RE: Alfa reveals two new models

[rob.e]

runnersp said:

.. i don't think this car is "crap to drive," ok, it'll never be an Alfetta GTV, but of all the FWD cars i've driven, its one of the best.

Sorry, you're right, the word "crap" is probably taking it a bit too far. I've not driven one so I'm in no position to criticise, however you have to admit that most of Alfa recent fast fwd cars have not generally been well accepted by the motoring press.

[runnersp]

Definately true. But in Italy we got a version of the 145 called the Junior with a 1.6 Twinspark, i'm lucky enough to have one of those in the family and its the most fun i've had in a fwd ever. Unfortunately Alfa never seems to be able to convert cars to RHD properly, i recently tried a 146 in England, the driving position is pretty horrible... Spoils the experience a bit.

[chickensoup]

I too loved the look of the 156 estate, and went to look at one. Sadly we needed a car with 4 seats and a load carrying area - the car missed on both fronts. Sadly this estate seems to have the same issue of design costing it load carrying potential. Should just make it a 2 door plus two / shootingbrake rather than pretending it can take 4 adults with luggage.

Hope Spyder is pretty in the flesh

[800]

I've seen the 159 in the flesh and its simply stunning. Like the 156, I think the Sportwagon looks even better.

Makes BMW/Merc/VAG in same class look like they were designed by a three year old with fat wax crayons.

(agree with LA about the off-set number plate though, bit of a fundamental design problem)

[tr7v8]

chickensoup said:

I too loved the look of the 156 estate, and went to look at one. Sadly we needed a car with 4 seats and a load carrying area - the car missed on both fronts. Sadly this estate seems to have the same issue of design costing it load carrying potential. Should just make it a 2 door plus two / shootingbrake rather than pretending it can take 4 adults with luggage.

Confused, it's not an estate & Alfa have never sold it as one, they deem it a Lifestyle car or a 5 door coupe. Mine regularly carried 4 people & on occasion a cramped 5 & at other times carried stuff for the boat or the odd piece of furniture. If you want an estatte then buy something like a Focus but the Alfa fits in its own niche & does it well.
Not sure about the 159 as its apparently quite a bit bigger, bu I suspect the overall design concept is the same.

[tr7v8]

rob.e said:

runnersp said: .. i don't think this car is "crap to drive," ok, it'll never be an Alfetta GTV, but of all the FWD cars i've driven, its one of the best. Sorry, you're right, the word "crap" is probably taking it a bit too far. I've not driven one so I'm in no position to criticise, however you have to admit that most of Alfa recent fast fwd cars have not generally been well accepted by the motoring press.

The Alfa is a brilliant handling car irrespective of being FWD or RWD, mine regularly ran rings around the supposedly quality German badges especially when the weather was bad etc.
If you haven't driven one and believe the very Germanic biased UK press then you haven't got any basis to comment, let alone on the "crap" level. Funny how many died in the wool
BMW owners grudgingly admitted that the Alfa was very nice inside & felt very well screwed together.

[tr7v8]

los angeles said:

All that effort to achieve beauty and symmetry only to stick the front reg plate off-centre.

You've failed to grasp why the No. plate is offset, it is a retro feature the same as the earlier Alfas as per the earlier spiders etc. It's different not wrong.

[neejah]

It's the same old story though, as somene who bought a new V6 GTV a few years ago (after both a 2.0litre and 3.0litre 75) I found the main dealers pitiful (poor service, no parts) and the customer service appaling......I wrote a letter of complaint to Alfa UK customer Service and to the Quality department at the factory.......did I get a response.....no This on a supposed flagship model which cost 27K (It still rankles now.....) I personally wouldn't go back until a) They changed their dealer "network" to companies that give a damn (and don't lump them in with Fiat) b) They improve their customer service c) Improve the quality of components used.....new bottom arms and discs at 25,000 miles isn't normal, nor is scrubbing a tyre in 7,000 miles wether or not the camber & caster is within spec (and no, it had never touched a kerb.....)
Trouble is, you wouldn't mind the faults if the dealers and customer service was efficient.......but it simply wasn't........just my two pence worth

[156er]

Aaaaarrrgghhhh!!!!!!! So near and yet so far.

What on earth are the front wheels doing back there? It reminds me of the previous generation Celica, really nice looking car until you look at it side on, when it just looks daft.

Stick a wheel at each corner and it looks cool...Mini, Elise, etc etc. And handles better...

I'm afraid I really dont get this new "heavy" Alfa grill thing, original 147 and 156 looked great, now they just look odd.

[156er]

PS Cover up the first 12" of car with your hand, squint slightly, and it looks far to much like a TT Roadster for it's own good.

[richb]

jamieboy said:

dinkel said: What's the official name then . . . Brera Convertible or Alfa Spider? Pretty sure the coupe is just called the Brera, and the convertible is just called the Spider, same as the previous (or current) generation GTV and Spider.

Correct...

[young_pup]

Nice but wouldnt touch Alfa with a Venetian barge pole...

Nice sound and style but let down by poor reliability, massive depreciation, high servicing costs and poor service.

[richb]

los angeles said:

tr7v8 said: los angeles said: All that effort to achieve beauty and symmetry only to stick the front reg plate off-centre. You've failed to grasp why the No. plate is offset, it is a retro feature the same as the earlier Alfas as per the earlier spiders etc. It's different not wrong. I know it was on pre-war Alfa Romeos (WWII) race cars all the more reason to junk it. It is as outdated as their UK dealers service. It looks stupid. And I don't expect to find a twenty inch wide steering wheel on modern Alfas either.

That is of course all in your opinion. Personally I think it emphasises Alfa's Italian cool looks and differentiates them from the massed ranks of German convertibles. p.s. They have been off-setting the number plate for many many years, it wasn't just pre-war races you know.

[richb]

young_pup said:

Nice but wouldn't touch Alfa with a Venetian barge pole... Nice sound and style but let down by poor reliability, massive depreciation, high servicing costs and poor service.

And you base that on experience of owning an Alfa do you?

[runnersp]

156er said:

Aaaaarrrgghhhh!!!!!!! So near and yet so far. Stick a wheel at each corner and it looks cool...Mini, Elise, etc etc. And handles better...

Unfortunately due to pedestrian impact laws there are going to be fewer and fewer cars like those. Just look at the monumental snout on the Pug 407. So silly, pedestrians should stay on the pavement!

>> Edited by runnersp on Thursday 2nd February 17:58

[vpinto]

I owned two 147, one 1.6 and the other was a 1.9 diesel. I have to say that specially the 1.6 behaved brilliantly. It was real fun for a FWD. Other friends of mine owning Golfs and A3s and stuff like that agreed. The front gripe was very good and the will to stick the back out was very welcome and most uncommon these days. Also high speed stability was great. No surprises.

The interior never felt cramped to me (front seats) and the rear was a little bit better than other cars on the segment like the two mentioned above (yes, at the expense of the boot). It might feel cramped because of the small windows... I can buy that...
My wife 307 feels a lot roomier but that's almost a truck

I would buy one again without giving it too much thought if I could disregard the maintenence costs (a little bit higher than the average I would say) and the deprication (it can give you nightmares!).

Just to end, the guy that bought the diesel one, just put it into the "workbench" and it put out 137bhp and 340Nm against the 115bhp and 275Nm originally. This is without any "magic" and on a 80.000 miles diesel engine (that must count for something in what concerns the "Alfa" reputation).

Cheers,
Vítor



>> Edited by vpinto on Thursday 2nd February 17:57

[dan_swin]

Alfa Sportwagon?Alfa Spider?I think they mean Brera Estate and Brera Convertible.

[Marki]

I like the spider a lot ,,,, very much like the Bera

[225]

I like the spider. It will take a few models for Alfa to get a better reputation, I personally didnt have any problems with my old 156 V6 and have always liked them.
Admitidely depreciation will be bad on these but again that should get better with age, things are looking good for them if you ask me.

[jamieboy]

los angeles said:

front reg plate off-centre...is outdated...looks stupid.

Couldn't disagree with you more, I'm afraid. I think they should be applauded for doing something slightly different to the norm, which is becoming more and more difficult as car design (or rather styling) becomes increasingly led by legislation rather than imagination.

los angeles said:

And I don't expect to find a twenty inch wide steering wheel on modern Alfas either.

On this, we agree, but I think it's a complaint that can be levelled at the majority of mainstream modern cars.