
So, what I'm really looking to find out is how much, on average you think it costs to run a 2L GTV?
Specific things I'd really like to know:
Servicing costs: Indie or Dealer etc...
Thirst: Regular/Super...MPG.....oil.
Bits n Bobs: Anything that regularly needs forking out for that wouldn't normally be considered.
Insurance: Are there any specialists offering a good price? (Bear in mind I'm 22).
Tax?
I basically want to know worst/best case scenario because I really do LOVE these cars. So much style and class, and from what I hear, a fantastic drivers car too.
So, convince me!
Worst case scenario is you could spend a fair bit on one!
Buy the best you can, depending on your budget they range from less than a grand upwards. Older cars can be pretty ropey now.
Look out for cars which have not had the rear suspension sorted as that can be very costly to sort.
Erratic or dodgy wipers will lighten your wallet by several hundred pounds as the mechanism and motor are all in one.
Twinsparks need the belts and tensioners replacing every 36k/3yrs which will cost you in the region of £300-350, so work out you mileage and how often you'll need to pay this.
Some Twinsparks consume oil at an alarming rate but in my experience they hardly use a drop!
Check for rattling on the front end, probably just drop links (cheap) or wishbones (not too bad).
Electrics can be a bit erratic, at least I found that on our 916 Spider (basically same car).
I'd avoid red cars, unless they've been garaged a lot, simply because the bumper fades at a different rate to the body and they end up looking a bit odd.
But overall, they are very good cars imho...but getting a bit long in the tooth so make sure you get a good one!
wrinx
Buy the best you can, depending on your budget they range from less than a grand upwards. Older cars can be pretty ropey now.
Look out for cars which have not had the rear suspension sorted as that can be very costly to sort.
Erratic or dodgy wipers will lighten your wallet by several hundred pounds as the mechanism and motor are all in one.
Twinsparks need the belts and tensioners replacing every 36k/3yrs which will cost you in the region of £300-350, so work out you mileage and how often you'll need to pay this.
Some Twinsparks consume oil at an alarming rate but in my experience they hardly use a drop!
Check for rattling on the front end, probably just drop links (cheap) or wishbones (not too bad).
Electrics can be a bit erratic, at least I found that on our 916 Spider (basically same car).
I'd avoid red cars, unless they've been garaged a lot, simply because the bumper fades at a different rate to the body and they end up looking a bit odd.
But overall, they are very good cars imho...but getting a bit long in the tooth so make sure you get a good one!
wrinx
Edited by wrinx on Saturday 13th February 23:51
wrinx said:
Worst case scenario is you could spend a fair bit on one!
Buy the best you can, depending on your budget they range from less than a grand upwards. Older cars can be pretty ropey now.
Look out for cars which have not had the rear suspension sorted as that can be very costly to sort.
Erratic or dodgy wipers will lighten your wallet by several hundred pounds as the mechanism and motor are all in one.
Twinsparks need the belts and tensioners replacing every 36k/3yrs which will cost you in the region of £300-350, so work out you mileage and how often you'll need to pay this.
Some Twinsparks consume oil at an alarming rate but in my experience they hardly use a drop!
Check for rattling on the front end, probably just drop links (cheap) or wishbones (not too bad).
Electrics can be a bit erratic, at least I found that on our 916 Spider (basically same car).
I'd avoid red cars, unless they've been garaged a lot, simply because the bumper fades at a different rate to the body and they end up looking a bit odd.
But overall, they are very good cars imho...but getting a bit long in the tooth so make sure you get a good one!
wrinx
Yeah, I'll be looking to spend <£4000 and for that money I'd hope I could get a late PH2 Lusso significantly under 100k miles..Buy the best you can, depending on your budget they range from less than a grand upwards. Older cars can be pretty ropey now.
Look out for cars which have not had the rear suspension sorted as that can be very costly to sort.
Erratic or dodgy wipers will lighten your wallet by several hundred pounds as the mechanism and motor are all in one.
Twinsparks need the belts and tensioners replacing every 36k/3yrs which will cost you in the region of £300-350, so work out you mileage and how often you'll need to pay this.
Some Twinsparks consume oil at an alarming rate but in my experience they hardly use a drop!
Check for rattling on the front end, probably just drop links (cheap) or wishbones (not too bad).
Electrics can be a bit erratic, at least I found that on our 916 Spider (basically same car).
I'd avoid red cars, unless they've been garaged a lot, simply because the bumper fades at a different rate to the body and they end up looking a bit odd.
But overall, they are very good cars imho...but getting a bit long in the tooth so make sure you get a good one!
wrinx
Edited by wrinx on Saturday 13th February 23:51
Is mileage really an issue if the car has been maintained well though?
It will be my daily driver so I'm looking for one with as few mechanical issues as possible. (Ideally rear bushes done, recent cambelt etc). So if these have been recently done, theoretically over 2 years I shouldn't have too many problems? Or am I vastly underestimating Alfa syndrome?
Plan is to run the 2.0 for a couple of years while the insurance continues its depreciation. I've had quotes around the £1k mark for insurance, which is odd since I was paying that on my fiesta last year :s.
Then I'd like to move onto a V6......which is where the real fun starts. I have BIG plans for the future
It's a group 17 insurance group car. Take that into account first.
They do drink oil - maybe a litre every 1500 miles on mine and I average 30mpg driving enthusiastically.
Tyres - £110 per wheel for a set of goodyear eagle gsd3s. You could undercut that by putting falkens on, but I haven't gone down that route yet. I get about 8000 miles out of a set of tyres.
They don't rust. They don't require regular silly servicing, just attention to the oil level. The rear bushes are prone to early wear / fail and therefore rear subframe replacement which is eeek expensive. Most owners have swapped the bushes for poly ones by now, which solves the problem. The electrics are a bit iffy - my boot release doesn't work and I've had to replace the aerial.
Check the insurance quotes first.....they're a cracking car though, if you get a good un.
They do drink oil - maybe a litre every 1500 miles on mine and I average 30mpg driving enthusiastically.
Tyres - £110 per wheel for a set of goodyear eagle gsd3s. You could undercut that by putting falkens on, but I haven't gone down that route yet. I get about 8000 miles out of a set of tyres.
They don't rust. They don't require regular silly servicing, just attention to the oil level. The rear bushes are prone to early wear / fail and therefore rear subframe replacement which is eeek expensive. Most owners have swapped the bushes for poly ones by now, which solves the problem. The electrics are a bit iffy - my boot release doesn't work and I've had to replace the aerial.
Check the insurance quotes first.....they're a cracking car though, if you get a good un.
alfa pint said:
It's a group 17 insurance group car. Take that into account first.
They do drink oil - maybe a litre every 1500 miles on mine and I average 30mpg driving enthusiastically.
Tyres - £110 per wheel for a set of goodyear eagle gsd3s. You could undercut that by putting falkens on, but I haven't gone down that route yet. I get about 8000 miles out of a set of tyres.
They don't rust. They don't require regular silly servicing, just attention to the oil level. The rear bushes are prone to early wear / fail and therefore rear subframe replacement which is eeek expensive. Most owners have swapped the bushes for poly ones by now, which solves the problem. The electrics are a bit iffy - my boot release doesn't work and I've had to replace the aerial.
Check the insurance quotes first.....they're a cracking car though, if you get a good un.
Agree with all of that.They do drink oil - maybe a litre every 1500 miles on mine and I average 30mpg driving enthusiastically.
Tyres - £110 per wheel for a set of goodyear eagle gsd3s. You could undercut that by putting falkens on, but I haven't gone down that route yet. I get about 8000 miles out of a set of tyres.
They don't rust. They don't require regular silly servicing, just attention to the oil level. The rear bushes are prone to early wear / fail and therefore rear subframe replacement which is eeek expensive. Most owners have swapped the bushes for poly ones by now, which solves the problem. The electrics are a bit iffy - my boot release doesn't work and I've had to replace the aerial.
Check the insurance quotes first.....they're a cracking car though, if you get a good un.
Mine doesnt use quite so much oil as that. You dont have to spend that much money on one either. Go on condition rather than age! touch wood ive not had any electrical gremlins bar a sensor on my airflow meter keep sending up a engine light.
in 10k mine has cost me a service, tyres and oil.
I'm 24 with 6years NCB and pay in the region of £6-700 insurance.
As above really.... I am using a PH1 1996 "P" plate GTV 2.0TS at the moment as the wife is in the 156 JTD as her car is poorly!... (Dad in law has 4 Alfa's so the GTV is spare at the minute)
I have found that it is suprisingly good on fuel... does a good 5mpg more than my 2.0 16v Vectra ever did... so is about 35mpg or so on a commute of 20 miles with mixed driving... but it sooo much more fun than the 156!!!
As has been said, they like a drink of oil, make sure the belts are all done and the variator as well.... and ideally check when the spark plugs were done recently as they have 8 plugs under the hood, two different temperatures and can be about £100.00 or so for a full set!!!!
Go for a PH2 as it has a nicer interior and hold out for one on 17" teledials if you can (factory option) as they look stunning!
Have a read in here>> http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...
And look in the classified on here as well... generally enthusiast owned, not many cars for sale normally, but ought to be good!
Hope that helps!
Reedy
I have found that it is suprisingly good on fuel... does a good 5mpg more than my 2.0 16v Vectra ever did... so is about 35mpg or so on a commute of 20 miles with mixed driving... but it sooo much more fun than the 156!!!
As has been said, they like a drink of oil, make sure the belts are all done and the variator as well.... and ideally check when the spark plugs were done recently as they have 8 plugs under the hood, two different temperatures and can be about £100.00 or so for a full set!!!!
Go for a PH2 as it has a nicer interior and hold out for one on 17" teledials if you can (factory option) as they look stunning!
Have a read in here>> http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-sp...
And look in the classified on here as well... generally enthusiast owned, not many cars for sale normally, but ought to be good!
Hope that helps!
Reedy
From my 98 TS I manage to get just over 30MPG with some rather spirited A/B road driving, not too bad, and perhaps 1 or 2MPG better that my old 1.8 MX5 doing a similar trip.. which is nice 
Over the last year its only needed:
A window mechanism replacing as the motor died (£50 for a previously enjoyed one)
The last section of exhaust was looking rather ropey so replaced the whole lot from the cat back with a cybox system (£250)
Poly bushed and tarted up the spring pan arms (£60)
2 new tyres on the back (past their best and forced by a nail through the tyre..) (£180)
Oil & Filter (£30)
Spark plugs were supposed to be renewed at 60K miles, but frankly they look perfectly fine, so maybe they have been done previously.
Cam belt change it due, though its only done 15K miles in the 3 years since the last one. Which is the only expense I can forsee in the near future apart from a set of new tyres on the front (mis-matched pair of ditch finders
)
Over the last year its only needed:
A window mechanism replacing as the motor died (£50 for a previously enjoyed one)
The last section of exhaust was looking rather ropey so replaced the whole lot from the cat back with a cybox system (£250)
Poly bushed and tarted up the spring pan arms (£60)
2 new tyres on the back (past their best and forced by a nail through the tyre..) (£180)
Oil & Filter (£30)
Spark plugs were supposed to be renewed at 60K miles, but frankly they look perfectly fine, so maybe they have been done previously.
Cam belt change it due, though its only done 15K miles in the 3 years since the last one. Which is the only expense I can forsee in the near future apart from a set of new tyres on the front (mis-matched pair of ditch finders
)
cheers 
it is a truly stunning car...i find that i can't walk away from it without looking back over my shoulder.
only thing i'm not too keen on is the wheels, but since the tyres have a lot of tread left on them i'm loathed to change them at the moment. i'll probably wait til they're a bit more worn and then get some BBS CH's for it...after seeing a few cars with them on, nothing compares for me.
got a few little niggles with it, so it's going back to the garage tomorrow to get sorted, but other than that it's excellent. i love the way it drives - didnt expect it to be such an effective cruiser, but then really enjoys the twisty B roads!
it is a truly stunning car...i find that i can't walk away from it without looking back over my shoulder.
only thing i'm not too keen on is the wheels, but since the tyres have a lot of tread left on them i'm loathed to change them at the moment. i'll probably wait til they're a bit more worn and then get some BBS CH's for it...after seeing a few cars with them on, nothing compares for me.
got a few little niggles with it, so it's going back to the garage tomorrow to get sorted, but other than that it's excellent. i love the way it drives - didnt expect it to be such an effective cruiser, but then really enjoys the twisty B roads!
Stunning, great colour way. Red leather over a monochrome colour always looks the mutts on these 
My advise (I've had my first Alfa for 5 weeks now) is concentrate on the positives. Mine is truly lovely to drive and as you say looks so nice that you look back at it once parked. Yeah it has it weirdness and it's foibles and it's issues but it warms my soul to drive it so I don't mind
Sorry to get so emo about it lol!
My advise (I've had my first Alfa for 5 weeks now) is concentrate on the positives. Mine is truly lovely to drive and as you say looks so nice that you look back at it once parked. Yeah it has it weirdness and it's foibles and it's issues but it warms my soul to drive it so I don't mind
Sorry to get so emo about it lol!
k have i done?!", its going to fall apart, i'm broke etc etc etcutgjon said:
cheers
it is a truly stunning car...i find that i can't walk away from it without looking back over my shoulder.
only thing i'm not too keen on is the wheels, but since the tyres have a lot of tread left on them i'm loathed to change them at the moment. i'll probably wait til they're a bit more worn and then get some BBS CH's for it...after seeing a few cars with them on, nothing compares for me.
got a few little niggles with it, so it's going back to the garage tomorrow to get sorted, but other than that it's excellent. i love the way it drives - didnt expect it to be such an effective cruiser, but then really enjoys the twisty B roads!
well done and enjoy!it is a truly stunning car...i find that i can't walk away from it without looking back over my shoulder.
only thing i'm not too keen on is the wheels, but since the tyres have a lot of tread left on them i'm loathed to change them at the moment. i'll probably wait til they're a bit more worn and then get some BBS CH's for it...after seeing a few cars with them on, nothing compares for me.
got a few little niggles with it, so it's going back to the garage tomorrow to get sorted, but other than that it's excellent. i love the way it drives - didnt expect it to be such an effective cruiser, but then really enjoys the twisty B roads!
Looks like the same colour combination my baby was - and what you say about not being able to walk away without looking back at it and smiling: was still doing that after 10 years of ownership.
As someone asked me when I went to my first owners club meeting: hit the rev limiter yet? - cos you will - that TS engine revs soooo well.
Esseesse said:
K50 DEL said:
Shame about the colour of the interior (should really have been black) but apart from that it looks great!
Red is cool! Black nice but a bit boring! Love the tan in mine... have you seen the tobacco coloured seats they got on the continent? Now they're nice The Esprit I ran had red pinstripes on black leather and that was OK, so I could live with pinstripes.
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