Why do people still say this?
Discussion
I got given the age old line about "Oh you're not a real petrolhead until you've driven an Alfa" by an acquaintance today. I told him that I recently had the opportunity to drive the bafflingly popular Mito for a couple of weeks while my own car was having bits replaced, and that the Mito was a boring, claustrophobic, fussy, rattling irritation wrapped in a pretty design.
The response? "Yeah well, that's not a proper Alfa is it?"
At what point am I supposed to pick up on the distinction between a proper Alfa and a not-proper Alfa? What's a proper Alfa? The Mito I drove had all the hallmarks of an Alfa: it was pretty, it made a good noise and pieces started falling off it almost immediately after you started the engine. Out of all the Alfas in the world, which, exactly, am I supposed to drive before I get admitted into the hallowed halls of the "real" petrolhead? Perhaps there's a detailed list floating around somewhere that's passed me by? Or are the only "proper" Alfas the ones that the person trotting out the f
king stupid line happened to own?
There should be two choices for people who doggedly repeat "not a petrolhead 'til you've driven an Alfa":
1) Own an Alfa yourself, preferably one that's universally accepted as a proper Alfa, and let everyone you say that to drive it
or
2) Shut your face
Argh.
/rant over
The response? "Yeah well, that's not a proper Alfa is it?"
At what point am I supposed to pick up on the distinction between a proper Alfa and a not-proper Alfa? What's a proper Alfa? The Mito I drove had all the hallmarks of an Alfa: it was pretty, it made a good noise and pieces started falling off it almost immediately after you started the engine. Out of all the Alfas in the world, which, exactly, am I supposed to drive before I get admitted into the hallowed halls of the "real" petrolhead? Perhaps there's a detailed list floating around somewhere that's passed me by? Or are the only "proper" Alfas the ones that the person trotting out the f
king stupid line happened to own?There should be two choices for people who doggedly repeat "not a petrolhead 'til you've driven an Alfa":
1) Own an Alfa yourself, preferably one that's universally accepted as a proper Alfa, and let everyone you say that to drive it
or
2) Shut your face
Argh.
/rant over
There is no such thing as "not true petrolhead...", it's just another "no true Scotsman..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman
If you really buy into the idea that Alfa=Petrolhead then I recommend a go in an early 90s Alfa 33, try and get a sportwagon for added points, they are floppy, rattly, saggy and lurch about like a jelly but they go like a scalded cat.
I have the pleasure of one most days when I ride to work with my mate, his has random warning lights that go off and tell you of different impending doom depending on wether you are going fast or slow or going round a corner, the headlining touches my head and the passengers door chooses when to let you out, you have little or no input into the possibility of exiting of the car.
Parts go missing entirely, no warning, no big bang, you arrive at the destination and look at the car (once it has let you out) and lo and behold a whole indicator assembly might be gone, or some of the badge, or a bit of trim will have made a break for freedom.
It is one of the few cars I go in that I treat with the same respect reserved for an untrustworthy dog.
I have the pleasure of one most days when I ride to work with my mate, his has random warning lights that go off and tell you of different impending doom depending on wether you are going fast or slow or going round a corner, the headlining touches my head and the passengers door chooses when to let you out, you have little or no input into the possibility of exiting of the car.
Parts go missing entirely, no warning, no big bang, you arrive at the destination and look at the car (once it has let you out) and lo and behold a whole indicator assembly might be gone, or some of the badge, or a bit of trim will have made a break for freedom.
It is one of the few cars I go in that I treat with the same respect reserved for an untrustworthy dog.
Well it isn't a proper alfa is it?
A proper alfa is one of the cars that earned the firm its reputation - anything from the last ten years or so is pretty much ruled out.
GTV6. Alfasud + the sprint. 33 + 164 (borderline). Those are probably the most recent that could be called proper alfas in any sense of the word to my mind.
A proper alfa is one of the cars that earned the firm its reputation - anything from the last ten years or so is pretty much ruled out.
GTV6. Alfasud + the sprint. 33 + 164 (borderline). Those are probably the most recent that could be called proper alfas in any sense of the word to my mind.
It's not a new saying. I've been hearing it since i 1st started driving over 10 years ago.
Most of my family have owned Alfas and i had a Sud sitting on my drive when i was 15. It was sold before i got to drive it though.
I still haven't owned one but the way that people look back on those Alfas of such an era, they can't all be wrong.
See recent articles in Evo with regards to character.
Most of my family have owned Alfas and i had a Sud sitting on my drive when i was 15. It was sold before i got to drive it though.
I still haven't owned one but the way that people look back on those Alfas of such an era, they can't all be wrong.
See recent articles in Evo with regards to character.
shouldbworking said:
Well it isn't a proper alfa is it?
A proper alfa is one of the cars that earned the firm its reputation - anything from the last ten years or so is pretty much ruled out.
GTV6. Alfasud + the sprint. 33 + 164 (borderline). Those are probably the most recent that could be called proper alfas in any sense of the word to my mind.
Proper Alfa weren't warmed up Fiats. So that make the last the Gtv/Alfetta/75 and Suds/33 and RIP.A proper alfa is one of the cars that earned the firm its reputation - anything from the last ten years or so is pretty much ruled out.
GTV6. Alfasud + the sprint. 33 + 164 (borderline). Those are probably the most recent that could be called proper alfas in any sense of the word to my mind.
When they came out I tried a Mito diesel and the turbo petrol, so technically I've driven an Alfa, its steering was rubbery, suspension a bit floppy in corners (even with its dma thingy in sport) oh, and all the warning lights came on under hard braking (a safety feature apparrently) but have to say it was cracking fun.
Would recommend the Knaresborough Alfa dealer for a test drive, great roads round there and all he said when I dropped it back stinking of brakes and abuse was "Good to see you've been enjoying it"
Would recommend the Knaresborough Alfa dealer for a test drive, great roads round there and all he said when I dropped it back stinking of brakes and abuse was "Good to see you've been enjoying it"
Defining exactly what a "proper Alfa" is, is an extremely difficult task. They are different things to different people. My personal view is that an Alfa is for somebody who enjoys the spirit of driving, who wants to drive something with a little verve and heritage, without paying the earth. The person who wants to have what "feels" like a mini Maserati/Ferrari outside their driveway. Something that leaves them grinning like an idiot when at 10/10ths, but leaves just as much of a smile when pootling round town. That's what I think Alfa is all about.
On that basis, the current range is as close to that winning formula as ever, and hence to me are "proper Alfas", whether based on a Fiat or not.
On that basis, the current range is as close to that winning formula as ever, and hence to me are "proper Alfas", whether based on a Fiat or not.
OlberJ said:
It's not a new saying. I've been hearing it since i 1st started driving over 10 years ago.
Most of my family have owned Alfas and i had a Sud sitting on my drive when i was 15. It was sold before i got to drive it though.
I still haven't owned one but the way that people look back on those Alfas of such an era, they can't all be wrong.
See recent articles in Evo with regards to character.
They can't all be wrong that Alfa produce good drivers cars, but they can definitely be wrong about actually NEEDING to have owned one to be a car enthusiast. I have unhealthy liking for the Merc SLR, but I don't go around telling Ferrari owners that they need to own said SLR before they can be counted in as a TRUE supercar owner.Most of my family have owned Alfas and i had a Sud sitting on my drive when i was 15. It was sold before i got to drive it though.
I still haven't owned one but the way that people look back on those Alfas of such an era, they can't all be wrong.
See recent articles in Evo with regards to character.
I was always under the impression that a petrolhead was someone who can find enjoyment driving anything, be it a diesel Punto like mine to a V12 monster and everything in between. Someone who gets a smile on their face whether they're pottering around town or hammering it down country lanes.
I guess I just find it extremely annoying that some windowlicker has heard Jeremy Clarkson say something and decided that it's a mantra to live their life by.
Some people don't have their own opinions. I got someone saying my Cayman was "only a boxster with a roof"
For a start it's still better than what he was driving, secondly, a Boxster is a perfectly good car anyway, thirdly, giving a car a fixed roof changes it.
Stop watching Top Gear and get your own opinion.
For a start it's still better than what he was driving, secondly, a Boxster is a perfectly good car anyway, thirdly, giving a car a fixed roof changes it.
Stop watching Top Gear and get your own opinion.
Diesel Fury said:
They can't all be wrong that Alfa produce good drivers cars, but they can definitely be wrong about actually NEEDING to have owned one to be a car enthusiast. I have unhealthy liking for the Merc SLR, but I don't go around telling Ferrari owners that they need to own said SLR before they can be counted in as a TRUE supercar owner.
I was always been under the impression that a petrolhead was someone who can find enjoyment driving anything, be it a diesel Punto like mine to a V12 monster and everything in between. Someone who gets a smile on their face whether they're pottering around town or hammering it down country lanes.
I guess I just find it extremely annoying that some windowlicker has heard Jeremy Clarkson say something and decided that it's a mantra to live their life by.
Spot on... I think I have enjoyed every car I've driven. Each has its quirks, and fun bits. There is no hard and fast rule of what is, and what isn't essential.I was always been under the impression that a petrolhead was someone who can find enjoyment driving anything, be it a diesel Punto like mine to a V12 monster and everything in between. Someone who gets a smile on their face whether they're pottering around town or hammering it down country lanes.
I guess I just find it extremely annoying that some windowlicker has heard Jeremy Clarkson say something and decided that it's a mantra to live their life by.
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