Alfa Romeo GT

I've bought one A 1.9 JTD Cloverleaf edition

Will probably replace the Coupe as the Coupe needs too much spending on it and the GT worked out a lot cheaper than sorting the Coupe.

I used to drive customers GT's and have always liked them, but now I'm an owner of one. It's ok and has it's pro's and cons, just getting used to it after nearly 18 years of owning a Coupe as my every day car.

I bought a GT a couple of years ago and really get on well with it, fitted the GTA seats which aren't as comfy as the standard but I love the tomb stone design, good luggage space and with the 3.2 Busso engine it signs along nicely.

I had a 156, which I believe was similar in principle.

I really enjoyed it and used it a lot.

GT looks great, BUT, I do think that it can lose its sparkle, if it gets dirty.

Keep that Grandson of yours washing and polishing.

I'm sure that you have made a good choice.

Paul

I would have loved the 3.2, but out of my price range Getting my fat arse in the standard seats is bad enough, never mind GTA seats

I'm hoping the blue of the GT is like the Coupe's Sprint Blue and hides the dirt well, as my cars don't get washed often. After years of religiously washing, polishing and waxing the first Coupe, only for the laquer to still peel off put me off bothering much with the second Coupe and I probably won't bother much with the Alfa.

Keep the grandson washing and polishing? I have 3 grandsons and not one of them has ever washed or polished my car Maybe it's time they did

I hope I've made a good choice. I don't feel the same love as I do for the Coupe, but time to reluctenly move on

I'm sure you'll bond with the GT given time, the build quality is better than a Coupé, good heating and a/c system, things to watch out for are drivers door window switch as they get wet with the window open if it's rainin, you probably know already is mega money to replace if it has an issue, corrosion to the rear sills as that areas has a foam block in a bag so they're prone to holding water and rotting from the inside, roof arieal seals leak.

Nice one T Great looks and interior I'm retiring my coupe in the autumn and looking for a replacement and the GT was on my list but a petrol as I don't do the mileage. The 3.2 was a non-starter with an eye-watering £600 road tax which left the JTS (jury's out on engine reliability) and the trusty 1.8TS but it's underpowered for the coupe. Both still £400 RT. Anyway Mrs GMan didn't want a car that at best would be 14 years old with even older under-pinnings so sadly need to let it go. Anyway we're going the Giulietta route so at least she's agreed getting an Alfa

Happy and safe motoring in the GT and yes I'm well jel

And for the forum vultures out there who want me to strip the car (you know who you are ) - no I'm not letting go but it's going into storage

Always had a soft spot for these but I could never find a really good one, and I travelled a fair way to try.

Really hope you enjoy the new Alfa, and that it's good to you. Such a shame to see you out of a coupé though.

I don't really do enough mileage for a diesel, but Howard at Allitalia said as it's an older car, it shouldn't suffer the problems of the newer diesels and it will get at least one or two decent runs a month to Chester to stock up on my cheaper beers
I didn't even look at the road tax for the 3.2, I didn't realise it was £600!! Don't really rate the JTS and yes, the 1.8 TS would be a bit gutless.
The GT is the newest car I've ever owned Glad your Mrs has agreed to getting an Alfa though

The plan is to get my old Coupe off the drive and up to Howards and then put my current Coupe in it's place where it will no doubt sit and rot, but it gives me privacy and something nice to look at each morning. No point selling it as it's not worth much and it owes me nothing and it means I haven't really let go of Coupe ownership

I probably wouldn't have bought one from anyone else, only my ex boss bought it last year as a runaround for himself and customers, etc and said he needed the room and mentioned selling it. Obviously the blue colour drew me to it and when he offered to sell it to me and I found out it had a Bose sound system, etc too, then the deal was done It's cost me the amount a cambelt change on my Coupe would cost. My Coupe needs a cambelt, clutch, service and wheel bearing, as well as some welding and then after all that, the paint is still crap, so had to decide what was best in the end
My Coupe is parked on the road at the moment, so having to pay two lots of tax and insurance, but it's MOT is due in May, so need it off the road by then and need to put the number plate on the Alfa, but it still has half a tank of petrol, so still in between the Alfa and the Coupe at the moment.
I'm gutted I'll be out of a Coupe, after 18 years but also glad I'm not selling it and leaving it to rot on my drive as I'll still be a Coupe owner
The GT has come with a few faults, but being used to Italian cars, I can live with them for now
It's a nice car though and can't really think if anything else that would be just as nice for the money I've paid.
I'll try and upload a couple photos if I can remember how to

I think you need to have a current MOT on the Coupe to be able to transfer a private plate, needs checking but I seem to remember those are the rules.

I can confirm that was the case when we wanted to move a plate over a few years back

My memory hasn't failed just yet, lol

Yes, I know you need a current MOT and I have until May to get it sorted and also off the road.

......so what's the plan for your Coupe then T?

Probably put it on the drive to continue rotting once the first Coupe is off the drive (that's supposed to be going up to Allitalia to use as spares for his lad's Coupe and maybe spares for customers |Coupes).

I don't really want to give up ownership of the Coupe, so don't want to sell it, even though I'll probably never use it again once it's parked up on the drive

It owes me nothing and will be happy to look at it everyday, as well as it giving me privacy from all the nosy people around here.

I bought a 1.9 diesel GT to save me commuting 30,000 miles a year in the Coupe. Absolutely brilliant car - ultra-reliable, unbelievably comfortable, pretty economical (45mpg average, easy 55 mpg on a long run).

It was also amazingly practical (had a full-size washing machine in the back)

I took it to 268,000 miles before I eventually part-ex’d it.

Watch out for rusty sills, loose swirl flaps, smoky turbo, knackered wishbones, heavy clutch, rusty oil cooler pipes, broken seat release cables, sloppy gear change cables, clogged EGR valve.

They respond extremely well to a gentle remap, but the gearbox can be a bit fragile if you go after big torque.

Some people tell you they need a Q2 diff, but I found that fitting good tyres was enough to prevent wheel spin.

Definitely something I’d happily have again.

Mine failed last year because of rust on the inner sills at the rear, cut that out and removed the silly foam blocks in the bags which were soaked and holding water

Nice one Theresa
I love GTs - I have 2 currently - one is a spares car but I'm starting to break it.
The AA, every tyre shop in the land, and reputable garages will tell you it is fine to jack the sills in the wrong place and then they rust where the paint cracks and the welds split, but the good news is that the metal the sills attach to is really solid.
Also the rear struts collapse. This always happens on both sides of every car in close succession.
If yours is over 10 years old they may already have been replaced.
Diesel engines are bullet proof - mine swallowed 4 swirl flaps - still on original turbo, 190,000 miles, still running well.

Have a look for Alfa Romeo GT owners site UK on Facebook. They're a really friendly and helpful group.

Also unlike the coupe - replacement sills and front / rear arch panels are readily available although don't know about the quality but it's a decent starter for ten to deal with any rot.

If you're breaking one, if you've still got it, I could do with the handle on the passenger seat that pulls the cable to allow the seat to be tilted forward please. One of the grandsons broke it within a week of me getting the car! The cable is fine, just need the handle/lever.

Yes, I liked the Gt's when I used to work on customers cars and always fancied a Blackline, but obviously had the Coupe, so never bothered, but with my current Coupe needing a lot spending on it and the opportunity to buy a GT in a nice blue colour at a good price, it just made sense really.

I'll have a look for the owners site on Facebook, thanks

Hi Theresa - I'll look but think I bodged mine with a bicycle gear cable when it broke. You drill a small hole somewhere and post the cable through. I'll put a photo up if its been bodged - if not I'll see if I can remove it for you.

Thanks, although it's only the handle I need, the cable is fine for now), but where it slots into, at the back of the handle has broken

Hi Theresa - sorry for the slow reply.
I have a good one on the car I'm breaking.
I enclose a photo of the bodge and the decent handle.
I'll do the good handle posted to you via Royal Mail for £12.

I'm looking for a part if you're breaking one, the passenger kick plate that covers the inner sill?

Hi Joe - That's about the only part that I've sold from the car but it is mostly complete.

Brilliant, thanks, I'll pm you shortly

The search continues