New Alfa Giulietta

[Nors]

Hi Alfa enthusiasts!

Looking for a bit of advice please, I'm not very wise about newer Alfa's (being a fan of most older Alfa's)

I'm looking at getting a new Giulietta for my daughter and wondered if there was a specific spec and colour I should go for, also, Engines, there's a 1.4 Petrol or 1.6 Diesel, which would you advise?

Any info and advice would be very welcome!!(reliability etc too)

[Alfahorn]

The first questions I have are:

What does she want to use the car for? i.e business, pleasure or a mixture of the two?
How many miles does she drive PA?
What things are important to her on a car?

[Nors]

Alfahorn said:

The first questions I have are:

What does she want to use the car for? i.e business, pleasure or a mixture of the two?
How many miles does she drive PA?
What things are important to her on a car?

Commuting to Uni - About 250-300 miles a week + visiting home (125 mile round trip regularly. Approx 10-15k a year

What's important to her? - Colour, 5 doors, economical but not powerless, Bluetooth/Ipod etc. She's 20, so, not all that clued up on cars, but she loves the look of the Alfa, so at least she has some taste on the styling front!

[errek72]

Best consider rear parking sensors, make sure the steering wheel is leather. Diesel has way more torque so easier to drive and pick up speed-at least imho. Consider a test drive with the TCT (not sure which UK versions that is available on though). Other than that...nothing I can think of. Color is apersonal thing. I picked grey but IRL red is probably prettiest.

[Alfahorn]

The TCT is only available in 175bhp in the UK market.

I'd go for a 1.6 diesel based on what you've said. Good engine, enough get up and go and insurance friendly as well as £30 tax and 60 mpg. I would go for Distinctive spec as the exclusive model is a bit sombre in my opinion.

[Nors]

Thanks for the replies folks!

I think you're probably right, the Diesel will be the better option despite being a couple of horses down on the 1.4 Petrol.

Daughter prefers 8C Red, but jeez, it's a £2k+ option Why?

Rear parking sensors is a must due to my daughter being quite short.

Going for a test drive on Sunday, so will report back. Can anyone suggest if the dealers are open to a discount? If so, how much should I be banging the door down for?

Thanks again for the help!

[B@W]

If shes on the short side, visibilty out the rear windows and screen is shocking.

I use a 1.6 jtdm for the daily and its ok but nothing special. Not bad on fuel (mid to high 50mpg) and nothings fallen yet although the chrome trim is peeling off the gear knob after 20k miles.

[Nors]

B@W said:

If shes on the short side, visibilty out the rear windows and screen is shocking.

I use a 1.6 jtdm for the daily and its ok but nothing special. Not bad on fuel (mid to high 50mpg) and nothings fallen yet although the chrome trim is peeling off the gear knob after 20k miles.

She is and rear parking sensors will be ordered.

Don't know if the gearknob on the facelift 2014 model is the same but hopefully not.

Went for a test drive on Saturday (I didn't get the chance to drive it myself, the daughter was the only one - since she has to live with it) so, difficult to say, it felt not too bad considering there were 4 in the car.

They are claiming that the 2014 model has a quieter engine than the demo we tested which was the outgoing one.

The seats in the new one are the bigest difference I can see overall between new and old both in terms of comfort and quality of the materials.

Generally speaking, we all loved the car.

Desired spec (depending on what price we can get)

Executive trim level
Lunar Pearl paint (hope that never has to get repaired!!)
Front parking sensors (rear standard)
Sportiva Nav 18" wheels
Leather
Sun roof

Not a cheap car though!!

[Alfahorn]

Have a chat with Paul Jones @ Chris Variava in Nottingham. I and a good number of people I know have bought cars from him. Very good dealer, he's an Alfa Romeo Owners Club member and has been involved with Alfa for the best part of 20 years. They are well used to distance selling and will also deliver to your door if required.

[Nors]

Alfahorn said:

Have a chat with Paul Jones @ Chris Variava in Nottingham. I and a good number of people I know have bought cars from him. Very good dealer, he's an Alfa Romeo Owners Club member and has been involved with Alfa for the best part of 20 years. They are well used to distance selling and will also deliver to your door if required.

Much appreciated!!!

Cheers

[Ali_T]

That's easy. The fastest one, in red.

[Nors]

Ali_T said:

That's easy. The fastest one, in red.

Which one? 8C Red is very very nice, but not £2,200 nice!

[Ali_T]

Oh, it is in the flesh. Best car colour I've ever seen on a normal production car.

[errek72]

I actually like the normal metallic red better than the Competizione red. Stunning color that.

[Ali_T]

In a sun filled country, yes, it's lovely. But in Scotland, it looks like a maroon Rover 200!!! Though the nicest customised Giulietta I've ever seen is in the metallic red:

https://flic.kr/p/fPAWnc

[Nors]

Ali_T said:

In a sun filled country, yes, it's lovely. But in Scotland, it looks like a maroon Rover 200!!! Though the nicest customised Giulietta I've ever seen is in the metallic red:

https://flic.kr/p/fPAWnc

Stunning!!

With the spec I'm going for, £2200 for paint is a bridge too far, and as the daughter likes the Luna Pearl, I'm going to have to stick with that.

Changed it now to a 2.0 JTDm Sportiva Nav (also includes some of the spec requirements as standard over the Exclusive). I'm thinking it might be a wee bit more difficult to move on a 1.6 Diesel too and hold less value.

[errek72]

Ali_T said:

In a sun filled country, yes, it's lovely. But in Scotland, it looks like a maroon Rover 200!!!

[Nors]

Nors said:

Alfahorn said:

Have a chat with Paul Jones @ Chris Variava in Nottingham. I and a good number of people I know have bought cars from him. Very good dealer, he's an Alfa Romeo Owners Club member and has been involved with Alfa for the best part of 20 years. They are well used to distance selling and will also deliver to your door if required.

Much appreciated!!!

Cheers

Well, what a massive tip that turned out to be!!! Huge huge thanks to you for that, car ordered yesterday from Paul Jones, saved me at least £2.5k over the dealer in Perth, plus, got even more spec by being advised to take the luxury pack instead of ordering options individually.

Many many thanks! Top bloke!

[Alfahorn]

Yes, I saw Paul today and he told me.

Unless I'm mistaken it's a lunar pearl JTDM 150bhp with a sunroof?

Glad he looked after you.

Edited by Alfahorn on Sunday 11th May 18:32

[Nors]

You are correct mate, also got the luxury pack that gave me full black leather with electric memory seats as well.

Paul has indeed looked after me, he was way more knowledgable than the dealer up here too.

Thanks again for putting me on to him!