ExigeEvan - Alfa Romeo GT ownership thread

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ExigeEvan

ExigeEvan

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Update to OP: Bought an Alfa GT 2.0 JTS in April, hasn't imploded yet...


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After 5 years loyal service from my '99 Almera I've decided I need a new car.

Budget
£5-7k GBP

Requirements
- Fun
- Practical-ish
- Modern-ish.
​

To clarify, fun is measured by the enjoyment while being driven enthusiastically down a B-road, outright speed is not a concern but circa 9 seconds 0-60 would be welcome. I would like 2 occasional rear seats so I can squeeze 2 friends in the back for a short trip. I would like the comforts of a modern car, so nothing too dated, please. Running costs need to be reasonable, E.g. I've dismissed the Hyundai Coupe V6 for economy and VED reasons.

What I'd like to avoid
-Diesel
-High mileage
-Over 5 years old
-4 doors[/centre]

To clarify, I'd consider a VRS, and if I don't get something mildly impractical now than I probably never will

What I'm avoiding​

-Vauxhall
-Renault
-Peugeot
-2 seater sports cars

Already under consideration
- Hyundai Coupe SIII 2.0
- SEAT Leon FR
- VW Golf GTi
- Skoda Fabia VRS (Prev' 1.9TDi)
- Focus ST
- Alfa Romeo GT 2.0
- Mazda RX-8​

For web search reasons, feel free to use the Millenium Stadium post code CF10 1NS.

I'm looking to purchase by May, so this is just intial thoughts, suggestions and advice. All will be appreciated, honest.

Oh, and no MX-5 ;)
 
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Three ideas: as late and low mileage a Celica 190 as you can get hold of; Volvo C30 T5; Honda Civic Type R.
 
If you're ruling out 4-doors and 2 seater sports cars, all you are left with are 2 door hatchbacks. The only ones you haven't listed are the Civic and Volvo (hfs), Alfa 147's and the 3 MPS, but that's a 4 door.

That seems to be your universe of choices.

My choice would be a RenaultSport Clio, but again, you've ruled that out.
 
I'm sort of in the same situation, looking for similar cars and I've been browsing for a while, and a Civic Type R would be one you could add to the list.

Also with the Focus ST, because it's a 2.5L turbocharged engine it's renown for being thirsty.
Also the Mazda 3 MPS from what I have heard will cost even more to put on the road than the ST, tax wise at least, I think it's in excess of £400, as opposed to £270 for the Ford.

Out of the cars listed in the OP and this post it would be between 3 for me, Type R, Leon or the GTI.
The GTI in particular is quick, handles well, good on fuel and is in a low tax group. You get your fun, practicality and modern styling 👍
 
Nissan Micra
Infiniti G35 Sedan Sport Package
Saab 9-3 Turbo
Alfa Romeo GT
Volvo C70

Not so reliable:

BMW 3 Series
Benz CLK
 
Alfa GT and Mazda RX-8 added to considered, but running costs/reliability are an issue for both.

homeforsummer
Three ideas: as late and low mileage a Celica 190 as you can get hold of; Volvo C30 T5; Honda Civic Type R.
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All three have been considered. The Celica not looked into too deeply as they are on the older side. The volvo borders on too practical but I may need to sniff around one, and the Civic Type R is unlikely as my housemate already has one!

Mike Rotch
If you're ruling out 4-doors and 2 seater sports cars, all you are left with are 2 door hatchbacks. The only ones you haven't listed are the Civic and Volvo (hfs), Alfa 147's and the 3 MPS, but that's a 4 door.

That seems to be your universe of choices.

My choice would be a RenaultSport Clio, but again, you've ruled that out.
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3 MPS is still a consideration, and Alfa GT has had a look as well. I'm not completely ruling out 4-doors, the GTi and FR both come in those flavours.

Pagey279
I'm sort of in the same situation, looking for similar cars and I've been browsing for a while, and a Civic Type R would be one you could add to the list.

Also with the Focus ST, because it's a 2.5L turbocharged engine it's renown for being thirsty.
Also the Mazda 3 MPS from what I have heard will cost even more to put on the road than the ST, tax wise at least, I think it's in excess of £400, as opposed to £270 for the Ford.

Out of the cars listed in the OP and this post it would be between 3 for me, Type R, Leon or the GTI.
The GTI in particular is quick, handles well, good on fuel and is in a low tax group. You get your fun, practicality and modern styling 👍
Click to expand...
The fuel economy on the ST is similair to what I get on the Almera now, so that's not a concern.
NissanSkylineN1
Nissan Micra
Infiniti G35 Sedan Sport Package
Saab 9-3 Turbo
Alfa Romeo GT
Volvo C70

Not so reliable:

BMW 3 Series
Benz CLK
Click to expand...
Care to back any of them up with reasons why? There's some suggestions that don't really fit the criteria even loosely.
 
With the Celica I just plugged in your budget and mileage requirements and that's what came up. As for the Volvo, it's basically a more stylish and less practical version of the Focus ST - same engine.
 
From what I can gather, they offered a version of the Corolla XRS in Europe called the T-Sport. That might not be half-bad, considering the generally practical body layout combined with the 2ZZ engine package. The American version was well-regarded for being a "balanced" performance car, more like the VW GTI than a lot of the other balls/wall cars like the Sentra SE-R and the like. Not a bad deal, but I have no idea what the reputation of said car would be across the pond.
 
Of course I'm going to say this; Mondeo ST. Granted, the youngest one you can probably find is 2006/7 as they didn't make an ST version of the MK4, but they still look modern and are great cars. Diesel STs are quite popular too but that doesn't stop them from shifting. Looking around now, you can pick them up for about £5k.
 
Katiegan
Of course I'm going to say this; Mondeo ST. Granted, the youngest one you can probably find is 2006/7 as they didn't make an ST version of the MK4, but they still look modern and are great cars. Diesel STs are quite popular too but that doesn't stop them from shifting. Looking around now, you can pick them up for about £5k.
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I was going to suggest that if he weren't looking for a 3 door car. Plus I would be kind of miffed that I was driving around in a car with a 3.0L V6 engine with only 220bhp. You can get that much easily from a turbocharged 1.8L straight 4, more economical too I should think.
 
Mike Rotch
If I could fit in one of these, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Lowspeed driving fun + practicalish + modernish 👍
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I'm quite familiar with those :D


Fiat Panda 100HP at Reims by Vitesse Photography, on Flickr


(Click image for review)​

I owned it for just over a year (sold it in spring last year). Easily meets the budget, performance and mileage targets. I also averaged bang-on the official economy in mine (43 mpg). For £5-7k, you could get one of the best - I paid £6k for mine when I bought it a few years ago, and it was only 2 years old at the time. Tax, I seem to remember, is about £165. Seats were comfortable enough to drive to Geneva and Frankfurt in. 0-60 in around 9 seconds, and did GPS-verified 113mph on the de-restricted autobahn :D

Would certainly advise buying the latest and best he could afford, as there's no major service items for at least the first 60-odd thousand miles. I've heard rumours of weak synchros, though mine was fine by 55k (I'm fairly mechanically sympathetic), and the only un-scheduled service mine needed was an air-con re-gas. Fiat actually builds Pandas pretty well, surprisingly.

Hilariously good fun, but a rather hard ride. The ride quality was one of the reasons I sold it in the end, but for the record, I do regret selling it now. Was a great car.
 
ExigeEvan
Running costs need to be reasonable, E.g. I've dismissed the Hyundai Coupe V6 for economy and VED reasons.

Already under consideration
- Mazda RX-8
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rofl.gif
 
Famine
rofl.gif
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I know, I know...


RE: The Panda. I know the 100hp exists and I know it's quite highly regarded for the fun factor. I'm just not sure I could bring myself to buy one. I'd also have to ignore the suspension issues my auntie had on her 2 year old Panda.

RE: Celica. I'm going to spend some time looking them up. I'd kind of dismissed them on age alone, but appears I can get a well spec'd and low mileage example for my money. Plus it beats the H'Coupe all round.
 
Wow, congratulations! :cheers: Please post photos when you can, Alfa GT's are so awesome.
 
Poser.

I mean, you could have bought any nice new car you wanted... instead you've gone and ordered the most beautiful car on sale today.

-

No, I'm not jealous. Really. I'm not.



:D
 
Update: - 6 months on and it's still going strong!

This is it in the summer sun.

seieWRK.jpg


And this is an example of its Hot Italian heritage.

R1C2kPT.jpg


What I've done: -
Stainless Steel Exhaust from Flexi Back (The rest will follow quite soon I imagine)
4 New Tyres - Vredestein Sessanta Ultra

What needs doing: -
Gear knob change
Stereo changing
Caliper clean and paint

Even though the car is often driven with gusto, today it got it's first real run along the A4069, Upper Brynamman to Llangadog, "The Black Mountain Pass". You may recognise this road from Top Gear.

rlhUCKK.png


Not my video, I forgot to plug my camera in :grumpy:



My friend with his BMW Z3M when we stopped for tea.

x1qM4rz.jpg


It was a great day for it. Cold enough to keep the day trippers away, wet enough to keep the motorcyclists away, winter enough to keep the sheep away!! My friend Ben also enjoyed, but it was the first time driving the Z3M in haste and the greasy conditions meant he had to keep his foot light to save him from the one-way descent of the mountain!
 
Nice one. Such good looking cars, the GTs. Those wheels really suit it too.

Is the exhaust a fruitier one? Would be interested to hear it if so - even standard these Alfas sound pretty good.
 
It was described as a "mid sport" exhaust build. It is louder than stock but generally is very civil day to day, it does sound great as the revs climb though.

I may get a video on the weekend.
 
Awww, I was expecting to come in here reading that you've gone bankrupt with the Alfa. :p

Very sharp looking Alfa though! Sounds like you had a great time. How did it drive/feel compared to the Z3?

Also, ummm, looking at your picture, I'm fairly certain it's just a regular Z3 and not a M Roadster.
 
I didn't get a chance to drive the Z3 (UK insurance, blurgh) but it's certainly snug inside and the 2.2 is about the same power as the Alfa.

Yeah I did some looking myself last night and clearly it's not a Z3M. I'm not sure if it's just an M-sport pack or what, it came with plenty of M logos on it (though not unusual amongst the BMW crowd). It's only with this car that he's become a petrol head so I think he's missing some of the finer points, it was a good purchase though and was kept remarkably well by previous owner.
 
Beautiful car. One of the cars I'm looking at plumping for a few years down the line (though possibly the JTD one).

However never ask me for buying advice, my current car is, literally, everything you would not want. 4/5 door, high mileage (212'000), diesel, Peugeot and over 5 years old. So a 1999 Peugeot 306 2.0HDi.

The GT is FF isn't it? If so does it every feel like its restricting you on the country roads?
 
If it's anything like the 147 (and that's rhetorical - the GT is very much like the 147) it should be quite good fun on country roads. Maybe a bit firm but they have really nice darty steering, which makes them a lot of fun to throw around. Front-wheel drive doesn't get in the way much - I dunno if Evan's has the Q2 diff, but those are supposed to absolutely transform any FWD Alfa.

I've always found Alfa engines (petrol and diesel) to be quite responsive too. Not as technically competent on the limit as something from Ford or BMW maybe, but at anything up to about 8/10ths I find Alfas more fun.
 
MildAshers
Beautiful car. One of the cars I'm looking at plumping for a few years down the line (though possibly the JTD one).
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The JTD sold in huge numbers so you won't be struggling for choice. They do suffer with a few diesel-engine issues that you can find on most diesel cars e.g. Swirl Flaps, DPF, DMF, Injectors etc etc

However never ask me for buying advice, my current car is, literally, everything you would not want. 4/5 door, high mileage (212'000), diesel, Peugeot and over 5 years old. So a 1999 Peugeot 306 2.0HDi.

The GT is FF isn't it? If so does it every feel like its restricting you on the country roads?
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If anything it was the opposite. My friend, in an equally powered RWD car really had to pussy-foot around because he just couldn't get traction. Now, knowing that I live in Wales, imagine how many bone-dry days I get where I could actually put my foot down in a RWD with confidence I'd get grip!

I don't drive at 10/10ths, and I don't claim too. The fact is, stepping up from a 85bhp Almera I consider circa 170 bhp to be more than enough power. And FWD is certainly something I'm more comfortable with so early in my driving history.

homeforsummer
If it's anything like the 147 (and that's rhetorical - the GT is very much like the 147) it should be quite good fun on country roads. Maybe a bit firm but they have really nice darty steering, which makes them a lot of fun to throw around. Front-wheel drive doesn't get in the way much - I dunno if Evan's has the Q2 diff, but those are supposed to absolutely transform any FWD Alfa.

I've always found Alfa engines (petrol and diesel) to be quite responsive too. Not as technically competent on the limit as something from Ford or BMW maybe, but at anything up to about 8/10ths I find Alfas more fun.
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The GT is a tad firm, especially with the 18" Blackline teledials on, but it's not skittish. I should also point out that the A4069 is perfectly surfaced. New tarmac with fairly course texture for extra grip. If you watch the video you'll see they were in fact painting the lines at the time that video was filmed! It doesn't have a Q2, and I probably won't stretch to it unless I keep the GT as a second car for fun and track in future, though that's financially unlikely!

I would love to get a RWD car in future, but that'll probably come in the shape of a practical 3-series or weekend car. But for now, as I learn to protect my licence (still clean!) and avoid ditches (still clean!), the car suits me perfectly.

[EDIT] And thank you for the forum move, I tried but doesn't appear to still be in forum tools?
 
ExigeEvan
The JTD sold in huge numbers so you won't be struggling for choice. They do suffer with a few diesel-engine issues that you can find on most diesel cars e.g. Swirl Flaps, DPF, DMF, Injectors etc etc
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It depends on the diesel.

From what I've read, the JTDm can have a few issues, but the slightly simpler JTDs are a little more old-school and are remarkably solid.

I don't know whether the more basic JTD was available in the GT but it's worth seeking out on other Alfas if a diesel is preferred. When I was shopping for diesels a while back I did a fair bit of research on the various options and if anything, the JTDs appear to be among the less problematic diesels on the road. They even sound quite good, which isn't always the case with diesels. Not that smooth, but nice and raspy.
 
TBH, I've never head an in-depth look at the diesel engines, and my opinion is skewed as the majority of GTs are diesels so obviously more issues present themselves on the forum.

I have read their great diesels when they run. Great mid-range for A-road overtaking, easily tuned (plenty of 200bhp tunes out there) and good fuel economy. But then that would be too practical, wouldn't it!
 
Heh, indeed. Petrol is still my preference. But Alfa's diesels are some of the few diesels I'd actually spend money on.
 

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