Turbo Astina Hatch for me ??????

[AstinaBoiV6]

Soo now that the prelude is sold im in the market for something different...


I came across two things that im considering

1 - 99 Alfa Romeo GTV Spider Coupe with hardtop, white with red momo leather interior 2L manual.

or

2 - 97 Mazda 323 Hatch 1.8L Manual with a h k's engine (228k) thats selling for 4k asking price..


Now with the alfa all i would do is put a nice set of 19" rims on it and lower it a touch + nice exhaust tips.

With the mazda on the other hand i have budgeted the same $$ i would pay for the alfa but instead can do the following.

- BPT engine half cut ready for pickup - $2100
- Paintjob - would go black... something custom knowing me
- 18" rims
- exhaust
- Sound system - I already have it in my room would also go in the alfa
- lowering - any1 selling springs or coil overs??
- bodykit - custom no doubt :D


now which would you go for ?? i know most will say astina but considering you didnt drive an astina pick then....

Oh and is it a straight drop in?? or custom mounts etc needed??

- question how much is it to get a mod plate?
- also would any1 be able to help me with the conversion along the way if possible?

[mill_mobile]

Well, by the sound of it it really depends if you want a project car or if you just wanna buy and do a few small things to it then drive it round...
I dont know you, but from the picture i've got i dont think you would be happy with a car to just drive round... i think you would prefer a project... am i right?

[skitz]

id say be different and go the Alfa :P (havent you done an astina already)

[ATOMIC]

The only mods he made to the Astina were stickers ;)

[project.r.racing]

astina will require a G series box swap also... add $1500.

alfa is rarer, turbo astina has been done before, not new or exciting...

[Dogo]

Go the Alpha - you've had an astina before, its nice to try different cars

[AstinaBoiV6]

i thought the standard gearbox in the halfcut is good enough to handle 11 - 14 psi..?? otherwise wouldnt all familias snap gearboxes ?

is the engine a straight swap?

[project.r.racing]

The Familia gearbox is a 4WD box, the Astina box is a FWD box. Engine is straight swap.

Half cut is a waste of time in your situation... No need for it, only long engine required.

[skippy]

Have you considered a 99 Alfa 156?
Same KW but torque is lower in the 156(VVT), lighter, more doors, more space, both FWD.
0-100 156 =8.6 GTV=8.4
And is simply awesome to drive. (test drive a healthly one, pref without the dealer in the car)

Mine is still for sale as I decided to hold back as I wanted the car for my sadly now complete holidays.



OK now my motives are clear my advice,

Playing with the alfa is not a good idea, mine has proven very reliable over the year I have owned (cheaper than my Astina was) but if you break things it will cost you dearly much more so than the astina would.
Can you resist the temptation to tinker?

Turbo Astina, I would buy one ready done and then tweak that as I wanted, there are a few around and if you are serious you should be able to find one.


Lastly,
I wouldn't go above 18' for the GTV, not sure the fit issues just talking appearance.



BUt this is my views I like a car to be unique to a degree but I am not very good at working on cars so my tendandcy would be to go for one thats tried and tested.

[pr1mo]

hmmm sorry dude. whatever u buy it will be sold within 6 months. u need to get a normal car and leave it that way then find a hobby that is just as fun but not as expensive. get a remote controlled helicopter or join a womens gym for example.

[marcs_sp20]

Why dont u be original and get yourself a GTR skyline like every other idiot :rolleyes: As primo said, ure just going to sell it within 6 months so its really not worth the loss in money...

ps how much did u end up selling the lude for?

[project.r.racing]

ps how much did u end up selling the lude for?who cares, it was ugly as hell! thank god it's gone.

[GISS-90BG]

Money seems no obstacle to you considering your continuous resprays so why don't you get a real sports car. Get a mid 90's Jap sports car. Supra, Skyline, Silvia. So much more potential than an Astina or an Alfa.

[rodhog]

Just my point of View don't touch the ALFA

Don't touch it any of them. BIG ARSE PAIN IN THE KURATS.

Alfa lovers can claim all they want I've - sent the bills I've worked out the bills. You have to cut $50 on each service because they give you so much business. Not one I have seen - even regular serviced does not need a major bit of work done. Even on GTV spyder thing it's only used on weekends by a realestate agent. his Calais drives a Gen3 - I know petrol but he does not pay for it. has had all the tpyical things done to a VY water pump balancer - box etc. yet the Spyer has been into my mates workshop so many times, One time the guy commented on my six being in Again. but as I said to him Yeah I know it's like you Italian ???????? ??????? ?????? #@$ here it's always in need of repair but mmy Six is in due to the fact I used it.

They are better but they are still $HIT. Maybe because have the owners are italians or because they are tight arses. but compared to similar Km jap cars or even the euro cars - they are at the bottom of the heap.
I wouldn't keep one even if it was for free.

[skippy]

That reminds of one thing I did not mention,

Despite not having any real problems with my alfa at any stage the fear of impending distruction and the costs involved is always there.

ALWAYS. Believe me you will worry about what is about to go wrong.


To me cars are measured on a scale from Toy to Tool.

They make awesome toys but as a tool for work or comutting I would go else where.

Toy for driving = alfa,
toy for tinkering = turbo hatch,
tool for work = option 3

Toy GTV 156 Turbo Corolla Tool

[DavoAust]

I'd say go the alfa if you have cash to burn. the prices for bits are ridiculous. dad has a 2003 spider and its beautiful to drive and ride in standard. i wouldn't want anything larger than the 17"s it has already though, be way to harsh a ride for a euro lux car

the astina? well you'll never leave it stock, we all know it. if you work the astina you can have your own pocket rocket in an unassuming form, but you'll never truely keep up with the big boys (mildy worked wrx, evo etc) for both performance and looks

[Bear]

A guy I used to work with had an Alfa GTV Spyder ... You know ... until he had a problem with his handbrake light coming on intermittently ... then the engine seizing ... I'd never heard of a low oil pressure warning light being wired into the handbrake light ... it must have been built on a Friday afternoon