RE: PH Carpool: Alfa Romeo Mito Cloverleaf
Discussion
I have had Alfas in the past - two Alfasuds and an Alfetta and ny brother-in-law had a Giulietta. I lusted for many a year after a GTV6 but hregret I could never love the MiTo or the "new" Guilietta (which should be a saloon dammit) based on the looks.
There again, in the modern scheme of things, there aren't many good-looking small hatches any more, so maybe if I was in that position, it might well make the cut. Not objectively though.
There again, in the modern scheme of things, there aren't many good-looking small hatches any more, so maybe if I was in that position, it might well make the cut. Not objectively though.
Depreciation is not really that bad, at least going by what people are asking for these in the classified adverts.
A guy who used to work in Ford's paint development program once told me that red paint always tended to chip easily. His advice was to go with white and my own experience seems to have borne that out. However, as a one time Alfasud owner (wonderful thing it was) I have to say that if they now make Alfa Romeos that can resist the rot then a few sone chips won't be such a big deal.
Looks like a fun motor, the usual Alfa foibles are unfortunate. I wish they had these as rental cars at Heathrow, I would love to thrash one around Wales and the Cotswolds for a week.
A guy who used to work in Ford's paint development program once told me that red paint always tended to chip easily. His advice was to go with white and my own experience seems to have borne that out. However, as a one time Alfasud owner (wonderful thing it was) I have to say that if they now make Alfa Romeos that can resist the rot then a few sone chips won't be such a big deal.
Looks like a fun motor, the usual Alfa foibles are unfortunate. I wish they had these as rental cars at Heathrow, I would love to thrash one around Wales and the Cotswolds for a week.
Stitch said:
toppstuff said:
Nice car.
It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
By "character" do you mean that it is not very good?It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
If that is the case, then you can keep character for me.
.
Therefore, good enough + character , makes the Alfa worth a look.
toppstuff said:
Stitch said:
toppstuff said:
Nice car.
It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
By "character" do you mean that it is not very good?It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
If that is the case, then you can keep character for me.
.
Therefore, good enough + character , makes the Alfa worth a look.
SprintSpeciale said:
If it's any consolation (which I doubt), the chipping has nothing to do with the colour of the paint. We had an Etna Black Mito and within months the front had more chips than Burger King. We moved that on after a year because Mrs SS wanted a Giulietta Cloverleaf. It's metallic grey, and the nose is as pockmarked as a teenager with a glue habit. I think the paint Alfa uses is just not very good, unfortunately.
Water based paints. They're crap.300bhp/ton said:
What 'character' does the Alfa actually have??
What "character" does any car have?Maybe it makes a different noise, maybe it is just the fact that you can spot it in the car park instantly amongst a sea of bland-mobiles, maybe it's the funny face it has, maybe it is the name your OH has given it.
Who knows? It is entirely subjective.
When my sister was looking for a new car a few years ago, the local dealer let her borrow a Mito demonstrator for a morning. Even sitting in the passenger seat on the drive home along the motorway we both found the ride very choppy.
I had a quick drive of it and that was enough for me.
My sister was equally unimpressed as she returned the car after an hour, much to the surprise of the salesman!
I had a quick drive of it and that was enough for me.
My sister was equally unimpressed as she returned the car after an hour, much to the surprise of the salesman!
toppstuff said:
300bhp/ton said:
What 'character' does the Alfa actually have??
What "character" does any car have?Maybe it makes a different noise, maybe it is just the fact that you can spot it in the car park instantly amongst a sea of bland-mobiles, maybe it's the funny face it has, maybe it is the name your OH has given it.
Who knows? It is entirely subjective.
Seriously I can see the desire of a GTV/GTVV6, even a Brera or maybe an old 75 V6 Alfa. But the Mito just looks 99.99% the same as any other hatchback.
I've not been in one I admit, so maybe there is something about the drive or interior?? I liked the interior charm of the Fiat 500, I suppose that was character inducing, but that was about as far as it went. Engine and handling weren't anything to write home about.
I love my 147 GTA.
That is a fun car.
I do like the mito cloverleaf, but I didnt like the stupid carbon fibre backed seats. About as comfortable as sitting on shards of glass. It is a hoot in D mode and handles very well. Have one over a mini any day. Oh and it needs more OOOMmmph. I found it pretty slow..
That is a fun car.
I do like the mito cloverleaf, but I didnt like the stupid carbon fibre backed seats. About as comfortable as sitting on shards of glass. It is a hoot in D mode and handles very well. Have one over a mini any day. Oh and it needs more OOOMmmph. I found it pretty slow..
300bhp/ton said:
toppstuff said:
Stitch said:
toppstuff said:
Nice car.
It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
By "character" do you mean that it is not very good?It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
If that is the case, then you can keep character for me.
.
Therefore, good enough + character , makes the Alfa worth a look.
thewheelman said:
300bhp/ton said:
toppstuff said:
Stitch said:
toppstuff said:
Nice car.
It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
By "character" do you mean that it is not very good?It has character. And this is all too lacking in most cars.
If that is the case, then you can keep character for me.
.
Therefore, good enough + character , makes the Alfa worth a look.
No, I think we have to remember that this little Alfa is a cheap (ish) car. So "character" is used in the context of it being quirky, and a little off-beat compared to a VW or Ford for example..
The moment I use the words "soul" or "passion" in describing a car is the moment when anyone I know has permission to beat me up.
JayTee94 said:
I really like the Mito and I would seriously look at them if I were in the market for such a car. I also like the subtle cosmetic changes that the Cloverleaf model brings.
Enjoy!
Nicely-written piece.MiTo Carpool said:
The fact that there was a large piece of loose trim in the driver's footwell when I collected it (new) despite the PDI stamp in the service book...
Enjoy!
Had me chuckling in sympathy/Schadenfreude/something.
nice honest write up,i have guilietta cloverleaf and have similar annoyances re dynamic mode and only 1 bit of trim fallen off so far which i just refitted myself
i drove a mito as courtesy car when i had my 147 and found the ride choppy no matter what setting i had and start/stop put me off as well
i have done 6,000miles since april as used for work and trip to ring 24hr race where it was literally the only alfa there so attracted a few stares and pics
my 147 was in alfa red and chipped badly,giulietta is in grey with paint seeming better so far
martin
i drove a mito as courtesy car when i had my 147 and found the ride choppy no matter what setting i had and start/stop put me off as well
i have done 6,000miles since april as used for work and trip to ring 24hr race where it was literally the only alfa there so attracted a few stares and pics
my 147 was in alfa red and chipped badly,giulietta is in grey with paint seeming better so far
martin
i own a 1995 alfa 155 silverstone and yes they have their rattles and mine doesnt have an inch of red paint left on it but ive owned it for 6 years and i havent had a single breakdown and the pros definately outway the cons,i would by an alfa over a bmw,merc or audi anyday theirs just something about them that you cant get away from
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff