Alfa GTs - Where are they?
Discussion
Those of you who have bought a GT, has it gone back to any warranty work yet? If so, what?
I really want a GT, but the old Alfa reputation is putting me off. The other cars I'm considering are likey to suffer far less from depreciation or unreliability (S2000 and M Coupe).
Opinions please?
DC
I really want a GT, but the old Alfa reputation is putting me off. The other cars I'm considering are likey to suffer far less from depreciation or unreliability (S2000 and M Coupe).
Opinions please?
DC
DavidCane said:
but the old Alfa reputation is putting me off
I bet you're scared it'll rust to pieces, too! [Swiss Tony]
Owning an Alfa is like...
[/Swiss Tony]
Seriously, buy one, treat it well and find a competent specialist to look after it and you'll have nothing but pleasure from the experience.
If you're one of those people who won't even open the bonnet and just like the looks of the Alfa but don't want to get involved other than to drive it A->B, then buy something Japanese.
It's more the effect that the 'old' reputation still has on residual values that holding me back. With a 3 year warranty and 3 years AA cover, I'm not worried about breakdowns (much).
I'm sure all cars on sale today are mechanically sound, mainly because they all effectively use the same components from the same suppliers - just look how many cars have the ZF Auto box for example.
But the majority of the car buying public simply don't know this and probably still think that every part of every car is made by the company whose name is on the badge. Therefore Alfa residuals put me off, but not much
I'm gonna have a look at a couple of dealer demos that are up for sale this weekend. I'm also tempted by a Euro import.
Has anyone got any experience of 3rd party warranty companies? If I get an import I probably won't be able to renew the original Alfa warranty.
Cheers
DC
ps: www.autodelta.co.uk now has hi(ish)-res pics of the GT Super. Tis looking sweeeeet.
I'm sure all cars on sale today are mechanically sound, mainly because they all effectively use the same components from the same suppliers - just look how many cars have the ZF Auto box for example.
But the majority of the car buying public simply don't know this and probably still think that every part of every car is made by the company whose name is on the badge. Therefore Alfa residuals put me off, but not much
I'm gonna have a look at a couple of dealer demos that are up for sale this weekend. I'm also tempted by a Euro import.
Has anyone got any experience of 3rd party warranty companies? If I get an import I probably won't be able to renew the original Alfa warranty.
Cheers
DC
ps: www.autodelta.co.uk now has hi(ish)-res pics of the GT Super. Tis looking sweeeeet.
I have found Alfas to be trouble free, my current being my 3rd. I started with a 155 ( absolutely superb, probably the best), then a 156, now the GT!
Never had a break down, the 155 used to chew through brakes & i have just had some leather work done to the seats in the GT, all under warranty, no quibble, got it back with a full valet
Never had a break down, the 155 used to chew through brakes & i have just had some leather work done to the seats in the GT, all under warranty, no quibble, got it back with a full valet
Alfa residuals are not great, but they are not as bad as they look because residuals are worked out on new list price and no one ever pays that for an Alfa....
I appreciate the GT may be a bit different with it being new and fairly scarce (limited numbers) but with a bit of shoppping around you should be able to find a deal.
I appreciate the GT may be a bit different with it being new and fairly scarce (limited numbers) but with a bit of shoppping around you should be able to find a deal.
You used to be able to buy an Alfacare warranty over the 'phone (I did), but it seems that they no longer do this, presumably to put one off from buying an import.
Plenty of other warranties around that are as good (if not better) than the Alfa one anyway - try the AA for example.
An import is the way to go if residuals are a big problem for you... save the money on the purchase and take a smaller hit on depreciation. Hell, sell it on after 6 months and break even, maybe?
Plenty of other warranties around that are as good (if not better) than the Alfa one anyway - try the AA for example.
An import is the way to go if residuals are a big problem for you... save the money on the purchase and take a smaller hit on depreciation. Hell, sell it on after 6 months and break even, maybe?
Wombat Rick said:
Alfa residuals are not great, but they are not as bad as they look because residuals are worked out on new list price and no one ever pays that for an Alfa....
What level of discount are people usually able to get with an Alfa dealer? I've been offered a reasonable part ex price for my Pug, but if there's more money to come off, I'm all ears
DC
You should be able to get within spitting distance of the import prices but without the hassle of dealing with them. Obviouly part-ex's can complicate things but at the end of the day it's the cost to swap which is important. The bigger Alfa dealers tend to give better prices than the smaller ones, although the smaller ones often look after you better on servicing.
And how do the dealers treat customers who bring in imported cars to have warranty work done?
Basically, Melbury are offering an excellent spec on their GT JTDs for £20350, a whopping £4000 less than Alfas price, it may even be cheaper cos there are some options on the Melbury cars that I haven't costed yet.
Can you really get nearly £4k off list price from a main dealer? If so, I'm there !!!
DC
Basically, Melbury are offering an excellent spec on their GT JTDs for £20350, a whopping £4000 less than Alfas price, it may even be cheaper cos there are some options on the Melbury cars that I haven't costed yet.
Can you really get nearly £4k off list price from a main dealer? If so, I'm there !!!
DC
DavidCane said:
And how do the dealers treat customers who bring in imported cars to have warranty work done?
Bascially, don't tell 'em. Unless they could be bothered to check, they'll never know anyway.
In any case, they'd be stupid to turn down your money. If they did, go elsewhere.
I've had no problems getting warranty work & servicing done at the local dealership here (other than general incompetance, which is a bane of most Fiat/Alfa dealerships in the UK
), even though the service manager there (in a candid conversation with an ex-colleague of mine) stated that he wouldn't touch an import pdV6 said:
And how do the dealers treat customers who bring in imported cars to have warranty work done?
Bascially, don't tell 'em. Unless they could be bothered to check, they'll never know anyway.
In any case, they'd be stupid to turn down your money. If they did, go elsewhere.
I've had no problems getting warranty work & servicing done at the local dealership here (other than general incompetance, which is a bane of most Fiat/Alfa dealerships in the UK
It doesn't make any differnce if its an import or not, but you don't get your 3 years AA cover (top spec cover too) and you only get 2 years warranty.
Apart from that then theres no reason why not to get an import.
We check every car as a matter of course, we do a SIGI check and it tells us all about the car, including if its an import or not.
That seems to contradict the information on Smart Alfa's website. They state:
"All vehicles come with 3 Years manufacturer's warranty 3 Years AA cover " on www.smartalfa.co.uk/car_spec.php?carCode=gt01
I can potentially imagine that SmartAlfa supply the AA cover, but surely the manufacturer warranty has to come direct from Alfa in Italy?
DC
"All vehicles come with 3 Years manufacturer's warranty 3 Years AA cover " on www.smartalfa.co.uk/car_spec.php?carCode=gt01
I can potentially imagine that SmartAlfa supply the AA cover, but surely the manufacturer warranty has to come direct from Alfa in Italy?
DC
DavidCane said:
That seems to contradict the information on Smart Alfa's website. They state:
"All vehicles come with 3 Years manufacturer's warranty 3 Years AA cover " on www.smartalfa.co.uk/car_spec.php?carCode=gt01
I can potentially imagine that SmartAlfa supply the AA cover, but surely the manufacturer warranty has to come direct from Alfa in Italy?
DC
If it really is a 3 year pan-european manufacturer's warranty, then you're laughing.
I know in the past, it was 2 years - made up of 1 year manufacturer and 1 year dealership. Therefore you effectively had only a 1 year warranty on an import unless you were prepared to travel back to the supplying dealer...
If SA are quoting 3 + 3, then that's what they have to supply. Best check carefully and get it spelt out in writing before parting with any cash.
DavidCane said:
That seems to contradict the information on Smart Alfa's website. They state:
"All vehicles come with 3 Years manufacturer's warranty 3 Years AA cover " on www.smartalfa.co.uk/car_spec.php?carCode=gt01
I can potentially imagine that SmartAlfa supply the AA cover, but surely the manufacturer warranty has to come direct from Alfa in Italy?
DC
Well bugger me, Alfa don't offer a 3 Year Manufactures Warranty for the UK!
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