Alfa Romeo Owners Advice

[DCGuy1965]

So I've never really been bitten by the car bug until I saw the new Alfa ad for their new Giulia model. Alfa hasn't been the biggest seller in the USA but they do have a cult following even though their reliability is questionable.

Given we have many TRF members worldwide and we love our cars almost as much as our watches can anyone speak to if Alfa has gotten better over the years or better to stay away

Thanks. I'm thinking about abase model as the Quad is just too over the top

[Dyim]

I would lease if you are worried about reliability.

[GoingPlaces]

Agree, lease only.

[Kingair]

Lease . . . .

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[hugs]

I agree with the Top Gear opinion .. if you depend on it as a daily driver an Alfa will ruin your life, but you will never be a true car lover unless you have owned one.

[DCGuy1965]

Originally Posted by hugs

I agree with the Top Gear opinion .. if you depend on it as a daily driver an Alfa will ruin your life, but you will never be a true car lover unless you have owned one.

True that. Should have clarified Alfa will be the toy. Honda Civic is the daily hoopdie. It's a midlife crisis thing lol.

[keithl]

Don't lease.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by keithl

Don't lease.

Why? Bad residual and rates?

[Chewbacca]

Lease when looking at new...

Unless it's an economy runabout <$15k or a ultra premium car >$75k, always lease and THEN buy it out after a 3 - 4yr term if you liked it, and it wasn't in a theft, accident or minor flood issue.

You're giving up a very important insurance, depreciation and end of term option shelter when you buy a car outright.

So, as for the Guilia, lease it. They're not special or in demand -- it's an Italian A4, 3 series or C class.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by keithl

Don't lease.

No explanation?

[keithl]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

No explanation?

Unless you're using the vehicle for business or have more money than you know what to do with, it never makes financial sense to lease. You're renting a car and paying a high interest rate (they may not call it interest but it is) and you're limited to how much you drive, what you do with it etc.

You can buy a new car now for less than 2% interest and I believe the warranty on an Alfa is 4 years, if you don't like it after the warranty is up sell it and after 4 years of payments you'll get something out of your "investment".

The car dealership would much prefer people to lease than buy.

[josephvman]

Spot on.

Originally Posted by keithl

Unless you're using the vehicle for business or have more money than you know what to do with, it never makes financial sense to lease. You're renting a car and paying a high interest rate (they may not call it interest but it is) and you're limited to how much you drive, what you do with it etc.

You can buy a new car now for less than 2% interest and I believe the warranty on an Alfa is 4 years, if you don't like it after the warranty is up sell it and after 4 years of payments you'll get something out of your "investment".

The car dealership would much prefer people to lease than buy.

[swils8610]

Lease only. The brand isn't proven in the US market yet.


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[Kingair]

Originally Posted by swils8610

Lease only. The brand isn't proven in the US market yet.


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Not proven in Europe either 😂

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[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Not proven in Europe either 😂

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[todge]

I've owned two Alfas. What you're saying about reliability, is only slightly true. If they're tuned and maintained, they're damn near impossible to blow up. Few things handle, and are as sweet sounding as an Alfa at WOT. That being said, the new stuff, I wouldn't hesitate to buy. They're not terribly expensive, and the 4 year 50k warranty should cover you for anything major. That's even better than the warranty I got on my new Focus ST.
Todge

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by todge

I've owned two Alfas. What you're saying about reliability, is only slightly true. If they're tuned and maintained, they're damn near impossible to blow up. Few things handle, and are as sweet sounding as an Alfa at WOT. That being said, the new stuff, I wouldn't hesitate to buy. They're not terribly expensive, and the 4 year 50k warranty should cover you for anything major. That's even better than the warranty I got on my new Focus ST.
Todge

Bar is really set high for the Italians

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by todge

I've owned two Alfas. What you're saying about reliability, is only slightly true. If they're tuned and maintained, they're damn near impossible to blow up.

If you neglect a Toyota and dont have it serviced or the oil changed for 3 years it will most likely be fine.

Reliability is somewhat relative.

[Abdullah71601]

Just out of curiosity, what do you car guys consider to be reliable?

My F250SD is old enough to vote and has cost less than $4K to repair in its lifetime. Can I expect the same out of a new luxury sports car?

[Rock]

Lifelong 'car guy'.
Toyotas, Mazdas, and in fact all the Japanese makes are reliable. I will never own anything else for a 'family car'. Never owned the local Ford/GM products as the quality was not in the same street.
Prestige brands are no more reliable than the Japanese makes but cost many times more for parts and service. Prestige costs!
All modern cars are full of unnecessary electronic gimmicks that WILL fail and cost a mint to repair. Keep 'em for 3 years then trade 'em. You can't beat the system.
I agree that anything more than 20 years old was simpler, more reliable, and easier and cheaper to fix when it did go wrong.

[amg55]

Some of the older Alfas, on quiet nights you can actually hear the body slowly rusting away! I'm sure they have come a long way since :)

[1William]

I would not own an Alfa based on the reviews and history of the brand. I went down that road with Range Rover and never again. I read the reviews and talked to owners and knew better but bought one anyway. It was a money and repair pit. I will never own another obscure brand with a limited service network and complete control over parts. Do yourself a favor and go find something fun that has a reputation for reliability and can be serviced locally no matter where you are. Just my thoughts.

[josephvman]

The fact that reliability might be an issue is a great argument against leasing one. If you lease it you're stuck with it until the lease expires, unless you lemon law the car. If the car is truly a lemon you can lemon law it either way, so why would you limit your ability to get out whenever you like? Buy it and put a big chunk down to put yourself in equity and the car is an asset, lease it and it will always be a liability. I doubt Alfa has anything aggressive to offer in a lease anyway.

[kilyung]

I keep telling myself, buy a cheap Japanese import - it's a better financial decision. Then I look down at my gold Rolex and laugh at myself. Go with what your heart wants.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I keep telling myself, buy a cheap Japanese import - it's a better financial decision. Then I look down at my gold Rolex and laugh at myself. Go with what your heart wants.

this Alfa is cash purch worthy. 4C? nice.

[locutus49]

Buy it and enjoy it. All high performance cars have issues (Porsche), but that is the price you pay for high performance fun.

[Kingair]

Now it seems to be a real nice car with a fabulous sound !

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[GB-man]

Originally Posted by keithl

Unless you're using the vehicle for business or have more money than you know what to do with, it never makes financial sense to lease. You're renting a car and paying a high interest rate (they may not call it interest but it is) and you're limited to how much you drive, what you do with it etc.

You can buy a new car now for less than 2% interest and I believe the warranty on an Alfa is 4 years, if you don't like it after the warranty is up sell it and after 4 years of payments you'll get something out of your "investment".

The car dealership would much prefer people to lease than buy.

Unfortunately that's not always true. It depends on the residual and money factor offered. Many manufacturers subvent their leases with incentives and artificially inflated residuals.

Good luck selling a 4 year old Alfa with 50k miles. Won't be worth Jack squat

Point is that isn't a hardfast rule. It depends on the program in place as well as your mileage needs. Also, if you're going to buy, it almost always makes sense to hold for at least 7 years to see any serious savings.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Unfortunately that's not always true. It depends on the residual and money factor offered. Many manufacturers subvent their leases with incentives and artificially inflated residuals.

Good luck selling a 4 year old Alfa with 50k miles. Won't be worth Jack squat

Point is that isn't a hardfast rule. It depends on the program in place as well as your mileage needs. Also, if you're going to buy, it almost always makes sense to hold for at least 7 years to see any serious savings.

this...

[keithl]

[QUOTE=GB-man;7696019 Also, if you're going to buy, it almost always makes sense to hold for at least 7 years to see any serious savings.[/QUOTE]

This part is very true. However: Leasing is the most expensive way to operate a vehicle, period.

No deanship is going to offer you a residual money factor that isn't heavily in their favor.