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The sporting Alfa Romeo GTV coupe and the Spider convertible are great fun to drive, with good balance and neutral steering despite the use of front-wheel drive. But if you hammer them to the limit do they start to understeer, and do so to an extent that makes them unpleasant in some conditions.
As is often the way with soft-tops, the Alfa convertible isn’t as happy on rough roads as is its coupe brother. It’s not as bad as some of the breed for scuttle-shake, but if you intend to do some driving on poor-quality roads be sure to include their type in your pre-purchase test drive.
Both the coupe and Spider have stunning frontal styling with a deeply sloping nose containing tiny round headlights and an Alfa shield grille. Though the rear of the coupe is great looking as well, we feel the tail of the convertible stops rather abruptly. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Interior room is fine for two but the back seat is very cramped, even more so in the convertible than the coupe. The boots are among the smallest we have ever seen, with the convertible’s being a real joke. Make sure the convertible you’re looking at isn’t being shown without its spare wheel to try to give the impression of extra boot space.
Alfa Romeo still has some quality problems, but has got its act together reasonably well in recent years. Be sure to get a professional inspection before handing over your hard-earned.
Initially, the Alfa Romeo GTV coupe came with a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, but the convertible came only with the four-cylinder. It wasn’t until June 2001 that the V6 was offered in the convertible.
Despite the four-cylinder engine having less power, keen drivers often make it their choice. There's something about its willingness to rev and the overall character of it makes it a real delight to sit behind. The four-cylinder introduced in August 2003 has better torque low down than the old Twin Spark four, yet is still happy to rev to the heavens.
In true sporting tradition, power is transmitted only through a manual transmission (though the fact that it goes to the front wheels spoils the tradition). A five-speed manual is used on all four-cylinder models, initially the V6 also used the five-speed, but received a six-speed unit in October 1999.
The experienced home handyman can do some of their own work, but leave the big jobs to the experts. It’s smart to have a workshop manual on hand before you pick up that first spanner.
Despite Alfa’s long hiatus in Australia, the spare parts and servicing situation is in a reasonably good state.
Insurance charges in a car like this will depend a lot on the driver and their past record. A young guy with a bad claims history, owning a convertible and living in a theft prone area should take a deep breath before ringing his insurance company. Others won't find things too bad.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Make sure the engine starts easily and idles smoothly from the moment it gets going.
Look for signs of previous body repairs as these are the sort of cars that are often driven by those who like to pedal hard. Most easily spotted are mismatched paint on adjacent body panels, uneven gaps between panels, paint overspray on non-painted parts and slight ripples in the metal of the body.
Naturally the V6 will be smoother than the four. Engine performance from the 2.0-litre Twin Spark unit isn't great, but if it seems below par the engine could be suspect.
During the road test look for steering that wanders and feel for brakes that don't pull the car up evenly.
A manual gearbox that isn't light in its action could be on its last legs. Do some fast changes from third down to second and feel for a reluctance for the ‘box to shift.
Check the interior of a Spider convertible for signs of water entry. The top generally seals properly, though check for stains inside it, particularly near the stitching.
Water marks on the trim or carpets should be treated with great suspicion. If there are any, ask the owner’s permission to lift the carpets to look at the condition of the floor.
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