RE: MY20 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio | Driven
Discussion
Slightly off-topic but clearly Alfa are strapped for cash, so why are they spunking millions sponsoring a midfield F1 outfit? If they'd put the cash into product development a few years earlier the 4C could have been a contender, not an also-ran like Sauber F1
Edited by usualdog1 on Tuesday 19th November 16:54
Edited by usualdog1 on Tuesday 19th November 17:00
I think the issue is young people want v small cars like a 500, a mini and a polo. Then in their 20s they want A class 1 series A3, Golf then later 3 series, A4, C class etc. If its not one of thoes theb its a cheap car ford, citeron result, Hyundai etc but no where does Alfa feature so they are left with the very small 30 something market who want something different.
I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
Gecko1978 said:
I think the issue is young people want v small cars like a 500, a mini and a polo. Then in their 20s they want A class 1 series A3, Golf then later 3 series, A4, C class etc. If its not one of thoes theb its a cheap car ford, citeron result, Hyundai etc but no where does Alfa feature so they are left with the very small 30 something market who want something different.
I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
Do you think a 40yr old M3 driver, chose that car because they had a MINI 15yrs ago?I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
Or a C63S driver because they had a Smart car?
....and on that basis, is the 500 not as much of a feeder car into a Giulia QF as the MINI is too the M3 and Smart into a C63?
Ares said:
The issue isn't the cars, they are class defining for sports saloons...(although the interior tweaks are welcome and will broaden the appeal)
It is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly s
t dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.
Sorry for not being clearIt is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly s
t dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.I think the QF is best in class. Dealers let them down.
I was looking to replace something else but Alfa dealer experience was shockingly poor after initial contact at Goodwood so I just kept what I had as the German option didn’t do it for me.
I don’t think a trim level is going to change that unless it is made from the hide of Alfa dealers.
Miserablegit said:
Ares said:
The issue isn't the cars, they are class defining for sports saloons...(although the interior tweaks are welcome and will broaden the appeal)
It is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly st dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.
Sorry for not being clearIt is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly s
t dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.I think the QF is best in class. Dealers let them down.
I was looking to replace something else but Alfa dealer experience was shockingly poor after initial contact at Goodwood so I just kept what I had as the German option didn’t do it for me.
I don’t think a trim level is going to change that unless it is made from the hide of Alfa dealers.
My Alfa is possibly the best car I've every owned. It's certainly the best 4-seater I've owned. It's the first car I'm not starting to get excited about replacing after 2yrs.....but I won't have another purely down to customer service, Dealers AND ARUK.
Ares said:
My Alfa is possibly the best car I've every owned. It's certainly the best 4-seater I've owned. It's the first car I'm not starting to get excited about replacing after 2yrs.....but I won't have another purely down to customer service, Dealers AND ARUK.
As others have said, the product is great and they haven't got the worst plan here, as I imagine the buyers fall into.
1) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it, bought it
2) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it but thought the interior was a bit iffy, didn't buy it (Hoping to capture this market with a low cost refresh) The amount of forum feedback saying "I just couldn't live with some of the trim e.t.c" vs those like me that didn't have a major issue with it but definitely thought the gearknob was low rent.....I bet that will be a popular replacement if easily/cheaply swapped
3) 1 or 2 but hate the dealer network, didn't buy it
4) Never heard of Alfa/wouldn't consider
They need to work on more than just the car, approaching service like Lexus originally did (perhaps still do). BMW/Mercedes e.t.c get away with sub par service because it's German and in favour, Alfa doesn't have that privilege (and I suspect in some cases really dont do themselves any favours!)
Can I repeat....great car, I haven't driven another saloon car in recent years that drives like the Giulia. More than the sum of it's parts.
1) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it, bought it
2) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it but thought the interior was a bit iffy, didn't buy it (Hoping to capture this market with a low cost refresh) The amount of forum feedback saying "I just couldn't live with some of the trim e.t.c" vs those like me that didn't have a major issue with it but definitely thought the gearknob was low rent.....I bet that will be a popular replacement if easily/cheaply swapped
3) 1 or 2 but hate the dealer network, didn't buy it
4) Never heard of Alfa/wouldn't consider
They need to work on more than just the car, approaching service like Lexus originally did (perhaps still do). BMW/Mercedes e.t.c get away with sub par service because it's German and in favour, Alfa doesn't have that privilege (and I suspect in some cases really dont do themselves any favours!)
Can I repeat....great car, I haven't driven another saloon car in recent years that drives like the Giulia. More than the sum of it's parts.
Edited by V6Alfisti on Tuesday 19th November 18:30
V6Alfisti said:
As others have said, the product is great and they haven't got the worst plan here, as I imagine the buyers fall into.
1) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it, bought it
2) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it but thought the interior was a bit iffy, didn't buy it (Hoping to capture this market with a low cost refresh) The amount of forum feedback saying "I just couldn't live with some of the trim e.t.c" vs those like me that didn't have a major issue with it but definitely thought the gearknob was low rent.....I bet that will be a popular replacement if easily/cheaply swapped
3) 1 or 2 but hate the dealer network, didn't buy it
4) Never heard of Alfa/wouldn't consider
They need to work on more than just the car, approaching service like Lexus originally did (perhaps still do). BMW/Mercedes e.t.c get away with sub par service because it's German and in favour, Alfa doesn't have that privilege (and I suspect in some cases really dont do themselves any favours!)
Can I repeat....great car, I haven't driven another saloon car in recent years that drives like the Giulia. More than the sum of it's parts.
I'd say the biggest category is "love the prospect of an Alfa, really want to try an Alfa, try to do so, struggle for a few weeks, give up and go German. "1) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it, bought it
2) Heard of Alfa, tried it love it but thought the interior was a bit iffy, didn't buy it (Hoping to capture this market with a low cost refresh) The amount of forum feedback saying "I just couldn't live with some of the trim e.t.c" vs those like me that didn't have a major issue with it but definitely thought the gearknob was low rent.....I bet that will be a popular replacement if easily/cheaply swapped
3) 1 or 2 but hate the dealer network, didn't buy it
4) Never heard of Alfa/wouldn't consider
They need to work on more than just the car, approaching service like Lexus originally did (perhaps still do). BMW/Mercedes e.t.c get away with sub par service because it's German and in favour, Alfa doesn't have that privilege (and I suspect in some cases really dont do themselves any favours!)
Can I repeat....great car, I haven't driven another saloon car in recent years that drives like the Giulia. More than the sum of it's parts.
Edited by V6Alfisti on Tuesday 19th November 18:30
768c said:
Ares said:
My Alfa is possibly the best car I've every owned. It's certainly the best 4-seater I've owned. It's the first car I'm not starting to get excited about replacing after 2yrs.....but I won't have another purely down to customer service, Dealers AND ARUK.
Oh dear what a miserable article on very good cars. PH clearly a bit miffed at not been flown out to Australia for a week for the launch?
Apart from the dealers (but not the specialists) the problem for Alfa is the unbelievable discounting on new German machinery. BMW's - 30%?...'step this way sir'....very difficult to compete.
Apart from the dealers (but not the specialists) the problem for Alfa is the unbelievable discounting on new German machinery. BMW's - 30%?...'step this way sir'....very difficult to compete.
Ares said:
Gecko1978 said:
I think the issue is young people want v small cars like a 500, a mini and a polo. Then in their 20s they want A class 1 series A3, Golf then later 3 series, A4, C class etc. If its not one of thoes theb its a cheap car ford, citeron result, Hyundai etc but no where does Alfa feature so they are left with the very small 30 something market who want something different.
I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
Do you think a 40yr old M3 driver, chose that car because they had a MINI 15yrs ago?I like the Alfa but unless I could get a Q modle its not for me.
Or a C63S driver because they had a Smart car?
....and on that basis, is the 500 not as much of a feeder car into a Giulia QF as the MINI is too the M3 and Smart into a C63?
Ares said:
Miserablegit said:
Ares said:
The issue isn't the cars, they are class defining for sports saloons...(although the interior tweaks are welcome and will broaden the appeal)
It is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly st dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.
Sorry for not being clearIt is partly the dealers.
It is largely the dealer network.
But the biggest hurdle is the place that the big germans have in the two markets.
The Giulia is the fourth best selling cars in its class behind the three Germans. They better all the other non-Germans. But the place that BMW, Audi and Merc hold in that segment provides a huge barrier to entry....and with a dire dealer network, and utterly s
t dealers, Alfa won't gain that ground.I think the QF is best in class. Dealers let them down.
I was looking to replace something else but Alfa dealer experience was shockingly poor after initial contact at Goodwood so I just kept what I had as the German option didn’t do it for me.
I don’t think a trim level is going to change that unless it is made from the hide of Alfa dealers.
My Alfa is possibly the best car I've every owned. It's certainly the best 4-seater I've owned. It's the first car I'm not starting to get excited about replacing after 2yrs.....but I won't have another purely down to customer service, Dealers AND ARUK.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff