I can sympathise with excitement attached with buying interstate sight unseen.  I did the reverse trip last year.  Flew down to Melbourne from Sydney, cheque in hand and pick up the most beautiful red 1750 Berlina you have ever seen at the airport (the guy was flying out overseas that day!) and drove it straight back. I had never driven an Alfa before but I was hooked by the time I got to the service station at the entrance to the airport car park.  About 10 hours later i pulled into my drive way in the Blue Mountains still grinning like a cat. I'm with guy earlier, learn to double clutch and forget about the synchros.  Love the GTV, but Berlina's rule, have fun.

Craig