Alfa 8C vs T350 styling

[Targarama]

As a T350 owner I'm not sure if I'm blinkered, but I do not see what all the fuss is about with the new Alfa 8C V8 thingy. OK so its got a V8 which is always a plus, but from a styling perspective (which is the thing most seem to be raving about) I really don't see why it is seen as so beautiful. The nose looks odd and the side window chrome bits look dreadful. The rear is OK, but only OK. Generally a nice looking car overall, but no Aston Martin in the looks department for sure.

I bet a 6ft 5 person wouldn't fit properly either...

Anyone else prefer the T350?

[Daftlad]

Targarama said:

As a T350 owner I'm not sure if I'm blinkered, but I do not see what all the fuss is about with the new Alfa 8C V8 thingy. OK so its got a V8 which is always a plus, but from a styling perspective (which is the thing most seem to be raving about) I really don't see why it is seen as so beautiful. The nose looks odd and the side window chrome bits look dreadful. The rear is OK, but only OK. Generally a nice looking car overall, but no Aston Martin in the looks department for sure.

I bet a 6ft 5 person wouldn't fit properly either...

Anyone else prefer the T350?

Saw it in the Flesh at Geneva show. It is more or less as you describe.

[swanny71]

I think it is stunningly beautiful...even more so than the T350c.

[FEE 50]

stunning it is.....but it's its an Alfa! I'll keep my trev anyday.

[tail slide]

Lovely........ unless stood next to a T350

Rather weighty too

[Maxx-Waxx]

swanny71 said:

I think it is stunningly beautiful...even more so than the T350c.

Agreed - but only just

N

[S5TVR]

I'd hate to have to choose between the T350 anf the 8c. I haven't seen the 8c in the flesh yet which might make a difference. However, if I had to choose between a tamora and the 8c Spyder, I'd take the 8c Spyder every time - simply a stunning car IMHO. However a Tamora with a T350 front end and with a re-designed rear would be a very different proposition.

[earlyriser]

Surely this is a poor comparison. The 8c, at ca £80k if my quick maths is correct, is twice the price of a T350. The fact that opinion is so closely divided on here and that those (misguided souls) who prefer the 8c do so 'only just' speaks volumes for the T car. Personally, I'd bank the extra £40k spondoolies everytime

ps - the 8c interior looks like euro-plastic, too. Its probably made from recycled pop bottles

[cramorra]

I think the a both extremely beautyful cars- simply stunning- probably the only one I could think of swapping for- but then it´s a different league- twice the price (also it´s an Alfa the engine gearbox etc has Ferrrari/Maser pedigrey)and the interior is carbon- at least at the car I saw- not my budget
So lets not compare apples and pears- both are stunning cars and probably the pick of their bunch in their respective -

[Pooh]

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

[Daftlad]

Pooh said:

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

I don't think anyone did....true TVRs are not known for consistant build quiality. I've had many Alfas and the one thing that can be leveled at them all was that they were a peach of an engine in a 2 bob car. I'm sure the 8C (at over 100K and not 80...) will be different. I would still ponder over which dealer in the country could service it properly alongside the fiat 500s and Puntos in the workshop.

[Pooh]

Daftlad said:

Pooh said:

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

I don't think anyone did....true TVRs are not known for consistant build quiality. I've had many Alfas and the one thing that can be leveled at them all was that they were a peach of an engine in a 2 bob car. I'm sure the 8C (at over 100K and not 80...) will be different. I would still ponder over which dealer in the country could service it properly alongside the fiat 500s and Puntos in the workshop.

Earlyriser did, the build quality of the interior of my 2001 GTV is in many ways superior to my £25k 2006 Mitsubishi. As for the servicing, Alfa garages are no longer just added on to Fiat dealers, they are stand alone but I assume there will be dedicated 8C specialists.

[swanny71]

Daftlad said:

Pooh said:

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

I don't think anyone did....true TVRs are not known for consistant build quiality. I've had many Alfas and the one thing that can be leveled at them all was that they were a peach of an engine in a 2 bob car. I'm sure the 8C (at over 100K and not 80...) will be different. I would still ponder over which dealer in the country could service it properly alongside the fiat 500s and Puntos in the workshop.

My Alfa's build quality is excellent - at least on a par with similar aged BMW's, Mondeos etc. (maybe not Audi)
Reliabilty has also been very good.
The after sales and service at the dealers has been poor though.

Edited by swanny71 on Monday 26th November 10:19

[Daftlad]

swanny71 said:

Daftlad said:

Pooh said:

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

I don't think anyone did....true TVRs are not known for consistant build quiality. I've had many Alfas and the one thing that can be leveled at them all was that they were a peach of an engine in a 2 bob car. I'm sure the 8C (at over 100K and not 80...) will be different. I would still ponder over which dealer in the country could service it properly alongside the fiat 500s and Puntos in the workshop.

My Alfa's build quality is excellent - at least on a par with similar aged BMW's, Mondeos etc. (maybe not Audi)
Reliabilty has also been very good.
The after sales and service at the dealers has been poor though.

Edited by swanny71 on Monday 26th November 10:19

My last 147 GTA was back to the dealers 3 times for water ingress before it was sorted. Needed tyres under warranty as the steering geo was all over the place, and the seat bolster on the drivers side was shot after 10,000 miles. It also had the front painted at 6000 miles the paint was falling off.

It was sold as I had no desire to put up with the electerical faults that were more or less certain after three months of water ingress.

[swanny71]

I'm the second owner of my 156 GTA so maybe someone else has suffered or I've just got a very good one. The 147 GTA's I test drove all seemed a little less solid, even when new.

[earlyriser]

Pooh said:

Daftlad said:

Pooh said:

I love the look of the 8C and it was inspired by previous Alfas not a T350.
I love TVRs but to slag the Alfa off for build quality relative to a TVR is just nuts.

I don't think anyone did....true TVRs are not known for consistant build quiality. I've had many Alfas and the one thing that can be leveled at them all was that they were a peach of an engine in a 2 bob car. I'm sure the 8C (at over 100K and not 80...) will be different. I would still ponder over which dealer in the country could service it properly alongside the fiat 500s and Puntos in the workshop.

Earlyriser did, the build quality of the interior of my 2001 GTV is in many ways superior to my £25k 2006 Mitsubishi. As for the servicing, Alfa garages are no longer just added on to Fiat dealers, they are stand alone but I assume there will be dedicated 8C specialists.

No I didn't. It looks nice. But I suggested the interior looked like many other euro cars. At 100k (nod to Daftlad) I'd be expecting, well ... more. At the price of the 8c and if I had the money I'd be comparing it to a nice Aston and take the Aston everytime. Just personal choice, though