Giulia. New segment leader? Would you buy one?
Discussion
Ares said:
Your analogy is a bit s
t. Sorry.
As is calling any car with an Auto, boring.
Your explanation is a bit st. Sorry.As is calling any car with an Auto, boring.
t, sorry.As is your failure to explain how an auto isn't boring.
Ares said:
....and you realise that BMW sells way more autos than manuals don't you? That's because, aside from men that think not have a stick manual affects their masculinity, most drivers realise they are now way better 
Yes, I know there are more door to door salesmen (reps) than petrolheads. That doesn't make them better. Most people view their cars as appliances, the wisdom of the crowds often seems anything but.Also your logical fallacy is Ad Populum. I mean TOWIE is popular... ergo TOWIE is the height of artistic expression or Ford sells more Mondeo's than Aston sells DB11's, ergo the Mondeo is a better car than a DB11.
Ares said:
Just like all those comfortable Ferraris 
Thats why the 430 and 360 manuals aren't holding their value. Ares said:
In my opinion the irony is, all the best sports cars have auto/DSG/PDK/etc boxes
Fixed that for you. I'm going to say at this point you've never learned to drive a manual.Aston and Porsche still maintain manual models because people like them and buy them. The problem is in most of the world, most people cant drive a manual.
You're really grasping at straws.
Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 18th January 12:38
Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 18th January 12:38
Ares said:
If true/still the case, it's that attitude that will stifle their development in the UK. That said, from experience, other marque's dealers are no better.
well its understandable they dont want joyriders (because of course, there must be so many people who want to take an hour out of their day to drive an expensive car around a town centre) but yeah seems a bit silly to me. cerb4.5lee said:
otolith said:
Some people just enjoy working a manual gearbox. It's a part of the driving experience they enjoy. It doesn't matter how good the automatic is if it doesn't replicate that experience.
Completely this, I've had several Auto's and one dual clutch gearbox...and I love how easy they're to drive and they give a nice relaxed feel to a car...but I've never enjoyed using them though like I do a three pedal manual. Ares said:
J4CKO said:
I would have one, lovely grey one with a private plate round here but the driver looks proper dodgy
I've heard the same. I'd keep well away if I were you Cant escape him, think he is now writing letters to Autocar as well I noticed.
Autos are great for boring mundane driving but if you want to enjoy driving a manual is far more fun and involving. This is a statement of fact.
Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
captain_cynic said:
Ares said:
Your analogy is a bit st. Sorry.
As is calling any car with an Auto, boring.
Your explanation is a bit st. Sorry.As is calling any car with an Auto, boring.
t, sorry.As is your failure to explain how an auto isn't boring.
Autos can be boring (as can manuals). But an Auto doesn't make a car boring. Go jump in a 458 Speciale, or a Huracán Performante and tell me it's boring.
captain_cynic said:
Ares said:
....and you realise that BMW sells way more autos than manuals don't you? That's because, aside from men that think not have a stick manual affects their masculinity, most drivers realise they are now way better
Yes, I know there are more door to door salesmen (reps) than petrolheads. That doesn't make them better. Most people view their cars as appliances, the wisdom of the crowds often seems anything but.Also your logical fallacy is Ad Populum. I mean TOWIE is popular... ergo TOWIE is the height of artistic expression or Ford sells more Mondeo's than Aston sells DB11's, ergo the Mondeo is a better car than a DB11.
your point was that Alfa was losing sales because of it's gearboxes, the fact is that more and more people are moving to Autos in that sector. Nothing to do with TOWIE.
Car manufacturers offer what people want to buy AND will buy. Interest popularity is not their focus, sales are.
captain_cynic said:
Ares said:
Just like all those comfortable Ferraris
Thats why the 430 and 360 manuals aren't holding their value. But you think the 430 auto is more comfortable than a 430 manual?
captain_cynic said:
Ares said:
In my opinion the irony is, all the best sports cars have auto/DSG/PDK/etc boxes
Fixed that for you. I'm going to say at this point you've never learned to drive a manual.captain_cynic said:
Aston and Porsche still maintain manual models because people like them and buy them. The problem is in most of the world, most people cant drive a manual.
You're really grasping at straws.
But their sales volume is plummeting as more and more realise the autos are better, and the fastest/halo models are auto.You're really grasping at straws.
Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 18th January 12:38
Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 18th January 12:38
I'm not the one grasping as straws. HTH
Ahbefive said:
Autos are great for boring mundane driving but if you want to enjoy driving a manual is far more fun and involving. This is a statement of fact.
Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
WrongAutos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
Wrong
Wrong
HTH.
To answer the original question...... YES.
I did in fact.
To pick up a few other arguments, Auto versus manual, sadly this is fast becoming a mute point, In this sector very very few manuals are being sold anymore, before long they will become extinct. This Giulia (Veloce) is my first auto and I have to say i'm extremely impressed though I would probably have defaulted to type and bought a manual if it was offered. I expect i would be missing out though as the auto does offer the relaxed wafting about mode (natural), the press on quickly and very easy mode (Dynamic), the 'I want to save some fuel given the traffic wont let me drive properly anyway' mode (Advanced) and the I'm going to play at being an F1 driver mode (paddles). You don't get that with a manual. Using the paddles is a skill in itself (not one i have mastered yet!) the change is instant and its so easy to do it you tend to change much more than you should do you finding yourself in higher gears going into corners than you might otherwise. its a whole new way of driving and no less fun for it.
Looks... very subjective and some say its too 'BMW', Its a fair point, but I do think the Giulia carries it off better than anything else of its size and type at the moment.
Interior quality.... if the minor differences in quality concern you then I suggest you are looking at cars from the wrong perspective...!
Infotainment... seems fine to me, easy enough to use, a few features missing which might be useful but not much. I can't understand the comments about screen resolution, again it seems fine. Its also got some delightful stuff too, how many other car companies would include photos of the historic back catalogue in the options display to represent your phone!. I've got a Giulia Sprint GTA as mine today, but i could change that to Fangio's Alfetta 159 or a 33 Stradale if I felt like it.
Nothing has been said so far here about the real trump card of the Giulia the Steering, handling and ride, it really is stunning. That is why Evo rated the Veloce as 'Sports saloon of the Year' and that in the real world of serious driving is what matters most.
I did in fact.
To pick up a few other arguments, Auto versus manual, sadly this is fast becoming a mute point, In this sector very very few manuals are being sold anymore, before long they will become extinct. This Giulia (Veloce) is my first auto and I have to say i'm extremely impressed though I would probably have defaulted to type and bought a manual if it was offered. I expect i would be missing out though as the auto does offer the relaxed wafting about mode (natural), the press on quickly and very easy mode (Dynamic), the 'I want to save some fuel given the traffic wont let me drive properly anyway' mode (Advanced) and the I'm going to play at being an F1 driver mode (paddles). You don't get that with a manual. Using the paddles is a skill in itself (not one i have mastered yet!) the change is instant and its so easy to do it you tend to change much more than you should do you finding yourself in higher gears going into corners than you might otherwise. its a whole new way of driving and no less fun for it.
Looks... very subjective and some say its too 'BMW', Its a fair point, but I do think the Giulia carries it off better than anything else of its size and type at the moment.
Interior quality.... if the minor differences in quality concern you then I suggest you are looking at cars from the wrong perspective...!
Infotainment... seems fine to me, easy enough to use, a few features missing which might be useful but not much. I can't understand the comments about screen resolution, again it seems fine. Its also got some delightful stuff too, how many other car companies would include photos of the historic back catalogue in the options display to represent your phone!. I've got a Giulia Sprint GTA as mine today, but i could change that to Fangio's Alfetta 159 or a 33 Stradale if I felt like it.
Nothing has been said so far here about the real trump card of the Giulia the Steering, handling and ride, it really is stunning. That is why Evo rated the Veloce as 'Sports saloon of the Year' and that in the real world of serious driving is what matters most.
Cold said:
Ares said:
Ahbefive said:
Autos are great for boring mundane driving but if you want to enjoy driving a manual is far more fun and involving. This is a statement of fact.
Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
Wrong - It is not a statement of fact, Autos are great for mundane driving. But having owned both, the QV gives more fun and enjoyment than any other car I've owned (including manual M cars, Merc, Subaru Sti, Hot Hatches) with the possible exception of my Elise, almost certain exception of my Exige and definite exception of my Caterham (which was a sequential box, so half-way house). None of those three were better because of the gearbox, in fact the Elise gearbox wasn't great at all.Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
Wrong - Autos are for those who prefer the far wider flexibility of an auto box. I lose nothing and gain plenty from having an outbox. For boring motorway slogs, I'd argue Auto's are no better than manuals anyway.
Wrong - It's the availability/supply that causes the residual value, and even then, not always. Find equal sales volumes and there won't be much of a difference. Take the M3. Search on <3yrs old, there are 10 manuals and 218 autos. Manuals range from £36k to £51k. Autos range from £39k to £69k (more if you include the 30 Jahre). So they're not holding value more.
Ditto Ferrari 360 and with similar availability. Autos (8) range from £57k to £220k, Manuals (7) range from £58k to £129k
HTH.
To me an Alfa should be A) Sporty B) Manual C) A nice bright red colour.
From this thread I now know they're apparently auto, so that's A & B outta the window IMHO
& C) They all seem to be a dull dark red colour which looks even worse this time of year, so much so that they blend in with the usual small exec pack on my commute rather than standing out as I would hope an Alfa would.
TLDR - No.
From this thread I now know they're apparently auto, so that's A & B outta the window IMHO
& C) They all seem to be a dull dark red colour which looks even worse this time of year, so much so that they blend in with the usual small exec pack on my commute rather than standing out as I would hope an Alfa would.
TLDR - No.
Richard-390a0 said:
To me an Alfa should be A) Sporty B) Manual C) A nice bright red colour.
From this thread I now know they're apparently auto, so that's A & B outta the window IMHO
& C) They all seem to be a dull dark red colour which looks even worse this time of year, so much so that they blend in with the usual small exec pack on my commute rather than standing out as I would hope an Alfa would.
TLDR - No.
Come and try my dark grey QV.From this thread I now know they're apparently auto, so that's A & B outta the window IMHO
& C) They all seem to be a dull dark red colour which looks even worse this time of year, so much so that they blend in with the usual small exec pack on my commute rather than standing out as I would hope an Alfa would.
TLDR - No.
If your heart rate doesn't double and you don't leave thinking it's an Alfa, I'll buy you a bottle of 2008 Amarone
Ares said:
Ahbefive said:
Autos are great for boring mundane driving but if you want to enjoy driving a manual is far more fun and involving. This is a statement of fact.
Autos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
WrongAutos are for the elderly, perfect laptimes and boring motorway slogs.
The clue is in the fact that a performance car with a manual gearbox will almost always hold its value better than its auto counterpart.
Wrong
Wrong
HTH.
Ares said:
Gearstick is a weak area - although the carbon fibre shifter helps (when it fits...!). But there are no grab handles on the centre console...?
Sorry, was posting at 5am on no sleep. Not grab handles, but the plastic bits that come down either side of the center stack:
Anyway, the point is there are some plastics with hard and sharp edges that are less than ideal.
Also, the wheel and pedals are a bit too offset from the centerline of the driver's seat. But again, none of this matters, it's a cracking car.
I'd certainly look at a Guilia if I was in the market for a sporty saloon, however I have a feeling I'd head to BMW or Audi for something that didn't have a blown 4 pot ..
I may be a tad biased as I'm driving a 5.0 v8 manual and wouldn't have it any other way after 5 years of auto/PDK/S-Tronic
velocemitch said:
Using the paddles is a skill in itself (not one i have mastered yet!)
I'm a little unsure of this comment though, I can't see how using a paddle is a skill .. you use one finger, or two maybe, and pull back when you want to change a gear .. it's a pretty basic skill. I appreciate some of the skill may be in terms of what gear do I want to be in for this corner etc. but it's only confusing now as there are usually 7, 8 or 9 speeds and you've no gut feel for whether you're in 4/5/6/7 etc. so you may as well let the car sort it out as it usually does it better.I may be a tad biased as I'm driving a 5.0 v8 manual and wouldn't have it any other way after 5 years of auto/PDK/S-Tronic
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