HOME
RESEARCH A CAR
- NEWS & FEATURES
YOUR 4CAR
PLAY & WIN
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
|
| Road Test: Alfa Romeo GT (2004-) |
|
| Affordable Sports |
by: John Simister |
|
 |
|
Alfa Romeo GT Gallery
|
|
| DRIVING RATING: |
 |
Throttle response? Crisp but never snatchy. Gearchange? Smooth and easy, if not the most precise. These comments apply equally to all models. So why just three stars? The big-wheeled V6's turning circle is so large as to be a nuisance in tight spots (the others are better), and the view aft through the tiny rear side windows and the letter-box-like rear window makes for tricky manoeuvring. The optional parking sensors are a wise buy. On the plus side, the instruments are comprehensive, the switchgear is sensible (especially the steering-wheel-mounted stereo controls) and the amply-adjustable driving position feels good.
The GT wont disappoint a keen driver. The smooth way the V6 creams along is a joy, the punch of the JTD is very engaging, and all cars grip hard and are keen to be flung around bends. Their steering has the usual Alfa ultra-quick gearing, now without the small dead patch around the middle, and it gets its power down rather more decorously than you might expect with front-wheel drive and all that torque. If there are downsides, they are that the steering's comfortable weighting doesn't equate to true road feel - it's hard to sense little changes in available grip through your hands - and the handling balance is less sensitive to the throttle than a keen driver might like.
4Car tried some pre-production GTs a when the Alfa engineers were experimenting with rear anti-roll bar settings. They seem to have gone for the softer one; we preferred the thicker one, which made the GT more reactive and 'pointier'. That said, the lighter-nosed JTD and JTS versions are a little more nimble on their feet than the V6 when flicking into a corner.
|
 |
Introduction The Alfa GT (surely the shortest Alfa Romeo model name in history)... |
| BEST AFFORDABLE SPORTS CARS |
 |
|
|
|
