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Alfa Romeo GT #1621946
17/06/2018 21:47
17/06/2018 21:47
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
J
JKD Offline OP
Forum is my job
JKD  Offline OP
Forum is my job
J

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
I'm going to need to get a new car, and the only modern-ish (early 2000s onwards) one that seems a bit special to me like the Coop, seems to be the Alfa Romeo GT. It does almost feel like a spiritual successor to the Coop.

What is the forum's opinion and experiences of it? In particular, the 2.0 JTS and the 1.8 Twin Spark?

The 3.2 V6, whilst it probably would be an amazing experience in performance and sound, and indeed probably comparable in terms of fun to the 20VT, seems to be quite a bit in running costs?

But the main question is, is the Alfa Romeo GT as special, unique and good looking as the Fiat Coupe?

I really liked these when they first came out, but after then getting so used to the exotic, head turning looks of the Coop, the Alfa now looks a bit dull in comparison. It looks like a slightly sleeker 156. In standard form anyway.

I mean I'll see an example like this

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

and think, yeah, that looks as nice as a Coop. And it only seems to be lightly modified - a rubber lip on the front bumper, lowered, aftermarket alloys. And the rear bumper, which seems aftermarket, looks quite similar to the standard one anyway. And that's a really nice blue, which I think is a standard colour?

I know the 2.0 JTS performance won't compare at all to a 20VT, but does a lightly modified GT give the Coop a run for its money in terms of looks at least?

Since experiencing the Coop, I've always thought to myself, there really is nothing as special in it's price range. Am I right? Would a GT be a decent Coop replacement? Or will I find myself parking up a GT one day and walking away without looking back several times? laugh Should I just get another Coop? confused

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1621950
18/06/2018 04:32
18/06/2018 04:32
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,852
Cambridge & Cotswolds
M
MeanRedSpider Offline
Je suis un Coupé
MeanRedSpider  Offline
Je suis un Coupé
M

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,852
Cambridge & Cotswolds
I really like the GT and would have bought one had I not had a 156 JTD - the driving experience was very similar and the 5-pot diesel reminded me of the feel of the Fiat 5-pot.

I like the bolder front on the face-lift model of the GT.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1621954
18/06/2018 06:10
18/06/2018 06:10
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
I ran a 2.0 JTS for 5.5 yrs and 76k miles, bought it from new. I think they’re fantastic, I only got rid of mine as found it difficult to lift my daughter in and out of a child seat when she got to 18 months old.

In the time I had mine it needed a new MAF, an exhaust centre pipe plus wishbones. The wishbones only last about 40k miles, but you can polybush them. I went with the intention of buying a JTD but test driving them back to back much preferred the JTS, it had less weight over the front end and understeered less.

Mine was a blackline and to my eye looked stunning.

Have a look at alfaowner.com for more info.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1621969
18/06/2018 10:22
18/06/2018 10:22
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
The GT is more practical. I managed to dispose of a 3 seater sofa in mine! click to enlarge

Last edited by DavidRobot; 18/06/2018 10:40.
Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: DavidRobot] #1621991
18/06/2018 14:56
18/06/2018 14:56
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
J
JKD Offline OP
Forum is my job
JKD  Offline OP
Forum is my job
J

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
An extra seat, nicer looking interior (the leather one), bigger boot and newer technology - these are the main things the GT seems to have over the Coop.

But does it also have what makes the Coop such a special car?

David if you had to choose between the Coop and the GT, what would you pick? Assuming that you didn't have a king size bed to dispose of this time! laugh

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1621994
18/06/2018 16:04
18/06/2018 16:04
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
As a daily driver I’d pick the GT but as a toy definitely the Coupe, that’s why when the time came I bought a coupe rather than a GT V6.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622008
18/06/2018 19:35
18/06/2018 19:35
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
G
Gunzi Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Gunzi  Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
G

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
I also think the GT is a very good looking car and a decent successor to the Coupe.

The blue one you linked does look good with the modifications as well.

If you need frugality for high miles then the diesel is the obvious choice, but is there much difference in terms of running costs between the 2.0 and 3.2?

All engines can be had for under or around £5k so seem like good value.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: Gunzi] #1622013
19/06/2018 00:14
19/06/2018 00:14
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,294
North Wales
Theresa Offline
Former Presidentessa Club member 58
Theresa  Offline
Former Presidentessa Club member 58
Forum Fossil

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,294
North Wales
I've always liked the Alfa GT love If the Blackline edition was available as non diesel, it would be my next car after the Coupe cool

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: Theresa] #1622015
19/06/2018 05:04
19/06/2018 05:04
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
Originally Posted By Theresa
I've always liked the Alfa GT love If the Blackline edition was available as non diesel, it would be my next car after the Coupe cool


The blackline comes with 2 petrol engines,1.8 twinspark (cloth interior) and 2.0 JTS (leather interior)

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: Gunzi] #1622016
19/06/2018 05:10
19/06/2018 05:10
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
Originally Posted By Gunzi


If you need frugality for high miles then the diesel is the obvious choice, but is there much difference in terms of running costs between the 2.0 and 3.2?

All engines can be had for under or around £5k so seem like good value.


The V6 is more to tax and heavier on fuel, but otherwise similar running costs. The 1.8 and 2.0 are due cambelts every 36k Miles where’s the V6 goes to 60k. And the busso V6 sounds amazing. Although all petrols are fairly rare compared to the diesels.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: DavidRobot] #1622033
19/06/2018 08:21
19/06/2018 08:21

S
suba
Unregistered
suba
Unregistered
S



Love these to look at, but then I test drove a 1.9 jtd...

I dont fit in the seats and the fit and finish inside were worse than I thought it would be.

Still turn my head when I see them on the road, but dont think I could own one.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: DavidRobot] #1622036
19/06/2018 08:52
19/06/2018 08:52
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
J
JKD Offline OP
Forum is my job
JKD  Offline OP
Forum is my job
J

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
There seem to be a lot of different editions. From what I can see, Blackline, Cloverleaf, Distinctive, Lusso, Progression and SeleSpeed seem to be the main ones, if not all? Have I missed any out?

Which one of these can you get in petrol?

And what are the differences between them? The readily visible differences to me are:

Blackline - 7 circle alloys
Cloverleaf - twin 5 spoke alloys
Distinctive - ?
Lusso - ?
Progression - ?
SeleSpeed - Alfa Romeo's own type of transmission that seems unreliable

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622038
19/06/2018 09:38
19/06/2018 09:38
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 912
London, UK
Serg1 Offline
Enjoying the ride
Serg1  Offline
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 912
London, UK
I had the 1.9 jtd, 59,000 on the clock with excellent service history for 7 months. By the end of that period it became the worst car I had ever had, still have nightmares thinking about it. It spent 5 of those months in 4 different garages having major work carried out. One day in rain every possible warning light came on then the engine cut-out while on a busy road, only restarted when it dried out. Twice while turning right the engine cut-out I was so lucky I wasn't hit by on coming traffic. 2 months I had it on the road I never managed to get 8 miles from home without something going wrong. Towards the end of the 7 months it caught fire twice, at that point it had to go.

Every time I see one I feel sorry for the owner.

If someone gave me one free I still wouldn't have it.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622047
19/06/2018 12:21
19/06/2018 12:21
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
Originally Posted By JKD
There seem to be a lot of different editions. From what I can see, Blackline, Cloverleaf, Distinctive, Lusso, Progression and SeleSpeed seem to be the main ones, if not all? Have I missed any out?

Which one of these can you get in petrol?

And what are the differences between them? The readily visible differences to me are:

Blackline - 7 circle alloys
Cloverleaf - twin 5 spoke alloys
Distinctive - ?
Lusso - ?
Progression - ?
SeleSpeed - Alfa Romeo's own type of transmission that seems unreliable


As you've already mentioned, selespeed is a robotised manual, AKA sillyspeed and best avoided unless you have to have a auto.

Not sure we got distinctive and Progression in the UK.

Blackline and cloverleaf had sports leather seats. Lusso had leather and non- Lusso had alfatex cloth. 18" wheels wear 225/40 tyres which is also shared with Jag X type so readily available and not too expensive.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: Serg1] #1622048
19/06/2018 12:24
19/06/2018 12:24
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
Originally Posted By Serg1
I had the 1.9 jtd, 59,000 on the clock with excellent service history for 7 months. By the end of that period it became the worst car I had ever had, still have nightmares thinking about it. It spent 5 of those months in 4 different garages having major work carried out. One day in rain every possible warning light came on then the engine cut-out while on a busy road, only restarted when it dried out. Twice while turning right the engine cut-out I was so lucky I wasn't hit by on coming traffic. 2 months I had it on the road I never managed to get 8 miles from home without something going wrong. Towards the end of the 7 months it caught fire twice, at that point it had to go.

Every time I see one I feel sorry for the owner.

If someone gave me one free I still wouldn't have it.



I'd have to disagree with this statement. I had mine for 5.5 years and it was one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. All depends how you look after them, like Coupes they need attention and mechanical sympathy. There are plenty of diesel ones with 150k miles still going strong as well as heavily modified ones. Some of the ones at Spa Italia sounded phenomenal ( for 4 pot diesels),

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622053
19/06/2018 14:15
19/06/2018 14:15
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 912
London, UK
Serg1 Offline
Enjoying the ride
Serg1  Offline
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 912
London, UK
As I said it came with a full service history. By the end of my ownership list of faults that needed to be replaced was very long, maybe I was unlucky.

Over 42 years of car ownership which totals 103 cars that car was the worst car I ever purchased.

Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: Serg1] #1622054
19/06/2018 16:05
19/06/2018 16:05
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,366
Staffordshire
Nigel Offline
Forum veteran
Nigel  Offline
Forum veteran

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,366
Staffordshire
You were definitely unlucky - my GT has been by far the most reliable car I've ever owned. 245,000 miles and absolutely no sign of it stopping.

The only "breakdown" was a frayed battery earth cable that couldn't take enough power to let it start properly - £5 fix


[Linked Image]
Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622119
20/06/2018 17:08
20/06/2018 17:08
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
My Bravo 1.9 diesel - same engine as Nigel's GT - died at 240k miles... when I was forced off the road into a ditch in the snow. The engine was still happily running.

Much less impressed with the 1.6 eco version, not at all nice.


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: JKD] #1622236
22/06/2018 20:31
22/06/2018 20:31
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
G_Man Offline
Club member 1656
G_Man  Offline
Club member 1656
My job on the forum

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
As others have said I think they're great looking cars and have always liked the individual styling of Alfas in general. My wife and I thought of getting one 4 years ago as she loved them but guess what - we ended up with Seat Altea XL crazy Mate of mine had one a while ago and raved about it and only got rid 'cos getting a company car. Can't believe what good value they are nowadays like below:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/...-1910cc/8114857

cool


77 77
Re: Alfa Romeo GT [Re: G_Man] #1622240
23/06/2018 07:52
23/06/2018 07:52
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
G_Man Offline
Club member 1656
G_Man  Offline
Club member 1656
My job on the forum

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
Interesting discussion on Brera v GT albeit from 8 years ago:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=99&t=1144510


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