RE: Alfa Romeo Stelvio: Review
Discussion
It's probably one of the best-proportioned cars on the market, in my opinion. That picture of the two of them side-by-side (grey one and red one) could easily be of two Focus-sized hatchbacks. They don't look big at all. Quite impressive stuff, though I don't like the SUV 'thing' myself.
Guvernator said:
I'm not a fan of SUV's either but for the purposes of getting an average family from A to B they really are one of the best options due to stuff already stated above, well it's either that or an MPV! So all the scorn on PH, either the majority of PH'ers are rich bachelor singletons or powerfully built company directors who pack the kids off to boarding school or let the nanny kart the kids around so don't have to worry about the practicalities of moving kids around.
The SUV is still no-where near as good as an MPV at carting the brood around. You'd struggle to get three decent kids car seats across the back of that, so unless you've got two kids or less, you'd still be better off in an MPV. And if you've got two kids or less, a normal saloon or estate would do the job fine. We've only got an S-Max because one of our kids split into two before they were born, the cheeky feckers.Some people who care too much how others perceive them might insist on trying to cram everything into a tool less-suited to the job, but the MPV is just made for families, pure and simple. They're brilliant at it.
Matt Bird said:
Sorry! Stelvio is 4680mm long, 1670mm high and 2160mm wide. X3 is 4657/1678/1881 (suspect width is without mirrors here) and F-Pace is 4731/1667/1936 (again I think without mirrors). Alfa made no mention of hybrids at all and has clearly invested a lot in the diesel here, with a focus still on it. That there will be a 180hp version with two-wheel drive in time suggests that will be pitched as the eco version.
Matt
OK thanks Matt, so looks like slightly smaller than an F-Pace but bigger than an X3 (though not as tall).Matt
I also understand it will take a while for companies to make the switch away from diesel but releasing a brand new diesel car just now seems like madness. Although I'm guessing this is Euro 6 compliant so may be safe for a few years?
TurboHatchback said:
Woop, yet another ugly jacked up uncomfortable 4cyl diesel hatchback. I know they have to build one as the market gets what the market wants and it sounds like they've done the best job they could given the stupid requirements but why people want this sort of rubbish mystifies me.
remind me which hatchback has been 'jacked up'?Kitchski said:
Some people who care too much how others perceive them might insist on trying to cram everything into a tool less-suited to the job
That's quite true but conversely if one finds the SUV better suited for their needs yet don't care about perception, should they get something else in case someone accuses them of caring about image ?nickfrog said:
Kitchski said:
Some people who care too much how others perceive them might insist on trying to cram everything into a tool less-suited to the job
That's quite true but conversely if one finds the SUV better suited for their needs yet don't care about perception, should they get something else in case someone accuses them of caring about image ?
The bit I struggle with is trying to think of a role an SUV can play, but nothing else does it as well. They're not really any better at going off-road than a regular car, and they're not as good on road as a regular car.
Chaffuer-service for middle-class school mums wearing skin-tight leggings (but really shouldn't be) who need transportation to Costa each morning after dropping their little darlings off, despite the fact the school is 50yds from their front door? Maybe?
Keeping on topic though, the Alfa is probably the SUV I'd pick of all those available, if someone had a gun pointed at my head.
Kitchski said:
No, not at all otherwise you'd be guilty of the same thing. If an SUV was the best tool for your job, you'd get one despite the fact most petrolheads would think it loserish
The bit I struggle with is trying to think of a role an SUV can play, but nothing else does it as well. They're not really any better at going off-road than a regular car, and they're not as good on road as a regular car.
Chaffuer-service for middle-class school mums wearing skin-tight leggings (but really shouldn't be) who need transportation to Costa each morning after dropping their little darlings off, despite the fact the school is 50yds from their front door? Maybe?
Adding a collection of clichés is amusing but not convincing - I can't think of anything better than our Tiguan 150 TDI match for family duties - happy to consider any new alternatives that you can come up with at £5k total over 2 years ?The bit I struggle with is trying to think of a role an SUV can play, but nothing else does it as well. They're not really any better at going off-road than a regular car, and they're not as good on road as a regular car.
Chaffuer-service for middle-class school mums wearing skin-tight leggings (but really shouldn't be) who need transportation to Costa each morning after dropping their little darlings off, despite the fact the school is 50yds from their front door? Maybe?
Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 28th February 14:12
nickfrog said:
Kitchski said:
No, not at all otherwise you'd be guilty of the same thing. If an SUV was the best tool for your job, you'd get one despite the fact most petrolheads would think it loserish
The bit I struggle with is trying to think of a role an SUV can play, but nothing else does it as well. They're not really any better at going off-road than a regular car, and they're not as good on road as a regular car.
Chaffuer-service for middle-class school mums wearing skin-tight leggings (but really shouldn't be) who need transportation to Costa each morning after dropping their little darlings off, despite the fact the school is 50yds from their front door? Maybe?
Adding a collection of clichés is amusing but not convincing - I can't think of anything better than our Tiguan 150 TDI match for family duties - happy to consider any new alternatives that you can come up with at £5k total over 2 years ?The bit I struggle with is trying to think of a role an SUV can play, but nothing else does it as well. They're not really any better at going off-road than a regular car, and they're not as good on road as a regular car.
Chaffuer-service for middle-class school mums wearing skin-tight leggings (but really shouldn't be) who need transportation to Costa each morning after dropping their little darlings off, despite the fact the school is 50yds from their front door? Maybe?
Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 28th February 14:12
Matt Bird said:
Sorry! Stelvio is 4680mm long, 1670mm high and 2160mm wide. X3 is 4657/1678/1881 (suspect width is without mirrors here) and F-Pace is 4731/1667/1936 (again I think without mirrors). Alfa made no mention of hybrids at all and has clearly invested a lot in the diesel here, with a focus still on it. That there will be a 180hp version with two-wheel drive in time suggests that will be pitched as the eco version.
Matt
Bloody hell, 2160mm wide!?!Matt
How on earth will these things fit into the typical shoebox that is a british garage???
More to the point, how will they fit in a standard sized parking spot? And what of doors getting dinged by other people needing to access their own cars before you come along and creep into their space due to your own leviathan proportions...?
I get that its light compared to some others, but it does seem to be quite wide.
nickfrog said:
Adding a collection of clichés is amusing but not convincing - I can't think of anything better than our Tiguan 150 TDI match for family duties - happy to consider any new alternatives that you can come up with at £5k total over 2 years ?
You don't need to convince me as to why you bought a particular car chief, it's your money, your choice! I personally don't see the advantages of an SUV over a normal estate car. You obviously do. We can leave it there, it doesn't need elaborating Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 28th February 14:12
Kitchski said:
nickfrog said:
Adding a collection of clichés is amusing but not convincing - I can't think of anything better than our Tiguan 150 TDI match for family duties - happy to consider any new alternatives that you can come up with at £5k total over 2 years ?
You don't need to convince me as to why you bought a particular car chief, it's your money, your choice! I personally don't see the advantages of an SUV over a normal estate car. You obviously do. We can leave it there, it doesn't need elaborating Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 28th February 14:12
I am not completely sold on the Alfa - something just doesn't draw me in enough to make me want one...yet. They might look pretty cool in the metal tho. I'm still looking forward to seeing the pricing for the RR Velar as I think that is what will be replacing my current chav-wagon/chelsea tractor/other cliché vehicle description.
I just shouldn't but I've liked the look of this since I saw the first one, something the Giulia (even in QV form) has failed to do yet. The proportions look right to me and so much better than the default white goods that usually define this class of SUV.
It also looks as if a Giulia sportwagon isn't going to happen now so this could be the only option if you need to transport a 5 person family in an Alfa. Look forward to actually seeing a physical car but I really think a petrol Stelvio will be an eventual successor for my 159 SW.
Good effort Alfa and pleased to see it drives half decently, maybe there is a future for Alfa Romeo after all.
It also looks as if a Giulia sportwagon isn't going to happen now so this could be the only option if you need to transport a 5 person family in an Alfa. Look forward to actually seeing a physical car but I really think a petrol Stelvio will be an eventual successor for my 159 SW.
Good effort Alfa and pleased to see it drives half decently, maybe there is a future for Alfa Romeo after all.
Kitchski said:
You don't need to convince me as to why you bought a particular car chief, it's your money, your choice! I personally don't see the advantages of an SUV over a normal estate car. You obviously do. We can leave it there, it doesn't need elaborating
Not trying to convince you. You can't see the benefits compared to an estate - I can't see ANY benefits that an estate would have compared to an SUV. But remember you're the one elaborating with a bizarre collection of obsolete clichés at 14.00, so I am quite happy to leave it there.PhantomPH said:
You say that, but you seem intent on judging people by the car they CHOOSE to drive/own. The cliché'd statements above prove that. Saying someone is free to make their own choice and then making iffy judgements when people do, seems somewhat churlish to me.
Indeed. Quite bizarre.nickfrog said:
Kitchski said:
You don't need to convince me as to why you bought a particular car chief, it's your money, your choice! I personally don't see the advantages of an SUV over a normal estate car. You obviously do. We can leave it there, it doesn't need elaborating
Not trying to convince you. You can't see the benefits compared to an estate - I can't see ANY benefits that an estate would have compared to an SUV. But remember you're the one elaborating with a bizarre collection of obsolete clichés at 14.00, so I am quite happy to leave it there.be lighter,
have a lower COG,
have better performance
be more aerodynamic
give better economy
be dynamically superior as a result of the above.
Unless you don't see any of these things as benefits?
I can think of 3 advantages of an SUV over an estate off the top of my head.
1) Better visibility. The higher driving position lets you see over other traffic and better judge the corners of the car, especially since the largely female target demographic are shorter on average. My missus rates this as one of the most important advantages of an SUV.
2) Easier to get small kids in and out of the back and shopping in an out of the boot. Both my missus and I have suffered from back issues from having to stick heavy toddlers in the back seat. This problem is greatly reduced in an SUV as you are at the right height to plop them straight even rather than bending over.
3) Ride comfort, the bigger tires and larger suspension travel often mean they have a comfier ride, much more important in a family wagon then whether it will corner on it's mirrors. Also the urban suv's might not be so great at going off-road but they are certainly capable enough to handle our pot whole ridden, crap roads and better than a long, low estate.
1) Better visibility. The higher driving position lets you see over other traffic and better judge the corners of the car, especially since the largely female target demographic are shorter on average. My missus rates this as one of the most important advantages of an SUV.
2) Easier to get small kids in and out of the back and shopping in an out of the boot. Both my missus and I have suffered from back issues from having to stick heavy toddlers in the back seat. This problem is greatly reduced in an SUV as you are at the right height to plop them straight even rather than bending over.
3) Ride comfort, the bigger tires and larger suspension travel often mean they have a comfier ride, much more important in a family wagon then whether it will corner on it's mirrors. Also the urban suv's might not be so great at going off-road but they are certainly capable enough to handle our pot whole ridden, crap roads and better than a long, low estate.
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