ALFA ROMEO GTV 2.0 TS 16V 2dr (1996)

Good commuter, more space than a TT

I got this when I landed a job in London and had a commute from Bedford. I wanted something to make the drive a bit more pleasurable, so I shopped around for a sports car. To my Italian parents delight I bought an Alfa Romeo GTV.

The GTV looked too good to pass by really, and it seems relatively sensible and practical. I mean relatively, this is a market of daft cars for daft people, but our little girl could sit in the back fine, which was more than I could say for some others.

The boot is a bit silly though, and if I ever have to carry merch around for work then like as not it goes on the back seats. I'm guessing they've measured it to fit a set of golf clubs in, I think that's the standard! But that's about it.

My Alfa Romeo GTV came new and I did buy the extra warranty, which I'm glad about as I've had a fair few problems over the years. It's mostly been to do with the electricals, things like warning lights and regulators messing about. It hasn't made me late for work yet but I have had it towed home from work four times (in as many years, so not that bad).

After that warranty expired I didn't bother with the main dealers anymore and went straight to a local guy who knows all about Alfas. I source any parts I need online (he tells me what I need, and I just pay for the labour).

Dunno how I've got this far without saying what an awesome car the Alfa Romeo GTV is to drive. You'd probably think I would get sick of it after such a shaky experience, but it just steals you away, you can't help but love it. The growl, the look of it, the looks from other people, and zipping away from the lights, it never gets boring, it's just a perfect package. Well not perfect, but fantastic.