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Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
#1554246
04/11/2015 00:02
04/11/2015 00:02
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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I'd often admired a metallic red GTV with tan interior when I saw it driving around Hereford. It has just turned up at a car sales lot which carries about 14 used cars past their first flush of youth. I had a look round it at lunch time. It's a genuine 86k 2.0 TS model on an R plate. Price? Just £600. The paint work has scratches but not too bad, the mirrors are crusty, the alloys are good, the tyres have good tread but are a different Chinese brand on each corner. I clocked the previous owners address, and took a chance and called round to have a chat with him this evening. It paid off - he'd reluctantly px'd the car for a diesel A4. He'd spent money on the car - one rear pan arm, front wish bones, but the cam belt hadn't been done in seven years . He said the car had sounded more and more like a diesel - classic variator failure symptoms. I called back to have a look at the car in the dark later this evening so I could check the underside better. And I had a surprise - there was so much less rust than my year 2000 Vis I sold recently. It's two years older but much better . It didn't need any preventative work. So why didn't I buy it? The rad was on it's last legs. A cambelt change plus variator is £400 plus, and the exhaust (original) was rotten from front to back - £300 worth - it's a complicated system. Plus there's oil leaking, but not dripping, from the bell housing. Get that sorted and it'll cost £1300, but won't be worth a £1000. Shame - guess they are going the same way as some of the Coupes.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554440
05/11/2015 20:12
05/11/2015 20:12
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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I have had a couple of GTV V6's, the first one was only a few months old and I loved it to bits.
The second one I owned fairly recently, and unfortunately it was a tarted up dog. It looked very nice but had lots of issues, some fairly serious.
Get a good one and you will love it, but as with Coupes if you get a bad one it will swallow cash like it is going out of fashion.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554448
05/11/2015 21:15
05/11/2015 21:15
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Wombat
Unregistered
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Wombat
Unregistered
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I have a proteo red GTV V6 24v with black leather interior.
Paid 1300 for it with a large number of issues, rear suspension clunk, no a/c, cambelt needed, suspect water pump, previous reported over-heating issues, gearbox crunch 2 to 3 and 4 to 3.
Bit of a risk but I had recently decided I needed one in my life.
I have done most of the major work myself, including a gearbox and Q2 diff. Drove it through the summer (got the A/C working hurrah), and it is without doubt the most awesome Alfa I have driven to date.
Handling and engine are so so sublime!!
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554526
06/11/2015 21:31
06/11/2015 21:31
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Wombat
Unregistered
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Wombat
Unregistered
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I haven't driven a twinny GTV for many many years, but have had lots of exerience in driving twinny Alfa 155s and comparing them to the 155 V6 2.5 12v and a 155 V6 3.0 24v conversion I did a while back.
My impressions are this, and I suspect it applies to the GTV: - handling on the twinny is very go-kart like. The lesser weight, and position of the engine centre of gravity closer to the front axle, makes the front end feel much lighter than the V6. If you get use to the sensitivity (the GTV has a quick rack as well) then the feeling is very direct and it does feel like you can place the car anywhere at any speed, so the handling on the twinny is a big plus.
Having said that, although the nose of the V6 does feel heavier, I find it makes it feel more planted, giving more confidence when driving progressively. The V6 GTV does not really understeer due to the rear axle design (it will at the limit!!), so I feel more comfortable with the extra weight up front.
Go onto alfa155.org though, and the war rages eternal regarding V6 versus twinny 155 handling.
With regard to the engine itself, the V6 wins hands down every time in my mind. Redline at 7k, glorious sound, plenty of grunt and plenty of power. Whilst I have bought and tried a number of 155 twinnies, I always end up bored and underwhelmed by the engine which whilst a gem in its own right, feels asthmatic compared to the 24v V6.
I do have a biase here, as I have predominatly been a V6 or turbo kind of person, and I know the twinny is far more charismatic than many of its competitors, but within the Alfa realm, the V6 takes the biscuit, more so if you are not so bothered about fuel consumption, as when pushed hard the 24v is a tad thirsty.
Hope that helps!!
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554568
07/11/2015 10:43
07/11/2015 10:43
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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Floor was good but with a little prodding I put my hand through the sill under the drivers door. Sure, it could be welded up but what else lies underneath the sill covers? I have time and the knowledge for some mechanicals but not for rust . Still a very cheap car for someone but not for me at this time. (It still looked lovely unwashed, in the rain).
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554581
07/11/2015 13:16
07/11/2015 13:16
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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IMO the TS is a bit underpowered in a heavy car like the GTV.
It is a willing engine that sounds good, but it is going to struggle against more modern cars in a straight line.
Handling wise though they are very good.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554852
11/11/2015 13:56
11/11/2015 13:56
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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I think you did the right thing, at best the car needed a cambelt change with variator, at worst the engine was knackered. They can be a right money pit if you are not careful.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: Makkadiamond]
#1554883
11/11/2015 18:55
11/11/2015 18:55
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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not as good looking as my coupe Shall I start a 'which is the better looking - Fiat Coupe or Alfa GTV' thread, on the Fiat Coupe forum? Which do you think would win..... Currently thinking about an MG TF in BRG
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554885
11/11/2015 19:17
11/11/2015 19:17
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,960 west bromwich
coupedummy
Je suis un Coupé
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Je suis un Coupé
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,960
west bromwich
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I actually really like the gtv. I would certainly own one and the cup model is something I would particular like to own.
Last edited by coupedummy; 11/11/2015 19:17.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: barnacle]
#1554904
11/11/2015 22:00
11/11/2015 22:00
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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Heavens! I'll halt there! What I really need is my Sud Sprint back to cheer me up.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554906
11/11/2015 22:23
11/11/2015 22:23
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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Better looking out of the GTV and Coupe?
Both about the same... Prefer the front of the GTV and the Rear of the Coupe.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554917
11/11/2015 23:07
11/11/2015 23:07
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Wombat
Unregistered
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Wombat
Unregistered
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I will refrain from casting my opinion
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554967
12/11/2015 20:16
12/11/2015 20:16
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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This continues. My mate rang them, told them I'd been looking at it and thought it was knackered, and offered them £200 cash as he wanted it for spares. They said yes, if only to stop me from going back again! They delivered it to his in 10 mins. He said I can have it for what he paid I i want. So now I'm going to take the cam cover off to check the cams. How do I tell if they are knackered? Thanks
Last edited by HiraethHuw; 12/11/2015 20:17.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554970
12/11/2015 20:27
12/11/2015 20:27
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,527 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
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Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,527
Aldershot
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I suspect they may be similar to a 16vt camshaft, in which case you should see a slight chamfer on the edges all the way round the lobes. By the way those camshafts are the ones some thieving bastard stole.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: HiraethHuw]
#1554972
12/11/2015 20:56
12/11/2015 20:56
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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symonh2000
Unregistered
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I have heard of TS engines pretty much loosing the entire cam lobe, so it might be very easy to spot.
The ones just under the oil filler are the ones which tend to go first.
I would be tempted to replace the big end shells as well as a precaution. If the engine has ever been run low on oil or had a cambelt snap in the past it is likely to start knocking it't bottom end otherwise.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: PeteP]
#1557939
19/12/2015 18:20
19/12/2015 18:20
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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I suspect they may be similar to a 16vt camshaft, in which case you should see a slight chamfer on the edges all the way round the lobes. By the way those camshafts are the ones some thieving bastard stole. Sorry to hear you had those lovely cams pinched. I whipped the cam cover off today and the cams were not worn. You're right - there is a chamfer all the way round them. So , I can deduce it's the variator that is making all of the noise, so I can go ahead and change the belts etc. Trouble us, the car won't start now due to immobiliser problems
Last edited by HiraethHuw; 19/12/2015 19:49.
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Re: Nearly bought a 1998 Alfa GTV today
[Re: Countrycruising]
#1557951
19/12/2015 19:57
19/12/2015 19:57
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836 Hereford
HiraethHuw
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
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Did you change the variator Huw? Was going to get Ace motors to change it along with cam and balancer shaft belts n tensioners n water pump. Parts are expensive (variator £130)so £550 all in. But now we can't get the thing to start because of the key code. If that's an expensive fix then it'll be uneconomical to repair. It's the same colour as your 156, Proteo red. I love it.
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