I've had my nose in the online classifieds, scouring for ads of a more interesting nature, so that you don't have to. So if budgets are tight and you're looking to save a few pounds, or just fancy something a little different on the drive, then this feature is for you.

This week we're with Veloces of London, an Alfa Romeo specialist with some 20 years experience. I spotted that they had plenty of stylish-looking used Italian cars for sale, so I headed down to their New Barnet showroom for a closer look.

The first thing you notice when you walk into their premises is a whole lot of Alfa Romeos. They usually have around 70 cars in stock and turnover around 40 cars per month; a good sign that they're working hard to find the kind of cars that their customers want.

I was greeted by owner Paul Nanasbaum, his brother Martin and their main salesman, Hiren. This is a family business and these guys live and breathe the evocative Italian marque, and it's always a useful pleasure to deal with specialists.

Alfa Romeos have long been seen as an enthusiast's car, and many a famous motoring journo will tell you that you've not lived a petrol-powered life until you've owned an Alfa. So I guess we better see what all the fuss is about with some TotallyMotor reviews of some of their more striking stock.

Our second car from the extensive Veloces stock is, as I said yesterday, right near the top-dollar of our used car reviews, and for £8999 we'll be expecting some serious car for the cash. And this low mileage, deep-red coupe doesn't disappoint.

Imagine arriving for a first date in this Italian rarity, and I think you'll agree that its big-entrance-money well spent. The GTV looks like a car that cost £25,000 when new. Which it did.

Looks-wise there's really nothing like it on the road - unless that car too wears an Alfa badge - the GTV is pure coupe bravado. A deep diagonal slash, running from the classic 17inch Teledial front wheels right back to the beautifully sculpted rear spoiler, only serves to accentuate the wide and squat rear arches, and this is my favourite styling detail to the GTV. Although I have to say that I was also rather taken by the twin recessed headlights peering out from either side of that expansive, V6-encasing bonnet.

This car, with only 13000miles on the clock, exudes a lustrous shine from the Proteo Red paintwork that only a car that's been loved like a family favourite could. But Alfas seem to attract this kind of devotion.

This GTV's service history confirms its cotton-wool-wrapped existence, and it's this kind of paperwork that we should all be checking when buying any used car. Paul and the team at Veloces will be happy to walk you through the GTV's service history, as any reputable dealer should.

Another interesting and certainly not cheap upgrade to this Alfa is the Q2 differential. Basically, a more advanced Alfa Romeo differential now sits between the driving front wheels, spreading the not insignificant power out more cleverly than the standard unit. The standard GTV actually transmits its 218bhp to the ground with much civility, but the previous owner of this car clearly considered that only the best was good enough for his pride and joy.

But we're not buying a 3-litre, V6 Alfa Romeo GTV for civilities sake. We want performance. Well, take it for a test drive yourself, but rest assured should you floor the GTV, you will, very soon, be travelling with mucho gusto.

The golden 60mph takes mid-six-seconds to appear and whipping through the 6-speed manual gearbox with illegal intention will see the speedo topping 150mph. Handling is quietly effective rather than razor-sharp; characteristics that suit the GTV's style and personality. Imagine her as graceful rather than race-full; an Italian thoroughbred that likes to have her legs stretched from time to time.

Inside there's leather everywhere as you'd rightly expect from an originally expensive car, and in keeping with the GTV's low chassis-mileage the black leather, full-electric Recaro driver's seat's condition shows little in the way of posterior-mileage. Deep carpets and a multitude of gauges complete the luxury feel. A wonderfully evocative wedge of a car for a hardly huge wedge of cash, and if you want to avoid sterility in favour of originality, this GTV is well worth a look.