Slight coolant leak, major rear disc brake caliper leak, engine misfires.
The Alfa-Romeo GTV-6 2.5 was introduced in 1981 to much acclaim from the press. It was rated one of the top "cheap" sports cars in 1982, but there was nothing economical about this Italian albatross once you bought it.
Yes, it looked good inside and out. It even smelled good. However, it leaked habitually. Each leak meant hundred of dollars to the local Alfa "expert". Parts were never in stock from the dealer and it seemed they were made (when needed) at the factory. I'll bet they made one GTV-6 2.5 parts car for each one they sold at the dealership!
This car performed fair at best. Its handling was quirky for a rear-wheel drive car and its acceleration wasn't anywhere near that of sports cars in the same price range. A 944 would eat it up like a German devouring brautwurst. Ergonomics were poor and the car was somewhat uncomfortable. The only thing it had going for it was a smooth transmission and a presumably
decent top speed. I was always shy to push the envelope on the GTV-6 because the brakes were always questionable.
"Mussolini" as I called it, finally gave
me the sign we were at war with each other. A combination of both coolant and motor oil began dripping from the passenger side cylinder head and I knew I wasn't long for the battle.
"Oh yeah", the old Alfa guru told me, "They need head gaskets every 36,000 miles."
Great.
Hello, Mustang GT! I finally found a dealer who was numb enough to give me a fair trade in for the GTV-6. I roared off with 5 liters of American muscle and kissed my Italian lover goodbye for the last time.
My alfa gtv was the 1st proper sports car that I had driven. Huge fun, lots of tailslip on wet roads. Otherwise every sports car on the road would have beaten it. Not with the same panache though.
Although Alfa has improved dramatically over the last few years, points highlighted here are still problems - get it together Fiat/Alfa and you'll sell a hell of a lot of cars!
Personally I wouldn't be seen dead in the new Mustang GT which looks like it was designed by a twelve year old suffering his way through puberty. However, the 60's 70's Mustangs and Corvettes are a different matter.
Something ironic, my "fair performing" Alfa GTV-6 is able to keep up with a stock Mustang GT! And that is after over 170,000 miles! And that isn't my fastest Alfa, either! If you don't have any mechanical abilities, then it would probably be best to stay clear from anything foreign..
I would suggest that owning a Chevette before the GTV6 says all one needs to know about this reviewers car savvy in general. If you bought a cheap, beat example, well, who's fault is that???
My friend had one of these some years ago and it was a DOG! Always in the garage for something, ravenous rust, and noisy as hell too. You needed earplugs for a long journey. The 2 happiest days were the day he bought it, and the day he sold it.
A good one might have been better. A great concept maybe, but alas bungled by cash-strapped Alfa.
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