new GT - bad idea?

hi,

im just waiting for my GT to arrive, and am now slightly worried that ive made a bad call after reading some of the threads here

anyone got any good things to say about the GT?

ta

I've had my GT for over a month and I can't stop grinning everytime I get in it. The good feeling starts when I leave my front door and look at its beautiful shape and 17" alloys to opening the huge doors, sitting in the 'figure hugging' seats and smelling the leather. Then I start the engine and turn on the Bose stereo and glide off as if I've got Monica Bellucci on my arm.

Seriously, this is a damn fine car both to look at and drive and I think as helpful as these forums are, they do, by their very nature often tend to concentrate on the negative.

What you've got to remember is that most people who post on car forums tend to post about problems that they're having with the car. A post that goes along the lines of "my car worked fine today, nothing broke" rarely appears because there's no real point.

I love my GT. It looks f***ing stunning, the JTD engine is good (though some more revs would be nice), the gearbox is really smooth once warm, the Bose stereo sounds excellent, and the interior looks beautiful so long as you ignore the fact that the 147 has the same dash.

As I've doing more mile in it I'm finding that it's got a lot more grip than I though and when the VDC/DSC cuts in you hardly feel the intervention. The switchgear is good although my AirCon controls aren't as smooth as some other cars and the windscreen wipers are a bit sh***y.

My mum bought a Toyota Celica 3 years ago and it's now got squeaks and rattles and has had a few dealership visits for warranty works regarding windows seals. It's no better than the Alfa.

My only real complaint about the GT is the ride quality. However, from reading various sources this would seems to be a trait of all current generation Alfas.

Originally Posted by DAN55

hi,

im just waiting for my GT to arrive, and am now slightly worried that ive made a bad call after reading some of the threads here

anyone got any good things to say about the GT?

ta

I think you'll find that the major probs with the GT are probably dealer related (i.e. they are cr*p) and some small niggly things that could have been better designed.

It's fun to drive (handling is a quantum leap from my old GTV) and the power and exhaust note are simply out of this world for a car in that price bracket. You getting a 3.2?

Love mine, its not perfect by any stretch of the imagination ( its a diesel for starters ) but even so I tested quite a few cars before making my purchase and its good, thing to realize with forums is people generally search them out when they have an issue, once they have sorted it they typically go on about there business never to return, people rarely come to post about how great there car is today, how boring would that be, everyday you'd have me coming on here telling you about how good my car looked when the sun is peaking out over the horizon, catching my gleaming bodywork, 18" rims sparkling next to the contrasting lipari grey paint, pure sex LOL, you'd all shoot me if I started to recount the numerous envious glances we receive when we are out together, and then theres the drive OK the diesel is not as sharp as the others but a couple of tweaks and now I find I have dispatched many a hot hatch with ease on both the road and the racetrack.

Only you know if its right for you though, if you are having second thoughts tell your dealer to lend you one over a couple of days and then do the same with your alternative see how you feel then.

I have just spent the last hour and a half polishing my GT and its a really pleasing experience - no other car has curves like it and mine a 1.9JTD had never given trouble.
I thought I had a severe water leak at one stage but that was down to me not closing the passenger window fully where it stood in pouring rain for a 24 hour period - of course I was tripping over myself to post the problem here which proves the point made in above posts.

One or two tips - go for at least the 17' alloys as an option - the car does not look good on the 16'. Leather seats are also a must - all I can say is that its my best ever new car purchase and I fully intend to get another in about 3 years

Originally Posted by Alfaguy

all I can say is that its my best ever new car purchase and I fully intend to get another in about 3 years

Really?? I have a sneaking suspision that new GTs won't exist in 3 years time. How long can Alfa build a car with 156 mechanicals and the V6 engine that's no longer in prodcution. Stock will run out soon. You'll be getting a Brera 2.4JTDm Q4, just like me

All Smiles here

I'm just about to get in my GT for a1,5 hour drive.. probably the best moment of the day that, and the drive back again

I am so jealous, wish I could get a GT, but at our exchange rate, will have to wait a couple of years.

What can I say that others haven't already posted, I absolutely adore my GT, I'm sure you will too.

GTS, what are the dealers like in Guildford? I'm starting a new job there in a couple of weeks and could do with knowing if the local dealers are any good or best avoided?

thanks guys, youve made me very happy
should be able to get some sleep tonight now

im getting a JTD with the 17in wheels

what is the issue with the ride? is it too hard round town?

ta

Another question: what's the difference between 'handling' and 'ride quality'?

Originally Posted by LaTiNo156

Another question: what's the difference between 'handling' and 'ride quality'?

By ride quality, I mean how the suspension of the car deals with bumps and manhole covers in the road. It's a comfort issue. When you hit a bump do you just hear a muted thud but feel very little, or do you hear a crash and get a bruised spine from the bump.

Handling is referring to how the car respond to driver inputs, eg oversteer vs understeer, quick steering with good feedback or light steering that tells the driver nothing.

Originally Posted by DavidCane

GTS, what are the dealers like in Guildford? I'm starting a new job there in a couple of weeks and could do with knowing if the local dealers are any good or best avoided?

Christ, don't get me started on Alfa dealers in Guildford!!!!

I've bored an awful lot of people on this board over the years with my moans about Bishops of Guildford, however I have to say that they have improved beyond measure over the last year or so. They actually had my GT yesterday, fixing the tailgate rattle and doing a pre holiday check for me. They managed to do the job, give me a lift home & picked me up and best of all, charged me nothing and gave the car a full valet, all things that they used to get wrong. So if you had of asked me about them 18 months ago I would have told you to avoid them at all costs, however, now I would say that for an Alfa dealer they are quite good.

The other two in the area are Cleveland Cars at Ash and Sidlow at Horley/Gatwick. I used to have a Fiat that Cleveland looked after,which seemed okay.From what I have heard from local Alfa owners, there seems to be two schools of thought, some say that they only keep their Alfa because Cleveland service it, whilst others say that they are completely terrible - not much help to you I know !!! As for Sidlow, I have never heard anyone have a good word for them, the general consensus is that they are awful and best avoided.

So in conclusion, and I never thought that I would ever say this, but credit where credit is due, I can just about recomend Bishops

Originally Posted by DAN55

thanks guys, youve made me very happy
should be able to get some sleep tonight now

im getting a JTD with the 17in wheels

what is the issue with the ride? is it too hard round town?

ta

Let's put it this way. You'll develop a 6th sense of 'early-pothole-detection' very quickly. At speed it's fine but hitting potholes at speeds near to 30 mph can be very worrying. Then again it could just be these London roads.

I've just read the 159 1st drive in autocar and they seem to feel that Alfa have now fixed this on the 159.....maybe newer GTs have been similarly developed. Mines a July 2004 car so it's an early one.

When do you get yours?

Originally Posted by LaTiNo156

Another question: what's the difference between 'handling' and 'ride quality'?

id says that handling was how it goes round bends etc while ride quality is more to do with how it copes with bumps/rough road surfaces etc

the JTD i tried (twice) seem to do both pretty well - seem very composed when going fast (just under 100mph), and round bends. was firm round town (over speed bumps) but not harsh

did i see someone say they had chipped there JTD? maybe i missed read it and they meant they were getting issues fixed

So when you lower your car 40mm your handling improves dramatically while your ride quality goes down the drain?

Originally Posted by LaTiNo156

So when you lower your car 40mm your handling improves dramatically while your ride quality goes down the drain?

got it in one! i had my a4 dropped 40mm and the boot used to fly open!

Dan,

I have had more than my fair share of problems, made worse by a naff dealer, once I got it to a proper one problems sorted. I love it, it drives great handles like a dream and in 3 years I fully intend to have another. Yes they have niggles like most have said here, but nothing beats the it, all cars have niggles, and most on here were the first to get one, I know there have been lots of back ground changes to the car and its systems since its launch, all I can say is enjoy