Some people choose a workshop because it’s nearby. Izak Steenkamp chose one 2,500 kilometers away.
When his Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2 was due for a major service, he picked up the phone and called us. That conversation would lead to a 5,000km round trip, roughly 25 hours behind the wheel, and the sort of decision that only makes sense if you understand what it means to own an Alfa Romeo.
The GTV 3.2
This is a Phase 3 Alfa Romeo GTV 3.2, propelled by Giuseppe Busso’s glorious V6. You’ve heard the noise it makes. That creamy, snarling howl that sounds like Pavarotti attempting the Nürburgring. The engine that turns highway slogs into something you’ll actually look forward to. The sort of thing that makes you take the long way home because, well, why wouldn’t you?
It’s the kind of car Jeremy Clarkson would call “properly special” before revving it with an idiotic grin plastered across his face.
But here’s the thing about owning something properly special – it needs properly special attention.
Why Not Just Service It in Namibia?
Izak looked for a workshop closer to home first. He made the calls, asked the right questions. There were places willing to help, but when it comes to a Busso V6, experience matters.
The cambelt and water pump need to be done together, and they need to be done right. It’s not complicated work, but it is specific work. When Izak rang Autopitstop, our answer was immediate: timing belt service includes the upgraded water pump. Always.
That’s what he needed to hear.
A look through our social media confirmed it. The cars we service, the attention to detail, the experience with these engines. Suddenly, a 2,500km drive didn’t seem unreasonable at all.
The Long Road South
Izak pointed the GTV towards Gauteng and let the Busso sing. Open roads, the occasional fuel stop, and plenty of time to appreciate what 3.2 litres of Italian V6 sounds like at 4,000 rpm.
Fuel consumption? 10.6 litres per 100km. Cost for the round trip came to just under R9,000. Was it worth it? Yes.
But that’s getting ahead of the story. Because before he set off, there was a question that needed answering.
Can You Trust a 20-Year-Old Alfa Romeo to Do 5,000km?
Let’s be honest: there was concern. You don’t casually punt a GTV across two countries without at least some trepidation. Izak spent nearly two years thinking about this trip. At one stage, he genuinely considered pulling the engine and sending it down separately.
But his GTV wasn’t some neglected shed find. The car had been properly maintained. Started regularly. Brought up to temperature once a month. Driven, as Alfas should be. He also packed his trusty toolbox in the boot, for ease of mind.
The GTV made it. And once it arrived, the real work began.
The Work, Done Properly
The GTV went up on the hoist for a proper major service. Timing belt. Water pump. Coil packs. The full Monty. We went through everything that needed checking on a car about to drive halfway across Southern Africa.
No cutting corners. No “that’ll probably be fine.” Just the sort of methodical, unglamorous work that keeps 20-year-old Italian V6s running the way Busso intended.
And then came the moment of truth.
The Journey Home
The return trip is where you find out if the service was done right.
This time, the car felt different. Happier. More composed. The engine settled into its stride and just got on with the job. Those 2,500 kilometers back to Namibia? Pure enjoyment.
Izak said it best: “There’s a sense of joy and pride in owning an Alfa Romeo. But there’s something special about driving it. Knowing every kilometer that 3.2-litre Busso gave me was a gift worth enjoying.”
When he got home, he sent us a message: “Good morning I’ve made it back safely yesterday. Everything went well. Some of the Namibian roads are definitely better than the ones in South Africa. Thank you very much for the wonderful service.” Exactly the type of message we like to get, bar the dig at our road conditions.
Which raises an obvious question: would anyone actually do this?
Would You?
This wasn’t even Izak’s first long-haul Alfa adventure. Years back, he drove a 1997 GTV Spider Twin Spark down to Potchefstroom just two weeks after buying it. Because when you’re an Alfisti, these things just make sense.
Nobody drives 5,000km for an Alfa Romeo service because the local place was fully booked. They do it because they want certainty. They want to enjoy the drive home. And because some cars deserve proper effort from the mechanic instead of convenient mediocrity.
Izak isn’t our first visitor from Namibia either. We hope he won’t be the last. We ship Alfa Romeo parts up there regularly. Every so often, someone decides the best approach is to simply drive the car down themselves.
Because when it comes to looking after an Alfa Romeo, there’s no substitute for specialists who understand what these cars are.
South Africa’s Alfa Romeo Specialists
Autopitstop is the leading Alfa Romeo workshop in South Africa. Whether you’re in Gauteng, Cape Town, or prepared to drive from Windhoek, we understand what these cars need and what their owners expect.