Anybody want a slightly used Alfa Romeo Giulia QF?

[ProfessorWes]

Car and Driver just finished their long-term test of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, which looks and sounds like an Italian supermodel. Except the supermodel would likely be a lot lower maintenance.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a23145269/alfa-romeo-giulia-quadrifoglio-reliability-update/

We'd hoped for better with the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Upon first encountering the model, we were enthralled. A Quadrifoglio beat a BMW M3, a Cadillac ATS-V, and a Mercedes-AMG C63 S in a 2017 comparison test. We named it, and the beautifully balanced lesser Giulia with its twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, to our 2018 list of 10Best Cars.

We ordered a Giulia QF at our earliest opportunity and had it slathered in $2200 worth of Rosso Competizione paint that's the color of fresh blood. The sinister-looking, dark-finish five-hole 19-inch wheels cost an additional $500. For $1200, we had our Giulia loaded with Alfa's driver-assist features (lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights) because, well, we should test those things, right? We added carbon-fiber accents to the steering wheel for $400 and regretted it because they add nothing to the experience of looking at or driving the car. Also, we don't fetishize carbon fiber. We passed on two of the QF's priciest options, the $3500 carbon-fiber-backed Sparco race seats and the $8000 carbon-ceramic brake rotors. The stand­ard seats are plenty supportive, highly adjustable, and easy to get into and out of. And the iron brakes provide stunning stopping power. To say we were eager to burn through the engine's recommended 1500-mile break-in period would be a massive understatement.

Our honeymoon lasted 2400 miles. Then the Giulia failed us for the first time.

But alas, not the last. C&D's test staff became VERY familiar with the service department of their local Alfa dealer.


Via Kim du Toit, who snarks "What do you expect?"

Why so? Well, to anyone who’s ever owned or driven an Alfa Romeo for any length of time, it’s quite simple, really: ITALIAN WIRING.

Of course the electricals were going to fail — and of course the hoses weren’t going to be properly clamped, and of course the indicator lever was going to snap in your hand like a piece of raw spaghetti, and of course the door-handles and gear knob were going to come off in your hand — wait, the last three didn’t happen?

Actually, by normal Alfa Romeo standards then, the little Giulia QF is quite reliable.
http://www.kimdutoit.com/2019/07/03/what-did-you-expect/

Wow: Eighty grand and change for a car that spent three months out of the year in the shop. Good thing the Giulia QF looks so good even sitting still, since it did a lot of that. :shock:

 

[Colonialgirl]

Sorry, BUT I Had a '69 Alfa Spyder that was not only reliable, but also a well built fun drive. Changing brake pads was a SNAP (4 wheel disc brakes); it ran well, gave great gas mileage and required no mechanical maintenance. It's seats were the most comfortable I have ever sat in. I guess Alfa went down hill when it got sold to Fiat or whoever owns it now.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Sorry, BUT I Had a '69 Alfa Spyder that was not only reliable, but also a well built fun drive. Changing brake pads was a SNAP (4 wheel disc brakes); it ran well, gave great gas mileage and required no mechanical maintenance. It's seats were the most comfortable I have ever sat in. I guess Alfa went down hill when it got sold to Fiat or whoever owns it now.

Hi,

Nothing today is like it was a half century ago! Including our memories... but I am glad you got one of the ten trouble free units they made that year (if other Alfa owners over the years have been correct in their reviews.) ;)

Rick C

 

[bobski]

a 69 alpha and current cars is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Pat-inCO]

If Italian pasta was as good as that car, there would be NO fat Italians.

Sounds like a car fit for someone with an excess of time and money.

 

[Captain America]

Lots of holes in the review, I’d need way more information to give an honest opinion. When the MIL light came on the car shut down some systems, after a clean drive cycle all was well. When they took the car in for service it was mentioned that there was a slight whine in the rear and they chose to leave the car at the dealership until the parts came in, the car was not down. That car was beat to death by many different drivers for 40,000 miles in one year with a couple of minor glitches, no big deal.

 

[RSIno1]

It's not a Ford or Chevy - expect it to spend more time in the shop than on the road. Went to college with a guy who decided to open a repair shop in an area with 10 Jaguar owners. He did very well.

 

[mohavesam]

Used to work the car auctions from Buffalo to Concord. Alfa Romeo made pre-Ford Jaguar look like the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

 

[Bull Barrel]

If there is anything consistent about Italian vehicles it's their inconsistency.

 

[TCGuy]

I've decided I wouldn't mind having a new production Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe, as it would be a nice road car and probably easy to maintain (American made drivetrain). Like a new-production E-Type Jaguar without the British electrical headaches, and more power to boot! I'm sure my insurance agent would be thrilled, too.

European cars are a PITA. Just this morning I passed a house that had a Range Rover in the driveway with the hood up, and I smirked to myself.

Problem is, I don't have a spare $165,000 laying around.

https://superformance.com/factory-models/daytona-coupe

 

[Colonialgirl]

Re: 69 Alfa Spyder

GEE; I NEVER had a problem with mine and it went for over 300k miles on California freeways usually at 70-75 and 28 mpg. Say Didn't an Alfa Spyder win in 1972:

In 1972, the GTA Junior was the successor to the GTA 1600. Throughout the year, it was victorious in every competition and secured the European Touring Care Challenge. The GTA Junior outranked the competition, even the vehicles that were created to be more powerful.

The 159 was given a more powerful engine than the Alfetta 158 as well as the De Dion suspension, which was ideal for road handling. Driven by Manuel Fangio in 1951, the 159 won the second F1 World Championship,, this time at the French Grand Prix.

 

[mohavesam]

Tough to find a lender who'll loan average Joe $150K+ for a midlife crisis car...

 

[Bull Barrel]

They don't seem to have any problem loaning Joe 80 k for a daily driver pickemup truck.

 

[wwb]

Re: 69 Alfa Spyder

GEE; I NEVER had a problem with mine and it went for over 300k miles on California freeways usually at 70-75 and 28 mpg. .........

There were good ones and bad ones. Italian cars in general were not noted for their reliability (even Enzo's cars)..... and even when they ran, they often were in need of very frequent tune-ups.

A college pal had a Fiat 850 Spyder (the little one). It quite literally spent as much time in the shop as on the road. He finally sold it and got an MGB - claimed it was a big step up in reliability, although it still was not a car to be counted on when you needed it.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Re: 69 Alfa Spyder

GEE; I NEVER had a problem with mine and it went for over 300k miles on California freeways usually at 70-75 and 28 mpg. .........

There were good ones and bad ones. Italian cars in general were not noted for their reliability (even Enzo's cars)..... and even when they ran, they often were in need of very frequent tune-ups.

A college pal had a Fiat 850 Spyder (the little one). It quite literally spent as much time in the shop as on the road. He finally sold it and got an MGB - claimed it was a big step up in reliability, although it still was not a car to be counted on when you needed it.

Well now the Fiat 850 Never had a good reputation and it wasn't an ALFA !

 

[Bull Barrel]

Fix It Again Tony!

Moto Guzzi-making mechanics out of motorcyclists since 1921!

 

[Watchman]

European cars are a PITA. Just this morning I passed a house that had a Range Rover in the driveway with the hood up, and I smirked to myself.

https://superformance.com/factory-models/daytona-coupe

Hey!!!

I'll have you know that all parts falling off of my 89 Range Rover are of the highest British quality, fit and finish! :)

 

[ediogenes]

THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICTURES!

 

[Snake45]

THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICTURES!

Uh, it's also more than four years old. :rolleyes:

 

[Threespears]

Car and Driver just finished their long-term test of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, which looks and sounds like an Italian supermodel. Except the supermodel would likely be a lot lower maintenance.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a23145269/alfa-romeo-giulia-quadrifoglio-reliability-update/



But alas, not the last. C&D's test staff became VERY familiar with the service department of their local Alfa dealer.


Via Kim du Toit, who snarks "What do you expect?"




Wow: Eighty grand and change for a car that spent three months out of the year in the shop. Good thing the Giulia QF looks so good even sitting still, since it did a lot of that. :shock:

80 grand…3 months… that sounds like my 2020 Dodge Ram
I trader that POS off

 

[RSIno1]

,,,,,,, a new production Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe, as it would be a nice road car and probably easy to maintain (American made drivetrain).

The Factory 5 Coupe is as nice for a fraction of the cost. The Superformance is top of the heap but no way near the original. I have ridden in 3 of the originals and driven 2 of them. Cramped - Hot - Noisy are the 3 best words to describe them. Pete Brock was hired by Superformance to redesign the car to make it more civilized. He put some more room in the cabin and insulation everywhere. He even added the scoops at the leading edge of the roof he had originally planned. BTW his own personal Superformance Coupe is powered by a Chevy LS engine. You will save at least 20-30 grand if you buy a Superformance car or Kirkham Cobra from them rather than giving Shelby American the money for the same kit car that their serial number plate has been added to.

 

[NC FNS]

Rented a room for a few months from a friend of my dad in ‘82. His daily driver was a BMW 2002, but his preferred ride (he had 2, neither was running at the time) was an Alfa sedan that was similar to the 2002. 147 might’ve been the model, but I’m not sure….