Suggested buying an Alfa at a party, didn't expect answers
Discussion
I've had a few Alfas from the noughties. Glorious cars. I love the way they drive, the styling, the interior, the leather, the sound, the quality even(!!).
What I HATE is the fact that the suspension components are as fragile as cheese and replacement of bushes, arms and wishbones is all too frequent.
I'm not liking the current offerings though (except of course the 4C and 8C) and just don't feel the G and the Mito are that special.
I had the displeasure of driving work's Audi A4 a few years back and getting back into my own GT was sooooooo good! Actually the Audi was faster and more refined and had a slightly better feeling of quality to it but it didn't feel 'special' and it certainly wasn't rewarding to drive. The Alfa was more 'throwable' on the twisties and it really let me know that it was doing exactly as I asked. The Audi was just a bit vague in my opinion.
I don't buy this s
t that Alfas will all fall apart and will rob you blind in repairs, that's just garbage (excepting the bd suspension!).
I also second the sentiment that we don't buy Alfas for their niggles, we buy them for what they do well because they do so much so well that the niggles are very forgivable. We're not into automotive S&M. I do accept though that different people want different things. I know people who want the utmost efficiency; these people buy things that they expect to be perfect in every way and to work straight out of the box with little requirement on their behalf to maintain it. They go for the car that's widely accepted to be the best in category, but that never tends to be a car that stirs the soul. That's not what they want though. People who buy Alfas are the kind of people who don't care for efficiency, they often choose to drive the long way home.
PS OP, that red GTV is great!
What I HATE is the fact that the suspension components are as fragile as cheese and replacement of bushes, arms and wishbones is all too frequent.
I'm not liking the current offerings though (except of course the 4C and 8C) and just don't feel the G and the Mito are that special.
I had the displeasure of driving work's Audi A4 a few years back and getting back into my own GT was sooooooo good! Actually the Audi was faster and more refined and had a slightly better feeling of quality to it but it didn't feel 'special' and it certainly wasn't rewarding to drive. The Alfa was more 'throwable' on the twisties and it really let me know that it was doing exactly as I asked. The Audi was just a bit vague in my opinion.
I don't buy this s
t that Alfas will all fall apart and will rob you blind in repairs, that's just garbage (excepting the bd suspension!).I also second the sentiment that we don't buy Alfas for their niggles, we buy them for what they do well because they do so much so well that the niggles are very forgivable. We're not into automotive S&M. I do accept though that different people want different things. I know people who want the utmost efficiency; these people buy things that they expect to be perfect in every way and to work straight out of the box with little requirement on their behalf to maintain it. They go for the car that's widely accepted to be the best in category, but that never tends to be a car that stirs the soul. That's not what they want though. People who buy Alfas are the kind of people who don't care for efficiency, they often choose to drive the long way home.
PS OP, that red GTV is great!
OpulentBob said:
ORD said:
I've never understood the Alfa thing - relatively pretty but flawed cars. I find it hard to get my head around the idea that a car being flawed (i.e. a bit bad) gives it "character". If an Alfa is worse than a Golf, it is a pretty average car. We romanticise poor engineering and build quality!
This is why you don't understand it - because you've assumed they are poorly engineered and poorly built. Ever driven or owned one? 
I had a similar era 6-pot 156, one of the really "fiat-y" ones. It started every single time at temps of up to (down to?) -14. Nothing fell off. Ever. For a 2.5 24v V6, average tanks of 27mpg were great. It was more reliable than the Mondeo I had before the 156, and the (7 year younger) Saab that I have now. It gave me 60,000 miles of joyous, trouble free motoring, and it was no garage queen. It lived outside, drove on and off building sites all day long, and cost me £2000 to buy. It regularly had boats on the roof and back seats full of tools, toys, kids or general s
t.This repeated s
te that Alfas are poorly screwed together is a Top Gear-ism that needs to die. Or, keep it up, carry on driving Golfs, A3s and french ste, and leave the under-reputationed cars to those in the know. OP buy one, they're great, the engine is a peach, and it's not a VAG, a TDi, or any form of "economybluelinegreenfin" special.
Since this thread is back ... I went to have a look at a GTV the other day with the intention of buying it if it was a good'un, unfortunately, I just don't fit in it 
Not enough room between the steering wheel at the top of it's adjustment and my legs to make changing gear an enjoyable task. 'twas a bummer indeed.
Not enough room between the steering wheel at the top of it's adjustment and my legs to make changing gear an enjoyable task. 'twas a bummer indeed.neil1jnr said:
OpulentBob said:
ORD said:
I've never understood the Alfa thing - relatively pretty but flawed cars. I find it hard to get my head around the idea that a car being flawed (i.e. a bit bad) gives it "character". If an Alfa is worse than a Golf, it is a pretty average car. We romanticise poor engineering and build quality!
This is why you don't understand it - because you've assumed they are poorly engineered and poorly built. Ever driven or owned one? I had a similar era 6-pot 156, one of the really "fiat-y" ones. It started every single time at temps of up to (down to?) -14. Nothing fell off. Ever. For a 2.5 24v V6, average tanks of 27mpg were great. It was more reliable than the Mondeo I had before the 156, and the (7 year younger) Saab that I have now. It gave me 60,000 miles of joyous, trouble free motoring, and it was no garage queen. It lived outside, drove on and off building sites all day long, and cost me £2000 to buy. It regularly had boats on the roof and back seats full of tools, toys, kids or general s
t.This repeated s
te that Alfas are poorly screwed together is a Top Gear-ism that needs to die. Or, keep it up, carry on driving Golfs, A3s and french ste, and leave the under-reputationed cars to those in the know. OP buy one, they're great, the engine is a peach, and it's not a VAG, a TDi, or any form of "economybluelinegreenfin" special.
But, to be clear, I could say the same about many other car makes too
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