GTV-6: "Wait" or "start pestering wife"?

I've been in absolute love with the GTV-6 for "a while". I hardly know anything about them having never seen one in "real life" (M4ff3w's Alfa Milano was the closest I've come yet). Anyhoo, I think I can talk the wife into letting me buy an Alfa as long as the car cost no more than about $5000 (tax, title, license, etc). There is currently only ONE GTV-6 for sale in Hungary and it doesn't exactly look like it was maintained very well.

Here is the link

You can copy and paste into google translate if you're really interested, but the nitty gritty is:

-Costs just shy of $2500 ( I would use the remaining $2500, to bring her up to "par)

-documents temporarily withdrawn (meaning it probably didn't pass it's MOT)

-It's 2.5 hours away. I have no access to a trailer, and I haven't called yet to see if it runs etc...

-4 speed. (I thought the "transaxles" were 5-spds?)

-3-liter V6 (I thought they came standard with 2.5L's)

-in the bottom it says: "Final price! There are many other parts! Only serious interested call!"

-Did you notice what looked like a "rust repair"?

Am I just being impatient, or should I start bugging the wife? I'm pretty sure that if I groveled correctly, surrendered some of my self respect, and committed morally questionably acts against humanity in public areas I could get her to say "yes, but just this once".

Thanks,

-Bill

Well, if that's the only one for sale in the country, and you really want one...I don't see much choice .

That said, it looks like a terrible example for the price. Seems ill-maintained and there appears to be rust bubbling through the shock tower area. With that shiny new alternator pictured separately, I would assume it doesn't currently run

Also, yes, should be a 2.5 and 5-speed.

Like Luke said it should be a 2.5 with a 5 spd, but is not all that uncommon for them to have a 3.0 swapped in.

I understand what you are saying, my GTV-6 is the only car that I regret selling but you would have to check it out first. On the face of it this one seems overpriced but you never know.

Nice alternator.

I absolutely loved my GTV-6, so if you want one, go ahead. A word of warning though. They are much like a Porsche in that a poor one is a big black hole. In the photos, that one doesn't look all that great. What you'd like to see is a binder of service history, especially relating to the water pump and timing belt. They need to be changed every 30k miles and it's not a suggestion. The clutches are also a PITA, so make sure that is functional as well. Other than that, normal old, used car stuff applies.

Also, much of the interior pieces break and some are almost impossible to find now. Make sure it is complete. As for the engine size, in the US they were only 2.5 liters, but in Australia they did make a 3 liter version. Not sure where you are, but it could be one of those.

In either form, they are one of the best sounding engines ever made!

racerdave600 wrote: They are much like a Porsche in that a poor one is a big black hole...

That was the piece of advice I was looking for, and what I was hoping to avoid. In my experience "Hungarian auto maintenance" has never been considered "top notch" but this one looks like it's in a bit worse nick than usual. I have a baby in the house, with a couple more in the planning so I don't think I can take the chance on a "black hole".

racerdave600 wrote: In either form, they are one of the best sounding engines ever made!

ah-stinking-greed!

It's been about 7-months since the last GTV-6 came and went on the website, so unless someone says something along the lines of "oh my berkeleying god! A 3.0 with a 4spd? They only made two of those! They make eleventy-billion horsepower and dominate G-stock at the autocrosses!" then I'll probably go back to checking the listings every day.

There are a couple 4-cyls for sale. One is really nice, but it's that damned Alfa V-6 that puts the lead in my tank.

It looks like the ad is gone, but don't buy a rusty one. Other than that, as long as it won't be your only car, yes, buying one is an excellent idea :).

On a side note, I paid about $4000 for mine and used it as my DD for about 5 years.

SOunds like you should be patient and keep saving.

Man, patients is a killer. I've been listening to Alfa V-6 noises on youtube all day.

Hungary Bill wrote: Man, patients is a killer. I've been listening to Alfa V-6 noises on youtube all day.

Those things do sound spectacular.

I have nothing to add, except I know the reason for obsession. Had a Milano in my shop once for a tire balance. I had "verify the problem had been corrected" by taking it down the highway.

Those Italian V6's makes noises I wish my wife could.

Wow, those do sound good.

The transaxle should be a 5 speed, plus I think they may have been available with the 3L in Europe. Can't remember off the top of my head.

I'd wait for a good 'un to come along, these can be worse money pits than a free Lotus.

So you are asking this board for temperance on a GTV-6

You are a very funny man

Get it!

Is there an alfa owners club in Hungary? If so get on a mailing list or newsletter, as you may find one there.

...not sure what your Craigslist equivalent is

Agree with the don't buy a rusty one though. They rot in bad places.

Alfa Owners of Hungary? Why did I not think of that?

They might meet in a phone booth?

I've told you many times that I miss my Milano. Transaxle Alfas are great cars. Buy it and I MIGHT forgive you for keeping Vlad vs a Lada/Trabant.

Neckromacr wrote: I have nothing to add, except I know the reason for obsession. Had a Milano in my shop once for a tire balance. I had "verify the problem had been corrected" by taking it down the highway. Those Italian V6's makes noises I wish my wife could.

The first time I drove one, I put my Sprint Veloce up for sale the same day. It was love at first hearing!

They are closer to a 944 or e30 as far as complexity and parts prices than a 911 or lotus, so a cheap one that isn't rusty shouldn't be too scary.

weeeeeeeellll, I went and talked to a highly recommended body shop in town (one of two body shops) first thing this morning. He reckons he can fix whatever that grey spot is, and give the car a basic respray for about $500.

He's done rust repair and paint work on my Impala for about the same amount, and I was very satisfied.

I really am chompin at the bit here, I think I may call about the car today... (well, have a translator call). I'll see if I can get some shots of the interior.

Here are the shots of the exterior for those who couldn't see earlier:

To be continued....

Check the shock towers, and if its a later one with the welded on crossmember with the torsion bar mounts in it rather than the one that the torsion bar mount unbollts, make sure the crossmember isn't rusty and coming loose. As long as there is no structural rust and it runs ok (and doesn't smoke too bad) it's probably ok.

BoxheadTim wrote: They might meet in a phone booth?

Man, you wouldn't believe it but this morning I went for a walk around town (small town 7km wide and maybe 20,000 people) and I saw two bi-turbos! They must have had a Hungary Bi-Turbo owners meeting and brought both their members.

Of course, being cool, I jumped up and down, waved, gave them both the "big thumbs up", and tried to chase...

Update: I asked my friend to call the Alfa guy as planned and instead of calling he gave me a Slovakian website to look at first.

I found This!!!

It's registered, running, and has fresh rubber. It also falls under my $5000 budget at a cool 2300 euros.

(again, you can copy the link into google translate if interested)

Here are some pictures:

What says the community?