Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf

At least try to get up to date!

Sounds like Alfa's best car, possibly ever, nothing but praise in Andrew English's First Drive, nothing to criticise. But still the same old dribbling on about Alfa shortcomings - of the last century! Try to keep up to date, man.

By scotital on 28 April, 2010, 1:47pm

Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf, the "new one"!

We are hoping that she will be somehow so GREAT as the old 1978 one !

We are expecting her !

From "All the Friends from ALFA ROMEO, FIAT, LANCIA SERVICE NIKOS KAPLANIS"
i.e.
Giannis, Fotis, Nikos Kaplanis, E. Mastorellos, N. Malakis.

By nikism on 29 April, 2010, 1:43pm

Alfas are incredibly reliable.

I've run plenty of Alfa 156s until 150K miles+ and as long as they're serviced correctly, they run on forever without problem.

Whining on about percevied unreliability dimly recollected from the 70s is inaccurate and poor journalism.

By RundSchneemann on 29 April, 2010, 6:04pm

Not all Alfas were unreliable in the 70's and 80's. Rust might have been an issue on some cars, but I owned 5 Alfas from new between 1980 and 1987 and as far as mechanical problems were concerned - well there were virtually none. None of my cars ( 2 Alfasuds, a Sprint, and 2 Alfa 33's) ever broke down and trips to the dealers were rare other than for servicing. What let them down on the Sud's were poor quality, squeaky seats, and noisy ventilation fans, but the joy of driving them made up for it and I still long for another car that gave me as much pleasure as the Alfasud. Maybe this Giulietta is the one I have been waiting for with an Alfa badge on it.

By Debbie312 on 29 April, 2010, 6:44pm

JohnnyH

I have to agree with these comments, I bought my first Alfa, a 1.9TD GT and six years later I still love it.

It has confounded my BMW and Audi friends who had opinions similar to Andrew English, to the point where I began to question my purchase and waited for the problems to start......

Six years and 100k + miles later it has proved to be one of the best cars I have ever owned, other than a glitch with the electric windows when new it has been completely reliable, something I could not say about my friends cars. The BMW is long gone and the Audi has spent a lot of expensive time in the workshop.

Still the same old rubbish is written, it reminds me of the old saying, get a reputation for early rising and you can stay in bed all day..... Yes, Alfa and many other makes were poorly made twenty years ago.....

Looking forward to an Alfa review some day that does not trot out the old jibes and yes, I would happily buy another Alfa!

By BruceThe on 29 April, 2010, 6:50pm

Fantastico

ciao this is bellisima

By julianlee4 on 9 May, 2010, 9:53am

Gotta agree

with pretty much everything said in the comments above, i have posted on many alfa articles saying just how reliable my 147 has been, never missed a beat! Just a shame some of these guys at AE dont really know what they are on about when it comes to modern day alfas.

As for the clover leaf, WOW! Another real beaut! I have been lucky enough to already have ordered my Giulietta, shame she will be the diesel, dont you hate growing up!!!

And sorry to Andrew English but this part of your article "Funny, then, how so few drivers go back and buy a second one." I think the comments on this item and all over the alfa owners forum you will find this is definitly not the case! I wont be touching any of those bland and boring german brands ever again.

By AndyG on 12 July, 2010, 8:47pm

Same old rhetoric...

The reason that Alfa can't shake the image is because lazy journalism and third-hand opinion continue to define the perception of the brand here.

Andrew English says that "recent Driver Power 2010 reliability and satisfaction survey, and you will understand why", but when JD Power asked the German public what they thought, they placed Alfa in 2nd place with Mercedes-Benz. Think that this is internet madness? Read for yourself: http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2009116

Like others who have responded to this article, I have owned three Alfas and all have been completely reliable. There is no question that I'll be continuing to buy Alfa and can do so with my head and my heart.

By CuoreSportivo on 5 September, 2010, 8:59am

tiresome

I have to agree with the above comments. I owned a number of Alfas in my younger days and two long term cars were my 1983
20 litre Giulietta which sparked my love for them and a 75 twin spark which I had for 7 years both of which were incredibly reliable unlike some of my friends who had beemers and mercs and were constantly moaning about their cars lack of reliability. This leads me to think that some journalists are biased towards their German made cars and due to laziness or otherwise can only dig up mud from 30 years ago of which many other makes of car also suffered but is never heard.
I must add that I have owned many others i.e. Land Rover Freelander and now Fiat Ulysse because of large family, Fiat has now done nearly 100,000 miles without so much as a new exhaust yet! My Freelander on the other hand was just a catalogue of issues. I look forward to the day soon when I will be able to purchase a new Giulietta and rekindle my love affair with her.

By joshua on 12 December, 2010, 5:44pm

I fell in love with Alfa after being given one in Sicily as a rental car Having bought an Alfa 147 Special Edition Ducati in 2008, I have had no problems with it at all. There is something epic about driving a suped up, special edition Alfa, which is why im just about to order one of these G. Cloverleaf. Ive driven the 1.4 TBi and that was quick enough, but this one is going to be epic. As for all the usual comments about unreliability, they're not true. And even if it was unreliable, i'd still buy another one.

By GoodDay2011 on 26 June, 2011, 4:54pm

I love Alfas!

From my 146 Ti, my Spider to my 2 166s, I have never had cars which I have enjoyed driving so much and have put a smile on my face!

On top of that, they have been comfortable (few cars have enabled me to travel 300 miles and get out feeling very fresh) and very reliable. Sure I have had to replace batteries and the odd exhaust but every card needs those?

Every Alfa I have owned has been very well equipped and whilst I bought them second-hand, they were an absolute bargain (my last 166 cost me £1500.00 with 56K on the clock, a fantastic 3.0 24v V6 and full leather, electrics, phone etc.)

I wish that these reviewers would wake up and stop regurgitating facts which are not representative of current Alfas?

By robbykni on 7 July, 2011, 12:01pm

Alfa reliable

I bought a used Alfa GT 1.9jtd in 07, been a cracking speedy favourite, and 2 weeks ago I bought Brera Pridrive, used but 09 low mileage and its a cracker, love it.
Its also IMO one of the best lookin cars on the road/planet.
What more is there to say. I still have the GT but regretably it is for sale. Still love it.

By Dwc66 on 10 July, 2011, 8:27am

Typo

That should be Prodrive of course.

By Dwc66 on 10 July, 2011, 8:29am

Blame Dinosaur Clarkson

-------- and the rest of the Medias' 40-year bias against all-things non-exotic Italian cars. Even the majority of the Trade still demonises them and gives them low residuals, after all this time. Yes, there have been issues of rust into the 1980's and reliability well into the 1990's -------- but what are those issues with rust and reliability like in 2011 ?

I wish we could see GENUINE comparisons with equivalent-powered German machinery - complete with costs of standard servicing parts and Dealer labour ; + a typical front n/s wing & suspension prang repair + Costs of running for , what- a 3 year ( isn't that a typical period?) term.

One thing the German Marques have going for them is a well-established & nationwide Dealership 'spread' : - for reasons I've never, ever understood - Alfa , under the wings of Corporate Fiat - haven't ever been properly organised in that way. I don't really think Fiat know what Alfas position is in the world . Lancia confuse Fiat even more , IMO. Corporate Fiat don't know these 2 companies niches - and it shows.

.Go on AE - I dare you to run a genuine 4 make comparison - Alfa, BM, Audi & VW --- run-out to around the same bottom-line
price + insurance -- and let's all see what extra's one gets-or-not for that money !

Another issue is that a helluva lot of the prestige market is 'run' by Company Accountants who , being the bean-counters they are ( and probably have to be) - carry on discharging the safe mentality they will always discharge - and choose German.
Or Lexus. The lease market is sewn-up by the German marques + Lexus.

I'd like to know - ( can you tell us, AE ?) how residual values are determined : - and who the party is who decides those final specific figures that the majority of the Trade take as biblical
/ written in blood . Is is a clique of accountants, or is it a group of people who should be comparing the data as suggested in the 2nd paragraph ?

By noelpne on 22 November, 2011, 10:57am