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Like all Alfas, the Spider and GTV come with a comprehensive three-year/60,000-mile warranty. Insurance groups are highish, though - expect 16 for the JTS, 19 for the V6 GTV and another group higher for the Spiders. Although the JTS direct injection is tuned for economy below 1500rpm, it's likely to prove no better than the 156 saloon in normal driving, while the V6 will make you very familiar with your local forecourt attendant. Rust is no longer an Alfa problem, but electrical glitches are not unheard of. With an eight-year history, there are a lot of Spider and GTV models knocking about. If you are thinking of taking the second-hand plunge, beware of high-mileage models, and on the Spiders, have along hard look at the hood mechanism. But in general, these cars wear their miles well. Long-term, the smaller 2.0-litre models will be easier to re-sell and will retain more of their value. The Alfas compete in a market far more competitive than it was eight years ago. There's a wider selection of better cars to tempt drivers, and more and more convertibles are able to offer the added security of an electrical hardtop. Alfa UK reckons that this late-life revision will mean a 5 percent increase over the old prices, too. That means the four-cylinder model will have to face the newly launched entry-level 150bhp Audi TT roadster, which is a far more alluring car, as well as the Peugeot 307 CC and Renault Megane cabriolet - both with stow-away steel roofs. Meanwhile, the V6 can count the BMW Z4 among its rivals.
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