RE: Jaguar XE HSE P300 vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Ti
Discussion
stuart_83 said:
Had a Giulia Veloce last year and I can honestly say it's the best car I've driven in a very long time.
Unfortunately Alfa UK are still nowhere near competent enough to support their cars and customers (don't know if Jag are any better), so you need to go into the buying experience expecting the worst. They are genuinely borderline corrupt from the Italian Headoffice down.
If you can get over that then you'll get a staggeringly good car to drive.
I couldn't, so it ended up going back.
This is the stumbling block for Alfa and to a lesser extent jaguar. The dealers.Unfortunately Alfa UK are still nowhere near competent enough to support their cars and customers (don't know if Jag are any better), so you need to go into the buying experience expecting the worst. They are genuinely borderline corrupt from the Italian Headoffice down.
If you can get over that then you'll get a staggeringly good car to drive.
I couldn't, so it ended up going back.
You've got a limited pool of retailers for AR and I'm sorry but they don't seem to be up to the same level compared to the Germans - okay, they are far from perfect either, but there's more choice and a better experience. Alfa have the product now, so let it have the dealers too.
Jaguar has been nearly regulated as it tags along with LR dual arch dealers, but they have made a big push for coverage all over.
Oh, and I'd take the Alfa..
I like both cars for their aesthetic appeal and good handling. I’d certainly take either over any of the German opposition although the RS3 Audi is a good shout. I just find the 3/A4/C triumvirate boring, with all three being stylistically flawed in some way.
It’s the Alfa that shades it for me. It’s a very attractive car.
It’s the Alfa that shades it for me. It’s a very attractive car.
ITP said:
There is no sports saloon, probably at any price, that has a better ride/handling set up than a guilia.
I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
The British Press are either 'enthralled' by German engineering, or they are fed by them via advertising, promotional goods, services and such like. Would not surprise me either way - they are not regulated after all. I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
I bought the Alfa - ok, the non Ti regular Veloce model which mostly just does without some of the sportier trim bits and comes in at just under 40k. Without trying too hard on the haggling it came down to about £32,000 with metallic paint. It's a great drive and no regrets though it is my third Alfa so maybe I'm not the world's best critic.
ITP said:
There is no sports saloon, probably at any price, that has a better ride/handling set up than a guilia.
I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
Let me tell you one thing about Infotainment. I went from a 2015 4 series BMW to a 2017 Honda Civic Type R and while the Type R is the best handling car in its class along with the best steering feel and gear change, the infotainment system is an absolute shocker, I find myself getting angry sometimes as it either lags or I press the wrong button on the fly to change a song or to connect to Bluetooth. It’s very annoying. I will be selling this car soon to fund a house purchase and when I do buy another, I won’t be buying another so long it’s a daily driver. I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
The Alfa may be class leading in dynamics but 95% of the time, the car will be stuck in traffic or flowing with traffic at the speed limit.
I love my Civic but I also love music (HK in BMW’s) and a good intuitive non touchscreen infotainment system which is why I’ll be returning to BMW. It’s a compromise. The Alfa is probably the best but the Germans provide an all rounder which is why the roads are littered with them!
ITP said:
There is no sports saloon, probably at any price, that has a better ride/handling set up than a guilia.
I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
This......I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
The Giulia should be the enthusiasts choice as all those things a keen driver should find important are delivered beautifully, except perhaps a manual box ( but in reality very very few would tick that box anyway).
The Ti is over priced though, I think most who have already bought a Giulia would agree with that. A Standard Veloce is every bit as good on the road and significantly cheaper. Ti needs to have more power to make it worth the extra money.
Chestrockwell said:
ITP said:
There is no sports saloon, probably at any price, that has a better ride/handling set up than a guilia.
I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
Let me tell you one thing about Infotainment. I went from a 2015 4 series BMW to a 2017 Honda Civic Type R and while the Type R is the best handling car in its class along with the best steering feel and gear change, the infotainment system is an absolute shocker, I find myself getting angry sometimes as it either lags or I press the wrong button on the fly to change a song or to connect to Bluetooth. It’s very annoying. I will be selling this car soon to fund a house purchase and when I do buy another, I won’t be buying another so long it’s a daily driver. I am constantly surprised how this is played down by pretty much all the motoring media, talking constantly about he infotainment not being good as German cars and some lack of ‘percieved’ quality, whatever that means.
It should be the benchmark for others to beat, but is branded as a left field choice instead. Odd.
The Alfa may be class leading in dynamics but 95% of the time, the car will be stuck in traffic or flowing with traffic at the speed limit.
I love my Civic but I also love music (HK in BMW’s) and a good intuitive non touchscreen infotainment system which is why I’ll be returning to BMW. It’s a compromise. The Alfa is probably the best but the Germans provide an all rounder which is why the roads are littered with them!
philmots said:
G20 330i would probably be better than both.
I test drove a Veloce Ti last weekend and loved it; RRP + the options it had spec'd on it came to £49k. I then went on Merc and BMW's sites to configure an equivalent 3 series and C class and with the same power/spec both were north of £50k. The RRP on that Alfa I drove is £49k but the dealership has it for sale with 500 miles on it at £39k, which included the £2.5k paint option, the performance pack and the carbon pack. Someone is going to get a steal.
A few more months and i'll be in the position to commit to a new car and the Giulia is top of the list; no other new car appeals to me.
My M2 was recently in for some work and they gave me the keys to the latest 320d.
I've driven these often in the last version and found them 'adequate' at best. I have no idea what spec it was etc, some sort of none M sport thing? But it blew me away with how good it was!! Really amazed - two biggest criticisms were tyre noise (issue since the E46) and comedy tyres that could in no way handle the performance - but the suspension was genius. In short I was amazed.
Also made me realise that to build a better 3-series must be hell. The jags I've driven were nowhere near close, can't speak for Alfa - but I get why it is default for company car drivers - it is also so much better than last gen.
I've driven these often in the last version and found them 'adequate' at best. I have no idea what spec it was etc, some sort of none M sport thing? But it blew me away with how good it was!! Really amazed - two biggest criticisms were tyre noise (issue since the E46) and comedy tyres that could in no way handle the performance - but the suspension was genius. In short I was amazed.
Also made me realise that to build a better 3-series must be hell. The jags I've driven were nowhere near close, can't speak for Alfa - but I get why it is default for company car drivers - it is also so much better than last gen.
Numeric said:
My M2 was recently in for some work and they gave me the keys to the latest 320d.
I've driven these often in the last version and found them 'adequate' at best. I have no idea what spec it was etc, some sort of none M sport thing? But it blew me away with how good it was!! Really amazed - two biggest criticisms were tyre noise (issue since the E46) and comedy tyres that could in no way handle the performance - but the suspension was genius. In short I was amazed.
Also made me realise that to build a better 3-series must be hell. The jags I've driven were nowhere near close, can't speak for Alfa - but I get why it is default for company car drivers - it is also so much better than last gen.
I don't think anyone is disputing the high position the 3 series is in - and has been, well, since the E46. If you judge a car on how it makes you feel I think the Alfa, for me, (and also the Jag actually) comfortably overtakes the 3 series in that stake. It just feels more special, which I amazing considering it is humdrum saloon car made to rival similar cars. I've driven these often in the last version and found them 'adequate' at best. I have no idea what spec it was etc, some sort of none M sport thing? But it blew me away with how good it was!! Really amazed - two biggest criticisms were tyre noise (issue since the E46) and comedy tyres that could in no way handle the performance - but the suspension was genius. In short I was amazed.
Also made me realise that to build a better 3-series must be hell. The jags I've driven were nowhere near close, can't speak for Alfa - but I get why it is default for company car drivers - it is also so much better than last gen.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff