My thoughts on my first Alfa for 33 years!

Lomas55 · #1 (**Post Link**) 02-05-12

Well finally I am the proud owner of an Alfa again some 33 years after owning my last one. Why I’ve waited until I’m 61 to buy another I don’t know, or do I? My first one was a black 1967 1750GTV a fantastic looking car inside and out. But as I found out over the following couple of years their chassis just did not like British salt. Then I purchased a 1973 2000 GTV, in my opinion not as well decked out as the 1750 but still a lovely looking car. Knew where to look on chassis this time and again had a few years of enjoyable motoring even though it had to be cosseted like the Italian catwalk model, and before divorce finally forced me to part with it. One saw very few Alfas on the road in the 70s (discounting the Suds) and certainly in my neck of the woods you were fortunate if you saw one a week. Definitely GTVs were an unusual sighting. As to why there weren’t more about, probably for the most part for very similar reasons they aren’t that common a site today. Yes the issue of resistance to corrosion had to be addressed, but the philosophy of the Italian car manufacture seems to have continued unabated except in the areas where to ignore it was a commercial suicide in sales.

So in almost 40 years the appeal of Alfa Romeo has thankfully changed little. Yes we’d like the ventilation system (now with the air conditioning) to work well. Yes we’d like the thought process to the electronics to be more convincing, and the list of further frustrating niggles is certainly there. So why when I should be making life easier for myself have I returned to this breed?
Well I suppose it has taken the form of a love that has never aged, in that the focus of attraction has never aged. But the impulse to indulge myself in the face of more practical considerations just hasn’t allowed me to. Instead I have craved my love of Italian engineering with more manageable and cheaper to maintain Ducati and Moto Guzzi motorcycles and what a lovely relationship it has been. But time has a way of reminding you of your mortal limitations which motorcyclists have a habit of ignoring. Then one day I parked up next to a Brera and convinced myself I should not hesitate any longer. I knew that if I didn’t take the opportunity now and before being persuaded to finally hang my leathers up, my family would guide me to other more practical investments towards my retirement.

But a Brera was maybe pushing my family’s tolerance too far? After drawing up a short list I ended up choosing a 159 JTDM as a compromise between practicality, comfort and performance. Hmmm I bought a GT Blackline; a software glitch maybe? But I think I’ve got away with it, as there have been no complaints from the crew so. So yes I may try for a Brera yet?
I have had the car 6 weeks now, long enough I think to form an objective view, if that’s possible with an Alfa? Yes I went for a drive before I bought it and to be honest my view has changed little 1200 miles later. The car gets a 40 mile round trip every work day 50% on A roads and 50% on B, and generally little congestion. Lucky maybe, but the B roads are predominantly straight and very rural indeed. Anyway to business.

The most noticeable characteristic is the ride. It is to put it bluntly ‘stiff.’ But with 18” and 40 deep tyre walls, I didn’t expect anything else. Having said that I didn’t get out of the car after my first ride and think I aren’t driving that round north country roads. No in actual fact it wasn’t that different to the 45 walls on 18” rims I’d been used to on my previous motor. But it does make you cringe when you see a trough across the road. Having said that it actually absorbs bumps and ripples (as long as they are not road work trenches) remarkably well considering, with no hint of danger in full flight. And compared to the 1.6 Mini One my wife had a few years ago riding the same road the Alfa is noticeably smoother. But the trade-off for this stiffness is a car that steers and drives like it looks. It is very easy to drive ‘point and shoot as they say in the photographic world.

The engine is the 1.9 JTD multijet, and with 6 speed the whole package gives you a very drivable and quick car for its class. The cars lightness compared to the larger Lusso working very much in its favour. Compared to the two previous 2 litre turbo common rails I’ve owned before (VW and BMW) this package definitely has the edge, or is that my Italian biased optimism? And of course the torque on the diesel means you don’t have to push the engine and watch the fuel needle drop like a stone when you are in warp mode. Unfortunately there is a downside to diesel units and that is of course it’s audio. You can flower it up as much as you like, but try as hard as you may no one can make any diesel sound pleasant? If someone has found the secret please let me know, and with that comment that’s about it for the main hardware. Everything else does what it supposed to do and looks where it’s supposed to be, all wrapped up in a package that is undeniably Alfa. It’s nothing special, certainly compared to its rivals some of the engineering seems a shade lightweight but it works very well to give a car that handles excellently. In a recent drive scurrying across the back roads of the Yorkshire Wolds I forgave it all its little idiosyncrasies and indulged myself in one the most enjoyable rides I’ve had for some time. Surprisingly it seems, providing one isn’t faced with a sudden pothole it equips itself remarkably well in such an environment.

So what of the cabin? I have to admit I had it in my mind to buy a Lusso because of that gorgeous front end, even though the backend does not have the same appeal. But though the dashboard is classic Alfa with those driver facing dials in the centre console, the present vogue for brushed stainless steel unfortunately does not work for me, but hey in this instance I would have suffered. So sitting in the Blackline although not classic Alfa I found pleasantly acceptable. Total plastic it may be and cloned from a 147, but compared to the majority of the competition with the predisposition for chrome/stainless (which includes the new generation of Alfas), its design suits and fits the compactness of the cabin quite well. So yes while the new wave of bling dashboards are too brash for me I just thank god the car market isn’t ruled by the needs of the under 21s and the mobile phone displays. But eventually such displays are inevitable.

So what are the irritations internally? Well I’ve already mentioned one, the heating/ventilation. And I seem to remember 33 years ago this was also a criticism. Why in the face all the competition has this not been rectified? Not only does it seem so complicated for what it has to do, but maybe if it worked efficiently one would not have to constantly fiddle with it. It would seem easier to learn and operate Windows 7 than to find an effective setting on the Alfa ventilation/aircon. And don’t think I’m fussy, I had three settings on my previous car and that did me for 5 years. The car radio is I have to say one of the worst I have had on a car in the last 25 years, no joke! It is infuriating in that it cannot seem to maintain a signal for more than a couple of miles. And despite being Bose its performance is I think poor by today’s standards. But I will change it very soon as by the look of it did the previous owner. Unfortunately these 2 faults are quite significant for driver comfort and well-being, so what Mr & Mrs Romano do down in Italy with their slightly elevated temperament I don’t know. Maybe they just sing with the windows down, yes of course; silly me.

So that being the cabin, what of the other significant criticisms elsewhere on the car? Well already I’ve had to change a front sidelight bulb, wooops! Rumour says it can’t be done without dropping the front bumper/valance? Well on mine it can be, it took about 10 minutes, fiddly yes but then looking at the access to the remainder of the bulbs, oh dear! That said, it would seem Alfa is not alone in this respect. To minimise the need for this tortuous exchange I intend to replace my bulbs with Xenon HID. The only other real criticism is the jacking points, or should I say the lack of any primary point on which a trolley jack can be used. Even if you don’t undertake your own maintenance when you can, or don’t subscribe to such involvement. It should be recognised by manufactures that garages use trolley jacks on a regular basis and certainly tyre bays and therefore adequate provision should be made for their use. It should be obvious to even the most mentally challenged of the human race where to stick the jack to effectively lift the car without the risk of damage. Not as some individual has done on my car and slightly delved in the under sill in his confusion on where to place the lift. Yet again to be fair to Alfa in this they are not alone.

Now if you’ve been patient enough to persevere with this review thus far then you are no doubt coming to the conclusion that I am dissatisfied with my purchase. And will be trading it in at the first opportunity, well not a bit of it. I thoroughly enjoy driving it and it looks gorgeous. I think all in all Alfa did reasonably good job with this car. I made an analogy to an Italian catwalk model earlier; which may be only symbolic but never the less can raise a grin as been more than identifiable. Fortunately unlike the catwalk model this is beauty you can access everyday.

More than any other Italian car manufacturer, Alfa is a make very much of the Italian temperament and artistic flair, and unashamedly radiates its origin. With Alfa’s opponents at the top of their game there seems to be no room for too many compromises or niggles. But somehow Alfa manages to look over this array of raised arms without loosing too much credibility. They have the ability to produce cars that people feel good in. Or maybe it’s just a case of; you are of the Italian persuasion or you are not?
Anyway as with all my vehicles the first 6 months are critical in any relationship if it behaves itself I shall pamper it for years if not I will change it, for what? Another Alfa of course.

baldeagle · #2 (**Post Link**) 02-05-12

Great review. Welcome back to the fold

MINERVA · #3 (**Post Link**) 02-05-12

Congrats on your first in 33 years. Hope it works out well. As for the Ventilation system I think its one of the best I've used - so not sure why you don't like it. Air-con is really good, maybe you should get it checked before the warranty closes. The Bose is utterly fantastic but maybe someone has been fiddling. GT's have faults and you will too, but total perfection usually comes much further up the pay scale. I prefer the V6 which goes all Italian in displaying its pleasures - makes me smile anyway. All the best.

Rushy55 · #4 (**Post Link**) 02-05-12

Brilliant review and accurate. I also have the GT diesel, and agree with all you say.

Ralf S. · #5 (**Post Link**) 03-05-12

Hooray!!

Nice sentiments and nicely written up.

I think if you had a Ducati and a Guzzi, then you'll be fine. Like you say, I think some people "get" Alfa and others just never will..

Ralf S.

MalcQV · #6 (**Post Link**) 04-05-12

A great write up indeed.
I think the A/C in mine, well I know it's not working as there is no cold air unless it is freezing outside. Mine to is a diesel and it does take a little while to warm up.

I bought a diesel for the economy, I don't like the audio from it one bit, but as with most diesels once you are on the move the noise inside at least is not there. It does have a little push in the back once you reach about 2krpm but I think it then behaves like the other two petrol cars I own (to a point).

My GT is a beaut but I bought metallic black and the shine is not deep (maybe a flat black would have been better). It never really looks clean and I wish I had waited for a red one. I have even looked at a few websites doing wraps. I think I may just go down the paint correction route first to see if I can get that black looking good. So far I have decided not to buy a black car for everyday use again.

BTW, Honda make a superbly quiet diesel. All the good of diesel (torque/economy) and the sound of a quiet petrol (but we don't want a quiet petrol for an Alfa do we?).

I have had a couple of [older] Ferraris (still own one) and loads of boring stuff but the three current motors I own are the best. The best car I have owned when you factor cost, insurance, petrol, tax, looks, sound, comfort and pure smiles has to be my '97 Spider.

Alfa's should really be petrol. The only way to improve on my 916 TS Spider is to buy a V6. I like the sound of that

Welcome back BTW.

braddersR · #7 (**Post Link**) 04-05-12

Good write up fella and welcome back to the world of Alfa

Ralf S. · #8 (**Post Link**) 09-05-12

Originally Posted by MalcQV

My GT is a beaut but I bought metallic black and the shine is not deep (maybe a flat black would have been better). It never really looks clean and I wish I had waited for a red one. .....I think I may just go down the paint correction route first to see if I can get that black looking good.

Malc,

If the paint isn't reeeally shiny, then a pro' polish will sort it out. Also, make sure you're cleaning it to the best of your abilities (wash, clay, polish and wax it with something like Poorboys Natty Blue wax... or look in the Detailing lounge for many other options).

I agree that pastel black can look more deeply shinier than metallic.. but it also shows marks a lot more, so it's not necessarily a better option... (though pre-hosepipe ban it's still my preference of the two).

Ralf S.

MalcQV · #9 (**Post Link**) 09-05-12

Originally Posted by Ralf S.

Malc,

If the paint isn't reeeally shiny, then a pro' polish will sort it out. Also, make sure you're cleaning it to the best of your abilities (wash, clay, polish and wax it with something like Poorboys Natty Blue wax... or look in the Detailing lounge for many other options).

I agree that pastel black can look more deeply shinier than metallic.. but it also shows marks a lot more, so it's not necessarily a better option... (though pre-hosepipe ban it's still my preference of the two).

Ralf S.

It is shiny I think... It had a few marks/scratches that I may have caused using a damn blade to remove access water. Normally used for just glass but I got carried way once in the cold Winter. I have used a Zymol cleaner wax on the car and Maguires. I am convinced a pro paint correction will help. I do like my cars to be clean but can't motivate myself to do all this detailing stuff. I guess I will have to go down the two bucket method and maybe a snow foam lance thing at some point for this black car. Oh Gawwdd

Lomas, clear your PM box please!