Alfa's. Someone explain to me....
Discussion
Oilchange said:
a little update here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scuderia_F...
He wasn't questioning whether Enzo raced Alfa Romeos; he was talking about the fact that there was some doubt in your mind.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scuderia_F...
bqf said:
Oilchange said:
I think Enzo Ferrari raced them before he made his own cars...
Oh lordy...don't they do history at school any more?
zygalski said:
Please explain the allure of the modern Alfa to someone who's never owned one, preferably without mentioning Top Gear as I have done. Twice.
It's like a pussy. We can explain it to you but you will not understand.Only one way to find out if you like it or not.
In my opinion they are fun. But I know people who disagree. Too bad for them.
Plipton said:
Alfas....why do some people love them so much even though they are far from perfect?
I never get why people say that. What is so imperfect about them? Everything being relative (no kers v12 for 50 grand etc).
To frame that : I drove a basic 1 series recently and it is further removed from perfect than my Giulietta yet more expensive. Starting with a nasty plastic rim sticking out on the steering wheel.
errek72 said:
I never get why people say that. What is so imperfect about them?
Everything being relative (no kers v12 for 50 grand etc).
To frame that : I drove a basic 1 series recently and it is further removed from perfect than my Giulietta yet more expensive. Starting with a nasty plastic rim sticking out on the steering wheel.
Simples...Everything being relative (no kers v12 for 50 grand etc).
To frame that : I drove a basic 1 series recently and it is further removed from perfect than my Giulietta yet more expensive. Starting with a nasty plastic rim sticking out on the steering wheel.
Is the paint the best quality on the market? No - 2 of the 4Cs I saw before buying mine looked like they'd been painted by a 5 year old.
Are they the most reliable cars you can buy? Probably not. No issues with mine yet, but others have had. That said I have had VWs break down and they're supposed to be up there with the best.
Are they the most practical cars? probably not but who gives a sh**
However... would you buy one over any other car in the same price band? Hell yeah!
There are better cars for certain jobs and there are worse. Nothing is pefect. It's just a case of what you can live with / enjoy driving
The 2 badly painted ones I saw were (1) a white LE which looked like the front had been painted with a roller. Maybe it had been - the LE's white finish appears to be, er, rather soft and could suffer very badly from stone chips. The other one was one was a black SE and the front around the grille had what looked like over-spray and orange peel everywhere.
The 5 red ones I saw (3 SEs in Leicester, 1 LE in North London and the SE I bought from Oxford) were all near perfectly finished.
The 5 red ones I saw (3 SEs in Leicester, 1 LE in North London and the SE I bought from Oxford) were all near perfectly finished.
My Nero paint is extremely sensitive, some orange peel but nowhere near as bad like on the nero 147 my dad once had. Had it detailed and ceramic coating applied. Fine now, soomth as glass and very easy to keep clean.
Did notice chip at the front though so am getting a clear wrap for that soon.
My guess is all of that would not have been needed if I'd had the option to spec it in grigio lipari metallic. In hindsight all the extra protection needs makes the extra cost of the competizione red paint almost seem justified.
Did notice chip at the front though so am getting a clear wrap for that soon.
My guess is all of that would not have been needed if I'd had the option to spec it in grigio lipari metallic. In hindsight all the extra protection needs makes the extra cost of the competizione red paint almost seem justified.
To answer the op, no one can tell you, you have to experience one first hand. The easiest way to do this is to buy a 156 v6 and experience one of the best engines ever made for around £1k outlay. I have the 3.2gt and there's not a day goes by that it doesn't make me grin. I find it amazing that we can pick these busso powered cars up for so little.
Warnie said:
To answer the op, no one can tell you, you have to experience one first hand. The easiest way to do this is to buy a 156 v6 and experience one of the best engines ever made for around £1k outlay. I have the 3.2gt and there's not a day goes by that it doesn't make me grin. I find it amazing that we can pick these busso powered cars up for so little.
What he says ^^^.Even a complete non-petrolhead mate used to comment on the character of my 156 V6. Shame that the young lad who bought it from me last June must have binned it 3 weeks later as it is now recorded as scrapped
zygalski said:
Ok so Jeremy Clarkson likes them. So does Hammond & May. Super.
Are they really an aspirational brand for an enthusiastic daily driver to own? Looking at some of the specs they seem bloated, slow & from various owner reviews still fragile with more than their share of niggles.
Nice interiors though. Very nice. I'll give them that.
Please explain the allure of the modern Alfa to someone who's never owned one, preferably without mentioning Top Gear as I have done. Twice.
its like having a slutty girlfriend. The sex is great and you really want to keep her, but ultimately she is unreliable and is likely let you down at any moment. But my word is the sex good while it last Are they really an aspirational brand for an enthusiastic daily driver to own? Looking at some of the specs they seem bloated, slow & from various owner reviews still fragile with more than their share of niggles.
Nice interiors though. Very nice. I'll give them that.
Please explain the allure of the modern Alfa to someone who's never owned one, preferably without mentioning Top Gear as I have done. Twice.
I come from a family of Alfa fans, and apart from tin worm in some of the 70s models, they have all been perfectly reliable believe it or not! My last Alfa was a 147 Sillyspeed and I LOVED IT. 72k on the clock, £1000 in beautiful nick.
Hard to explain the attraction really until you get to own one, then they just get under your skin. I just felt special when I was in an Alfa, more so than any other car. Hard to pinpoint exactly why!
Saving for a little Mito right now.
Hard to explain the attraction really until you get to own one, then they just get under your skin. I just felt special when I was in an Alfa, more so than any other car. Hard to pinpoint exactly why!
Saving for a little Mito right now.
This is my 4th Alfa and I can honestly say that the majority of money spent has been on preventative measures. Often stuff you just wouldn't bother with on other cars, it's just that as these cars get under your skin your constantly looking at ways to improve them further.
They really do become an obsession. My neighbours must think I've brought a right nail as the bonnets always up. But I'm just constantly cleaning the engine bay polishing those chrome intake pipes. Even the paintwork inside the bay has had a polish and wax;)
They really do become an obsession. My neighbours must think I've brought a right nail as the bonnets always up. But I'm just constantly cleaning the engine bay polishing those chrome intake pipes. Even the paintwork inside the bay has had a polish and wax;)
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