Alfa Giullietta 1750 TBI

[Gus265]

Advice please - is this a good car? Horrible situation of persuading my brother to buy one and get shot of his dull A3. However, my brother is not into cars although he really likes the looks. I think it's cracking but have only read a few road tests. Car in question is red and 6,000 miles on the clock. Is it reliable? I think it would perfectly suit my brother but at the end of the day if he should get another A3 or 1 Series, I should be telling him that. Thanks

[robbo 2006]

In a heartbeat if have a cloverleaf over those two other options. Alfas are as reliable as the German stable you are looking at these days. The 1750 engine for what it is in the Giulietta is a very good unit with a nice torquey delivery. Get him out in a testdrive...won't cost him anything to do so ;0)

[errek72]

I'd agree with that, have a test drive, make sure it lasts long enough and takes on different types of road and make up your own mind.
Dependability / reliability will depend more on the dealership than the car probably.

I had to sell my Golf after two years of misery to get rid of it before warranty ran out (if they are so great, why only two years?).
On the other hand JD Power places a Guilietta almost last :

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2013-jd...

Mind you, the Golf does not cut a dashing figure either, and is well and truly whooped by its Seat sibling. Perhaps the Leon is an alternative?
Just sayin'. A test drive will reveal most of what your brother needs to know.

[Pooh]

He could also look at the Multiair 170 Sportiva, it looks the same, is still decently quick and in some ways is more fun to drive.
Regarding quality and reliability, my car is almost two years old, has done 29k miles and has been perfect, no issues of any sort and no rattles or squeaks.

[Patch1875]

We have a 170 diesel, had a few annoying niggles with it. Car nice to look and to drive my big let down is the interior build quality to many rattles and the seats sqeak.

Ours is out of warranty so we plan to get rid of it at the end of the year even though we have had a few alfa's don't think we will get another one.

[dema]

I start thinking that it is down to luck, some owners reported issues with quality interiors and some minor issues in the first 3/4 years of ownership, mine (not a QV), doesn't rattles, the MA unit had to be replaced but was under warranty( QV is not MA).

[Ali_T]

errek72 said:

I'd agree with that, have a test drive, make sure it lasts long enough and takes on different types of road and make up your own mind.
Dependability / reliability will depend more on the dealership than the car probably.

I had to sell my Golf after two years of misery to get rid of it before warranty ran out (if they are so great, why only two years?).
On the other hand JD Power places a Guilietta almost last :

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2013-jd...

Mind you, the Golf does not cut a dashing figure either, and is well and truly whooped by its Seat sibling. Perhaps the Leon is an alternative?
Just sayin'. A test drive will reveal most of what your brother needs to know.

But the year before that, the Giulietta came 7th overall, and it came mid table on Auto Express's Driver Power. For me, that just shows how unreliable the surveys are, not the cars.

[errek72]

I did not know - and agree that the surveys seem less reliable than the cars.
So far nothing has gone wrong on mine.

[RAClNG SNAKE]

Just bought one in Ghiaccio white. A Giulietta wasn't on my radar but a 170bhp 1.4 caught my eye and lead to a test drive and purchase of a 1750 TBI. Lovely cars and great to drive.

[Prolex-UK]

Had one for 4 months now. Excellent car. Goes really well in DNA mode

[Patch1875]

Prolex-UK said:

Had one for 4 months now. Excellent car. Goes really well in DNA mode

That's another thing, it should be D all the time!

[Prolex-UK]

Patch1875 said:

That's another thing, it should be D all the time!

I agree !

[TJL500]

Had my QV Launch Edition a few weeks now and its a joy to drive.....has so much more character than other cars I've owned & looks gorgeous. I'd pick one over a VW/Audi/BMW any day.

[boodajuda]

If it's any help I've owned a GT 3.2 v6 and 159Ti and both were faultless and bullet proof during ownership. If we didn't have the 'not them same car again' rule I'd have another Alfa with the real Busso/Arese v6.

I've heard of a fair few problems with friends' VAG group cars that they simply should not have (e.g oil consumption, air con faults, electrical).

Most people that talk of unreliable Alfas have probably never owned one.

[p1doc]

had mine for nearly 2 1/2 year-no probs except expensive to replace discs and pads lol
martin