RE: Driven: Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 TBi
Discussion
giles77 said:
What's going on at Alfa Romeo? I love driving Alfas but all the new reviews I have read slate the things that they would traditionally excel at. Didn't expect much from the Spider but even with a roof the press are slating their latest attempts.
TBH, how long has it been since Alfa's (except 8C/Zagato/Etc.) have been genuinely good to drive? 30 years. They are getting better though. I read reader reviews on What Car?'s website recently of the 147 and 159 and owners really liked them and found them more than reliable enough. They're not there yet but they're getting there without doubt.I have to say I completely agree with the article. It's a very nice looking car, and I would have bought one, but after taking one for a test drive it really wasn't a good enough driving experience. At the end of the day, if I'm buying a good looking italian 2 door convertible then it's has to feel like I'm driving something special and leave me with a smile on my face after every journey...
As with most other people my other half and I both fell in love with the looks of the Spyder when they first came out. During my driving career I've never actually owned a convertible so feeling that it was an itch that I had to scratch at some point, I arranged for a test drive of the 3.2 V6 version at my local Alfa dealer.
We turned up and on first site the car was as stunning as it looked in the pics. The interior also looked fantastic with the sculpted leather seats and neat touches on the dash. The dealer handed us the keys and told us to come back when we liked. So looking forward to a great drive I fired it up and the sounds coming from the V6 were encouraging.
Unfortunately all this good will literally disappeared before we'd gotten a mile down the road. This car must have one of the worst rides I have ever experienced in a car. We were on pretty decent roads but the car was bumpy, crashy and the scuttle shake was enough to loosen your fillings. I just can't believe that a car was released to the public with such poor ride quality. How on earth they managed to sell even one of these things is beyond me. We literally turned around after less than 10 minutes and handed the keys back to the shocked dealer who wasn't expecting us back for at least an hour.
Great to look at as a modern scuplture or work of art but do not under any circumstance take one out for a drive. I can say it was one of the most disappointing drives of my life. Every petrol head must own an Alfa someday? On the evidence of my test drive I don't think so.
We turned up and on first site the car was as stunning as it looked in the pics. The interior also looked fantastic with the sculpted leather seats and neat touches on the dash. The dealer handed us the keys and told us to come back when we liked. So looking forward to a great drive I fired it up and the sounds coming from the V6 were encouraging.
Unfortunately all this good will literally disappeared before we'd gotten a mile down the road. This car must have one of the worst rides I have ever experienced in a car. We were on pretty decent roads but the car was bumpy, crashy and the scuttle shake was enough to loosen your fillings. I just can't believe that a car was released to the public with such poor ride quality. How on earth they managed to sell even one of these things is beyond me. We literally turned around after less than 10 minutes and handed the keys back to the shocked dealer who wasn't expecting us back for at least an hour.
Great to look at as a modern scuplture or work of art but do not under any circumstance take one out for a drive. I can say it was one of the most disappointing drives of my life. Every petrol head must own an Alfa someday? On the evidence of my test drive I don't think so.
I sat in the BEAUTIFUL (in the eye of this beholder) Italia Independent edition in a showroom (and the Brera version too) and absolutely went weak at the knees. Felt SUCH a special car. Absolutely in love with it.... Argh... but this review....
Makes you come up with all sorts of excuses. Maybe I've never been that keen on handling anyway. Comfortable seats? For wussies. Engine noise? Aftermarket pipe. More power? Supercharger. Hmmm all sounding v expensive.
Interesting they've stopped being made. Anyone know how many Italia Independent editions there are in the UK? Only ever seen about 3 different cars for sale - and all 2.2's. Any 3.2's get made? or 1750's?
This doesnt sound like a man who's being sensible and listened to the article does it?!
Makes you come up with all sorts of excuses. Maybe I've never been that keen on handling anyway. Comfortable seats? For wussies. Engine noise? Aftermarket pipe. More power? Supercharger. Hmmm all sounding v expensive.
Interesting they've stopped being made. Anyone know how many Italia Independent editions there are in the UK? Only ever seen about 3 different cars for sale - and all 2.2's. Any 3.2's get made? or 1750's?
This doesnt sound like a man who's being sensible and listened to the article does it?!
giles77 said:
What's going on at Alfa Romeo? I love driving Alfas but all the new reviews I have read slate the things that they would traditionally excel at. Didn't expect much from the Spider but even with a roof the press are slating their latest attempts.
Is there any prospect of a decent handling new release on the horizon?
Giulietta and Mito QVIs there any prospect of a decent handling new release on the horizon?
HTH
I agree with a lot of that but the V6 Q4 version is a different beast altogether. The engine's beautiful! It's no 300bhp monster but it has a more songful exclamation than the BMW and Audi equivalents. It's also no sharper than the FWD version but at least you can get the back to slip on the power, which is what an Alfa Romeo is about, no?
oxfordbiker said:
I sat in the BEAUTIFUL (in the eye of this beholder) Italia Independent edition in a showroom (and the Brera version too) and absolutely went weak at the knees. Felt SUCH a special car. Absolutely in love with it.... Argh... but this review....
Makes you come up with all sorts of excuses. Maybe I've never been that keen on handling anyway. Comfortable seats? For wussies. Engine noise? Aftermarket pipe. More power? Supercharger. Hmmm all sounding v expensive.
Interesting they've stopped being made. Anyone know how many Italia Independent editions there are in the UK? Only ever seen about 3 different cars for sale - and all 2.2's. Any 3.2's get made? or 1750's?
This doesnt sound like a man who's being sensible and listened to the article does it?!
I'm in agreement, I think the Italia Independent with it's matt black paint, carbon coloured wheels and carbon fibre interior is an absolutely stunning looking car. I am pretty sure you could order it in whatever engine spec you liked, not sure if they are making any more now though. However if you are intent on getting one I'd urge you to get the hardtop Brera rather than the Spyder, it's not about the handling, the ride quality really was woeful.Makes you come up with all sorts of excuses. Maybe I've never been that keen on handling anyway. Comfortable seats? For wussies. Engine noise? Aftermarket pipe. More power? Supercharger. Hmmm all sounding v expensive.
Interesting they've stopped being made. Anyone know how many Italia Independent editions there are in the UK? Only ever seen about 3 different cars for sale - and all 2.2's. Any 3.2's get made? or 1750's?
This doesnt sound like a man who's being sensible and listened to the article does it?!
Guvernator said:
I'm in agreement, I think the Italia Independent with it's matt black paint, carbon coloured wheels and carbon fibre interior is an absolutely stunning looking car. I am pretty sure you could order it in whatever engine spec you liked, not sure if they are making any more now though. However if you are intent on getting one I'd urge you to get the hardtop Brera rather than the Spyder, it's not about the handling, the ride quality really was woeful.
Pretty sure that for the Brera Italia Independent you can only now get the 1750, and for the Spider you only get the 2.2. They're out of production now - someone said 50 new stock cars left in the UK, not sure of the Brera/Spider split.Edited by jamieboy on Tuesday 11th January 14:32
jamieboy said:
Guvernator said:
I'm in agreement, I think the Italia Independent with it's matt black paint, carbon coloured wheels and carbon fibre interior is an absolutely stunning looking car. I am pretty sure you could order it in whatever engine spec you liked, not sure if they are making any more now though. However if you are intent on getting one I'd urge you to get the hardtop Brera rather than the Spyder, it's not about the handling, the ride quality really was woeful.
Pretty sure that for the Brera Italia Independent you can only now get the 1750, and for the Spider you only get the 2.2. They're out of production now - someone said 50 new stock cars left in the UK, not sure of the Brera/Spider split.Edited by jamieboy on Tuesday 11th January 14:32
I guess the perfect option for me would be a v6 Spider Italia Independent with the full Autodelta engine and suspension work done to it. AND the leather-with-red-stitching dashboard leather grafted on from the Brera S. Sigh - now I'm just rambling!
Garlick said:
Article said:
It even broke down on Garlick - a wobbly jubilee-style clip allowing a hose to come loose and causing the car to spit its coolant over the road
And what a day to break down.....
It's reviews like this that do nothing to dampen my dreams of wanting to be a motoring journo (in the good way), of course it will never materialise, but it's nice to dream.
Back to the car, Jaw achingly beautiful, I'd sell the other half for one without a second thought, I'd then demand the other half back when the reality of the drive fails to meet the expectation. Lets just hope Alfa can come back with something amazing with the Spider and Brera replacement, whenever they appear of course.
Back to the car, Jaw achingly beautiful, I'd sell the other half for one without a second thought, I'd then demand the other half back when the reality of the drive fails to meet the expectation. Lets just hope Alfa can come back with something amazing with the Spider and Brera replacement, whenever they appear of course.
I just can't see where Alfa can go at the moment. They are a bit strapped for cash at the mo, big brother FIAT don't seem to be interested in throwing them a bone either. Their cars have always been fantastic to look at but they've consistently failed to live up to the good looks in other areas be it reliability, driveability etc
The 8C is stunning, no doubt but that is a low volume car, their other two efforts, the MITO and the GUILETTA haven't exactly set the world on fire and they haven't even got the old Alfa throwback of being good to look at either, both cars appearing very awkward looking in my eyes. They've developed a brilliant new engine with the TBi but in so doing, seem to have lost the character which Alfa engines of old were famous for.
I always want to give Alfa the benefit of the doubt but if the next couple of releases aren't very very good I fear for their future.
The 8C is stunning, no doubt but that is a low volume car, their other two efforts, the MITO and the GUILETTA haven't exactly set the world on fire and they haven't even got the old Alfa throwback of being good to look at either, both cars appearing very awkward looking in my eyes. They've developed a brilliant new engine with the TBi but in so doing, seem to have lost the character which Alfa engines of old were famous for.
I always want to give Alfa the benefit of the doubt but if the next couple of releases aren't very very good I fear for their future.
Edited by Guvernator on Tuesday 11th January 17:25
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