Thoughts on this please

jasst

Member
Messages
2,317
Daughter is looking for another car as the engine on her BMW 1 series blew up last week, she doesn't like boring cars and this has caught her eye, having never owned an Alfa I thought I would ask the collective for their views on this, are they any good? what's reliability like? any helpful thoughts appreciated.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
Mrs C has one. Welcome to come and have a spin.

I understand that avoiding the diesel is a good thing. Mrs C's is a petrol, turbo.
I like it (as does she). Sprightly, although I drive in D mode which does screw the consumption but makes it a lot more fun. Somewhat plasticy inside (not up to even the level of her old 147) but perfectly adequate. Cheap enough to maintain but brisk enough to give plenty of cars a run in the traffic light GP, but also OK for longer trips.
I recommend this product or service.
I think @2b1ask1 had one in the family as well....

C
 

gb-gta

Member
Messages
1,139
I had a cloverleaf one for 4 years. 1.75 turbo petrol. Was a great car, never let me down. Only niggle in the manual is no space in footwell for a footrest. You get used to it though. Bit odd that the smaller mito has space for the footrest though!
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
I have the same car as you have posted but in white. It’s my daily hack and it’s fantastic.

2014 2.0 JTDm Sportiva 105k miles

Paid £4k for it private and had to do a few jobs.

We have 3 others as courtesy cars at Sportsitalia. Admittedly they are getting a bit leggy.

Power (170hp) brakes and turn in all fantastic.

600 miles from £75 of diesel.

Downside…the interiors are more Vauxhall than Alfa of old.

Common issues (based on 100k miles)

Clutch, if it’s heavy and I mean really heavy that’s a new clutch and dual mass £1k 100k miles

Rear trailing arm bushes £500

Front lower wishbones every 50k miles but cheap

Front shock top mounts cheap

Engines, Cambelt and water pump every 60k/6 years £400 but the engines give no greif and are strong

Dash top box brakes £75

Rear tailgate harnesses flex and brake giving rear lights and wash wipe issues, simple fix.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,273
Jeanette has now had 5 Alfas in a row. Presently a Gulia Sprint, previously the Giulietta with the 1.4 petrol, all have had the D-N-A dial and it makes a massive difference. One of the Mitos was a Friday car so Eep an eye on any prospective purchase in that respect.
 

3hcp

Member
Messages
253
Don’t know much about alfas other than perceived quality but we have one of these and it’s excellent, comfortable, economical and great fun. Admittedly petrol which I would recommend or at least get a Euro 6 diesel to future proof from Khan’s mad ulez scheme.
this is the model we have, plenty quick enough.
 
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DaveT

Member
Messages
2,831
Had the higher output diesel probably 10 years ago and no issues at all.

Likewise a 1.4 TCT Turbo Petrol which I sold last year, where the interior was a bit sportier - it was a great daily driver. No issues with that one either.

They are of their time compared with the more modern Alfas but good nonetheless. Recommend.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,461
Fiona has one of these and loves it more than her boxster.........pulls fine and is fun to drive, no road tax either
Love the Twinair Ms French has the 500 105 BHP which is an absolute hoot we've never achieved the legendary mpg though but smiles guaranteed every time.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,927
I have the same car as you have posted but in white. It’s my daily hack and it’s fantastic.

We have 3 others as courtesy cars at Sportsitalia. Admittedly they are getting a bit leggy.
.......

I have driven a SportItalia Giulietta courtesy car, and its a pleasant and peppy little thing. Although as @conaero says, his are high mileage and getting pretty rough. Great for dumping old cans of oil and sacks of asbestos at the tip; can carry up to 3,000 bricks in the back at one time. :D
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,927
Daughter is looking for another car as the engine on her BMW 1 series blew up last week, she doesn't like boring cars and this has caught her eye, having never owned an Alfa I thought I would ask the collective for their views on this, are they any good? what's reliability like? any helpful thoughts appreciated.


Unfortunately, Which? Magazine says that Alfas are the most unreliable cars out there:

1690466008340.png
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,461
Must have gone down hill then since my old 2000 Berlinetta and the two Alfettas I had after that.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,229
Unfortunately, Which? Magazine says that Alfas are the most unreliable cars out there:

View attachment 117189
Maybe the British public just doesn't know how to drive them. Some of you may remember that MiTo I had for 2017 Le Mans. It had to be well peddled to keep up but dynamic mode was engaged and it's still going strong under my brother's stewardship.
 

DLax69

Member
Messages
4,295
Sorry to have just stumbled on this, but I had bought Courtney a GMC Acadia. We ran to the Maser dealer because I was trying to track options for the harness when my tstat wire broke on the Coupe, and while I was talking to the parts desk she went and traded the Acadia for a Stelvio. And I couldn't even be upset about that.

The Acadia had some real fit and finish issues that GMC was still sorting, including the fact that the headliner kept delaminating around the large sunroof panels. There have been no such hiccups with the Alfa, at all. It handles better than any SUV I've ever been in, let alone had...and is an incredibly comfortable cockpit. Especially enjoying the red leather seats! Reminds me of a certain F car cabin...