2010 Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf and my Alfa history
Discussion
I have a virus. I think it’s worse than COVID.
In 2004 I bought my first Alfa. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve been frustrated and angry. However, despite all these bloody cars put me through I love them and I can’t help it.
I’ve owned 9;
1996 155 2.0 TS - the car that started my obsession. Purchased locally in 2004. I loved this car and have always regretted parting with it. It creaked like an old galleon. It was square, boxy the interior plastics were similar in quality to Chinese takeaway tubs. However, I loved it.
1998 156 2.0 TS
This came along on 2006. It has only done 40,000 miles and had one old man owner from new. I had to have it and it felt grown up compared to the 155.
1993 164 2.0 TS Lusso
Bought with 3 mates for £100 to do a home to Rome challenge in 2008. The car was faultless apart from the hole in the boot! Haha.
We did 4,000 trouble free miles in it. My mate then went on to run it for another 4 years remarkably before it finally dies.
2004 156 Sportwagon 1.9 JTD 16v Veloce
I loved this car and should never have sold it. Purchased in 2010 from a chap on Leeds. It had just 27,000 miles and was utterly mint. My first diesel Alfa and I kept it until January 2013.
2012 Giulietta 2.0 JTDM TCT Veloce
Purchased January 2013 - A mistake. It was fully loaded, went like stink but the TCT was a Nightmare. I had loads of issues with it which culminated in a 2000 repair bill under warranty for a replacement clutch.
Other than that it was perfect. Lol
2013 Giulietta 1.6 JTDM Sportiva
Purchased October 2014. This car was utterly brilliant. I ran it for 90,000 miles over 5
Years. It came to a sad end when it was written off in October 2019 as a result of pothole damage which triggered all the airbags and immobilised the car. Not the quickest but a lovely balanced motor and very chuckable. I miss it.
Now since April 2019 I’ve been buying a car every six months and my disease has really taken hold of my life......
2010 Brera 1750 TBI
Purchased April 2019. A serious brave pill as it’s an Alfa and had 126,000 miles when I bought it. It’s cost me £2000 in maintenance so far. It’s one of 58 registered in the UK. Now on 135,000 miles it’s a keeper.
It’s not particularly quick. It’s not particularly sporty but look at it, just look at it!
2014 Mito 1.6 JTDM Sportiva
Purchased November 2019. By now I’m commuting 80 miles a day. The Giulietta has been written off and this came up at the right time.
I did 9,000 miles in the first 4 months of ownership but only 3,000 miles since April. This car is mint and now up for sale having still only covered 60,000 miles from new. Vastly underrated and great fun.
2002 147 2.0 TS Lusso
Purchased from eBay on a whim while I’m the bath in April this year for £510. I couldn’t resist. I’d always wanted an Alfa in Nuvola blue which was a special order iridescent finish that cost £1500 extra back in the day.
This car does the most miles out of all my cars. It’s huge fun to drive. Absolutely fizzes along well worth the money. I’ll run it in to the ground.
And now 16 years after my first Alfa my tenth will arrive next weekend.
Over the last couple of years I’ve chosen to focus on bargain Alfas. I’ve not scared about cars that need a bit of work or high-ish miles.
2010 Giulietta Cloverleaf
I found this Giulietta locally. It has the same 1750 petrol engine as my Brera. However, the performance is very different. The Brera is 200 horse power compared to 235 in the Giulietta. 0-60 in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 150. It’s brisk rather than lightning quick.
It’s done 101,000 miles. It has a full history including a cambelt and water pump change in December last year. The car has done just 3,000 miles since.
It needs a few jobs but nothing scary more cosmetic. Some tough negotiations with the owner and we’ve agreed on £3800. He’d wanted £4500 at the start of the week.
So for now I’ll have 4 Alfas but unfortunately space is an issue and so the Mito will be moved on. However, to me it’ll be worth it.
I know Alfa isn’t for everyone but I just love them and it can’t be helped.
In 2004 I bought my first Alfa. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve been frustrated and angry. However, despite all these bloody cars put me through I love them and I can’t help it.
I’ve owned 9;
1996 155 2.0 TS - the car that started my obsession. Purchased locally in 2004. I loved this car and have always regretted parting with it. It creaked like an old galleon. It was square, boxy the interior plastics were similar in quality to Chinese takeaway tubs. However, I loved it.
1998 156 2.0 TS
This came along on 2006. It has only done 40,000 miles and had one old man owner from new. I had to have it and it felt grown up compared to the 155.
1993 164 2.0 TS Lusso
Bought with 3 mates for £100 to do a home to Rome challenge in 2008. The car was faultless apart from the hole in the boot! Haha.
We did 4,000 trouble free miles in it. My mate then went on to run it for another 4 years remarkably before it finally dies.
2004 156 Sportwagon 1.9 JTD 16v Veloce
I loved this car and should never have sold it. Purchased in 2010 from a chap on Leeds. It had just 27,000 miles and was utterly mint. My first diesel Alfa and I kept it until January 2013.
2012 Giulietta 2.0 JTDM TCT Veloce
Purchased January 2013 - A mistake. It was fully loaded, went like stink but the TCT was a Nightmare. I had loads of issues with it which culminated in a 2000 repair bill under warranty for a replacement clutch.
Other than that it was perfect. Lol
2013 Giulietta 1.6 JTDM Sportiva
Purchased October 2014. This car was utterly brilliant. I ran it for 90,000 miles over 5
Years. It came to a sad end when it was written off in October 2019 as a result of pothole damage which triggered all the airbags and immobilised the car. Not the quickest but a lovely balanced motor and very chuckable. I miss it.
Now since April 2019 I’ve been buying a car every six months and my disease has really taken hold of my life......
2010 Brera 1750 TBI
Purchased April 2019. A serious brave pill as it’s an Alfa and had 126,000 miles when I bought it. It’s cost me £2000 in maintenance so far. It’s one of 58 registered in the UK. Now on 135,000 miles it’s a keeper.
It’s not particularly quick. It’s not particularly sporty but look at it, just look at it!
2014 Mito 1.6 JTDM Sportiva
Purchased November 2019. By now I’m commuting 80 miles a day. The Giulietta has been written off and this came up at the right time.
I did 9,000 miles in the first 4 months of ownership but only 3,000 miles since April. This car is mint and now up for sale having still only covered 60,000 miles from new. Vastly underrated and great fun.
2002 147 2.0 TS Lusso
Purchased from eBay on a whim while I’m the bath in April this year for £510. I couldn’t resist. I’d always wanted an Alfa in Nuvola blue which was a special order iridescent finish that cost £1500 extra back in the day.
This car does the most miles out of all my cars. It’s huge fun to drive. Absolutely fizzes along well worth the money. I’ll run it in to the ground.
And now 16 years after my first Alfa my tenth will arrive next weekend.
Over the last couple of years I’ve chosen to focus on bargain Alfas. I’ve not scared about cars that need a bit of work or high-ish miles.
2010 Giulietta Cloverleaf
I found this Giulietta locally. It has the same 1750 petrol engine as my Brera. However, the performance is very different. The Brera is 200 horse power compared to 235 in the Giulietta. 0-60 in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 150. It’s brisk rather than lightning quick.
It’s done 101,000 miles. It has a full history including a cambelt and water pump change in December last year. The car has done just 3,000 miles since.
It needs a few jobs but nothing scary more cosmetic. Some tough negotiations with the owner and we’ve agreed on £3800. He’d wanted £4500 at the start of the week.
So for now I’ll have 4 Alfas but unfortunately space is an issue and so the Mito will be moved on. However, to me it’ll be worth it.
I know Alfa isn’t for everyone but I just love them and it can’t be helped.
Nice history there.
Them giulietta’s really are great looking cars still, you could update the interior and a few other bits and happily release it today (i know it’s still on sale, you get what I mean
).
They’ve made some gorgeous alfa’s in recent times, sadly they never went the whole hot into the giulia quad. Imagine if they’d stuck to their guns and made the GTA versions of all the above? What a range!
Them giulietta’s really are great looking cars still, you could update the interior and a few other bits and happily release it today (i know it’s still on sale, you get what I mean
).They’ve made some gorgeous alfa’s in recent times, sadly they never went the whole hot into the giulia quad. Imagine if they’d stuck to their guns and made the GTA versions of all the above? What a range!
lewisf182 said:
Nice history there.
Them giulietta’s really are great looking cars still, you could update the interior and a few other bits and happily release it today (i know it’s still on sale, you get what I mean ).
They’ve made some gorgeous alfa’s in recent times, sadly they never went the whole hot into the giulia quad. Imagine if they’d stuck to their guns and made the GTA versions of all the above? What a range!
Thanks. Them giulietta’s really are great looking cars still, you could update the interior and a few other bits and happily release it today (i know it’s still on sale, you get what I mean
).They’ve made some gorgeous alfa’s in recent times, sadly they never went the whole hot into the giulia quad. Imagine if they’d stuck to their guns and made the GTA versions of all the above? What a range!
The Giulietta was released in June 2010. It's long in the tooth now on the market and I couldn't honestly recommend anyone buy a new one. However, the earlier cars are now tremendous value and if you know what you're looking at then you can buy with confidence.
I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to the Giulietta and getting it up to scratch like I have with the Brera.
That's some serial Alfa buying you've crammed in there, good on you! I bought my '12 plate Giulietta 1.6 Lusso in December '13 and it's still my daily transport, one or two of the usual Giulietta woes have struck but it's not let me down so far due to any inherent Alfa problems. The biggest expense was having a new front subframe fitted after incurring some very serious pothole damage on a local B road. The well known rear hatch wiring loom issue which affects the boot lock mechanism comes and goes but everything else works ok, it's quick enough for its size and weight and the steering is spot on, it's nothing like as 'dead' as so may other modern cars are. It's just a pity it sounds like a tractor, when I started looking for one I wanted the 1750 Cloverleaf but couldn't find one at the time so the 1.6 diesel had to suffice, still, the £30 tax per year is a bonus and it looks good in Maranello Red with the horse shoe alloys. The seats are amongst the most comfortable I've experienced in a modern car too, I love the caramel coloured leather and they've stood up well to daily use.
I still fancy a Brera or a 159 Sportwagon though, despite them being older cars. I also like the Mito a lot but it's a bit too small for my needs. The Alfa range has sometimes been a bit odd, I was hoping they'd do another Sportwagon model at some point to replace the 159 but it never happened for some reason.
Mine on the day I picked it up from JCS in Kegworth....
I drive it in 'd' mode pretty much constantly, how about you OP...?
I still fancy a Brera or a 159 Sportwagon though, despite them being older cars. I also like the Mito a lot but it's a bit too small for my needs. The Alfa range has sometimes been a bit odd, I was hoping they'd do another Sportwagon model at some point to replace the 159 but it never happened for some reason.
Mine on the day I picked it up from JCS in Kegworth....
I drive it in 'd' mode pretty much constantly, how about you OP...?
carinaman said:
The Barchetta is drawing my gaze. Your new one is still on Autotrader and there's one 1750 Brera on Autotrader.
Yes I'm aware it's on autotrader. Also, it's his Barchetta and it's very nice.
Yep the Brera TBI is rare as hens teeth. I feel lucky that I'll now have a Brera 1750 and a Giulietta 1750 Cloverleaf. I really love this engine.
Edited by Alfahorn on Monday 19th October 11:59
P5BNij said:
That's some serial Alfa buying you've crammed in there, good on you! I bought my '12 plate Giulietta 1.6 Lusso in December '13 and it's still my daily transport, one or two of the usual Giulietta woes have struck but it's not let me down so far due to any inherent Alfa problems. The biggest expense was having a new front subframe fitted after incurring some very serious pothole damage on a local B road. The well known rear hatch wiring loom issue which affects the boot lock mechanism comes and goes but everything else works ok, it's quick enough for its size and weight and the steering is spot on, it's nothing like as 'dead' as so may other modern cars are. It's just a pity it sounds like a tractor, when I started looking for one I wanted the 1750 Cloverleaf but couldn't find one at the time so the 1.6 diesel had to suffice, still, the £30 tax per year is a bonus and it looks good in Maranello Red with the horse shoe alloys. The seats are amongst the most comfortable I've experienced in a modern car too, I love the caramel coloured leather and they've stood up well to daily use.
I still fancy a Brera or a 159 Sportwagon though, despite them being older cars. I also like the Mito a lot but it's a bit too small for my needs. The Alfa range has sometimes been a bit odd, I was hoping they'd do another Sportwagon model at some point to replace the 159 but it never happened for some reason.
Mine on the day I picked it up from JCS in Kegworth....
I drive it in 'd' mode pretty much constantly, how about you OP...?
Lucky spec. I had my 1.6 for 5 years, did 90,000 miles in it and it was utterly brilliant. A very underrated engine. I still fancy a Brera or a 159 Sportwagon though, despite them being older cars. I also like the Mito a lot but it's a bit too small for my needs. The Alfa range has sometimes been a bit odd, I was hoping they'd do another Sportwagon model at some point to replace the 159 but it never happened for some reason.
Mine on the day I picked it up from JCS in Kegworth....
I drive it in 'd' mode pretty much constantly, how about you OP...?
P5BNij said:
Cheers. A more recent photo of it would reveal the kerbed alloys and a few scratches in the paint! It's just gone past 57k miles now, when I bought it, it had just over 23k.
Wow - you've hardly used it. Those body colour dash panels were very rare. It looks like a Lusso spec with the 18s and the sports leather. Tan leather again a rare sight.
Alfahorn said:
P5BNij said:
Cheers. A more recent photo of it would reveal the kerbed alloys and a few scratches in the paint! It's just gone past 57k miles now, when I bought it, it had just over 23k.
Wow - you've hardly used it. Those body colour dash panels were very rare. It looks like a Lusso spec with the 18s and the sports leather. Tan leather again a rare sight.
Meant to add - the only other real expense has been with front tyres, which it tends to get through easily.
Edited by P5BNij on Monday 19th October 19:30
Edited by P5BNij on Monday 19th October 19:31
I'm now not collecting the car until early next week.
The owner has gone on holiday Devon for a few days. Also, the car only had 1 key and the owner has told me this morning he's arranged for a second key through his insurance. That'll save me £320!
I'm not bothered about the delay as I was only going to pick the car up and put it straight in to storage for a few weeks.
The owner has gone on holiday Devon for a few days. Also, the car only had 1 key and the owner has told me this morning he's arranged for a second key through his insurance. That'll save me £320!
I'm not bothered about the delay as I was only going to pick the car up and put it straight in to storage for a few weeks.
I'm a big fan of these too. We got very close to buying one a year or so back, but we wanted top spec with an auto with heated seats so ended up buying something else in the end as nothing really came up that matched. Even then it was as a consolation prize as we couldn't find the same in 159 estate form either.
Was really surprised when I researched them to find there's really not that much that goes wrong with them. There are horror stories abound for most small hatchback things on the market but the giulietta seems a really good car.
Was really surprised when I researched them to find there's really not that much that goes wrong with them. There are horror stories abound for most small hatchback things on the market but the giulietta seems a really good car.
agent006 said:
I'm a big fan of these too. We got very close to buying one a year or so back, but we wanted top spec with an auto with heated seats so ended up buying something else in the end as nothing really came up that matched. Even then it was as a consolation prize as we couldn't find the same in 159 estate form either.
Was really surprised when I researched them to find there's really not that much that goes wrong with them. There are horror stories abound for most small hatchback things on the market but the giulietta seems a really good car.
My first Giulietta was a bit of a nightmare. It was one of the first TCT's and it had an issue where it would momentarily go in to limp mode and sometimes the gearbox would lock altogether. It took 4-5 visits to the dealer before they identified a faulty clutch and changed it under warranty. However, I'd already lost confidence in the car and parted with it shortly after they'd rectified the issue. Was really surprised when I researched them to find there's really not that much that goes wrong with them. There are horror stories abound for most small hatchback things on the market but the giulietta seems a really good car.
My second Giulietta was faultless for 5 years and 90,000 miles. It was brilliant. Only the 1.6 Sportiva but economical and comfortable. Nothing went wrong and it only cost me routine servicing etc.
This one needs a little work but those were all serviceable issues. The car drove perfectly otherwise and belied it's 101,000 miles.
My car usage has been slashed. I'm only doing about 150-200 miles a week altogether now. My 147 tends to be the commuter as I don't worry if it gets a knock in the car park etc.
The Brera is a just weekends but and doesn't always get used every week. The Giulietta will do some day to day stuff and longer journeys when visiting family etc. I reckon I'll do 3,000-4,000 miles a year in it. Hence why I wanted one that was solid and I could get it looking really smart but not have a shedload of money tied up in it.
The Mito is going and is currently on AutoTrader it just doesn't get used. It's done about 100 miles in the last month.
Nice. They all look great and the interior with tan seats just looks so supercar.
I was hankering for a Guilia and test drove a 2018 Veloce. Looked great, drove great but I couldn't get on with the electric steering and such a shame they don't sell the manual in the UK.
The 8 sp auto was very smooth and quick but I'm old and like stirring a stick.
Maybe I should look at an earlier car.
I was hankering for a Guilia and test drove a 2018 Veloce. Looked great, drove great but I couldn't get on with the electric steering and such a shame they don't sell the manual in the UK.
The 8 sp auto was very smooth and quick but I'm old and like stirring a stick.
Maybe I should look at an earlier car.
croyde said:
Nice. They all look great and the interior with tan seats just looks so supercar.
I was hankering for a Guilia and test drove a 2018 Veloce. Looked great, drove great but I couldn't get on with the electric steering and such a shame they don't sell the manual in the UK.
The 8 sp auto was very smooth and quick but I'm old and like stirring a stick.
Maybe I should look at an earlier car.
Love Giulias. However, not my price point. I think I'd break out in a cold sweat with I had to part with that kind of money. I'm a sub £5k man these days I'm much happier in that price bracket. I was hankering for a Guilia and test drove a 2018 Veloce. Looked great, drove great but I couldn't get on with the electric steering and such a shame they don't sell the manual in the UK.
The 8 sp auto was very smooth and quick but I'm old and like stirring a stick.
Maybe I should look at an earlier car.
Buying this for £3800 has left me with a healthy chunk of change to get the jobs sorted that need doing.
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