Alfa Romeo Gt Junior's is it worth it?
Discussion
Hello everyone!
The last year or so i have been earning some money and i am looking for my first Alfa to fall in love with.
I thought the Gt Junior's are a good entry point and they are reasonable on prices unlike GTA.
I am here here to sick your advise and suggestion on this matter.
I should mention that i am a student, thus i have a limited budget and i am looking for a car that is in a reasonable condition to be driven everyday but also has potential to be improved.
Many of you guys may think that i am crazy for starting something like that since i am a student but if i do not do it now that i am on my 20's i think i will miss all the fun.
I will have to sell my car to finance this project so any of your experienced advise will help me a lot.
Thanks in advance,
Dinos
The last year or so i have been earning some money and i am looking for my first Alfa to fall in love with.
I thought the Gt Junior's are a good entry point and they are reasonable on prices unlike GTA.
I am here here to sick your advise and suggestion on this matter.
I should mention that i am a student, thus i have a limited budget and i am looking for a car that is in a reasonable condition to be driven everyday but also has potential to be improved.
Many of you guys may think that i am crazy for starting something like that since i am a student but if i do not do it now that i am on my 20's i think i will miss all the fun.
I will have to sell my car to finance this project so any of your experienced advise will help me a lot.
Thanks in advance,
Dinos
Notorius said:
but if i do not do it now that i am on my 20's i think i will miss all the fun.
Don't rush your life away!
These are great fun cars but if it is your only car the dream may not be all you hoped for. You would need to allow say £5,000 for a solid usable car.
e.g. http://www.classicalfa.com/cars/ALFA%20ROMEO%20200...
(I know it's a 2000 and not a Junior, but they are mechanically very similar).
If it's used everyday in all weather and stored outside it will only deteroriate in condition.
My gut feeling is to enjoy your studies without increasing your financial burden any further and look forward to the car when you have the time and money to enjoy it to it's fullest.
I wanted to say good on you and go for it. But RicksAlfas has a point. I think you could drive it everyday but it will deteriorate and you should definitely garage it. If you're prepared to pay £5k+ and keep on top of the work (which may be plenty) then go for it but not with misty eyes!
They are fantastic, stylish useable cars that will bring a smile to your face but you need reasonably deep pockets!
They are fantastic, stylish useable cars that will bring a smile to your face but you need reasonably deep pockets!
Have to agree with rick on this one, beautiful car but she will rot away outside.
Summer car to be honest and unless you are fortunate to find one where the previous owner has looked after well, a good looking car can cost you quite a bit once you start using it and discovering the bits that were never maintained properly....ask me how I know
Summer car to be honest and unless you are fortunate to find one where the previous owner has looked after well, a good looking car can cost you quite a bit once you start using it and discovering the bits that were never maintained properly....ask me how I know
RicksAlfas said:
Notorius said:
but if i do not do it now that i am on my 20's i think i will miss all the fun.
Don't rush your life away!These are great fun cars but if it is your only car the dream may not be all you hoped for. You would need to allow say £5,000 for a solid usable car.
e.g. http://www.classicalfa.com/cars/ALFA%20ROMEO%20200...
(I know it's a 2000 and not a Junior, but they are mechanically very similar).
If it's used everyday in all weather and stored outside it will only deteroriate in condition.
My gut feeling is to enjoy your studies without increasing your financial burden any further and look forward to the car when you have the time and money to enjoy it to it's fullest.
Yeah i have land my eyes on that 2000 you linked me before and it is A beauty and exactly in the condition i had in mind.
To be honest i will hardly make the £4,000 out of my car and my savings. (if i spent that i will be flat broke).
I think i will take your advise and wait for it so it can get better in the future.
Although I have to dare and ask what do you think of a 145 as an alternative to give me a little of the Alfa joy, especially these two:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
and
http://forum.alfa145.com/index.php?showtopic=16094
Will it worth to let go my always reliable polo with 37k on clock for that or it will sky rocked my costs?
Thanks a lot everyone really appreciate your opinions.
I've had two 145 Cloverleafs and they were great. That red one looks excellent - you just get the feeling that it's been looked after properly and that steering wheel he's got fitted has made me go slightly weak at the knees. I always reckoned the earlier cars (metal topped engines) went better than the later ones. I think if you need to scratch the Alfa itch that is a more sensible way to go for the time being. They are great fun, sound amazing and plenty quick enough, but yet are still practical and durable. You need to double check when cambelts were last done and check you get three working keys - two red and one brown. Also have a really good poke around underneath for corrosion in the sills as they are not immune, but neither is a Polo!
RicksAlfas said:
Did I sound like his dull Dad?
Dinos - 20 years later ........... "I wish I had NEVER listened to that FatherRicksAlfas, GT Juniors are now upwards of £70,000"(Actually, short of a dose of hyper-inflation I think that 'Old RicksAlfas' is probably right!)
Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 23 February 20:36
For £3.5K I would take a sorted 155 anyday -cheap as chips and keep the rest of the money to bring her up to speed. For that money, any bertone is a potential minefield.
For someone not used to driving a classic car, they can take some adjusting to as you forget how much cars have moved on in 20 years -try an Alfetta GTV6 or a bertone for week or two in winter, for added fun, ensure the heater/blower doesn't work properly and then enjoy!
But then again, take same car in glorious summer weather and nothing can be more enjoyable.
For someone not used to driving a classic car, they can take some adjusting to as you forget how much cars have moved on in 20 years -try an Alfetta GTV6 or a bertone for week or two in winter, for added fun, ensure the heater/blower doesn't work properly and then enjoy!
But then again, take same car in glorious summer weather and nothing can be more enjoyable.
You'll have a good choice of 147s at that price - I'm a big fan of the 1.6 T/S... it'll be a big step up from your polo, practical, reliable and fun.
Go for a manual in a sensible colour with full s/h. Make sure the belts have been done and keep a regular eye on the oil levels - they do like a drink!
Buy on mileage and condition, rather than age.
Enjoy !
Matt
Go for a manual in a sensible colour with full s/h. Make sure the belts have been done and keep a regular eye on the oil levels - they do like a drink!
Buy on mileage and condition, rather than age.
Enjoy !
Matt
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