what are they really like.....HELP!!!

Hi Joe i've had my Atmo for around 7 months now and have not spent a penny on her apart from fuel.
I do not drive her every day , prop 3 times a week although there are little things wrong but nothing that will stop you from having a ball while your out driving and yes lots! of people look at you and the driving experiance is raw,alive,loud (sports exhuast ),exciting,fast,fun,comfortable (apart from stupid speed humps ).
I always look back at the Alp when i walk away and can't believe that she's mine, she is a fantastic looking car and you will feel the same when you buy one. Mine was a spur of the moment buy and have not regretted it for a secound.
The guys on this site are all mentle but are a great bunch that one day i hope to meet, they know everything about GTA's and will help you if you get stuck. DO IT JOE.

I've ran my Turbo for over 10 years now as my only car - covering over 130K in it (the recorded mileage is now 180K+). Most of that time it's been used daily.

As far as reliability goes it's mostly just niggly things - speedo mainly. The turbo's probably almost as reliable as the atmo really, there are few electrical items engine wise that go wrong.

In terms of things go that will stop you in your tracks you're really only looking at the clutch fork arm, alternator, starter motor, earths / battery and cooling. Most cars you'll see will have had at least one clutch (so the weaker fork arm will have been swapped for the much stronger A610 version) and other than that all cars suffer a faulty starter or alternator over a 20 yr lifespan and the GTA's no worse than anything else.

If you're looking at a car then check the obvious stuff - smoke, overheating etc and if you're uncertain then pay Steve for his pre-purchase inspection.

For the record mine is still on the original engine / gearbox and has had only one clutch in all that time (compare that to a Ferrari), dampers are still original and the turbo lasted till 160K, even then it was only puffing occasionally - they never really die completely. Essentially as Simon mentioned the core stuff is over engineered - it's the bits round the edges that fall off in your hand

If only Renault would give a similar level of factory support to say Lotus or Porsche we'd be laughing.

[Alpineandy]

and check the condition of the fuel/oil/water hoses.
There have been a few fires and losing coolant/overheating can be a major problem..... Better still get steve to look for you.

If you are keen.
Take your future car on a test drive before you buy. Take it for a good blast, then let it tickover for 15mins. This will let you know if there are any head gasket problems, cooling problems or turbo problems. Anysmoke at all run away.

If you are keen.
Take your future car on a test drive before you buy. Take it for a good blast, then let it tickover for 15mins. This will let you know if there are any head gasket problems, cooling problems or turbo problems. Anysmoke at all run away.

Wuss

Yes do it!!!!!!

I bought my 89 Turbo back in October and haven't looked back. These guys are amazingly helpful and they're knowledge is extrordinary. So far my car has been used as my daily driver and has only thrown a rotor arm. I have spent £1.5k recommissioning her (servicing, tyres, various other parts etc) and am almost done.

Anyway who cares about the cash every time you get in it doesn't matter what mood your in you always get out smiling.

Enjoy, Good luck

Jon

hi andy...i am in peterborough at the moment not too sure for how long

hello everyone......i cannot get the GTA out of my head i have a few pounds to spend and i know very little about them.....but i have to have one.........would it be too much to ask in sayin the GTA is reliable? i would use it everyday but i really need it too be reliable....please tell me they are! i like the turbo version. help would be great as i am new to the GTA world!

Joe

They're absolutely..... great cars. You can buy my turbo if you want, it really is a minter and the HG's are being fitted as we speak (i was 12 years old when i started trying to get the car fixed and i'm 33 now). Enough said I would say, rob a bank then buy a Monaro and a Honda VTR SP2 for sunny days, i did and i haven't looked back. I'm pretty sure i still own a GTA, or is was it a bad dream...

Ah, Mr Jon, glad to hear you are still about.

[Alpineandy]

Mr Jon.... AKA 'the unluckiest Alpine owner I know'!

Mr Jon, please don't sell it, cos it'll mean someone else will have to take over the title.... don't be so selfish.

ps I hope you're well and enjoying life.

My nervous twitch isn't as bad as it was, i think it's because my therapist has said i should forget that i own a plastic french car (but sometimes i remember, then the twitching starts again).

I'm very well apart from my car still isn't fixed. "Any time now....so i've been told"

Will be good to catch up with you guys when the car is fit and well again. So, shall I pencil in August 2010 at the ACE cafe (I'll organise the RAC to follow me over there)?