Introduce yourselves

Thought it'd be intereting for us all to see what others did/interests....so here goes! I'm 33 live in a village in W. Cumbria and have a car obsession.....currently on no. 36 in 14 years. I sprint and hillclimb which is why I bought my GTA.... was running a Rover 200 with a race 1800 k series, but front wheel drive just isnt much fun! I also have an interest in military history and I'm a police Sergeant, currently serving a sentence in the cellblock of a rather unattractive town in W. Cumbria!

Well Peter, we seem to have a lot of voyeurs surfing about on this site. No replies to your post and well over 30 "viewings".
So here I am, I'm 39, live in Aldershot, Hants, very keen on cars and had my Silver GTA turbo for just a couple of months now. I'm from a Fiat family (500,124 sports, 124 salon,126,127x2,130 coupe,X-19,uno,cinquento,chequintio) and liking the belt diven OHC motors but so far I'm pretty impressed with the Renauly running gear. I'm a project-manager/sales-support/account-manager for an international IT company and this is the best site I've found/seen for Alpine information. I'm not yet impressed with the CAR site so far, but it is early days for it.
My GTA is in standard trim, I've just replaced the Renault badges with Alpine badges to give it a bit more mystique and class, may-be? I'm still learning the handling, only side-ways a couple of times so far. I'm thinking about some mods for the future, just to improve it's performance, give it a bit of individual quality while keeping it's basic form. Perhaps a super-chip, more boost, better shocks and maybe a lighting upgrade.
I'd be keen to meet up with some other GTA petrolheads?

Well I'll join in too then....
I always loved the Gta when it came out, finally got one in 1994, a 1988 turbo.... and just thought it was tremendous. Had it about 4 years then decided to search for a cheap atmo to do up and eventually in 2000, found a decent 1989 model in need of some tlc, although the running gear, sub frame etc were all very good. The car is going to have LeMans bodywork and slightly modded engine in due course, LeMans wheels and lowered...
All hopefully tasteful!
Then I got distracted by the Spider which I also adore and have had for about 2.5 years, just for sprints and track days for now as I am no where quick enough in it to race it. It is fab, full throttle sequential gear changes !
handles like a go kart. That is getting road registered at present as I am fed up with towing it.
Would love to get a rally prepped 1400 A110 one day but I'd better sort out the two cars I have for now or my wife will kill me.

Love the A110.....got to have one as well, and a Lancia 037, a Stratos, a R5 Turbo 2, a Ferrari Dino and an Integrale....that should keep me happy.....oh and a Merc S class for when I just want to cruise to the shops without driving!

Well I'm Tony, 38 and work as a surveyor for a water company. Been car mad since I was 17. Have progressed thru most of the usual fast fords i.e. 3 litre Capris, RS Escorts and Fiestas then got into Renaults. Had about 20 turbo Renaults since as well as the odd Scooby and 1 or 2 other interesting beasties. Currently waiting for my 3 litre lump to be put in my GTA turbo but Renault can't seem to supply an A610 clutch at present. Also running 2 and 4 wheel drive 21 turbos and an R32 GTR Skyline. My problem is I can never leave them alone which always ending up costing loads of money hence I'm usually broke!

What can I say...its sad that only a couple of people have contributed.....dont be shy!!!! Ive got the GTA back, and I am in love......the whistle of the turbo is intoxicating.....have replaced the air filter box with a home made foam job (works better than it sounds!!!) and although the engine isnt any louder (shame) the turbo most certainly is......much better than an atmo for that reason alone!!!!!

My turn then...

Im David, 26, been a partner with my brother in a car accessory and tuning store for the past 8 years. Due to 'diffferences' we have gone our seperate ways. I now focus on Alpine performance parts and tuning...and advice (im always on the phone!) Had Alpines since I was 18. Had a couple of 25 Turbos. Current 'stock' include 3 A610's and 1 GTA turbo and Rover Coupe for the runaround. Decided recently I do prefer the GTA to the 610, the 610 is a very very good car, but just doesnt feel as fun, and i do miss the steering!) Im going to focus on seriously tuning the GTA, as I feel with a 300kg weight advantage over the 610, its a good place to start.

OK - I'll join in as well

My name is Andrew I'm 37 and live just south of Edinburgh. I'm an IT auditor to trade but please don't hold that against me.

I promised myself that one day I'd have a GTA ever since I saw a pearlescent white one in the mid-80s. I had to make do with 5 GTTurbo for many years until by chance I saw a cheap(ish) GTA for sale a couple of years ago. Despite the fact that it was located in Stockport, I made the journey and bought it - 1998 Turbo in Volcanic Grey, 120k miles and in need of much TLC. The last couple of years have been spent providing that TLC and loving every single mile that I've driven. I also own an Omega estate - great for the kids and their associated crap (and for the occasional jump-start).
My GTA is very standard but has had the stickers removed at some point and not replaced (business opportunity for Mr Gentleman?). Apart from the fact that I don't have the free cash some others appear to have to buy wheels, suspension, exhausts etc.. I like it the way it was designed (wouldn't turn down a free set of 17" wheels though!). I'm currently trying to pluck up the courage (and spare parts) to drop out the engine and do all the gaskets. If I don't, I'm sure Greenpeace will be after me for the oil slick that I'm creating in my driveway. I also need to carry out a small bit of welding on the rear suspension turret as I notice that a rusty hole has appeared in one corner - luckily the MOT inspector was not as tall as me and couldn't lean far enough into the engine bay to see it!

Keen to hear from any other GTA enthusiasts in Scotland - don't see many on the road up here.

Watch out for me!!! I have family in Berwick and travel through the borders to get there.....I will also be sprinting and hillcliming it in Scotland next year! David is the man for stickers....can confirm the quality....but take time to put them on or you'll end up with a wonky word!!! (like me!...any sign of the replacement David?). Is the A610 really 300kgs heavier than the GTA????? thats several passengers worth!

Yeah, the GTA ranges from 1080 - 1150 kgs ( depending on spec) and the 610 goes from 1420-1450kg

[phildini]

Hi I am Philip aka Phildini, I am 31 and work for Honda ( nice reliable cars but they dont use turbo's!!! VTEC power is great though), I love anything to do with Renault 80's turbo charge cars. I have had god knows how many Gordini 5 turbo, hence my login name, and all types of 5 gt, 21 turbo, 11 turbo etc..... Always wanted a GTA or a 5 turbo 2, when I managed to get the money together it was hard to choose one of the two. But a Lovely one owner GTA Turbo came available and I had to scoop it up. The GTA is a lovely car even though I might not use her that much she always starts on the button!!! At the moment I have two Gordini turbos, one 21 turbo and a 19 16valve executive of which I will be selling soon.

Well, if we're all throwing shyness out of the window, my name's Lee and I live about 25 miles outside the centre of London. I'm 28 years old and I'm a Director of an Electrical Engineering firm. I've been into cars since I first drove one when I was about 12. I've got massive Renault history, Gordini 5 Turbo, 5 GT Turbo Raider, Clio 16V and now have both a GTA Turbo and Clio V6 255, but despite my wifes protests, I'm trying to buy more in the form of a LeMans as well as either an A610 or Sport Spider.... I never did like that front lawn

My father used to have a 25 Turbo and it was a bloody good car, but where have they all disappeared to????

Into rusty heaps mostly!!!!

Tragic waste. If my memory serves me correct, I believe they had the same engine as the GTA Turbo???

Hi all.Lee from Leicester, trying to keep the faith ,but fitting a third child seat is proving difficult.
On my second GTA now & still finding new ways of hemorrhaging cash .Still ,thats all part of the
fun ,Can't think of any other car that comes with the same pound to pleasure ratio.Blasts from
the past ,Capri 2.8i ( well it was the 80's) ,Audi coupe ,TVR Tasmin .At present its the GTA & Audi
100 estate ( V6 of course ).If the No's come up it would have to be a De Tomaso Pantera & an Audi
RS2 or 4 or 6 ( nice sensible sprog mover ).I work from home designing injection mouldings/tools.
Need a nose job on the GTA soon & have got some Polycarb headlight covers but not sure if they
will look right.