One of these was sat in the car park at work today. I didn't have time to get a close look, but it looked absolutely stunning. Probably depreciates faster than it accelerates, and fals to pieces even faster, but damn them Italians - they know how to style cars ('cept perhaps the Fiat Multipla!).

What do you think the chances of an Octavia coupe styled by Pininfarina are?

One of these was sat in the car park at work today. I didn't have time to get a close look' date=' but it looked absolutely stunning. Probably depreciates faster than it accelerates, and fals to pieces even faster, but damn them Italians - they know how to style cars ('cept perhaps the Fiat Multipla!).

What do you think the chances of an Octavia coupe styled by Pininfarina are?[/quote']

......Limited, to say the least ...sadly!

I agree..... it is a scruptious car to look at. Having had a 156, the build quality would strike me as worrying.

Fantastic looking motor...particularly in that pearlescent silvery/brown colour Alfa does with the 18'' multi-spoke alloys.

Pity the dealer service is still crap.

was thinking about getting one before i stumbled on the merc, absolutely lovely car.

was thinking about getting one before i stumbled on the merc, absolutely lovely car.

We should make a record every time Huck says something like this

They are *lovely* cars... and the V6 engines purr so sweetly!

Agree with all the sentiments so far........

the GT is one of the most achingly gorgeous coupes around, but the build quality is still a worry (usually electrical i hear) and the service.........well there isn't really any to speak of. As a case in point - two weeks ago, my dad walked into the Alfa showroom with the intention of buying a 156 JTD Multijet. Loved the way it looked, went and felt.

The salesman didn't know diddly about the car and wasn't prepared to talk figures until my dad said he'd buy the car today.......that was just poor.

So after a fruitless hour of trying to prise figures out the of lad, we drove up the road to the local Beemer shop, got espresso's, where left to our own devices for a good half hour and the treated with civility and given every figure we wanted to know. Two hours later, my dad signed up for a 320d.

I might not like some Beemer drivers, and the current 5 series up are horrible, but the customer service is clearly something they talk seriously.

So after a fruitless hour of trying to prise figures out the of lad, we drove up the road to the local Beemer shop

Good thing they treated you alright, otherwise he'd be driving a Micra by now...

Rob.

Perish the thought.........

Alfa GT is a lovely thing... *but*..

I have a belief that coupe's should be RWD... and after looking at a new one (that was waiting for it's owner to collect the following day, at the alfa dealers) the door's creaked!!

Just a lack of grease but does not inspire confidence in a brand new car..

Had a little look at one of these (v6) at my local dealer at the weekend. Thought it looked gorgeous from outside, interior was nice although has some naffish elements, rear legroom was better than expected but ...... the thing that surprised me most was the dealer / salesman. Basically he was informed, dug out any additional info he didn't know, let me play around in the car and urged me to come back with the wife, kid, pushchair / golf clubs etc so that I could try it out properly. Also, said they are quite happy enough to let you take one out for several hours / morning on your own if you let them know to ensure one is available ... then looked at the Octy said "nice car" and said should be able to give a good trade in price :eek:

Im only vaguely considering this but was amazed with the attitude given the reputation some Alfa dealers have.

You must have stumbled across a dealer/salesman who genuinely cared about the product and understands you have to know your product well in order to convince someone to part with money for it.

The young turk (no offense intended) we got didn't even have the nowse to not tell us that he'd only joined the dealership a few weeks ago, usually only dealt with the Fiat side of things and had previously worked for a certain car credit company going by an "affirmative" name.......That last revelation only speeding our exit....

Luuuurvely...

But no chance...although I think we will get our own unique designs and I'd much more of a function over form guy which is handy...now where's that cossy engined tranny gone.

You must have stumbled across a dealer/salesman who genuinely cared about the product and understands you have to know your product well in order to convince someone to part with money for it.

I think you are probably right ... given that the only reason that I even went there was that my next door neighbour has a 156 as does my older brother and they have both said that the dealer was excellent. Bit concerning that im considering it given cost and reliability issues but have always loved Alfas and am looking forward to the test drive and the great engine noise

Hi Guys

Im new to this blog. I own an alfa GT JTD. It is probably the most beautiful looking car on the roads at the moment>> Whilst I can totally appreciate the views on quality mainly because alfa's of old used to rust from the inside out even in the showroom! But since they are owned by FIAT these days and paired up with Maserati the quality is just as good as any VW FORD or Vauxhall. My dealer has been superb so far, alfa dealers are really getting their act together. Of course every new car can develop a snag list which was sorted out swiftly. Interior is such a nice place to be with hand stitched leather and dials straight out of a Ferrai 575. But you get the jist.

I would fully recomend one. I have had mine for nearly a year along with 16,000 miles two trips to the South of France with WIFE and 2 children, swallowed up all the luggage!

I feel I can post on here because my previous car , which I traded in for the alfa, was a Fabia Tdi comfort, and I can tell you it was a fantastic car. I did 147, 000 in it and I never had to lift the bonnet once! Except for the washer bottle! Original clutch too. Excellent car. ALfa gave

I must admit I really like the look of all the current Alfa range, the styling is fantastic. I would like to hope that build quality and reliability have been ironed out, I've driven a 156 and 147 recently and the handling is excellent - but unless you pay silly money for the top spec engines they're just not quick enough !

The GT looks fantastic.

What I'd like to know though:

How have Alfa Romeo produced such consistently unreliable (and expensively self-destructing) cars for so long? It's not a myth.

Just one question? Why did they not do a Fabia VRS Estate? :confused:

I have oft wondered that myself. I'd buy one.

I have oft wondered that myself. I'd buy one.

They probably think there's not a big enough market for it. I'd be inclined to agree, but I'd consider one if it were available....

Steve

Ayup; I can see that there might not be enough prospective sales. Shame though - I'd really like one!

lol two year old thread!!

The Alfa GT is stunning looking car just like all Alfas, And the Quality with the new models have improved .. Yesterday i drove the Alfa 147 2.0 Selespeed.. What an awesome car and an awesome engine, I've been in the 2.0 FSI Golf and lots of other 2.0 cars but the Alfa 147 is just the best of all, the selespeed gearbox is just awesome the way it changes gear give an awesome feeling and the performance is too impressive for a standard N/A 2.0 engine, at 90 km/h you go down to third and floor it and its just up to 180 km/h in few seconds, i can talk about it for a long time :p, and the engie noise is pure italian..

anyways back to topic, the GT is awesome, my friends owns a 3.2 GT and its very quick and handles better than any other FWD car

Not sure why alfa romeo have produced such beautiful unreliable crap of old? Money?

Since fiat have taken them by the hand though they are just as good as owt else, Speaking from experience and half my family have them, all different makes, and not one of them have had issues and anyhow you get a 3 yr warranty with them and second hand ones come with a standard one year aswell so your quite well looked after.

Nobody answered my question about a Fabia VRS estate though? any thoughts?

Kel

Nobody answered my question about a Fabia VRS estate though? any thoughts?

Kel

Errm, I did - see post #18 above

Steve

I can't see why the hell not though. I see plenty of Fabia Estates around! And everyone likes that extra poke! My GT is quick enough with 150 horses but 210 sounds the boy!

I think not avin a Fabia VRS estate was a mistake:thumbdwn: but who am I too argue with Skoda!!

How come you went for an Ibiza then?

Kel

How come you went for an Ibiza then?

Kel

Wanted to spend less money on a car, but still wanted a fairly quick motor and diesel economy. I did fancy another vRS, but the early Fabia vRS's all seemed to have mega mileage on them that were within budget, so the Ibiza appealed as it's been around longer with the PD130. So there were more examples around in budget and with more sensible mileage. Can't say it's the worst decision I've ever made

Steve