USED Alfa Romeo GT Coupe (04 - 11)

My car

I bought this car because I didn't want to drive a BMW like everyone else and fell in love with it without even driving it (that just made me want it more!). My friends thought I was crazy and would be spending my whole time waiting for the breakdown truck. You should have seen their faces when I rolled up in it. The exterior & interior are far superior to any of the other contenders. The interior space is amazing, you can actually get 2 adults in the back seat and it doesn't feel like your sitting in a coffin. With the back seat down the overall space is huge. The diesel engine has plenty of power & great milage and handling is excellent. It even makes you feel good sitting in traffic on the M4 on the way home every night. The radio controls are rubbish and look like they were glued on by a child & the heater controls require a PhD. I sold this car after less than a year because I moved to the USA (where they aren't sold) but still love it and regulary look at the Alfa website just to see pictures. Buy one you'll like it!

My car

I bought my 05 plate after test driving BMW, Audi, Merc C Class etc..nothing felt remotely close to the drive of the GT Coupe. Owning was was fantastic, it ouzed class, handling, drivability etc. Only negatives are no rear wash wipe which given the lack of visibility is crazy biscuits. Only other little bug bear is the radio controls on steering wheel are inadequate and fiddly. Otherwise car is a fantastic car to drive, ride in and see on your driveway. Go get one....you wont regret it.

My car

After briefly test-driving a GT, I was smitten by the great exterior, and sporty yet luxiourious interior.

I therefore took the plunge and, after shopping around, found a decent deal on a one-year old 1.9 JTD. Ownership has proved a pleasure so far, although the performance off the mark is not quite what I'd hoped for. This is not a deal-breaker, however, as the car has bags of character and is surely worth more than the three stars awarded by What Car?.

Friends, who either own Audi A3s, VW Golfs or similar are unfailingly impressed by the luscious interior, and I get the impression they definitely feel short-changed in the style department! I'm not quite sure where What Car? gets its stats for the depreciation index, as I can't find a 12-month old 1.9 JTD on sale for anywhere near £12,300 (try £16,000).

Whilst depreciation is a factor to consider with Alfas, I think the motor press generally exaggerate this significantly. Perhaps this is stereotyping so as to appear 'in the know'.

If these cars had a BMW badge on them I'm sure the press would be raving uncontrollably.

My car

I purchased my one-year-old GT that had just 10,000 miles from new - the car had one careful owner who had all the options fitted - voice activated everything and sat-nav. All this for the same price as an average saloon car.

I get my sports car and the kids can get in the back! To top it all, it has a hatch rear door and the rear seats fold and allow a reasonable amount of space when needed.

I cannot fault it, it has great Italian styling, drives well and sounds fantastic. Why buy more expensive BMWs, Audis etc that everybody else has, when you can be that little bit unique?

The only let-downs so far are with the 18-inch wheels - the low ground clearance means roads with speed humps are to be avoided!

The local dealer does not have a clue about customer relations, but now I have found an Alfa-approved specialist, things are better.