Re: Alfas in the magazines

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

GTV-6s aren't really all that toss-able out of the box. But then 
neither is a Ferrari Lusso, a Maserati Sebring or an Aston Martin 
DB-4/5/6 (all of which have 'similar' performance envelopes to the 
GTV-6). These are meant to be grand touring cars designed for the 
Autostrada the Autoroute and the Autobahn, not for twisty mountain 
roads. Not that GTV-6s don't or can't handle well in those situations, 
but with the body lean and heavy, slow-speed steering, they just aren't 
ideal for such driving. GTV-6s like nice two-lane roads with long 
sweeping turns and even longer straightaways.  I have found that GTV-6 
handling depends very much on the tires. Soft sticky tires (like the 
Yokohama AVS series) with higher inflation rates in the rear than in 
the front go a long way toward reducing the Alfa's natural tendency to 
push. But the heavy, relatively slow steering still makes tossing these 
cars about on the very-twisties a tiring proposition. I've heard that 
replacing the GTV-6 steering with the power steering gear from the 
Milano transforms the car. But never having driven one upon which this 
modification has been effected, I can't say for sure.

George Graves
'86 GTV-6


On Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at 12:36  PM, alfa-digest wrote:


> Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 10:48:54 -0700
> From: Will Owen <nashwill912@domain.elided>
> Subject: Alfas in the magazines
>
> Hey, kids -
>
> Just noticed that the Alfetta GT/GTV/GTV6 cars are featured in the
> latest issues of two English car magazines, Classic & Sports Car and
> Practical Classic. Just looked over the PC article, but I brought the
> C&SC home (as I usually do). This is their monthly "Starter Classics"
> feature, in which they give a brief history, specs, overview of
> strengths and weaknesses, insurance and parts info and so forth, and
> then sum it all up with a how-many-marks-out-of-100 score. The Alfa was
> awarded 9 out of 10 for driving, everyday practicality, looks, and 
> value
> for money, 7 for club support, 6 for parts availability and rust
> resistance, 5 for running costs and ease of maintenance, and a 
> miserable
> 2 for insurance costs. Total was 66 out of 100 - not bad, but 3 points
> below both the Citroen 2CV and the Triumph Herald (those nutty Brits, I
> tell ya...).
>
> What surprised me was the rather disparaging remarks about the 
> handling,
> both from the staff writer and one of the two owners interviewed. Under
> "Alternatives," one of the choices was the '81-'87 Ford Capri, of which
> the writer said, "Goes and sounds great, and friendlier handling than
> the Alfa." I have to admit that my 116 driving experience is limited to
> V6 Milanos, which I consider to be damn near flawless in the
> chuck-it-about department (and I think a bit of lowering and tightening
> would get rid of the "damn near"). Am I just a fool in love here, or 
> are
> the GTs less wieldy, or what?
>
> Will Owen
> Pasadena, CA
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