52 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk
Theultimateguide to
modern classiccars
Years produced: 1995-2006
Price range: £700-£8,500 Rarity:★★★★★
Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★
ANYONEwhodoesn’tstudytheclassifiedadvertsor
carpriceguideswouldthinkthatanAlfaSpiderorGTV
isanexoticItaliansportscarwithamatchingpricetag.
Butthetruthisthatyoucanactuallybuyagood,
usableexampleforlessthan£2,000–fornow.
UnliketheolderGTVandSpidersfromthe
sixtiesandseventies,thesenewercarsuseamore
conventionalfront-wheel-drivechassis.Theyarestill
prettyexcitingtodrive,though,withsharpsteering
andenginesthatliketoberevved.The2.0-litremotor
isbyfarthecheapesttobuyandrun,andcarswiththis
enginehandlesweetly.Butthemostexciting(andmost
collectable)versionsarepoweredbyAlfa’s3.0-litreV6,
althoughtheextraweightandpowerdocorruptthe
handlingalittle,especiallyintheless-rigidSpider.
Probecarefullyforrustandfindaspecialisttolook
afterthecar,andyou’llbeabletoenjoythissliceof
Italianexoticaforthepriceofadullhatchback.
10
ITALIAN BEAUTIES
If styling and character are your priorities, these are the cars for you
expertview
THEGTVappealsmore
thanthemodelthat
replacedit:theBrera.The
oldercarhasfizzyengines
andstilllooksbeautiful.
John McIlroy
Deputy editor
ALFA ROMEO
GTV/SPIDER
