GTV - live and learn

[poohbah]

Well I've had my 81 GTV for two weeks, and I do love it. But...

When I purchased it from a fellow local club member, there were a number of things that were explicitly stated as having been done. Including "driveshaft balanced with new rubbers" and "improved sports suspension (Koni)" (those were the exact written words of the vendor).

I took her for a spin, was happy with the way she drove, took the vendor's word that the above-mentioned work had been done, and duly negotiated an acceptable purchase price.

After taking possession, I thought it would be sensible to get a service and tune-up. I also mentioned to my Alfa mechanic that there was a bit of a rattle on idle, seemingly from the driveshaft, but that it disappeared once revs were over 1000rpm.

Later that day, I received a phone call advising me that not only were each of the driveshaft rubbers completely shot (in fact they were virtually in pieces), it appeared the driveshaft itself hadn't "been touched for 30 years" (mechanic's words).

Not only that, but every single suspension bush needed replacing, along with various other things that need fixing. In fact virtually everything underneath the car and made of rubber was cactus. (the decrepit state of the bits that were changed out is quite staggering)

I now have the car back, with new driveshaft rubbers, suspension bushes and various other bits and pieces (by no means the whole list of things which I can knock off over time), after paying a $4k bill - equal to what I paid to buy the car in the first place.

Given how little I paid to buy her, I knew full well I wasn't getting a pristine machine, and that I would have to shell out a few bucks along the way (my previous experience has been expect to spend the same as the purchase price over 2-3 years). But I have to say I am a little disappointed that I've had to double my investment in the first two weeks including to fix things that were very explicitly stated as having been done already.

Silly me. At least now that I have the car back, I will have somewhere to sleep tonight when I tell the missus about the bill.

Caveat Emptor...

[Garibaldi]

Well I've had my 81 GTV for two weeks, and I do love it. But...

When I purchased it from a fellow local club member, there were a number of things that were explicitly stated as having been done. Including "driveshaft balanced with new rubbers" and "improved sports suspension (Koni)" (those were the exact written words of the vendor).

I took her for a spin, was happy with the way she drove, took the vendor's word that the above-mentioned work had been done, and duly negotiated an acceptable purchase price.

After taking possession, I thought it would be sensible to get a service and tune-up. I also mentioned to my Alfa mechanic that there was a bit of a rattle on idle, seemingly from the driveshaft, but that it disappeared once revs were over 1000rpm.

Later that day, I received a phone call advising me that not only were each of the driveshaft rubbers completely shot (in fact they were virtually in pieces), it appeared the driveshaft itself hadn't "been touched for 30 years" (mechanic's words).

Not only that, but every single suspension bush needed replacing, along with various other things that need fixing. In fact virtually everything underneath the car and made of rubber was cactus. (the decrepit state of the bits that were changed out is quite staggering)

I now have the car back, with new driveshaft rubbers, suspension bushes and various other bits and pieces (by no means the whole list of things which I can knock off over time), after paying a $4k bill - equal to what I paid to buy the car in the first place.

Given how little I paid to buy her, I knew full well I wasn't getting a pristine machine, and that I would have to shell out a few bucks along the way (my previous experience has been expect to spend the same as the purchase price over 2-3 years). But I have to say I am a little disappointed that I've had to double my investment in the first two weeks including to fix things that were very explicitly stated as having been done already.

Silly me. At least now that I have the car back, I will have somewhere to sleep tonight when I tell the missus about the bill.

Caveat Emptor...

I'm sorry to hear that. If you were buying the car from Joe Public you would just put it down to experience but to purchase a car from a fellow club member like that is just not on.

[carlo rossi]

Have you shown the ex alfa owner the bill ?
I would !
and they should at the very least go halves
thats pretty pathetic.
in fact a consumer tribunal would judge in your favour
well happy everything else is ok (we hope)
check this out
https://youtu.be/25oiw2l-wkE
it might cheer you up

[poohbah]

Cheers fellas, I will indeed be sending a please explain to the seller, along with pics of the offending items.

[Neil Choi]

Sorry to hear your experience, but did you have the GTV inspected by a mechanic, ie on a hoist and poked around with a lever and a spanner and a flash light to see all the faults.  If you can't see it, you wouldn't know.  A drive around the block will only tell you so much.
If you took the seller's word then it is your own judgement.  The seller can tell you anything, but you need to see what is there, correct?  If the seller says there is a V8 under the bonnet, you need to lift the bonnet.  You can't see the drive shaft unless it is on a hoist or you crawl underneath to inspect.  As you say yourself, buyer beware.

I too have done what you done and got bitten but it was my own judgement.  Other Alfa's I have bought, I had it inspected by my mechanic mate and these Alfa's turned up trumps with the knowledge of what needs repairing prior to purchase.

Anyhow, GTV's are not that difficult to work on, there are heaps of experts here so it is now time to get your spanner set out and start doing stuff.

Good luck and enjoy.

[Italian Supermodel]

Hearing stories like this makes me shake my head and wonder in amazement.....
Having verbal undertakings from a seller is one thing but why would one buying a 34 year old Gtv not have it professionally looked over and even plonked on a hoist.
Great negotiating power when you go back to Arthur Daly and point out a several thousand dollar fix.

[poohbah]

Yeah guys I know, you don't need to tell me. When I bought my prior Alfa I did all the right things, this one was bought with more heart than head, so I fully accept the consequences are on me.

On the plus side, she is already a 100% improvement on how she was. So hopefully, the only way is up from here.

[hmd]

Drive shaft rubbers and suspension bushes and what else cost 4K?

You probably have reason to change lots of things on a 34 yr old cars.

From what you wrote it seems that you can only complaint about the drive shaft rubbers.

[poohbah]

Yep, its really only the driveshaft rubbers that I have any issue about. As I said at the outset, given the price I paid, I always expected to have to spend a bit over the journey. At 34yo, you'd expect the old girl to be a bit of a harbor bridge - start at one end and keep going.

And if I hadn't had to fix the driveshaft, I probably wouldn't have realised the suspension bushes were on their last legs so quickly and so wouldn't have replaced them so early.

And the engine is really strong, the body is straight and solid, so overall she's still a pretty good starting point.

So it seems I've already recovered my breath.

[GTVeloce]

Frankly, it could be far worse. If I was buying another GTV I would not care about the suspension rubbers at all and assume they all needed replacing. They are not expensive to buy and fairly easy to self install although obviously if you are paying the mechanic to do the job the price goes up. The only things I would be concerned about are rust and general straightness of the body followed by engine health and gearbox. They are the things that cost plenty.

Although it is disappointing you were misinformed, as Neil said I think you should have inspected more thoroughly. Most disappointing that it was a club member.

[poohbah]

Yep, I fully accept it was my failing to properly check her over.

I'm over it now, and am satisfied that I have the underpinnings of a good one. That's why I headed this thread live and learn.

And the missus didn't boot me outside, so its all good!

[rowan_bris]

She will boot you out when you start playing with it rather than fixing things that need doing.  My wife struggled with my 24 valve engine transplant and the Motec...