Giulietta Pricing, is it really that expensive world wide?

[giordano92]

Attended yesterday's annual Auto Italia event in Canberra, was an awesome day as per usual, (photos are in the image lounges http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/meets...ia-2012-a.html ) and as normal the local dealership displayed a few vehicles. Two Giulietta's, a Mito QV and a 159. Not to mention three Fiat 500s. However, glancing over the price list for the Giulietta i was surprised on how expensive it actually is.

The base on road price in Australia for a G 1.4 Distinctive is AU $40,814 (26,659.59 Pounds) this seems fine, however if you throw in a floor mat set ($140) Paint and leather protection ($1095) and leather seats ($4000) your looking close to $46,000 or 30,000 Pounds. For a base Giulietta may i add.

If you go for a QV on road costs inclusive your looking at $46,356 + some of these extras or the Tom Tom kit and your looking well into the $50,000 mark (32,500 Pounds) For the same money this is a 159 Ti in Australia?

Now before i post, this is not by any means bagging the Giulietta in any way, but I'm just amazed at how expensive it is? Now Alfa cannot argue that this is justified through the performance because the figures aren't much better then the 147, however up to 10 grand more (Aussie Dollars) then the 147 pricing was. Don't forget, well in Australia anyway the 159 was priced according to the 156 with no prices being inflated.

Does this pricing seem right in the UK or the rest of Europe?

Saluti, Giordano.

[Tirreni]

Seems expensive to me compared to the UK.

My GQV's list price was £30,105, but included full leather seats with electrical adjustment and heaters, Xenons + washers, reversing sensors, electric mirrors, tom-tom socket, and metallic paint.

[giordano92]

Well there you go Tirreni thats a saving of 2000 Pounds? I don't know if the tax kills Australian dealers so they try and lay it off through optional extra prices, but all i know is that it is steep

Saluti, Giordano.

[diamond72]

OK, I haven't got electric seats or bi xenon lights, have got etna black metallic and rear parking sensors. My QV, which had sat in the dealer's showroom for 3 months (unregistered) set me back the princely sum of £21,462! Bargains are there to be had, even from Alfa

[Tirreni]

Looking back at my paperwork, it looks as though the "on the road" price for a basic QV is/was £25.5k.

The full monty seats package and Xenons are pricey - £3.6k inc VAT

Unfortunately I didn't have a strong bargaining position when I got min as not having a P/X to throw in. (My salesman told me they only have a 7% margin....)

[diamond72]

Your salesman lied

I got mine for what the dealer paid for it because, as they ordered it as a special and it hadn't sold within 3 months, they needed it off their books as they were paying interest on what they owed Alfa!

He showed me the original order and invoice and even got my finance down to 6.9% from FGA ( I didn't px either). Sometimes, even the dealer has to take it on the chin

[Tirreni]

My dealer was keen to time their getting the car pretty close to the lease on my Brera ending so I could pick the QV up quickly for the same reason. In the end he had for 4 weeks....

[giordano92]

Yeh obviously the dealership has some give and take on their models, but as you mentioned diamond 72 yours sat on the floor, I'm guessing the recommended retail price from the dock would be a different story in pricing. You can bargin with dealer stock.

Saluti, Giordano.

[sazabi1]

Mine was $NZ59,490.00, but because I knew the salesman on a professional level I purchased for $NZ55k even, inclusive of on road costs and leather. But even at this RRP it is still less expensive than a Golf GTi.

[gotcha]

To add perspective from other corners of the world, the basic Giu QV costs 28800 EUR in Germany but the same QV with same equipment is only 24990 EUR in Slovakia. Thats 4k EUR price difference on 600 km distant countries in Europe.
To add red leather costs 1200 EUR in Germany and only 600 EUR in Slovakia.
Bixenon headlamps are 1300 EUR option in Germany and 760 EUR option in Slovakia. And so it goes on...

Luckily I live in the "cheaper" region, but I cant understand how can a car be 20 perc more expensive "across the border" especially as we have the same VAT and other taxes as Germany. And I compared other car brands as well and its the same.

I would say car pricing in general has nothing to do with car cost or value, its just set for every market so high as the market can afford so that the manufacturer sells reasonable quantity.

[giordano92]

Originally Posted by gotcha

To add perspective from other corners of the world, the basic Giu QV costs 28800 EUR in Germany but the same QV with same equipment is only 24990 EUR in Slovakia. Thats 4k EUR price difference on 600 km distant countries in Europe.
To add red leather costs 1200 EUR in Germany and only 600 EUR in Slovakia.
Bixenon headlamps are 1300 EUR option in Germany and 760 EUR option in Slovakia. And so it goes on...

Luckily I live in the "cheaper" region, but I cant understand how can a car be 20 perc more expensive "across the border" especially as we have the same VAT and other taxes as Germany. And I compared other car brands as well and its the same.

I would say car pricing in general has nothing to do with car cost or value, its just set for every market so high as the market can afford so that the manufacturer sells reasonable quantity.

Definetly agree with that however the Giulietta in itself i think for a base model is rather steep compared to a Golf, but the higher end QV is cheaper compared to a GTi.

Saluti, Giordano.

[diamond72]

Originally Posted by giordano92

Definetly agree with that however the Giulietta in itself i think for a base model is rather steep compared to a Golf, but the higher end QV is cheaper compared to a GTi.

Saluti, Giordano.

Standard German car sales really, if you buy the base model you get four seats, an engine and the air inside the cabin. If you want "luxuries" then you pay through the nose.

[Mattgusto]

The 'basic' Giulietta in the UK starts at £17995 last time I checked.....that's solid black, 1.4 120 turbo engine, wheel tirms...no options selected....

Not too bad but I do think the G is about £1000-2000 overpriced depending on model IMHO.

[Perreby]

My 170bhp MA cost around 27 500 pounds.. But its properly specked.

It has black leather seats with red stitching, Bose, 5 hole 18" mags, aluminum kick plates, folding side mirrors, bigger exhaust tip, brushed aluminum dash insert, lumbar support, visibility pack (auto lights, wipers etc)..

The base 170bhp MA Giulietta is about 300 pounds cheaper than the base 118kw Golf TSI in South Africa.

[giordano92]

Originally Posted by Mattgusto

The 'basic' Giulietta in the UK starts at £17995 last time I checked.....that's solid black, 1.4 120 turbo engine, wheel tirms...no options selected....

Not too bad but I do think the G is about £1000-2000 overpriced depending on model IMHO.

See thats what i believe, and it might be harming sales. In australia anyway. The 159 and Mito to a degree was priced competitively to underpin the competition and were heavily specced. Little things such as a full size spare alloy wheel in the 159 (in Australia) were small details that were nice touches. However the G seems to have to be built with extras to compete? Its not like a BMW or Merc where the name value goes a long way.

Saluti, Giordano.

[gotcha]

Originally Posted by Mattgusto

The 'basic' Giulietta in the UK starts at £17995 last time I checked.....that's solid black, 1.4 120 turbo engine, wheel tirms...no options selected....

Not too bad but I do think the G is about £1000-2000 overpriced depending on model IMHO.

Here it starts on 15 490 EUR (aprox 12 800 GBP) for 1.4 120 turbo engine with manual A/C, VDC, 6 airbags, D.N.A., boardcomputer, Start & Stop system, heated mirrors and steel rims in black color (cheapest) and basic black cloth interior.
And if its a stock car, there can be dealer discount negotiated as well. And still nobody buys it even for 12,5k GBP as Alfas have horrible reputation of rust buckets with broken engines consuming oil and breaking down within first 6 months.

ALFA ROMEO

Basic VW golf starts at 13 590 EUR 3door and 14 090EUR 5 door for 1.2l / 63kW !!! engine and people buy about 100-150 Golfs to 1 sold Giulietta. That´s how bad is Alfa reputation and brand awareness here....

[thebassman]

It's called "value pricing", based on the perceived value (perceived by customers that is) of a product. Alfa will charge what they think each particular market is prepared to pay based on this perceived value. Sometimes a manufacturer will get it wrong and under price a product, thus damaging it's perceived value in the market. This can damage a brand long term.

[cue2]

Trouble is, you are preaching to a bunch of people here ,some of whom , love depreciation and have no intention of buying a new car.

[giordano92]

Originally Posted by cue2

Trouble is, you are preaching to a bunch of people here ,some of whom , love depreciation and have no intention of buying a new car.

Well its that depreciation that makes people hate buying brand new. Double edged sword.

Saluti, Giordano.

[Ralf S.]

Sometimes the price takes into account local taxes. Denmark has traditionally the lowest prices in Western Europe... but they get hammered for some stoopid rates of tax on top.

I'd head off to Slovakia to buy my Giulietta there... I think in the EU dealers are obliged to supply RHD if that's what you order...


Ralf S.

[Pseudoguru]

Hi Giordano
I am not sure you are absolutely correct about the Aussie pricing. Alfas including Giuliettas are well specified in Australia to position Alfa as a premium marque in people's minds. Our 'base' model is not really base at all. Our lowest model is the 1.4 Multiair and it has many standard features which, from looking on this forum, seem to be extras on UK models. Leather here is only $1850 (which I bought for my car) but is normally sold as a package for $4000, as you say, but that also includes the twin sunroof. It comes standard with 17" alloys, auto lights and wipers. Adding TCT is supposed to be another $2000. Not sure what model 'distinctive' is?
I bought my car five weeks ago and had originally negotiated $36,500 drive away for a manual 1.4MA. I eventually bought a 1,4MA TCT for $36,900 on road (not including the leather). That, by the way, is exactly what I paid for my 147 back in 2004. Taking inflation into account, that is really much cheaper than a 147. In fact it is, in my opinion too close to the Mito.
(for UK readers, our drive away price includes 12 months 3rd party person insurance, 12 months rego, premium number plates and any dealer delivery charges (the expensive car wash).
I suspect even better deals are probably on now with the end of financial year in a few days.
cheers

[DANQV2]

Originally Posted by Tirreni

Seems expensive to me compared to the UK.

My GQV's list price was £30,105, but included full leather seats with electrical adjustment and heaters, Xenons + washers, reversing sensors, electric mirrors, tom-tom socket, and metallic paint.

wow steve i didnt realise you spent that much!!!

Mine with the Oversize pipes tips, and the pot wheels, was 22K but had a helping from staff discount of 20%...

dont think i would pay 30k for a g imo tbh..

[giordano92]

Originally Posted by Pseudoguru

Hi Giordano
I am not sure you are absolutely correct about the Aussie pricing. Alfas including Giuliettas are well specified in Australia to position Alfa as a premium marque in people's minds. Our 'base' model is not really base at all. Our lowest model is the 1.4 Multiair and it has many standard features which, from looking on this forum, seem to be extras on UK models. Leather here is only $1850 (which I bought for my car) but is normally sold as a package for $4000, as you say, but that also includes the twin sunroof. It comes standard with 17" alloys, auto lights and wipers. Adding TCT is supposed to be another $2000. Not sure what model 'distinctive' is?
I bought my car five weeks ago and had originally negotiated $36,500 drive away for a manual 1.4MA. I eventually bought a 1,4MA TCT for $36,900 on road (not including the leather). That, by the way, is exactly what I paid for my 147 back in 2004. Taking inflation into account, that is really much cheaper than a 147. In fact it is, in my opinion too close to the Mito.
(for UK readers, our drive away price includes 12 months 3rd party person insurance, 12 months rego, premium number plates and any dealer delivery charges (the expensive car wash).
I suspect even better deals are probably on now with the end of financial year in a few days.
cheers

Compared to other vehicles on the market, it is overpriced. The deals on current stocked models is very competitive, because lets face it, it is not selling as well as Alfa wants it to. Despite how good or how practical it is.

Saluti, Giordano.

[Tirreni]

Originally Posted by DANQV2

wow steve i didnt realise you spent that much!!!

Mine with the Oversize pipes tips, and the pot wheels, was 22K but had a helping from staff discount of 20%...

dont think i would pay 30k for a g imo tbh..

Aye I know, the electric leather seats and the xenons/washers stuck close on £3k of that.... Still mildly surprised that the QV doesn't have leather as standard - my last GTV did. If you knocked 20% off of my price you're down around £24k.

Then again, if you consider prices, my 3.0 GTV's list price back in '99 was £28-29k, so at today's prices, and on comparison, the GQV even with all the extras Ive got added in is pretty good value.

[TonyGr]

I'd always thought Alfas were out of my price bracket. This time I was pleasantly suprised by comparision with other marques especially Citroen which I came from. My Guilietta cost, as a seven month old ex-demonstrator, almost the same as I paid for the Xsara VTS (also an exdemonstrator at seven months old) when adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. Only difference was the VTS was on 113 miles and the G was 2350. Power and 0-60 times are virtually the same so a fair comparison.