RE: PH Carbituary: Alfa Romeo Mito

[Nigel_O]

Interesting that the article praises the 156 and to a degree the 147, whilst slating the 159. It then goes on to say that the Brera and Spider "added some sparkle" but that the GT only added a little.

I'll happily concede that the Brera and Spider added some visual sparkle, but with equal engines (be it the 1.9 diesel, 2-litre petrol or the quite different 3.2 V6s), a Brera wouldn't see which way a GT went in anything other than a straight line.

The 159 deserved to sell a lot better, especially in the utterly gorgeous Ti trim and in Sportwagon body. However, as the article said, regardless of which engine was under the bonnet, the weight always blunted the performance and the handling. Even the base 1.9 diesel was 200kg heavier than the equivalent 156, 250kg heavier for the 2.4 diesel and 330+kg heavier with the V6.

Back to the Mito - the article clearly fails to take into account the ownership demographic. Whilst it doesn't hold up well against the much more predictable Mini Cooper, the badge had a certain appeal to young drivers that didn't want to follow the crowd and there's no denying that it looks unique. To be fair, the 1.4 turbo lump with a gentle remap is plenty enough for most people and makes for a punchy little car around town.

I work part-time at an Italian car specialist and anecdotally, I would say that Mito owners are amongst the most satisfied with their car (with 159 owners being somewhere near the bottom due to a well-known catalogue of issues).

For what its worth, I reckon Alfa could easily make a success of another supermini, but it would steal most sales from Fiat, so kinda defeats the object for Fiat Chrysler Group.

[DeltaEvo2]

Shifter1 said:

The anti Italian and pro German bias in the UK is something that baffles me. Here the worshiped Mercs, Bimmers and Audis are all taxis and if you want to hear horror stories about them all, just speak to a taxi driver who runs them daily year around.

Audi has come at the top of most unreliable cars in UK lists many times. But yet, if I would have a dime every time some pseudo car journalist youtuber posing as an expert, or even people in car TV shows would say they would take a bimmer instead, I would be rich.

Didn't even bother continuing reading the article once I saw where it was going. Same old cliche.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Nothing more to add.

[Alfahol Addict]

pixelpimp said:

Shocker: Pistonheads knocking the Mito again.
YAAAWN.

What a surprise, or not. Nigel O's post is spot on as well. It seems like the article was written by someone without any real knowledge of Alfa's, combined with lots of news about german SUV's, but no mention of the new Tonale concept, it says everything about their bias.

[SRT77]

Alfahol Addict said:

What a surprise, or not. Nigel O's post is spot on as well. It seems like the article was written by someone without any real knowledge of Alfa's, combined with lots of news about german SUV's, but no mention of the new Tonale concept, it says everything about their bias.

Totally agree. It's a pretty lazy article. Even the images used are of early pre-facelift cars. The front end was much improved at the last facelift.

[LuS1fer]

Alfahol Addict said:

What a surprise, or not. Nigel O's post is spot on as well. It seems like the article was written by someone without any real knowledge of Alfa's, combined with lots of news about german SUV's, but no mention of the new Tonale concept, it says everything about their bias.

The underpinnings of the Mito are Punto, dating from 2005?
The Tonale is based on the Jeep renegade from 2014?

I can't stand German stuff but you only have to look at the pace of progress in the supermini sector to realise that the pace of progress is critical to any model's success.

I've had old school Alfas - Alfetta and 2 Alfasuds and short of flushing cash down the toilet, there was no faster way of losing money. of course, I lioved in denial back then.

[s m]

Tim16V said:

A miserable and downbeat article on a fundamentally good car that was on sale for nearly a decade and still looks good now.

Still, what do we expect from PH when there's an Alfa involved.

It's the Italian Vauxhall! They get siimilar stick even when they are half decent

[Macboy]

The Crack Fox said:

I’d like it more if it didn’t have a face like Daniela Westbrook.

This...1000% this. Such an apt description and such a shame that the shape is spoiled by the pinched lights and prominent grill.

[filski666]

I quite liked it. When the missus was after a supermini we went to look at it.

It only came with that 1.0 litre twin air engine at the time, which was horrible to drive - noisy but not in a good way, and gutless unless you thrashed it.

Shame really, with a bigger, more alfa-esque characterful engine it could have been a hoot

[cidered77]

Nigel_O said:

Interesting that the article praises the 156 and to a degree the 147, whilst slating the 159. ......

But the 156 was a fresh and exciting design, great interior, turned heads, sold well... the 159 looked not much more than a moribund face lift model to the non-Alfa devotee layman (i.e. me!). And it didn't sell.

So why not praise one, and slate the other?

Don't get all the love for Alfa - the 156 is about the only car in relatively recent times I've even thought about owning, just seem to make ropy old **** with nice sounding engines and FWD. The Quadrifoglio is interesting - but doesn't wipe out the miss on the 4C for me .Such a missed opportunity that Alpine seem to have now grasped

[chopper602]

I had the Quadrifoglio Verde and loved it. Even took it lapping around the Nurburgring with much success. I think the 170bhp was the highest factory output for that 1.4 engine, but it certainly loved to rev. It was also totally fault free apart from some flaking clearcoat on the front brake calipers which was corrected under warranty
(Have a Giulia Veloce now!)

[Nigel_O]

cidered77 said:

Nigel_O said:

Interesting that the article praises the 156 and to a degree the 147, whilst slating the 159. ......

But the 156 was a fresh and exciting design, great interior, turned heads, sold well... the 159 looked not much more than a moribund face lift model to the non-Alfa devotee layman (i.e. me!). And it didn't sell.

So why not praise one, and slate the other?

You've mis-quoted me - what I actually said was:-

Nigel_O said:

Interesting that the article praises the 156 and to a degree the 147, whilst slating the 159. It then goes on to say that the Brera and Spider "added some sparkle" but that the GT only added a little.

What I was trying to say was that the article was unbalanced by praising the 156/147, then slating the 159 and in the same breath, praising the Brera/Spider and dumbing down the GT

For any Alfisti, the reason for my comments is obvious, but for the un-educated, I accept that it might not be so clear. Either way, the article is slightly self-contradictory.

And BTW, the 159 sold about 240,000, so hardly a flop, but admittedly nowhere near as many as the 156

[Mutts]

i had a 135 TCT for 5 & a bit years. Great little car apart from eating front tyres & brakes. Didnt help with flooded roads regards the brake issue. The auto box was great, put car in dynamic, box in manual and use paddles on the wheel. Do i miss it? No, it used to crash and bang over the crap roads round here.

[JLC25]

Nice looking car, half decent performance in hot spec, reliable - but if you can live with the smaller boot, the Abarth 595 does all of the above and puts a right grin on your face!

[Nigel_O]

[LuS1fer]

Princess? From Shrek presumably.
She's wheely bin down lately.

[Alfahol Addict]

LuS1fer said:

Princess? From Shrek presumably.
She's wheely bin down lately.

[InfamousK]

Speaking of Alfa Romeos. Why on earth do they insist in still making the Giulietta? It looks so dated and I don't recall one ever being praised.

[M4cruiser]

Good riddance to the Mito, I'd say, Have you ever ridden in one? Rock hard suspension and uncomfortable seats ... It's not for me.

[Mike335i]

M4cruiser said:

Good riddance to the Mito, I'd say, Have you ever ridden in one? Rock hard suspension and uncomfortable seats ... It's not for me.

Suspension is ok, par for the course on 'sporty' small cars but it grips like a limpet. Seats are not good though.

It was a good little car that could have been great with a bit more money spent in the right areas.

I think the biggest shame was Alfa not following up on the MiTo GTA.

[Oilchange]

If yous pec the leather seats its a comfy place to be