Fingers crossed for 620hp GTA-badged Giulia
Discussion
What a wonderful car. Used Quads’ prices are very tempting. Yes please! But then I found these long-term reports and remembered PH’s test car broke down mid test... 
Car & Driver’s long-term test: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a23145269/alf...
Top Gear’s long-termer - “I’ve never seen so many engine fault codes in my life,” the RAC man said with raised eyebrows:
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/big-reads/whats-l...
Road & Track:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10308214...
Jalopnik:
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/jalopnik.com/here-a...
Car & Driver’s long-term test: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a23145269/alf...
Top Gear’s long-termer - “I’ve never seen so many engine fault codes in my life,” the RAC man said with raised eyebrows:
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/big-reads/whats-l...
Road & Track:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a10308214...
Jalopnik:
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/jalopnik.com/here-a...
So, without it sounding like a line the early 5-10 RHD cars brought into the country were riddled with faults.
Unfortunately most of these cars ended up with Press.
Of all the QV owners I know, which is about 5 or 6, they have not reported anywhere near the same level of problems with the car.
Also there is a certain level of hyperbole from TG where one article bemoaned the car saying it didnt have even an oil temp gauge, when in fact it has.
Also consider that all the press cars spent their early lives being drifted round various circuits around the country, which is not a normal use case for these cars.
My own car has been very reliable, right up until a official dealer did its 36,000 mile service, after which its had 3 check engine warnings.
The weak point of these cars is not the manufacturing, its the piss poor dealerships.
Find one that has been serviced by independents who give a sh*t about their customers and it will be one of the finest purchases of your life.
Unfortunately most of these cars ended up with Press.
Of all the QV owners I know, which is about 5 or 6, they have not reported anywhere near the same level of problems with the car.
Also there is a certain level of hyperbole from TG where one article bemoaned the car saying it didnt have even an oil temp gauge, when in fact it has.
Also consider that all the press cars spent their early lives being drifted round various circuits around the country, which is not a normal use case for these cars.
My own car has been very reliable, right up until a official dealer did its 36,000 mile service, after which its had 3 check engine warnings.
The weak point of these cars is not the manufacturing, its the piss poor dealerships.
Find one that has been serviced by independents who give a sh*t about their customers and it will be one of the finest purchases of your life.
Nicks90 said:
rxe said:
Surely the arrival of a 4 pot C63 would be very good for the Giulia?
No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
Why would you say that?No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
Its a lighter engine and lower CofG, meaning it should handle better. Its got oodles more instant torque at all revs, so should feel faster in real world driving and with much lower emissions and better mpg - it means the market opens up to those who want a fast car but squeal at the ridiculous tax and fuel costs of wanting to use it as a daily whip.
Instantly broadened its appeal and possible market share. Those that dont care about the planet will still buy it, because its damned fast and they want a merc badge. It might even be as cheap to run as a C300de for those wanting to take the plunge on BIK or lease hire.
Without the sound I see zero appeal to a C63. I see zero appeal to an Audi S3 either but tonnes of appeal to an RS3. If the S3 had the five pot and the RS3 a tuned up 4pot then the S3 would be the car I'd buy regardless of it being slower.
I can't think of any desirable 4 cylinder cars (Subaru's aside) that's aren't in C segment or smaller. The A45 is only desirable because it's a mental hot hatch and sounds good for a 4 pot, but it sounds pathetic up against a C63.
"Its got oodles more instant torque at all revs, so should feel faster in real world driving"
I also don't understand this mentality. You get used to the speed of every single car. It's the soundtrack, vibrations, rawness etc that leave an impression. Speed doesn't count for much unless it's exciting speed. A 747 is a lot faster than an aerobatics plane but I know which one is more memorable.
Edited by llcoolmac on Friday 24th January 14:06
Edited by llcoolmac on Friday 24th January 14:09
Nicks90 said:
Why would you say that?
Its a lighter engine and lower CofG, meaning it should handle better. Its got oodles more instant torque at all revs, so should feel faster in real world driving and with much lower emissions and better mpg - it means the market opens up to those who want a fast car but squeal at the ridiculous tax and fuel costs of wanting to use it as a daily whip.
Instantly broadened its appeal and possible market share. Those that dont care about the planet will still buy it, because its damned fast and they want a merc badge. It might even be as cheap to run as a C300de for those wanting to take the plunge on BIK or lease hire.
Per the above, the target market for these things is people who want the bellow of an enraged engine to accompany the acceleration. If you just want acceleration, go and buy a Tesla S. These cars are beyond "fast", they're stupidly overpowered, and aimed at people who choose cars for not very sensible reasons (we think they are jolly good reasons though). Its a lighter engine and lower CofG, meaning it should handle better. Its got oodles more instant torque at all revs, so should feel faster in real world driving and with much lower emissions and better mpg - it means the market opens up to those who want a fast car but squeal at the ridiculous tax and fuel costs of wanting to use it as a daily whip.
Instantly broadened its appeal and possible market share. Those that dont care about the planet will still buy it, because its damned fast and they want a merc badge. It might even be as cheap to run as a C300de for those wanting to take the plunge on BIK or lease hire.
I don't think anyone in the market for one of these today will buy a 4 pot.
https://www.motor1.com/news/394378/alfa-romeo-giul...
I don't know why we allow ourselves to get excited by any Alfa related news. It's almost always nonsense. The company has denied these reports. They really are rubbish as a car sales company.
I don't know why we allow ourselves to get excited by any Alfa related news. It's almost always nonsense. The company has denied these reports. They really are rubbish as a car sales company.
llcoolmac said:
https://www.motor1.com/news/394378/alfa-romeo-giul...
I don't know why we allow ourselves to get excited by any Alfa related news. It's almost always nonsense. The company has denied these reports. They really are rubbish as a car sales company.
There's also a very good chance Alfa Romeo won't be around as a road car brand in the near future.I don't know why we allow ourselves to get excited by any Alfa related news. It's almost always nonsense. The company has denied these reports. They really are rubbish as a car sales company.
With such poor sales and so many new models scrapped recently there's an obvious lack of investment ... Will PSA keep the brand running?
Even if they do, the chance of bespoke chassis / running gear isn't going to happen. Cue a long list of 'new' Alfas that are actually Peugeots in drag.
So long Alfa, and thanks for all the fish.
Nicks90 said:
rxe said:
Surely the arrival of a 4 pot C63 would be very good for the Giulia?
No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
Why would you say that?No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
Its a lighter engine and lower CofG, meaning it should handle better. Its got oodles more instant torque at all revs, so should feel faster in real world driving and with much lower emissions and better mpg - it means the market opens up to those who want a fast car but squeal at the ridiculous tax and fuel costs of wanting to use it as a daily whip.
Instantly broadened its appeal and possible market share. Those that dont care about the planet will still buy it, because its damned fast and they want a merc badge. It might even be as cheap to run as a C300de for those wanting to take the plunge on BIK or lease hire.
TX.
I do like it - but have you seen the Romeo Ferraris racing Giulia??? THAT is the way forward for the GTV/GTA 2-door version, imho...
https://www.romeoferraris.com/en/romeo-ferraris-la...
https://www.romeoferraris.com/en/romeo-ferraris-la...
Nors said:
The Elephant in the room for me here is the 2WD & 600bhp. It a bit like the high powered Brabus Merc's, all that power you can't really use on the road. Traction Light city!
Don't get me wrong, love this car, but it wouldn't really be user friendly to me as a result.
Yep I couldn't deploy the 560hp in my old F10 unless it was dry and you were in 3rd and then it's licence losing time within seconds, 620hp in a Giulia will be fun on the top gear test track but unusable on the road over the standard cars 510hp. Don't get me wrong, love this car, but it wouldn't really be user friendly to me as a result.
Mercedes will find out exactly (like Porsche did when they went four pot) how much sound & cubic capacity matters to someone who's considering a performance saloon, another case in point is the i8 just look how loved that is.
Back to the Giulia I really feel that Alfa missed a trick by not producing the coupe that I feel the market would've lapped up.
Back to the Giulia I really feel that Alfa missed a trick by not producing the coupe that I feel the market would've lapped up.
ZX10R NIN said:
Mercedes will find out exactly (like Porsche did when they went four pot) how much sound & cubic capacity matters to someone who's considering a performance saloon, another case in point is the i8 just look how loved that is.
So true. I only bought my 6.2 C63 because of the sound! I didn't drive it like it should have been. I just adored the burble, and the menace of the whole experience. I would have never considered an M3... just wasn't what I wanted. I am now eyeing up 60's muscle cars. No performance as such, but the sound and theatre of the experience is what is important to me. I would never lust for a 4 pot AMG.I love the Giulia.
But to write "With word of up to 20kg of weight savings" in an article without making some irony on the pettiness of such a "saving" is really bad journalism.
If you cannot afford to take the pi*s out of such a statement because if not they don't give you cars to test or advert money, then by all means just refuse to copy it from their press release!
Anyway, thank you PH for so many free articles and sorry for the rant.
But to write "With word of up to 20kg of weight savings" in an article without making some irony on the pettiness of such a "saving" is really bad journalism.
If you cannot afford to take the pi*s out of such a statement because if not they don't give you cars to test or advert money, then by all means just refuse to copy it from their press release!
Anyway, thank you PH for so many free articles and sorry for the rant.
rxe said:
Surely the arrival of a 4 pot C63 would be very good for the Giulia?
No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
I’m sure the majority of people who buy a c63 do it because it’s a Mercedes not because it’s a v8No one buys these cars to save the planet, so its a much easier decision to choose the V6 over the 4-hybrid. Right now V6 vs V8 is a tough one...
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