Automotive

I am interested in your opinion on the current Giulietta which has been with us since 2010. It certainly looks cool and distinguishes itself well from the usual small Audi’s, VW’s and BMW’s. It has the history to make its name stand out and the character to make it interesting, but would you choose it over the Golf or a 1 Series?

Andrew

The Audi A 1, which I find to be ultra cool.

Best,

Nicolas

Nt

I love the A5 too, as well as the R 8.

Not all the Audis...

Best, my friend.

Nicolas.

....was a waste of a great name. This one is a slightly better effort. Slightly.
Alfa Romeo has, to me, very little to offer anymore beyond its styling differention.
When the Giulietta arrived in the 50s, it was a little 4 cylinder marvel (all alloy engine, DOHC, BIG finned brakes) and oh so pretty. Now?

I own an '89 Milano Verde, last of the rear-drive Alfas. What an engine (3.0 V6), what handling, and standard Recaros as well...

Regards
Damjan

.. but not sure about the driving dynamics ... in that case i would choose for the 1-series.

I haven't driven the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but I imagine that the BMW 1 series would be the better choice in terms of overall serviceability (more BMW dealers than Alfa dealers in most places in the world), higher reliability, higher engine options, and better driving feel.  

I would take the Giulietta over the strained 1 series (design brief, make it small, boxy and at least from afar it should look something like a BMW) anyday.  The Guilietta is one very good looking car and was on my short list to try before I got caught up in this Lotus trap.   I have never driven a Guilietta, but they got good reviews here.  Of course if you require rear wheel drive...
It is not really a recommendation, but Chrysler is now using the Guilietta platform, cheapened down, for its new smaller fwd cars.

Don

I think we may have passed a few in the Elise, Don?!

In Australia they haven't got the foothold of the Golf GTI/R or even the BMW 1 Series. But they look nice.

Andrew

All I can say in my defense is 

...pre-war.

When Alfa Romeo was winning Grand Prix and hadn't yet put engines into Nissans with a cross and serpent badge, hadn't replaced its V6 with a block from Australia, hadn't pretended that a valve cover makes a FIAT engine an ALFA.

Back to the subject, though. I was invited for a test drive when these first came to Australia. I usually don't bother with those events, but my sister was interested....For about 15 minutes. I think I lasted 10.

 

... so long. You make strong arguments.

A

It pays us to remember that Scuderia Ferrari started by racing Alfa Romeos....

Alfa Romeo has a glorious history, but now (to me) they have little but distinctive styling to recommend them. Given how good cars are now and the reputation of Alfa developed over the last few decades, this is not wholly a bad thing. But as a marque whose history is so steeped in performance (as well as styling), I doubt it is enough.

Lancia is in a similar category, but sadly, without the styling....

Based on looks I would choose this over the BMW and VW but a test drive of all would be a must.

JerryW

But I would say; stay away from italian cars. Sorry, but I don't like them. 

 

cheers

 

vte

Definitely would, VW are boring vehicles and BMs can be also 

... to these cars that is very attractive.

Actually our local Lamborghini dealer keeps some small Lotus and Alfa models in the corner of the showroom. I guess after you have lusted after the exotica and are in the mood to buy something with a little of the style, or a little (perhaps a lot) of the performance, you might be tempted to leave with a Guiletta or an Elise. I pondered how often that might happen as I left the showroom with only a few photographs.

Andrew

nt

Actually almost pulled the trigger on one recently. Looked at the MiTo as well. 

... still in the Fiat stable I guess. But there is still something special about the little Fiat 500. I would have made the same decision. Hope you are enjoying it for summer.

Andrew