ItalianCar TestDrive - 1 October 2006

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GT

Spaceship on wheels

We actually first drove the 2.0l JTS version of the GT back in May last year – and our verdict (see the test drive) was very positive – we liked the handling as against the 147GTA, the classy insides, the fuel economy and, much as we hated to admit it at the time, we actually ended up quite liking the Selespeed gear system. But we had to wait until this year to get our hands on the one with the grunt – the GT 3.2 V6.

After a few days the GT just grows on you. OK – in comparison with the Brera and the new crop of Alfas it is definitely old technology. The gearstick is nothing like as direct compared to the new cars and has a longer throw. The steering is a little heavy. You feel the bumps a bit more. The clutch is stiff as hell. Even the brakes squeak a bit.

But the GT just goes! And the other thing we like is the look of the car. The front may be the old-style grille but the back of the car – that bit where the designers so often just give up – is just perfect. It still looks like a spaceship on wheels.

The engine has the old-fashioned roar that seems to have been – to some extent - refined out of the new cars, and when you put your foot down there’s tons of power – at pretty much any speed you’d be likely to do.

Sure – the interior’s a little cramped but that’s the way it should be in this sort of car – you’re in a cockpit really not a ‘passenger compartment’. It’s also a very low car – in all senses – you need to drop yourself into the driver’s seat and the bodywork is so low you have to be careful manoeuvring over anything that even looks like a kerb.

The GT even won over our hard-bitten non-Italian car loving design team (pictured below) who said: “Big love! Just fun to drive, very powerful and safe feeling and surprisingly easy to drive. Awesome interior design (they know about these sorts of things), classical, functional, no fancy stuff, not to mention the +++ Bose sound system. This car is on my list for Christmas – but in black or light silver please!”

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Our Conclusions

The GT has it

We can’t help feeling the GT is the ugly sister here – but unjustly so. Launched with not really a huge fanfare (in comparison to the Brera), it’s just so much fun to drive and still looks great a few years down the track. If you’re into the bells and whistles then the Brera has them all, but for value for money (and there may be a price adjustment for the GT once Brera is established) the GT has it. But perhaps Alfa are holding back on an even more powerful version of the Brera – perhaps one up to the spec of the original concept car. If so perhaps we’ll reconsider our verdict.

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Comparison table – key facts

Data/Model	GT	Brera
Engine	3179 cc V6	3195 cc V6 24v
Power	176 kW @ 6200 rpm	191 kW @ 6300 rpm
Torque	300 Nm @ 4800 rpm	322 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Kerb Weight	1410 Kg	1630 Kg
Turning Circle	12.1 m	10.7 m
Top Speed	243 kmh	240 kmh
0-100 kmh	6.7 secs	6.8 secs
On Road Price (AU$)	$85,506	$101,016
Insurance (AU$)	$1,218	$1,486
Fuel Consumption	12.4 l/100 km	11.5 l/100 km

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Notes
Pricing information courtesy Alfa Romeo Brisbane
Insurance quotes from NRMA (based on 44yr old male; postcode 4178; comprehensive cover - no claims and no discounts; private use only; under finance with a finance company)

Photos GT: Ebi Fleck; Photos Brera: Alfa Romeo
Review and test drive by David Bateson, Editor ItalianCar

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More Information

GT FACTfile

Brera FACTfile

GT 2.0l JTS test drive

Page I 1 (Brera) I 2 (GT) I