https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest
...a quick drive in........a new Alfa Giulietta....
-
14-08-2011 10:55pm#1...because I have a new motto: Never Say No To Free Stuff.........I've been tootling around in a new Alfa Giulietta for the last two days
, and it goes back tomorrow..... 
God have new cars improved. I'd forgotten by how much. This car is beautiful to look at on the outside, but the inside is even better (imho). It's not Audi for solidity, but has that special lightness-of-foot that just makes you want to drive it all the time.
Indeed, I have just spent the last hour-and-a-half driving it..........nowhere in particular, on a dark and wet night.......because it's a hoot. I don't know what it is that Alfa's do to people, but I've never felt the same compunction to drive a Golf, or a Toyota, or a Nissan........even a hot one.
As soon as I came home........Mrs Gtt took it out........and she's been gone for 40 minutes so far.........the last car that made me want to do that had '911' on the rear bootlid..........
So, what's it like to actually drive ? Well, it's a (very) torquey, powerful, smooth 170bhp Hot Hatch, with a nice touch of Class. Lovely heated, perforated charcoal leather seats, with contrasting red stitching, incl the logo on headrest's...........powerful climate control that's not too noisy. A sound system that ........gives sound........with auto volume level (goes up as you speed up...).
Lovely light gearchange, progressive brakes.
The doors close with a nice 'thud', the bonnet and rear hatch less so.........but I could care less, tbh.
Like many new cars, the road noise is a function of the very large tyres and diabolical road surfaces.......so a comparison run on the new M6 showed it to be a lovely quiet interior.
Clocks, dials, switchs all have a loveliness that the Mini tries for, but fails....while the Alfa pulls it off.
Nice LED lights to front and rear, twin exhausts (but no parking sensor's.........strange, that.....) and the rear window has a hint of Brevia about it's lower edge.
The seats have full electric fore/aft, height and recline, and 3 memories as well, and the height adjustment was particularly great in range.
I found the driving position lovely for me, but someone taller than I I know finds the seat squab short.........tough, baby !!
Compared to a VAG I drive a lot, it's much more refined. I don't think it'll be as light on juice, though, but previous experience with the 150bhp version of that engine would support my view that it will be more reliable.Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
20
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
Hope it's better than the silly(sele)speed... after ~60,000 miles our 147 refused to find a gear, resulting in approx 6 months back and forth to garage - twice I got the 'yes it's fixed this time' and didn't even get home before problem arose again.. letters and phone calls to Alfa Ireland and Italy finally resulted in a new gearbox and actuator being fitted before it was driveable again.
Oh and the seat ratchet broke - got a replacement on ebay for €25 - Alfa wanted ~200 for it. Took the old one apart and the entire seat lifting mechanism relies on a small plastic cog to lift it.. every other part of it is metal but the plastic bit that failed... go figure.
So when it works, it really makes the blood pump, when it's not working it really makes the blood boil!
It would take a lot to get us to buy a new Alfa!
LOL, you think that's bad ? That's just a seat.......at least the engines are top notch. Which is more than can be said for another Italian mfr of motoring devices......Aprilia.......and which has my heart broken as well: I mean, a plastic OIL PUMP gear........ffs! More, here... http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193038Alfa's are like a mistress really. Great fun to ride around in but by **** will it hurt your pocket eventually.
That said still dont think I'd drive anything other than an Alfa (despite my OHs constant requests to get rid of it )
I hear you, but given they are so cheap to buy anyway (used), I don't see the cost being an issue tbh. Cheap to buy, cheap to sell, fun in the meantime.
How un-Golf ?Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
0 -
Like a Golf?
Indeed !! Some thing's about VAG's, I love. (where to you think my 'moniker' comes from ) ?
The Superb , for instance Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
0 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Nice but...
you didn't happen to be driving kinvara to galway city on friday evening by any chance?
I was an came up on one of these going a tad slowly with full fog lights on, the only reason why ( that I could ascertain, cause it wasn't foggy
) was too keep drivers back at distance! as the rear fogs are savage bright and pretty blinding if you get closer than 3 car lengths 0 -
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
in garage where i was working, got alfa 146 with snapped timebelt. .. got it for 100 euro .... management decided split in parts... sold wheels and lights... and rest went in scrap.... with passat would be different story.
..you're right, at the Passat would have been worth more as scrap as well. Even in death, eh, VAG marketing hard at work... Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
0 -
