• From: NH
  • Registered: 2010-01-20
  • Posts: 3,299

Topic: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

I go through different car desire moods, but i keep coming back to Alfa. Lately I've been kicking myself for not getting my hands on a pristine condition Milano a couple years ago. My latest promise to myself is once my college loans are paid off (year or so to go?) I can reward myself with a toy/project car that is actually usable on the street. I'm thinking Milano or GTV6, but leaning towards the GTV6. No idea why, i've just always loved the look of those two cars.

Someone tell me i'm nuts and i should consider something else, anything else. Like an old mustang to rebuild with my dad.

http://www.autogush.com/images/alfa-romeo-75-3.0-v6-01.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UzP0ppYXXj8/THceDIQuQTI/AAAAAAAAAag/e9S0fP_qal4/s1600/Alfa+GTV+6+2.JPG

20+ Time Loser FutilityMotorsport
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2 Reply by therood (edited by therood 2012-12-19 08:09 AM)

  • From: Chicago-ish
  • Registered: 2010-04-19
  • Posts: 3,497

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

Once you've heard an Alfa V6, you don't need any other justification for wanting one. The sexy lines on the GTV6 is the frosting on top.

Once I have somewhere to put one and also get the student loans off my back, I want either a GTV6 or a 510 to tinker with.

Eric Rood
Everything Bagel, 24 Hours of Lemons
eric@24hoursoflemons.com

therood's Website

  • From: Vancouver, WA
  • Registered: 2009-11-24
  • Posts: 934

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

Any well-rounded auto enthusiast wants an Alfa.

...perhaps not a second Alfa, but certainly a first.

Lorin Mueller
Scuderia Asino formerly Team Haulin' Ass - 83 Plymouth Scamp
Team Soccer Moms - 93 Dodge Caravan
  • bshorey
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Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

I've got both (and many others).  We've also been racing a Milano in Lemons for 5 years now.

All else being equal, the GTV6 is marginally faster on the track (IMO).  Lower center of gravity, slightly less weight, probably better aerodynamics.  Both are relatively bullet proof once sorted, but getting there can be a pain, and expensive.  Buy the best example you can find.

Our Milano has been a real pleasure in Lemons.  We've got 15 races on it, with only one catastrophic failure (overheated engine, blown head gasket).  We've used all of our residual value in reliability upgrades.  The damn car just keeps running better and better the harder we push it.  I haven't looked at a spark plug in 3 years.  We just finished Chuckwalla and other than brake pads and tires, the car needs nothing to make it to the starting grid of the next race.

The downside, parts are expensive.  You can't just slap a motor together, and you can't find 99% of what you might need at your local auto parts store.

Join the AlfaBB.com, lots of discussion there, and frequent cars for sale as well.

bs

  • From: NH
  • Registered: 2010-01-20
  • Posts: 3,299

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

sweet. This wouldn't be for racing. This would be for weekend enjoyment. Maybe not the fastest by today's standards, but i love the idea of cruising through the NH mountains with the sound of that v6.

obviously the best idea is to find a really sorted one on the west coast, and drive it home.

20+ Time Loser FutilityMotorsport
Abandoned E36 Build
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  • bshorey
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Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

TheEngineer wrote:

sweet. This wouldn't be for racing. This would be for weekend enjoyment. Maybe not the fastest by today's standards, but i love the idea of cruising through the NH mountains with the sound of that v6.

obviously the best idea is to find a really sorted one on the west coast, and drive it home.

Yes.  Well kept ones can be found in between.  Just watch the BB.  There's a well sorted 3.0 GTV6 on their right now, being sold by a responsible member.  I know of another really well sorted 3.0 GTV6 available out here.

Of course, the drive over the Rockies is half the fun.

What you really need to do is pull a 'Spank'.  Find something out here (I'll help), get it caged, show up and do the final prep (I'll help), race it out here, then drive it back east.

bs

  • From: NH
  • Registered: 2010-01-20
  • Posts: 3,299

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

while i'm in love with that idea, I don't think i can pull it off for a while.

and like i said, i wouldn't be getting an alfa to race, i want one as a toy. I'm about a year out from completely paying off my student loans. Once that is complete i'm buying something as a reward.

20+ Time Loser FutilityMotorsport
Abandoned E36 Build
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  • From: Hayward, CA
  • Registered: 2010-03-23
  • Posts: 1,762

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

Well, read through the lines there carefully. Great cars, and parts are still available, but they are not cheap to get correct.

And make sure you buy a real one, not some fake knock off like this:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/3487289957.html

Dudes Ex Machina: https://www.facebook.com/dudesexmachina

?Everyone who has ever built anywhere a 'new heaven' first found the power thereto in his own hell- Frederick Nietzsche
  • From: Hayward, CA
  • Registered: 2010-03-23
  • Posts: 1,762

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

P.S. This one looks pretty sorted and ready to rock.  I might even volunteer to drive it out to you.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/pts/3477030644.html

Dudes Ex Machina: https://www.facebook.com/dudesexmachina

?Everyone who has ever built anywhere a 'new heaven' first found the power thereto in his own hell- Frederick Nietzsche
  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
  • Posts: 3,425

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

mackwagon wrote:

Well, read through the lines there carefully. Great cars, and parts are still available, but they are not cheap to get correct.

And make sure you buy a real one, not some fake knock off like this:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/3487289957.html

That thing is SOOOOO roomy!

A&D: 2011 Autobahn, 2012 Gingerman, 2012 Road America, 2012 Autobahn II, 2013 Gator-O-Rama (True 24!)
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  • From: Westfield Ma
  • Registered: 2012-10-29
  • Posts: 1,148

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

I'll see your blue one and raise you with a blood red one.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/type_rs_59/alfetta_gtv6_by_bramdc-d3gje8m.jpg

  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2010-03-27
  • Posts: 605

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

Someday, somehow, I'll obtain a ProCar.

Proud supporter of the "Bring A Sterling To Lemons" Foundation

I'll make it to an actual race one of these days.  Until then...

Lemony_Snicket's Website

  • Registered: 2012-10-03
  • Posts: 259

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

bshorey wrote:

getting (sorted) can be a pain, and expensive.  Buy the best example you can find.

This can't be said loudly enough... or often enough.

You REALLY need to do your homework on the car, or you will be spending months of time and thousands of dollars chasing parts from all over the globe.  Hell, you'll probably do this anyways.  DO NOT buy the car sight unseen.  DO bring an Italian mechanic with you to the inspection.  DO NOT believe that any electrical problem is an easy fix.  DO run away screaming if you have even the slightest tingle in your "spidey senses".

Most importantly: don't fall in love with the car.  Just.  Don't.  Imagine instead that it's a stripper with a coke habit.  Great to look at, makes your heart skip a beat every time you think of her, tons of fun to play with, but crazy as all get-out, and will probably drain your bank account, alienate you from your best friends, rip your heart out and leave you before you've even had the chance to do a dozen laps in her.

(Yeah, I bought an Italian car on eBay and had it shipped across the country sight unseen.  I've paid at least $1 for each mile I've put on the car... after purchase price...)

  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 2,839

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

papal_smear wrote:

Imagine instead that it's a stripper with a coke habit.  Great to look at, makes your heart skip a beat every time you think of her, tons of fun to play with, but crazy as all get-out, and will probably drain your bank account, alienate you from your best friends, rip your heart out and leave you before you've even had the chance to do a dozen laps in her.

Strangely that made me want an Alfa more.

Quad4 CRX - Wartburg 311 - Civic Wagovan - Parnelli Jones Galaxie - LS400 - Lancia MR2 - Boat - Sentra - 56 Ford Victoria
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  • bshorey
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Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

You saw this thread, right?

http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/viewt … p?id=20038

Supers are way cool, and can be very quick.  In race weight you will be right around 2100 lbs.  find a crappy old Spider, which are plentiful in New England, and move the entire drive train over.

bs

  • From: NH
  • Registered: 2010-01-20
  • Posts: 3,299

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

bshorey wrote:

You saw this thread, right?

http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/viewt … p?id=20038

Supers are way cool, and can be very quick.  In race weight you will be right around 2100 lbs.  find a crappy old Spider, which are plentiful in New England, and move the entire drive train over.

bs

Way more work than i need to take on.

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  • From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: Good or bad, I want an Alfa

Red Lemons Racing wrote:

I'll see your blue one and raise you with a blood red one.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/type_rs_59/alfetta_gtv6_by_bramdc-d3gje8m.jpg

Sweet mary and joseph that is a flipping fantastic car.  I already have more cars than fingers, but I now want to sell them all for this.  You are a bad man.

Bloomington, IN
We'll bring Beer!  Motorsports
Team Fiery Death! #0 2009 Lamest Day(65th), 2010 American Irony(24th), 2010 Detroit Bull(4th),2012 Capitol Offense (8th) 2012 American Irony (11 th), 2013 Capitol Offense (3rd) 2013 Chubba Chedder (4th, Judge Choice!) Now sadly part of a scrap pile. 
Toothless Racing Deadbeats #110 2011 Summit Point (61st) Currently being rebuilt into the new car!