Would Alfa Romeo sell more cars if they were RWD?

[Renn Sport]

I want an Alfa as I think they look pretty hot, but I cannot bring myself to buy FWD cars on purpose (Unless its an MPV for the Mrs).

I cannot help thinking that Alfa would be selling more cars if they were driven by the correct wheels.

Lets try not to discuss FWD vs RWD here... I just think of a Berera or GT in RWD form and it hits the mark. I do believe Alfa's are styled so very well.

[ewenm]

They might sell a few more to PH-types but most people just don't care which wheels are driven.

[Somnophore]

I think if they could shake the unreliable image they might, the mito was a good way of selling mor cars, a mass market hatchback is an easier sell.

[Andy665]

No - most people are put off Alfa Romeo for other reasons:

1. Unreliable (or perception of)

2. Chronic depreciation (or perception of)

3. Small dealer network

4. Rust (or perception of)

I really don't think which wheels are driven matters to 95% of car buyers

[kambites]

I suspect not.

A few people might be attracted to it, but the majority of buyers don't care and the extra cost would put them off. I think Alfa's problem is that the days of unreliability are still too fresh in people's minds - it takes a long time to lose that kind of reputation.

[Face for Radio]

Andy665 said:

No - most people are put off Alfa Romeo for other reasons:

1. Unreliable (or perception of)

2. Chronic depreciation (or perception of)

3. Small dealer network

4. Rust (or perception of)

I really don't think which wheels are driven matters to 95% of car buyers

Probably more like 99%.

Which wheels are driven in anything other than snow and ice, simply do not matter for your average daily driven car. Most people probably couldn't even tell the difference. Hence pictures of people putting snow socks on the front wheels of their 1-series, etc.

[kambites]

I think BMW themselves claimed that a significant majority of 1-series owners thought they were FWD.

[FoundOnRoadside]

My OH's friend just bought a new Alfa (the one advertised by Uma Thurman which I can't remember the name of).

Got to love a £20k+ car that has dash plastics that don't meet in the corners. Reminds me of a mid-80s Austin. Seats are like concrete. Stereo display looks like something VTech sold near Christmas 2002.

FIAT tat.

[OlberJ]

8C and 4C are RWD, lets see how well they sell.

[Renn Sport]

Oh dear...


I think I am alone then.

Perhaps Alfa need to employ some Audi quality control.

Shame, I think Alfa's look great.

[Jurgen]

FoundOnRoadside said:

My OH's friend just bought a new Alfa (the one advertised by Uma Thurman which I can't remember the name of).

Got to love a £20k+ car that has dash plastics that don't meet in the corners. Reminds me of a mid-80s Austin. Seats are like concrete. Stereo display looks like something VTech sold near Christmas 2002.

FIAT tat.

You must really hate Italian cars with a response like that lol. I assume you are talking about the Guilietta? Most car mags were very positive about the styling and materials used. In fact I'd say it's better than the French competition and easily on par with something like Vauxhall. Only VW and Audi will be much better finished, but look utterly drab and boring.

As for being RWD, no they wouldn't sell any more at all. Cost would be higher and space would be less, so might even sell fewer. Although a nice simple rwd roadster like the old spider might sell well.

[S10 GTA]

They would sell more cars if they had more of a range. 2 cars is simply not enough.

[Greedydog]

I had a Alfa 159 Tbi TI and have to say as far as asthetics went it had a very nice cabin and dash. I got rid of it fairly quickly precisely because it was FWD.

[Tuvra]

OlberJ said:

8C and 4C are RWD, lets see how well they sell.

Probably staggeringly well!

OT: No

[farrendahl]

Your average car buyer really doesn't give a monkeys if the car they are driving is FWD or RWD, so truth be told it would probably make very little impact. The biggest issue they have is at present they have a two model range, and still have a lot of baggage from Alfa days if old where people were adement that if you buy an Alfa within months it would fall apart or go bang.

Once they have addressed the limited range and been able to release a product that well and truly wipes the floor with the competition (or at the very least can compete nose to nose with a class best) then they will see there sales increase. Hopefully now that Fiat holds a controlling interest in Chrysler and in turn now have access to a bigger array of platforms and R'n'D facilities they can start to address this.

[PaperCut]

Greedydog said:

I got rid of it fairly quickly precisely because it was FWD.

Then that's your fault then surely?

Unless you bought it not knowing it was FWD, but you did know, didn't you?

[Glosphil]

Greedydog said:

I had a Alfa 159 Tbi TI and have to say as far as asthetics went it had a very nice cabin and dash. I got rid of it fairly quickly precisely because it was FWD.

Didn't you know it was FWD when you bought it?

[Twincam16]

S10 GTA said:

They would sell more cars if they had more of a range. 2 cars is simply not enough.

Giulietta-based Sportwagon and Giulia saloon on their way.

I'd personally like to see a Giulietta in the BTCC.

[Snowboy]

I looked at one of the convertible 2 seater jobs a while back.
I almost walked away when I realised it was FWD, but the dealer mentioned a 4x4 model.
I took a closer look at that one and the build quality put me off.
All of the cars in showroom had the same rollbar trim broken off “because the roof hits it and they always break like that”.
Then I walked away.

FWD is fine for a commuter saloon, but I want RWD on a sportscar.

[Steameh]

They would appeal to me more if they did some much hotter versions of their cars, Q4 in the 159 with a much more powerful engine than the 3.2 v6.