I've been following the old GTA/GT thread for some time now as I'm thinking of getting a GT JTD,
but I haven't got around to introducing myself until today...
I'm a long-time Alfa fan, ever since I nearly managed to talk my dear old mum into buying an Alfasud ti back in the late 1970s. She didn't get on at all well with the gearbox on a test-drive - she revved a brand-spanking new Sud demonstrator way, way over the red line while tearing down a very steep hill (Caerphilly mountain, for those who know it) by mistakenly changing into 3rd when trying to find 5th - I can still remember the salesman's astonished reaction.
I loved the Sud, but never summoned up enough courage to buy one myself. Came within a whisker of buying a Sud Sprint on one occasion, but was frightened off by signs of rust on a 3 month old demonstrator.
Have had a long succession of other makes over the years (including some with mixed reputations for reliability, eg Citroen, Fiat, Renault), but have always hankered after an Alfa.
I'm happy to say that I've now reached that time of life when I no longer have to be Mr Sensible (no more daddy-wagons for me, thank you very much!), and can afford the occasional unexpected repair bill.
My everyday transport for the last 5 years has been a Seat Leon tdi (which has done an almost flawless 93k miles), and my weekend toy (and pride & joy!) is a Fiat Barchetta LE, bought on impulse off ebay two summers ago and guaranteed to put a HUGE smile on my face everytime I look at it, let alone drive it!
So, hopefully sometime soon it'll be goodbye to the Leon and hello to a GT JTD (Stromboli grey with red leather is the current colour combo of choice
), provided I can find a decent secondhand one for not too many pennies!
Hi there
