View Full Version : Stuff yer Mercs and Beemers! (and about time too...)
Finally, Alfa have released details of the Giulia, the replacement for the ulalmented 159, and it looks like they might have done it properly this time. Not quite as pretty or as distinctive as I'd hoped, but who's quibbling? Just look at it!
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-giulia-2016-in-pictures-its-the-new-159/?utm_source=car_newsletter_data&utm_medium=&utm_content=mainstory&utm_campaign=car_newsletter_25062015
As long as it's properly made, the paint work is good, the doors don't fall off and the interior trim crumble before your eyes, it should be a wonderful and characterful/hugely enjoyable car to drive - with luck. Alpha's were usually bought and cherished (if they get a good one) by knowing enthusiasts. Hope this is still the case :)
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 13:08
Aye, was drooling over that the other day. Finally, a proper Alfa!
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 13:09
As long as it's properly made, the paint work is good, the doors don't fall off and the interior trim crumble before your eyes, it should be a wonderful and characterful/hugely enjoyable car to drive - with luck. Alpha's were usually bought and cherished (if they get a good one) by knowing enthusiasts. Hope this is still the case :)
Wash your mouth out! It's ALFA!!! :-)
I've had three Alfas, and they have truly been the most reliable of the cars I have owned.
Lol - very nice! It has 'soul' like most Alfas... Quite similar lines, though, to my Brabster (making allowances for professional pics vs. my puny efforts):
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/M0vGKS.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/912/m20BUu.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/910/jJLaiR.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/911/pDJW01.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pbpDJW01j)
...and whether you prefer red to black. Mine looks meaner! :eyebrows:
I guess it'd depend on what the Alfa is like to drive - that's always the key with 'muscle cars' like these... What's the engine spec, do you know? :)
Marco.
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 13:17
This car sports 503bhp from a turbocharged all-aluminium V6 'with Ferrari technologies', meaning 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds. And Alfa claims it'll handle like Alfas of old, with 50:50 weight distribution, 'the most direct steering on the market' and an emphasis on sporting fun rather than Teutonic stodge.
No other, lower-powered engines have been confirmed yet, but CAR understands the following powerplants are lined up for more humdrum Giulias:
2.0 4cyl petrol In 178bhp, 247bhp and 326bhp tune
2.2 4cyl diesel In 133bhp, 178bhp and 207bhp tune
3.0 V6 diesel 335bhp
Gordon Steadman
26-06-2015, 13:31
Hmm....if I couldn't see that Alfa nose, I would have expected it be a Beemer. I suppose if you can't beat them, join them. It will be interesting to see the reviews.
Won't affect me though, I won't be able to afford it in any case. I'm saving up for a nice Sud.
Whoa - very nice! :eek:
Mine is more in line with the 'humdrum' 3.0L V6.... ;)
YouTube clip of a newer version of mine (I prefer my black alloys, though):
WzefqIbOJ6o
Marco.
Personally I think it's butt ugly. It seems to be missing that flowing design flare seen on previous Alfa's.
I know exactly what you mean - it's defo more BMW/Merc like than any other Alfa I've seen, which is why I compared its looks to the Brabster. Still love it though, and I suspect that love would grow if I got behind the wheel! ;)
Marco.
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 16:09
I guess they wanted to play a bit safe, as this car will be very important to the future of Alfa.
Ammonite Audio
26-06-2015, 16:19
Personally I think it's butt ugly. It seems to be missing that flowing design flare seen on previous Alfa's.
It's a minor miracle that they've managed to make it look good at all - I reckon that mainstream car designers are pretty shackled by various regulations for pedestrian safety etc, hence why this looks just a little bit 'me too' at the front. That said, the new Vauxhall Astra is shockingly attractive with its low swoopy nose, so it can be done.
If they can truly blend sporty performance with quality and decent ride comfort, I do think that this will rescue the Alfa brand, for which there is deep-rooted affection around the world, in spite of the horrors wearing that ancient badge in the last 20 years. They needed to sell more cars, with a greater transaction price on every one, and this could be the thing. I'd like to see some interior shots, though.
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 16:39
Watch that video in Shane's link. That's exactly how my 164 sounded on full chat. Glorious!
Must say I was a bit disappointed about how much of a euro-exec clone it is, especially after some of the teaser sketches that have been released in the last few months. I'm encouraged though, firstly because I could only watch the video without sound so Ali's comments are good news. More important though is the change in culture. Since the 145 replaced the 33, all Alfas have been based on Fiat platforms, with architecture designed to underpin cheap family hatchbacks and of course front wheel drive. Their saving grace has been their engines. The Alfasud boxer four, the four-pot twin-spark and the gorgeous V6 were charismatic and wonderous things. Now though, rather than being the up-market arm of Fiat, Alfa is the mass-market arm (relatively speaking) of Maserati and Ferrari. The hope is that this will shine through in the dynamics.
The other thing I'm hoping is that they manage to be less euro-clone with the interior. The inside of an Alfa 166 or any Maserati is a truly special place to be, with soft leathers and colours that are unknown in Munich or Ingolstadt. Even the 147 was a cut above its peers in that respect. Here's hoping...
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 18:04
Second that, the 166 is still one of nicest interiors this side of Maserati IMHO. Not bad for a 90's car.
Nice chariot, though seems to point in a different direction to previous Alfa's?
Given this is (kinda) the new 159 be nice to see this "Brera'd" as a coupe.
:eek:
Fav Alfa has to be the Disco Volante based on the 8C?
Car pron at its finest...
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq61/gazjamster/production-alfa-romeo-8c-based-disc_1.jpg (http://s434.photobucket.com/user/gazjamster/media/production-alfa-romeo-8c-based-disc_1.jpg.html)
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq61/gazjamster/Alfa-Romeo-Disco-Volante-729x486-1c.jpg (http://s434.photobucket.com/user/gazjamster/media/Alfa-Romeo-Disco-Volante-729x486-1c.jpg.html)
Brera concept car was fantastic, shame Alfa bottled it a wee bit with the production model, still a great looking car though.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq61/gazjamster/alfa-brera-compare-02.jpg (http://s434.photobucket.com/user/gazjamster/media/alfa-brera-compare-02.jpg.html)
Unfortunately Alfa died with the death of the 75, this just isn't an 'Alfa' 😞
walpurgis
26-06-2015, 23:29
Unfortunately Alfa died with the death of the 75, this just isn't an 'Alfa' ��
Yes. Real Alfas were just more 'alive' than the stuff since.
Ali Tait
26-06-2015, 23:48
Oh C'mon ye bunch of nay sayers!!!
For fuck's sake!!!
Oh fuck it, let's just say Alfa is dead.. :mental:
What the fuck is the matter with you all?
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be...
Fuck it Ali, you know what I mean, stop worshiping the badge and look deeper into the heritage FFS :rolleyes:
Ali Tait
27-06-2015, 00:47
I'm well aware of the heritage thank you very much. Having owned a wee bit of it.
Trouble is, the marque cannot survive on it's heritage, much as we would all like it to.
It has to look to the future, however much gnashing of teeth it causes the "purists".
Nuff said.
Apologies for my colourful language! But it was a good night last night :D. I don't agree Ali, the future does not lay with a Tarmac ripping 500BHP 'Alfa' and what is ironic or cynical depending on how you view it is the marketting for Alfa Romeo relies heavily on the heritage. The 4C is a better direction for Alfa Romeo but even then the market positioning is far too high, it has nothing todo with being a 'purist' (that boat sailed a long time ago) it's about making good, affordable and desirable cars, finding your market sector and making sales.
RobbieGong
27-06-2015, 11:08
Lol - very nice! It has 'soul' like most Alfas... Quite similar lines, though, to my Brabster (making allowances for professional pics vs. my puny efforts):
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/M0vGKS.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/912/m20BUu.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/910/jJLaiR.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/911/pDJW01.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pbpDJW01j)
...and whether you prefer red to black. Mine looks meaner! :eyebrows:
I guess it'd depend on what the Alfa is like to drive - that's always the key with 'muscle cars' like these... What's the engine spec, do you know? :)
Marco.
Looks nice yes, but not as individual as previous Alfas ..... apart from the wheels and the grill your looking at a 3 (or even a 4) series beemer......
Ali Tait
27-06-2015, 14:22
Apologies for my colourful language! But it was a good night last night :D. I don't agree Ali, the future does not lay with a Tarmac ripping 500BHP 'Alfa' and what is ironic or cynical depending on how you view it is the marketting for Alfa Romeo relies heavily on the heritage. The 4C is a better direction for Alfa Romeo but even then the market positioning is far too high, it has nothing todo with being a 'purist' (that boat sailed a long time ago) it's about making good, affordable and desirable cars, finding your market sector and making sales.
Thought that's kinda what I was saying?
They have to make something to compete with the M5's of the world, as that's the sector they want to play in. I agree they won't sell that many, though if it's as good a car as they are saying, the lesser models should sell well.
I'd like to see more individual models as much as the next man, but it's too much a risk for them at the moment IMHO.
It's all very well having cars that can potentially zoom from 0 to 60 in well under 5 seconds, but on busy UK roads, when are you really going to ever need it, and at what fuel cost? No skill in finding a straight road and booting it to the carpet and there are too many idiots round the next bend 'darn sarf' to allow you to take corners too fast.
I once thought like this, wanting an ever more expensive penile extension on wheels, but then I got to know a class 1 police driver, who showed me how to 'drive' properly - at one time in a bloody 2CV FFS. It sort of weaned me off being a petrol-head and these days I fortunately can't afford to drool. My 'appendage' worked just fine without needing to be 'extended' anyway :lol:
walpurgis
27-06-2015, 15:03
It's all very well having cars that can potentially zoom from 0 to 60 in well under 5 seconds, but on busy UK roads, when are you really going to ever need it
Ha Ha. I was driving through Ealing Broadway today. Traffic was at a snail's pace. Pottering along next to me was about £150,000 worth of Maserati and I thought exactly the same. What was the point of having it. There's nowhere in London you can use it properly.
walpurgis
27-06-2015, 16:33
The M25 at 3 am...
Not a chance. Plenty of speed cameras and that's exactly when the Traffic Patrols are parked up on the side with nothing better to do than wait for late night speeders,
You can still do 70 which is ten times faster than anywhere else in London...
Around London, good car-handling is indeed a very necessary thing, so you can swerve quickly and safely out of the way of some drivers who aren't on the ball. Peterborough and Luton used to be 'kill or be killed' I remember, so a sprightly lift-off from rest was necessary to prevent aggressive twonks with penile extensions on wheels cannoning into you - you think I'm joking?
Here in sunny Suffolk Coastal, the big, burly bald dockers like something BIIIIG to drive around in, so we have an abundance on Ford-Transit sized luxury 'saloons' where you sit several feet above the ground looking down on other mere mortals in ordinary cars. Totally ridiculous things to park in local car parks...
It's all very well having cars that can potentially zoom from 0 to 60 in well under 5 seconds, but on busy UK roads, when are you really going to ever need it, and at what fuel cost? No skill in finding a straight road and booting it to the carpet and there are too many idiots round the next bend 'darn sarf' to allow you to take corners too fast.
Lol... :eyebrows: Some points:
1) The fun is in the acceleration and handling, not top speed. 0-60/70mph on dual carriageways and country roads (round here, where there's very little traffic) can still be a hoot!
2) If you're worrying about fuel cost, you can't afford the car in the first place.
3) I didn't just buy the Brabster for driving in the UK, but for touring abroad. Can't wait to take in onto the no speed restriction parts of the Autobahn later this year, while on holiday in Germany ;)
4) As mentioned in 1), in rural North Wales, traffic jams are almost unheard of, so plenty of fun can be had in a fast car, haring around country roads!
Life's too short for boring hi-fi, boring music, boring food, boring women - and boring cars!! Get some fooking excitement in your life :D :exactly:
Marco.
Gordon Steadman
29-06-2015, 20:02
You want boring, I'll give you boring. You might think that our Audi A4 20V fits that but it's bloody brilliant in comparison to the heap I've been driving this week. Some friends of ours have both ended up in hospital at the same time for various reasons. They have 11 cats and they need looking after. So we are using their car to go over to their place every day to feed and water the moggies. Nice of them to think of the petrol usage and wear and tear.
The car is a VW Passat. I didn't realise it was a diesel at first as it started on the button and was pretty quiet. However, the first corner I came to, taken at my usual speed, had me hanging onto the wheel and winding on some lock in a hurry. It felt as if an elephant was in the front. Understeer I have had before but not to this extent. It wallows, the gearing is all wrong for the torque and the damn thing keeps telling me stuff I don't want to hear. When backing up, it starts pinging about two feet from whatever I'm heading for. By the time I get to my usual 2 inches, it's screaming like a banshee. It beeps when I select reverse. Why would I do that by accident? It yells at me if I leave the windows open. The leather seats have been hell this week in the 33 degree heat. I suppose its pretty much TOTR stuff.
The guy's sister is coming out from the UK tomorrow to house and cat sit. I will be very happy to hand her all the keys and get back to the Audi, bottom the range or not.
Lol - love it, Gordon :eyebrows:
One does what one has to do, I guess, and if moggies benefit in some way, then it gets my approval! :)
Marco.
Strange when you consider that the A4 and the Passat are basically the same car!
Ninanina
30-06-2015, 22:08
My second car was an Alfasud and I still have very fond memories of it... it handled like a go kart and sounded like nothing else on earth...the engine rasp was quite superb :stalks:
Unfortunately the dreaded rust set in quite bad on it but it doesn't cloud my thoughts of it... it was the best handling car I have ever driven... apart from perhaps the Alfa 75 that I drove later on.... :D
walpurgis
30-06-2015, 22:28
I had a Sud, it ran circles around the 75 for handling. I took a 2.0 Alfa 75 for a run and thought it wallowed and rolled and wasn't very quick. Mind you, I had just got out of my rather decent Opel Manta GTE, which handled very nicely and cornered near flat, no roll. Quite a bit faster than the 75 too. This was about 25 years ago.
Ninanina
30-06-2015, 22:45
I had a Sud, it ran circles around the 75 for handling. I took a 2.0 Alfa 75 for a run and thought it wallowed and rolled and wasn't very quick. Mind you, I had just got out of my rather decent Opel Manta GTE, which handled very nicely and cornered near flat, no roll. Quite a bit quicker than the 75 too. This was about 25 years ago.
The Sud and 75 are quite different beasts in my opinion... for sheer fun the Sud takes it but for balance I think the 75 has it.. just my opinion of course and it was many many years ago, I must have been about 18 at the time :D
At 18 I was also a perfect 8 so that shows how long ago it was :eek:
No such a thing as a perfect 8....
Ninanina
30-06-2015, 22:52
No such a thing as a perfect 8....
Well I was at the time.... maybe at a push a 10... :D
walpurgis
30-06-2015, 23:03
At 18 I was also a perfect 8 so that shows how long ago it was :eek:
Well I'm still a perfect 54" 34" 36". Mind you it's a while since the old biceps were a decent 17". :lol:
Ninanina
30-06-2015, 23:05
Well I'm still a perfect 54" 34" 36". Mind you it's a while since the old biceps were a decent 17". :lol:
Sounds good to me Geoff... :lol:
Don't worry about the biceps though...:eek:
Gordon Steadman
01-07-2015, 07:45
Strange when you consider that the A4 and the Passat are basically the same car!
I know. All the controls are exactly the same but they drive so differently. A heavy lump in the front and very different spring rates I guess. The passat has much bigger overhangs too.
Picking up an Alfa Brera later in the year.
Originally tempted for the 3.2 V6 but it's a GM lump and apparently VERY front heavy, even on the Prodrive edition.
Understeer is a bugger.
Going for a minty 2.4 diesel, get it remapped and I'll be sorted.
Apparently the 2.4 was a Fiat engine tweaked by Alfa, so keeps that Italian flavour. 45 to the gallon too.
Lol... :eyebrows: Some points:
1) The fun is in the acceleration and handling, not top speed. 0-60/70mph on dual carriageways and country roads (round here, where there's very little traffic) can still be a hoot!
2) If you're worrying about fuel cost, you can't afford the car in the first place.
3) I didn't just buy the Brabster for driving in the UK, but for touring abroad. Can't wait to take in onto the no speed restriction parts of the Autobahn later this year, while on holiday in Germany ;)
4) As mentioned in 1), in rural North Wales, traffic jams are almost unheard of, so plenty of fun can be had in a fast car, haring around country roads!
Life's too short for boring hi-fi, boring music, boring food, boring women - and boring cars!! Get some fooking excitement in your life :D :exactly:
Marco.
Top post showing almost infinite wisdom.
I have decided the 5.5 seconds to 60 time of my car is actually a little slow, now I have changed my route to a place of work. Country rounds and after overtaking a haystack carrying device (double container lorry length one just huge) a little bit more would have been welcome.
This friggin' machine coated me in straw and gunk for miles, and was stacked so high it was continually hitting trees and covering me with crap. It was definitely too long and way, way overloaded.
And he got upset when I overtook him. Prize twat. No doubting he thought the same of me.
wee tee cee
07-07-2015, 15:55
Its a crying shame the collaboration between alfa and mazda for the new generation mx5 fell through. The new mazda looks great but I can only imagine what alfa could have done with that platform (telephone dial wheels/screaming small capacity v6/blood red paint/laverda v6 sound track piped into the cabin).....I can dream!!!
walpurgis
07-07-2015, 16:46
Its a crying shame the collaboration between alfa and mazda for the new generation mx5 fell through. The new mazda looks great but I can only imagine what alfa could have done with that platform (telephone dial wheels/screaming small capacity v6/blood red paint/laverda v6 sound track piped into the cabin).....I can dream!!!
Lucky escape for Mazda I reckon.
Gordon Steadman
07-07-2015, 17:23
Lucky escape for Mazda I reckon.
The pheasants are revolting. Just no taste some ovem.:rolleyes:
Was watching a 4C video review the other day on the 'tube. That car has issues but is interesting.
Its a crying shame the collaboration between alfa and mazda for the new generation mx5 fell through. The new mazda looks great but I can only imagine what alfa could have done with that platform (telephone dial wheels/screaming small capacity v6/blood red paint/laverda v6 sound track piped into the cabin).....I can dream!!!
Going back to my favorite Alfa... :stalks:
ip728-_euwg
Anthony K
09-07-2015, 19:47
Still think the current giulietta looks better
I've seen the touring before and there's something not quite right with the way the rear end blends into the rear three quarters of the car ... I think it's something to do with the high plimsol line running from the front.... I'm not sure... It just doesn't quite work for me, it's like the front and rear are from different cars.
As a side note I'm now working to getting my GTV6 back on the road, it will be a long restoration but worth it I hope!
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=363290&stc=1&d=1379403491
Ali Tait
09-07-2015, 20:25
Lovely Neal.
Thanks Ali, it will be if I can get it to the same standard as n the Pic, body work is not so bad but mechanicals need a lot of work!
I've seen the touring before and there's something not quite right with the way the rear end blends into the rear three quarters of the car ... I think it's something to do with the high plimsol line running from the front.... I'm not sure... It just doesn't quite work for me, it's like the front and rear are from different cars.
As a side note I'm now working to getting my GTV6 back on the road, it will be a long restoration but worth it I hope!
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=363290&stc=1&d=1379403491
the rear vertical window strut is too far forward imo, and makes the rear look like someone just welded it onto the back.....which they probably did:eyebrows:
walpurgis
09-07-2015, 20:45
So that's not a Capri then? :D
Anthony K
09-07-2015, 21:29
Beautiful
the rear vertical window strut is too far forward imo, and makes the rear look like someone just welded it onto the back.....which they probably did:eyebrows:
Oh....really, how fascinating http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/Smiley/boredsmiley.gif
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/Smilies/moon-1.gif :D
Oh....really, how fascinating http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/Smiley/boredsmiley.gif
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/Smilies/moon-1.gif :D
;)
How am I gonna moon out of that wee hole :eek:
;)
How am I gonna moon out of that wee hole :eek:
You'd only go and put your back out at your age.. :D
So that's not a Capri then? :D
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/Smiley/cheerleader.gif Yay! Well done for spotting the difference, yes its not a Capri! :D
A bit more on the Giulia:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/alfa-romeo/seven-surprises-on-new-alfa-romeo-giulia-revealed-by-chief-engineer/?utm_source=car_newsletter_data&utm_medium=&utm_content=mainstory&utm_campaign=car_newsletter_10072015
Its a crying shame the collaboration between alfa and mazda for the new generation mx5 fell through. The new mazda looks great but I can only imagine what alfa could have done with that platform (telephone dial wheels/screaming small capacity v6/blood red paint/laverda v6 sound track piped into the cabin).....I can dream!!!
It's going to be a FIAT Abarth now:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-mx-5-is-no-more-confirmed-as-fiat-abarth-instead/
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