The Levante is ....

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
My view on SUV's was forever changed by the Porsche Macan GTS

In the hands of an ex-Stig.
Milford Proving Ground's Alpine Test Track (the one they flipped the Aston for Casino Royale)

Jesus Christ! The speed, handling, I didn't have just one, it was an almost constant brown trouser moment!

I suppose it was in the hands of a racing driver.

But flipping heck, it was good. It wasn't rolling all over the place, it was mighty quick, great brakes etc.

This was also with 4 adults in it.

I've got nothing against SUVs per se and in fact have owned plenty of 4WD wagons over the years - primarily out of a need to tow horses - and they make a lot of sense. Elevated driving position, plenty of room, great ride on crappy UK roads and the security of 4WD.

BUT fast SUVs make absolutely no sense to me. You can put lipstick on a pig etc etc.

(The Macan GTS is very impressive though.)
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
I've got nothing against SUVs per se and in fact have owned plenty of 4WD wagons over the years - primarily out of a need to tow horses - and they make a lot of sense. Elevated driving position, plenty of room, great ride on crappy UK roads and the security of 4WD.

BUT fast SUVs make absolutely no sense to me. You can put lipstick on a pig etc etc.

(The Macan GTS is very impressive though.)

I used to think that and probably still do because I’m one on the idiots who like to have a few cars and prefer the idea of a more normal but relatively cheap SUV (XC90 in my case) and a selection of sporty cars.

Thing is most people who can afford it think differently and only want one car per adult. Combine that now with how outrageously fast sports cars have become then a top end performance SUV is fine for the road and still hugely impressive.

We had a Porsche OPC open up near us a couple of years ago and it’s amazing how many Macan’s I see around, funnily enough typically driven by retired age men. Make of that what you wish!
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,748
I guess SUVs higher driving position is a self fulfilling prophecy... you need it to see over all the other SUVs.
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
I guess SUVs higher driving position is a self fulfilling prophecy... you need it to see over all the other SUVs.

Ha ha - very true.

Until the tail end of 2018, I lived in a very small Cotswold village (100 houses, a pub, a church and nothing else) and being up slightly higher gave a better view over the hedges and off the undulating road - but in towns you are right :)
 

Firefox

Junior Member
Messages
78
Great fun...

ive had 2 of them an SUV never appealed to me until a few years ago, great to drive considering it’s size - extremely comfy

I found the Stelvio cheap and nasty, the interior looks like it’s been designed by a 5 year old
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Great fun...

ive had 2 of them an SUV never appealed to me until a few years ago, great to drive considering it’s size - extremely comfy

I found the Stelvio cheap and nasty, the interior looks like it’s been designed by a 5 year old
agreed. the AR much better to drive, but Levante nicer place to be. My partner disliked the oily , pushy alfa sales chap. Strangely unaffected by the charming young lady offering the Trident. genuinely not my decision.
 

Guy

Member
Messages
2,000
I've driven both, the 500hp Alfa Stelvio is light years head of the Levante, even the 280hp version! and I'm not a SUV fan either

Dave
met someone recently who had one and liked it except the 200ish mile fuel range. That would kill it for me. Even a thirsty RRV8s/c does 350+
 

DaveT

Member
Messages
2,830
I found the Stelvio cheap and nasty, the interior looks like it’s been designed by a 5 year old
Not been in a Stelvio but looked at a Giulia before I bought my first Ghibli. Interior was cheap and nasty. Ghibli infinitely nicer inside imho.