Faults:

Clutch master and slave cylinder replaced.

Front lower control arm replaced.

Cam belt replaced, but the mechanic ran into complications, so VERY expensive.

Air con not working.

High beams went out, but an easy fix.

Electric aerial not working.

General Comments:

Absolute bloody ripper of a car.

Love the way it looks, the way it sounds, the way it feels. So much Italian character, you'll fall in love. Anyone who says the boot's too small or it costs too much to run, just doesn't get it.

This car is all about fun and enjoyment, and looking forward to getting in and playing with the throttle, the gear changes, the steering. It's all about the car as an object of pure enjoyment, not just as something you use for getting from A to B, where you don't DRIVE, you just operate controls.

The beautiful Italian designed interior and exterior are just lovely, and just make you love the car all the more. This car really has that very Italian philosophy that it's more important for something to be beautiful than practical, and I really like that.

Like a passionate Italian woman that's not only exciting to be with, but beautiful as well, her looks just make you love her more.

Expensive to service, but they're also cheap to buy.

Faults:

Gearbox needed an overhaul.

Rear brakes needed an overhaul.

The body was very rusty.

The handbrake lever broke one day while I was parking.

Then engine continuously ran out of tune and no amount of servicing would help it.

General Comments:

I drove it when it belonged to my step father, it drove and handled very well.

It went into rapid decline though, from lack of use.

Faults:

A fuse went on the the car soon after I got it which meant the lights were not working. It was easily fixed.

The drivers side window does not seal properly and needs to be adjusted at every service to rectify. Cause wind noise at speed, but fortunately does cause any water leaks.

General Comments:

The car is a joy to drive. Acceleration, handling and braking are superb. This is a poor mans Ferrari as far as looks, performance and engine noise.

Have owned many Alfa's and build quality is 100% improvement on previous models from the 1980's. It is still not like a German car, but for alfa the build quality is a vast improvement.

Faults:

Syncromesh in manual gearbox.

Leaking rear main crank seal.

Spots of rust.

General Comments:

I have always liked the GTV shape from when I was young right up till now.

I found that you can pick up a GTV for a very reasonable price as most people in Australia tend to stay away from an older, European car that is relatively rare.

Common complaints by other owners include body rust and gears crunching due to worn synchromesh. Due to the gearbox being located where the diff normally is in a rear drive car adds to the complexity of repairing this vehicle.

Having said the above, I have thoroughly enjoyed owning the car and will buy another Alfa to replace this one. The handling of the car is very predictable and assuring, the even weight distribution has achieved this. Although the car has had a few problems mentioned above, the car has not once let me down in nearly four years.

Look for one that has had the gearbox attended to and ensure minimal rust exists.

The car is rewarding to drive and has attracted compliments from many a stranger.

Faults:

Driver's air bag light.

Noise from the front right hand suspension.

General Comments:

What can I say about a car where my wife "fights" me to drive it!

Simply sublime.

Surprisingly user friendly in real world driving conditions because of the amount of torque available from 1500rpm. Doodle along in 4th gear doing 40km/hr no worries! VERY muscular from 3700rpm onwards. Incredibly involving car to drive - steering feedback, fierce acceleration, glorious noise an absolute to delight that adds to the experience. Real character adds to the pride of ownership.

Drawbacks are essentially what I expected:

1) The quality of fittings is not to German/Japanese standards.

2) High insurance costs.

3) The need for specialist servicing.

4) Limited boot.

5) Limited back seat.

The not so good surprises have been:

1) Thirsty (though dependant on how hard you drive it - which is quite frequently)!

2) The seats offer little lateral support.

3) Radio is average.

4) Wipers are average.

5) The tyres wear out quickly (can be fixed with a tracking adjustment).

However, these issues will not bother the driving enthusiast - if so stick to a Ford/Nissan/Opel...

The car has brought me memories that I will cherish (and will continue to do so). Its rarity on the roads, genuine warm appreciation from the motoring public, and, sense of occasion make for real pride of ownership.

Its performance is strong enough to put a smile on your face without having the need to prove yourself. It makes you feel alive...!

Happy motoring.