GTV TS 2.0 Purchase/Problems

[jakeyboy]

Hi,

I'm in the market for a new car and the Alfa GTV has caught my eye...

I have found one for a decent price, it is a 1999 model, with all leather interior, red dash,seats and doors, TS 2.0 version w/ sunroof, which has done 130,000 klms...

I'm in the process of finding out what work has been done to the car.. All i know is that is has a blown headgasket..

Just wondering if anyone could tell me the costs involved with getting this fixed and anywhere in Brisbane where they would recommend to go?

I have a local mechanic and im gonna talk to him tomorrow about the car, but am i better off going to an alfa dealer/specialist? Like are the cars that much different to other cars, that my local guy might stuff somethin up?

What sort of price range do you think a GTV with the above specs should be worth?

I'm hoping i can get the price down and then get the work done, thus have a car running perfectly and spend less money than other cars on the market which could have problems..

I've been trying to read up on reviews on the car to find out its reliability.. are they dodgy or is that just the reputation AF has gained from other car models?

The things i understand should be looked for are these:

Knocking in rear suspension, Uneven Tyre wear --> bushes or somethin is worn (common problem)
Spark plus, all eight, replaced at least once by now (Every 100,000 klms)..
Timing Belt, Tensioner and i think something else (starts with v i think) connected to this, every 50,000 klms.. (common)
Overall Condition of the car, inside and outside

In terms of a sports car, are they fun to drive?

I currently have a 1992 4th Gen Honda Prelude Si (without VTEC - 2.3L 4 cyl ~120kw with mods) and its not bad, got 4ws, but getting on a bit in the years now, and im after somethin a bit more exotic, refined and with a bit of luxury, but which is still fun to beat around..

I was looking at the spider, but they seemed to be priced alot higher than the GTV and so are probs out of my price range atm...

Another question I was gonna ask is whats fuel consumption like?

Do they have cruise control at all?

Are they easy to fit with sound systems? Fit sub in the boot possibly?

Would appreiciate any help at all.

Thanks heaps.

Cheers,

Jake

[jakeyboy]

ANYONE?

also just wondering how much the timing belts, variator, etc all cost in parts?

[jakeyboy]

Hi,

Does anyone have any ideas?

Maybe someone can point in the right direction as to where to find out some of these things?

Anyone had a blown head gasket on the Twin Spark engine?

Thanks

[alfagtv58]

Hi Jakeyboy,

I think you scared everybody off with the amount of questions!!  One or two are easy to handle

I can answer this one, "in terms of a sports car are they fun to drive".....you bet they are.

I would suggest getting onto the QLD club website and looking up their sponsors page, they will have some local specialists who will be more than happy to assist.