Another annoyance, why oh why is all the script on my dash in Italian except DIESEL?

The fuel guage should read GASOLIO. This has really annoyed me as it's only been done for the English buyer.

Just out of interest, do the petrol variants have BENZINA or PETROL written on them?

 

Mine says Benzina

 

The wiper controls are mildly irritating. You have to take a hand off the wheel to turn them on properly. Whats wrong with a lever you push down like every other car!?

 

Wiper controls ?
Mine are automatic. I took the hand off the wheel once when I first drove it to set them ......

 

I've noted that when the wipers are set to automatic the rear wiper does not come on when in reverse, but it does if the wipers are on the first setting. Surely this can't be right?

 

One exhaust on the multiair. Why should the oil burners have the better looking rear end!?

 

Because they are the superior car

 

1. Naff seats.

2. Engine note.

3. Forgetting to switch to Dynamic.

 

I was shot down months ago for gripping about the newer models as having only owned older models. Part of this was because in my PERSONAL opinion they have gone back slightly and wasn't overly impressed with what the newer cars had to offer in direct comparison but that's me.
Since when I have seen many posts that bring these observations to the fore and can't believe that they still don't listen to the customer. :tut:

I still could not warrant spending the asking price on a new one even if I had the choice.
This I find very sad and a little disappointing

 

You start your ownership by complaining that the Giulietta is not depreciating enough and now you " dislike " the choice of the word Diesel instead of Gasolio on the cluster?
The latter is more of an observation .
The comments on the interior have been made before but surely you noticed this on your bargain hunt. The basic body shell and engineering of the car is way more modern and better constructed than the 147, which was upgraded just before launch with all the things like a chromed plastic glovebox release etc as the Audi TT had just come out .

 

One gripe from me...

The footwell space in the front passenger side of the car (RHD, obviously) .

Maybe I'm sitting too close to the windscreen, but I find (on the very rare occasions that I use the passenger side) that I'm sitting with my right foot twisted due to the bulge in the centre of the car. My missus doesn't complain so possibly it's just that I've got big feet.

 

On my Multiair, didn't like the single exhaust, got a twin fitted. Didn't like the 17" turbines, got 18" horseshoes. Didn't like the high and rolly suspension, got it lowered and firmed up. Didn't get the embroided carpets on delivery so got 'em later.
There's nothing you can't fix with a little money and determination. Don't whinge. If you don't like it, fix it so you do. Enjoy your G. It's a tremendous car.

 

My only gripe is the finishing around the steering column shroud - looks like they gave Stevie Wonder a boxcutter to finish the job.....
It's just unacceptable that they couldn't do better than that..

Oh yeah - and the silly join on the interior front door handles (as pointed to by the arrow in the pic) - why couldn't they make that one piece - looks really cheap.

 

Oh yeah - and the silly join on the interior front door handles (as pointed to by the arrow in the pic) - why couldn't they make that one piece - looks really cheap.

I think I always use this gap to grasp and close the door, however I do have problems with this panel though as its made of a plastic material that stains so easily and if its spitting outside and you have to open the door water stains it which is still there the next day. Its quite hard to make look clean.

Also it and the leather bit make a noise at certain temperatures but passes when it warms up more.

 

Why do a minority of people get upset when there is a discussion on a forum ?

If a few people want to discuss what can be improved on a vehicle, and find it interesting, a forum seems a good a place as any.

Honestly. Always one who ironically moans about moaning.

 

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-giulietta/612961-what-would-i-change.html

 

There are 'numerous' small details which I could 'moan' about.
My last 2 cars were Skodas and everything was pretty sensibly placed and was solid.
Thing is, like ,most people on here, I bought an Alfa cos I wanted one.
I just accept that Italians make cars in a certain way..............

 

I wasn't moaning, just venting my observations and niggles.

I was on the phone to AR in Italy last week and they said they have rreaders who view this forum, so why not post a thred like this?

If it's all positive they'll rest on their laurels...............

 

Point taken.
I just worry that, if they address all these niggles, they take the eye off the ball and start making cars which look ordinary.
Now that would be something for me to complain about!

 

Thanks for the useful thread. I am thinking of trading up from my Mito to another car later on this year or early next year. I had considered a Ford Focus or a Kia Pro Cee'd, but they all look quite bland. I hadn't considered a Gool......Geul....Giiuuel.....G at all until I saw some with red leather seats which look superb.

If this thread sums up the extent of things that are wrong with this car, then I don't seem to have much to worry about.

Now all I need to do is learn how to spell the name......Ghoul...er.....no......

 

Could do with better storage

My only real moan is the lack of storage which is made worse by the fact that what storage is available is badly designed. A good example are the door pockets which you might think would be able to take a 500ml drink securely enough - but no - they don't fit. To add further insult, if you decide to use the one available drinks holder in the centre you then find you can't change gear properly (easily resolved as the drink tends to come flying out on the first corner anyway :lol

Coming from a Fiat Stilo (which has masses of well thought out storage) it came as a bit of a shock to me as I'm sure it would have cost next to nothing to have made a few changes.

On the plus side, the two side pockets in the boot are good for carrying 4 liters of milk (which is not something you want flying around the boot and bursting )

As a matter of interest has any of this been changed in the 2014 models ?

 

My only real moan is the lack of storage which is made worse by the fact that what storage is available is badly designed. A good example are the door pockets which you might think would be able to take a 500ml drink securely enough - but no - they don't fit. To add further insult, if you decide to use the one available drinks holder in the centre you then find you can't change gear properly (easily resolved as the drink tends to come flying out on the first corner anyway :lol

Coming from a Fiat Stilo (which has masses of well thought out storage) it came as a bit of a shock to me as I'm sure it would have cost next to nothing to have made a few changes.

On the plus side, the two side pockets in the boot are good for carrying 4 liters of milk (which is not something you want flying around the boot and bursting )

As a matter of interest has any of this been changed in the 2014 models ?

Nope; still no storage!

 

My only gripes are...
-The diesel label (like everybody else)
-The car sits with far too big a gap between the wheel arches and the wheels
-The seats are not as supportive as i would like (think this has been solved with the new model)
-The door pockets are small, despite there being quite a lot of space for bigger pockets that can hold drinks (plus little rubber mats that stop things rattling ?)

I had a golf before, and yes the interior isnt made to the same standard, but i expected that..and altogether i am very happy that i changed away from the golf as it was only a dissapointment.

 

The inability to flash your main beam, also the inability to actually turn off the radio or CD (radio Nav)
All in all a cracking car, but id have niggles whatever car I drove as would everyone else.
Loving the GQV

 

The inability to flash your main beam...

Erm... I can flash mine!!

 

I didn't know about the "Diesel" label. The Diesel 147 and GT used to say "JTD" on the fuel gauge, as here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROME...-147-2005-10-1-9JTDM-MJET-8V-16V-DIESEL-SPEEDO-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER-/291010635806.

It's not an MPH-speedo thing: the Italian models also say "Diesel".


The number 1, worst thing for me about the Giulietta is that I can't buy a 2014 yet here in Ireland.

The second-worst is that I might not be able to buy a Diesel TCT without the 18" alloys, hard suspension, bodykit and tinted windows. Whoever put that combination together has never seen the road to my in-laws' farm.

Observations from test-drives, though:

The armrest isn't as well placed as 147s. When down, it makes the handbrake hard to lift.

The door pockets aren't lined. Small objects can make a lot of noise if they're left in there.

The indicator auto-repeat is annoying, but it's something you'd get used to, I guess.

Cabin is still too black. The 2014 is an improvement, but an Alfa interior shouldn't be an expanse of black surfaces.

 

Throttle pedal has a sattalite delay in "N". D is too brutal for normal driving. I wouldn't change D but make N better.

the whole interior is a dust magnet and gets dirty far faster than any other car i have had.

Not enough storage and what you do get is too small.

The handbrake is too far away and i usually end up touching the passenger to use it.

 

The handbrake is too far away and i usually end up touching the passenger to use it.

As long as the passenger is a 'she' I can't see the problem?

 

I find the minor controls a bit fiddly (especially the cruise control) compared to the Saabs I'd had prior to my G, and the visibility could be better. Otherwise, everything's fine and dandy.

 

Is the seat depth better on the full leather or is it still short?

 

What about a more positive title for this thread ?
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-giulietta/612961-what-would-i-change.html
From two weeks ago !

 

Time for a merge?


Can't the admins merge the two and change the title (and delete our two posts ) ?

 

The wipers have to be given a flick wipe before they will wipe automatically , for safety reasons . The rear wiper will then be activated by reverse. If the front wiper was automatic it would be activated when you scrape the ice of the screen !

 

I thought I tried this but will give it another go. Thanks

 

I think they'd be quite capable of reading " what I'd like to change " as well as what I dislike !
And it's more cheerful .....

 

My GT and 147 genuine carpets had the name down the side like cue2s Giulietta but they were laser etched on nice pieces of aluminium and press fitted with a nice stud top and bottom, it seems they've gone for cheaper embroidery.

I've noticed this on several things in my G, why half leather? The nylon part of the seat is cheap and nasty and the seat depth has been reduced, all in the name of cost saving I guess.

The door card trim is leather, or faux leather I'm not sure but it doesn't sit up there with the trim in my 147 or GT, it's plain and not pleated, the G isn't as nice a place to sit in as revious Alfas.

The longer I own her the more cost cutting excercises I uncover..............

Firstly - the carpets! I had a GT and a few 147's and whilst the carpets were nice, the badges were rubbish! one catch with your heel and they fell off - stitching much more sustainable. The best carpets were the luxury 159 ones - but they were 50% more than the ones available now.

At least the leather in the half leather is leather! On the 'full' leather in the 147 and GT the only leather was the seat facing - all the rest was matched vinyl - which is just like the door cards on the Giulietta.