INTRODUCTION

Crowd pleaser

Cars in this class tend to look great but can lack practicality, and the GTV is a good example - it has glamour by the bucket-load, but little room for passengers and luggage. Coupes tend to cost a little more to service and insure compared to ordinary cars, but often compensate with healthy resale values. Distinctive styling,exciting performance and decent handling are what define a great coupe and the GTV has got them all. There are just two engine options: an excellent 2.0-litre, and the brilliantly charismatic 3.0-litre V6. Both are true Italian sports cars you can get excited about. A revised version went on sale in September 2003 (see separate review of GTV and Spider).

 

Alfa's old reputation for building pretty but unreliable cars persists, yet so far the GTV has proved fairly trustworthy. Minor build quality niggles only, related to some flimsy trim and suspect electrics. Some owners also report worn or faulty rear suspension, dodgy wheel rims and easily-kerbed alloys. Alfa also now recommends that timing belts and tensioners are changed every 36,000 miles rather than every 72,000 - if buying second-hand, check that this has been observed. Alfa has tended to score badly in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys, but this tends to be as much down to poor customer service at its dealerships as to the cars themselves.

 

The styling is deliberately controversial: after all, a successful coupe must attract attention. Fantastic design detailing and those charismatic engines complete the picture. This is what people expect of an Alfa Romeo, and it doesn't disappoint.

 

The Twin Spark 2.0 litre engine is very adequate, getting to 60mph in just over 8 seconds. However, for Ferrari-like thrills the 220bhp 3.0 litre V6 puts the coupe into another performance league altogether, accelerating past 150mph. It makes a wonderful sound too.

 

ABS brakes and twin airbags are standard safety features along with seatbelt pre-tensioners. As for security, this includes a very effective coded engine immobiliser and the remote control alarm system.

 

A comprehensive three-year warranty builds the buyer's confidence. Depreciation is slow and the GTV is easy to resell. Servicing costs are similar to Alfa saloons, but parts are marginally more expensive than mainstream rivals. Great looks, badge and performance make the GTV easy to resell. However, the once daring styling is not so fashionable now, so prices are falling - and they'll drop even further if condition is poor or mileage high, and when the revised model goes on sale. Long-term, the smaller 2.0-litre model will be easier to resell and will retain more of its value. A decent level of standard equipment including airbags, ABS, electric windows, alloy wheels and central locking. The Lusso pack adds more creature comforts, but buyers are also paying for the Alfa badge. There are cheaper alternatives, such as the Toyota Celica, but none has that Alfa charm. Dealers may well be open to a bit of haggling on these outgoing models as the launch of the revised version gets closer (September 2003), though there are plenty of cheap imports around, anyway.

 

A sports coupe rather than a cruising coupe, so the ride is very firm. However, the seats are supportive, and it's quiet too. Fine for two people - any more would be a crowd. The GTV feels very cramped because it is. The tall will find the low windscreen claustrophobic, whilst the tiny rear seats are only for children. They can be optionally deleted to boost luggage space which is just as well, because the boot is miniscule. The GTV is fitted with an adequate rather than outstanding RDS radio/cassette system.

 

 

 

"哎,又要去BIG SCHOOL了,真不想吃了..."我们边朝DINING HALL走边向身边的BILLY抱怨着.那天刚读大学的BILLY从伦敦回CLIFTON,忘了是什么原因,全当是想看看我们吧. BILLY听着,笑了说:''其实我以前也跟你们一样,真的很不愿意去BIG SCHOOL,就是来了也只是啃啃''草''.这里的东西怎么能跟家里的比呢?但现在我还是蛮怀念这里的..在大学里,一天3餐都得自己解决.在C.C.至少还有个可以吃饭的地方,不用自己买材料,自己做饭,有现成的吃.在大学呢?如果偷偷懒,就要自己挨饿了..."我们仔细地听着,望望前面的队伍,开始幻想起大学的生活~~

      在A-LEVEL的最后那段日子里,每次只要几个好朋友一碰到就会说:''以后就不能在经常碰在一起了,大家都不知道会考去哪里~" 每当说起,我心里总会有点冰冰凉的感觉,觉得就要失去什么,心里空荡荡的. 但现实就是这样.一个多月前,我又回到了英国. 就在飞机着陆前,我又习惯地看了看自己前方的小电视屏幕,望着屏幕里的飞机图案在HEATHROW机场上空转动着,准备降落..地图慢慢地放大了,伦敦附近的大城市名一个个地出现了.我又看到了BRISTOL,这个我待了2年的城市.回忆断断续续地随着飞机的降落在我脑海里不断地浮现.我想起了我的朋友们,想起了我们一起的快乐时光.那里我们曾经一起学习,一起游玩,一起参加比赛.有时也会斗斗嘴,赌赌气.但瞬间又会和好如初.我不得不相信缘分这东西,是机遇让我来到了英国,是机遇把我送来到BRISTOL,来到CLIFTON COLLEGE后,是缘分让我认识了这许多朋友.这两年来发生了很多事,有好事,有坏事,有奇事,也有怪事.一个人经历这许多事可能会很辛苦,很累,但好在有这些朋友们.所以我在英国一点也不孤独,他们陪着我一起走过了这2年,我很开心.谢谢你们!

      飞机起落架终于贴到了地面上,巨大的响声把我从回忆中拉回到座位上..是啊,终于又回来了,可是这次我却要向另一个目的地前去--WYE,这个在大地图上都不怎么容易发现的地方...可那里有我未来的学校,IMPERIAL COLLEGE,WYE CAMPUS. 我推着行李车,慢慢地随面前的人流前进着.JACK 已经到了几天吧,他去了LSE,伦敦. PETER呢?我记得他的NORTTINGHAM大学开学比我早一个星期,那有空再挂个电话给他吧. 恩,MICHAEL YING也去了伦敦,他也在IMPERIAL,但他学的是数学,所以我们不在一个CAMPUS. MICHAEL TSE,我的邻居应该在BATH了吧,还好,BATH就在BRISTOL边上,只要他想,每天坐公车就可以去BRISTOL了.朋友们都各奔东西了,我们能做的就是继续保持联系吧...写着写着觉得有点郁闷,有点难受.但人总得向前走吧,天下何时又有过不散的宴席呢? 我们虽然不能再经常在一起了,但彼此还保留这一些美好的回忆.我们离开了BRISTOL,离开了C.C,但也留下了许多剩下的零碎的回忆,我们带不走它们,因为它们注定要和那里的空气,那里的建筑,那里的街道一起存在着.它们带者我们的过去,隐藏在CC的每个角落.有一天,当我们回去寻找时,经过这些角落时,他们就会漫漫地浮现出来......再见,BRISTOL.再见BRISTOL.