USED Alfa Romeo GT Coupe (04 - 11)

My car

I have owned this car for nearly three months now, covered just over 3000 miles and love driving it.

It handles well, and the diesel engine is responsive and economical, too. I have found the build quality to be vastly improved over previous GTs, butI am still experiencing some problems.

At low speeds, the car has developed a squeak as the wheels go round, there is now a rattle from behind the dash and the airbag light seems to intermittently stay on for a number of minutes after starting the car.

I hope to get these sorted when it visits the Alfa Romeo workshop.

Despite these problems, it's a great car with plenty of room for four adults and their luggage.

It's also better than a BMW - everybody owns them.

My car

This is an update to a review I did in Feb 2006 when I'd only had the car a short time.

I have now done just over 50,000 miles in it in 18 months, and if anything the car has impressed me even more.

It has had four scheduled services with Monza Sports in Sussex (highly recommended) and the only real issue was a slightly juddery clutch at 40,000 miles which Alfa replaced under warranty with no quibbling (the new Customer Experience Centre really works). This is arguably a wear and tear item and would have cost me over £900 if Alfa hadn't picked up the bill - I was impressed.

The car is wearing incredibly well. There is some stone-chipping to the front but no worse than any other car I have run. The interior is still really tight with only the very worst speed humps illiciting a slight squeak from the nearside front suspension.

Performance got even better after 20,000 miles, as did the MPG. I easily get over 600 miles out of a tank (12 gals I think).

I still get stopped in petrol stations by people interested in the car, and it still makes me feel good every time I drive it.

All in all, a fantastic and highly under-rated car. Buy one, they are sensational.

My car

Don't believe what the experts say about this car - if you find the visibility puts you off you don't deserve to be on the road. I have owned and driven this car from new and its has never put a foot wrong. I always chicken out before it does - the only scary moment coming on a fast blind bend when I met a BMW M5 on my side of the road - but even so we remained more composed than it did. Its fast, composed, economical, a beautiful car to drive - and big enough to take the family on holiday. Don't buy one though - I enjoy being in the slightly exclusive club of people that have found out what a joy the GT is.

My car

Like many others you'll buy this car becuase you don't want to be part of BMW/Merc. brigade. It is different and does attract admiring glances and interest. I had an Alfa six years ago and although I have not had my GT very long the build quality seems better, nothing is rattling or falling off - yet! It's a great drive giving all its 150bhp easily. I find the steering a bit woolly in the straight ahead position and it does tramline in the HGV tarmac ruts more than other cars but you get used to it after a while. Yes it corners well, the gear change is good as are all the major controls. The heating and vent controls are confusing and take time to understand. I think visilbility is quite good, it is a coupe after all, reversing sensors are advisable because that is the worst vision aspect. I have the 18" alloys fitted and the exposed rims are very vulnerable to kerbing - no spare wheel - only the puncture 'goo' kit probably not the best thing if you live in the sticks along way from a tyre centre. I did not find buying an Alfa a great puchasing experience many dealer aren't too bothered but I came across Meridien in Portsmouth who were keen, it's a wait and see on servicing and after sales. So far so good, a great car that you want to drive and enjoy, frugal and still a bit exclusive. Shame it hasn't got the 2.4 diesel from the Brera that obviously looks even better but has so little practical interior space.