GTV Spider buyers guide!

[christo]

my 2001 2.0ts spider hood gives the same problem every now and then. its so frustrating. i lubricated the hood moter joints and that has seem to have solved the problem for now but still!

[babyduck]

This is really useful for a newbie like me. Great advice - thanks

[Mad Tester]

I have a question about the master key if I may.
Everyone says that the key is brown or maroon in colour. Is this a lack of distinction on their part or is there more than one colour and is the answer the case across the whole production period. I have been told that the master key can be cloned so in theory you could have more than one of them. The ECU would only recognise them as one key though much the same as the everyday keys being cloned and so could be any colour. Is there some way of distinguishing the master key by what it does to the car e.g. the immobiliser light flashes or something different to normal?
I keep seeing adverts saying they have the all important master key and when you speak to them they say it is red. Are they colour blind or could they have a cloned master? It is taking an age to sort through the wheat and chaff to even select a car that you would even go and look at. All the independent dealers/traders I have spoken to have no idea about the master key and refute the need for one. If a car is up for A1 price then surely the inclusion of the master key is requisite to it being classed as A1 regardless of its age. I just keep getting told, "what do you expect, it's second hand" or go to an Alfa dealer and buy a new one" (car that is). Really helpful.

M T

[armoore]

The set up for the 156 is different to that for the GTV, so I am led to understand, the best place to ask about the 156 is in that section. The GTV has a maroon/brown master, the colour is open to interpretation! Also there have been examples of the master being kept by AR. Mine came with, but was a personal import.

[GTVLUV]

Super helpful- thanks!

[spider85]

Hi,
My alfa GTV is idling at 2000 revs. Its just happened all of a sudden one day i get in and its revving high and will accelerate upto that speed. i think it is probably something like the throttle pertenualometer(if thats how you spell it). But do you experts have any ideas?

[jonno999]

hi
can anybody tell me where the fuses are on a gtv twinspark please
specificaly the fuse for the heated rear windscreen
cheers
jonno999

[Incywincy]

Very useful stuff. Heads-up on common faults sort of gets you a bit worried though.

[alfaatlast]

An excellent guide.

I read it when I was looking for a GTV. The only problem was that once on the test drive I completely forgot everything! The sound of the exhaust note, the leach-like cornering, I just drove with the windows down. Only after getting it home did I realise the "radio/CD/Speakers" were missing. Small sacrifice. Thankfully the canmbelt and suspension were done a year ago. Very worrying how i completly lost all objectivity once I fired up the engine

[bigmacnchips]

Originally Posted by alfaatlast

An excellent guide.

Very worrying how i completly lost all objectivity once I fired up the engine

I totally agree! This was the most useful thing I read in all of my internet travels before I bit the bullet on Monday and signed for a 1998 Ph2 TS for twice as much money as I wanted to spend. The guide was so helpful but as I was zipping around the countryside all I could think was "I want I want I want...". Pretty sure I got a great example with tons and tons of history+money spent but the decision was at least 3/4 made with the heart. Can't wait to pick it up on Sunday

[Zlov]

A brilliant giude, I wish it had been available when I bought my GTV!

Could I just add that in my experience it is worth checking that ALL electrical items work, especially the electric mirrors and the heated rear window.

I can't speak for the Spider, but on the GTV the windows are only designed to drop on later cars (2000 and after I think). Earlier versions don't have this feature. Sometimes the door windows won't sit properly on the seals and leaves a gap between the seal and glass. This is an easy fix and not something to put you off buying a car.

[KampungBoy]

Brilliant giude!!!!

I'm a newbie.. I wish i read this before I bought my '96 gtv last year

[taffyjason]

I bought a 50k miles 1998 GTV V6 lusso for £1800 from my brother, so far needs a/c recharge,possible starter motor change, new air blower switch, maybe new alarm system.......does this seem good value???

it has no rust whatsoever, looks stunning ( see my galary )

what do you people think??

[mondrage]

Spiderman, thorough guide.
Specially for me that I'm about to buy a Spider GTV 3.0 V6.
- It's only 13,863[km], black with red momo seats, AC, stereo and electric hood, and it's year 2000. It has mostly sat in a garage.
The hood has a little glitch, that you have to keep pressing the button until the whole process is done.
The seller also said that he had some issues with the inmobilizer so he had to disable it... I'll have to check on that.

The car is selling for U$21,000. I've been asking for advice on pricing... any suggestions guys!
This will be a completely irrational purchase (I test-drove the car, and I'm hooked, I'm trying to be rational but I can't), so I want to make the best of it.

Please help !

[broom_zoeyellow]

excellent guide...really informative..thanks a lot!

[lastofthefamous]

Thanks for the guide, it is very useful when shopping around for either the GTV or Spider - in the end I found my GTV and with the information and advice provided, I believe I found a good un. Cheers!

[usa 1998 spider]

Ok This Is Very Good Information, My Question Is... Is There Alot Of Difference With 1.8 And 2.0 Spider? In Other Words
The Parts That Have Been Quoted Interchange With Each Vehicle?
And Also A Question On Steering Wheels If I May, Mine Has A Defect Damage To The Leather What Alfa Would Interchange? Thanks With Much Appreciation!-paul,
Usa 1998 Spider

[jaydh]

Originally Posted by usa 1998 spider

Ok This Is Very Good Information, My Question Is... Is There Alot Of Difference With 1.8 And 2.0 Spider? In Other Words
The Parts That Have Been Quoted Interchange With Each Vehicle?
And Also A Question On Steering Wheels If I May, Mine Has A Defect Damage To The Leather What Alfa Would Interchange? Thanks With Much Appreciation!-paul,
Usa 1998 Spider

i would ask your questions in the forum in a new thread, not this

[jaydh]

if you are interested in finding out official sales figures in the UK for the 916, look here (Official 916/946 UK Registrations)

[Freds GTV 2001]

Thanks spiderman thats an interesting guide. Only wished I read it BEFORE I bought my car last week !

Anyway I bought a 2001 GTV TS with only 60 km on the clock or 37 Miles its a Phase 2 with silver dash. But Im just really concerned about everything you mentioned about the suspension with arms and bushes. The costs look scary. My car seems absoultely fine the way it is the suspension is very hard and tight cant find any fault with it. It has been tightened in the service history as normal also. When should I expect to do all the work your suggesting is that when the car has done higher k's ? Is there anything else i can do to keep the supension as new as possible ?

In regards to the electrical arial, how would I lubricate it? spray WD40 on the ariel itself ? Thanks Cheers

[marcopolo]

thanks for the advice on here, it really helped me when i purchased a 2000year model, the car is fantastic i love it to bits can not wait for the summer

[Tommo]

Excellent guide, very useful for me right now as I expect to buy a Spider within the next couple of weeks. Will post experiences in a seperate thread, or perhaps ask "stupid" newbie questions!

[mjltigger]

really useful guide.. I did read it before I bought my spider but as I've bought a non-runner it's gonna be more of a 'things to check' guide than a buyers guide...

[hebburn_gtv]

.

[JR Racing]

Very useful in general. Great however,

One AREA which I think could definately do with updating is the whole 'red master key' issue, where people always seem to fall for the smoke and mirrors.

Reality is on all cars with a red key you can walk into Timpsons (myself and others have done this) and for around £25 will supply you a new cloned key of your original. You can even take your own key blank in and they will clone it for you for £10. My g/f's car did not come with a master key and we have had two clones made from the original service key which work perfectly.

The Red/Burgundy master key is NOT essential.