Hatchback, £6K budget - Alpha Romeo Giulietta?
Discussion
I’m looking for a second car, petrol, to do just 6000 miles / year.
I’m keen for something reliable but a good looking car if poss.
I know so little about the AR Giulietta but I’ve seen it get some mentions on here. How does it compare it’s competitors? Are they reliable? Anything to watch out for?
The Collezione in particular seems a really good looking hatchback.
I’m keen for something reliable but a good looking car if poss.
I know so little about the AR Giulietta but I’ve seen it get some mentions on here. How does it compare it’s competitors? Are they reliable? Anything to watch out for?
The Collezione in particular seems a really good looking hatchback.
I’ve run a 1.4 170 multiair for five years and ~50k miles. I love it, so much so we’ve got rid of the PCP’d Audi and my wife now uses it as a daily.
Multiair unit failed at 11k miles, replaced under warranty. It failed it’s last MOT because of a broken front spring, and the outside temperature sensor is wonky. Otherwise nothing has gone wrong.
Multiair unit failed at 11k miles, replaced under warranty. It failed it’s last MOT because of a broken front spring, and the outside temperature sensor is wonky. Otherwise nothing has gone wrong.
I had a look at the 1750 Ti model a few years ago and had a few test drives - seemed like a really nice car to drive and pretty solid. Ended up getting something completely different but I was really taken by the Giulietta. They do seem to hold their value incredibly well which surprised me.
At around 6k you should be able to find a nice Veloce, they're good reliable cars. Some people find the lack of foot rest annoying at first but most get used to it:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...
I bought a 1.4 Multiair 150 Speciale in October 2020 because it was something a bit different from what everyone else seems to have.
Great looking cars from all angles apart from head on, and they get a lot of positive comments from people in car parks, petrol stations etc.
Even with 150hp it was a fun, lively thing and I really enjoyed it. But my circumstances changed and I have a 50 mile daily commute, mainly motorway but with heavy traffic most days. Constantly using the clutch in traffic got boring, and my left ankle isn’t great either, and it felt a bit under powered at speed.
So I swapped it for a 2018 1750 TBi Veloce with TCT, which is a fantastic car. Absolutely love it.
Not much to look out for when buying them; tailgate electrics on early ones failed as the wiring broke where the tailgate opens, door handles likewise snapped on early ones too, but both these issues will probably have been sorted on older cars and don’t happen on newer ones.
Facelifted cars had better soundproofing and more comfortable front seats.
The lack of footrest on the manual cars was only an issue for the first few miles of the test drive and never bothered me after that.
Regular servicing with correct oil is important particularly on the multi air and TBi engines.
They are very solid, well built cars, with none of the Alfa rust issues of old, even though the stigma is still there.
Obviously I’d say go for it!
Great looking cars from all angles apart from head on, and they get a lot of positive comments from people in car parks, petrol stations etc.
Even with 150hp it was a fun, lively thing and I really enjoyed it. But my circumstances changed and I have a 50 mile daily commute, mainly motorway but with heavy traffic most days. Constantly using the clutch in traffic got boring, and my left ankle isn’t great either, and it felt a bit under powered at speed.
So I swapped it for a 2018 1750 TBi Veloce with TCT, which is a fantastic car. Absolutely love it.
Not much to look out for when buying them; tailgate electrics on early ones failed as the wiring broke where the tailgate opens, door handles likewise snapped on early ones too, but both these issues will probably have been sorted on older cars and don’t happen on newer ones.
Facelifted cars had better soundproofing and more comfortable front seats.
The lack of footrest on the manual cars was only an issue for the first few miles of the test drive and never bothered me after that.
Regular servicing with correct oil is important particularly on the multi air and TBi engines.
They are very solid, well built cars, with none of the Alfa rust issues of old, even though the stigma is still there.
Obviously I’d say go for it!
The-Wanderer said:
I bought a 1.4 Multiair 150 Speciale in October 2020 because it was something a bit different from what everyone else seems to have.
Great looking cars from all angles apart from head on, and they get a lot of positive comments from people in car parks, petrol stations etc.
Even with 150hp it was a fun, lively thing and I really enjoyed it. But my circumstances changed and I have a 50 mile daily commute, mainly motorway but with heavy traffic most days. Constantly using the clutch in traffic got boring, and my left ankle isn’t great either, and it felt a bit under powered at speed.
So I swapped it for a 2018 1750 TBi Veloce with TCT, which is a fantastic car. Absolutely love it.
Not much to look out for when buying them; tailgate electrics on early ones failed as the wiring broke where the tailgate opens, door handles likewise snapped on early ones too, but both these issues will probably have been sorted on older cars and don’t happen on newer ones.
Facelifted cars had better soundproofing and more comfortable front seats.
The lack of footrest on the manual cars was only an issue for the first few miles of the test drive and never bothered me after that.
Regular servicing with correct oil is important particularly on the multi air and TBi engines.
They are very solid, well built cars, with none of the Alfa rust issues of old, even though the stigma is still there.
Obviously I’d say go for it!
Mind sharing what sort of mpg you get out of the 1750 TBi TCT? Clearly lots of variables but just curious as I had that engine in a 159 and it liked a drink (c.25 mpg long term) but the Guilietta QV is on the shortlist to replace my Leon Cupra next year.Great looking cars from all angles apart from head on, and they get a lot of positive comments from people in car parks, petrol stations etc.
Even with 150hp it was a fun, lively thing and I really enjoyed it. But my circumstances changed and I have a 50 mile daily commute, mainly motorway but with heavy traffic most days. Constantly using the clutch in traffic got boring, and my left ankle isn’t great either, and it felt a bit under powered at speed.
So I swapped it for a 2018 1750 TBi Veloce with TCT, which is a fantastic car. Absolutely love it.
Not much to look out for when buying them; tailgate electrics on early ones failed as the wiring broke where the tailgate opens, door handles likewise snapped on early ones too, but both these issues will probably have been sorted on older cars and don’t happen on newer ones.
Facelifted cars had better soundproofing and more comfortable front seats.
The lack of footrest on the manual cars was only an issue for the first few miles of the test drive and never bothered me after that.
Regular servicing with correct oil is important particularly on the multi air and TBi engines.
They are very solid, well built cars, with none of the Alfa rust issues of old, even though the stigma is still there.
Obviously I’d say go for it!
I have an 11plate diesel one.
Guess yours will be a similar vintage?
The hands free has given up the ghost and I suspect the rear boot connection is on the way out.
You can sort the rear connection fairly easily, the hands free I won't be fixing its £400 and wasn't great anyway. Got a £20 sunvisor special which is fine.
Headlights are crap and the upgraded light last about 1 year, to change they are a pain I did it once but just get the garage to do it now (£50 with bulbs)
Great car, I will buy another after this one. Probably a quicker petrol but pre covid the 2.0 diesel suited our needs.
Guess yours will be a similar vintage?
The hands free has given up the ghost and I suspect the rear boot connection is on the way out.
You can sort the rear connection fairly easily, the hands free I won't be fixing its £400 and wasn't great anyway. Got a £20 sunvisor special which is fine.
Headlights are crap and the upgraded light last about 1 year, to change they are a pain I did it once but just get the garage to do it now (£50 with bulbs)
Great car, I will buy another after this one. Probably a quicker petrol but pre covid the 2.0 diesel suited our needs.
wilbo83 said:
Mind sharing what sort of mpg you get out of the 1750 TBi TCT? Clearly lots of variables but just curious as I had that engine in a 159 and it liked a drink (c.25 mpg long term) but the Guilietta QV is on the shortlist to replace my Leon Cupra next year.
It’s not the greatest mpg, just over 30 over 8000 miles of mainly motorway and stop start traffic.From memory it did 37 on the 200+ mile journey home from the dealer so it’s the stop start traffic that does it.
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