Back in a Coupe

Afternoon all....

After a substantial absence, and almost five years driving the dullest car I have ever owned (Focus - very reliable, but as exciting as as eating soil) I am now back in a Coupe.

Granted, it's not a Fiat. but it does have a 2.7 V6 and full leather interior, air con, and 59k on the clock.

And it pulls nicely too - not in a 20VT maniac kinda way (like my old sprinty - RIP) but in a nice, progressive, V6 way...

And for those who remember - the Midget is still going strong, however its undergoing a change; paint job to bright orange at the end of the month...

Welcome back to Coupe ownership, just a shame it's not a Fiat

Revival of a fairly old thread......

So, I'm sad to say my Hyundai got written off just over a week ago by a rather inconsiderate chap in an uninsured Audi TT....'twas an awesome car but sadly it is no more

Anyway, the payout is due in the post, and as such I a considering a replacement. And that replacement is likely to be the 'other' coupe I considered at the time (no, not a Fiat sadly...)

The Alfa GT. Now, i recall when i left the first time around these seemed popular with former members, and they are now reaching levels of surprising cheapness

I'm primarily looking at the 2.0 GTS (don't fancy a diesel, and can't afford the 3.2 V6) and upon my travels i noticed someone recommended good old Motormech (hello there Iceberg!) which brought back memories and me to this very forum.....

So - could i garner you opinions on this vehicle? Ideally anyone who has had one or still does. And it might tempt me back to the fold (albeit not in a Fiat)

Oh, and hello again everybody - long time no see/speak/type etc...!)

(and yes, rest assured i will abuse the smilies once more....

I think there's quite a few GT owners here (welcome back, BTW!).

Nigel runs one, but it's a diesel (though remapped, if I remember rightly).

Hi Maxxxer, good to have you back.

From what I've read the 2 litre petrol is a bit under powered in the GT.

Hopefully a couple of GT owners will be along to give you first hand information.

I've heard they can get to around 180bhp with a generic remap (which is a bit of a comedown from my 20VT days, but nevertheless) so i was aiming for that and see what theyre like to live with.

The Hyundai was great, and just about how i wanted it. Right up to the point someone used it as target practice and destroyed the front suspension...

The general consensus on the Alfa owner forums is that the JTS never had 165bhp to start with (more like 140/145). 180bhp from a generic remap is a very optimistic dyno. Most owners report the lumpy power delivery is removed with a decent remap though, which alone makes it a necessity.

If you can get over the "errr, gross.. derv" mentality, a remapped JTDM is a far more rewarding drive. Mines around 200bhp with bags of torque and out-pulls many an unprepared rival to naughty speeds.

They should have stuck the 2.0 TS in the GT - more powerful than the 2.0 JTS and much better sounding. The JTS in between the JTDM and the Busso just doesn't make any sense.

The Twin spark is the engine that has the hesitation issue. The JTS the electrical gremlins.

There is a 1.8TS i believe?...but again under powered for the size of the car. \the JTS can have problems(mostly down to bad Alfa electrics) and there were several maps for the 156 and GTV JTS as you can check in the eper and the earlier ones were badly done(i don't know about the GT). Its also a modern direct injection so can be prone to coke-ing up, most manufactures have this ticking time bomb waiting(google walnut shell blasting)

We have a GTV JTS and its been fine for 5 years(although lately we have had small problems but they were self inflicted by the girlfriend running the car out petrol at speed =(

I would consider the 1.9 diesel as its tried tested and doesn't have the issues a lot modern diesels have..

Alfa GT's also have lots of rust issues so buy wisely.

t0m0 is spot on.

For some time I considered a GT. Looked at quite a few and the majority of them sadly had issues. Rusty undersides and window problems topped the list.

I had a 2.0 JTS in a 156 and it was a horrible engine. Be prepared for coil packs, Carbon Cleaning and injectors, which are silly money. The engine malfunction warning becomes a very familiar friend so you would be wise to invest in multiscan ecu to keep checking and re-setting the alarms!

I see. Starting to have doubts now (although every car I consider I have doubts; its just weighing up which have the least concerns).

I'll think on then - might stick with it and get one yet, might end up with something else.

One thing is for sure though - it won't be another Focus.....<shudder>

I'm referring to the observable wonky torque delivery from the 2.0 JTS in the GT. This is a widely reported issue and many people report much better results after a remap/tune up.

I've never heard of the 1.8 TS having a hesitation issue. I'd pick it every time over the JTS in the GT.

I can echo this. I bought a 156 2.0 JTS and wish I hadn’t! That engine malfunction light (and it’s ‘ping’ sound) came on every time I drove the car. Literally every time. I didn’t have a single journey without a problem. I replaced coil packs, but that was my limit. The injectors were next. I sold it to a scrappy instead.

Why not another Hyundai coupe. Some tidy models, reliable and nice recaro interiors. You know them better than me

s111 2 litre 140 bhp/ Quite smart and well specced.

How about this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605113828010?price-from=4000&radius=1500&zero-to-60=fast&body-type=coupe&sort=default&search-target=usedcars&price-to=6000&year-from=2008&maximum-mileage=up_to_60000_miles&postcode=st72pd&page=1&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&logcode=p

What about a Celica. The last model, even though it is a bit old was a very strong all-rounder in its day and doesn't have any major issues, does it?

So a little update on this.....

I've given up on the idea of a GT as the one i would really hanker for is the V6 - out of my price range.

So, i have now put down a deposit on a Renault Megane.

Yep. A Megane. However it is a Renaultsport 225, with similar out put to my old 20VT, with the practicality of a hatchback.

Should be nice to have a turbo again...

Should be a hoot to drive - Renault spend more time on making their hot cars handle than they do making proper wiring looms for the range
They put a 160 bhp version of the engine in the Scenic. I did consider buying one for a while but my kids chuck up with the slightest provocation, pot hole or roundabout as it is.
What year is it? Any pics??

It's a 2006 (albeit on a private plate that came with the car, which doesn't actually look like one...!)
53k miles, mint condition - in for the cam belt and water pump today as its never had one in 10 years




And the obligatory petrol station shot...

I like that

Where did you find it? And more importantly, what does it go like?