RE: Alfa Giulietta | Shed of the Week

[Kinky]

I do miss my 170

I keep checking the 'Let's see your Alfa Romeos!' thread in case the new owner posts .... but nothing.

[cnut]

Hi had a Cloverleaf for about 3 years a few years ago. As previously mentioned, great looking car from the rear and side profiles but the front end looked too cutesy for my liking.

The interior quality was a definite step down from the 147 and felt a bit too plasticky for my liking. Nothing major went wrong on it besides a smashed up cabin fan which was an absolute PITA to fix and lots of niggly little issues (check the tailgate loom on the earlier models.)

The engine was quick once the turbo kicked in and sounded pretty decent too. Handling was ruined by the electric diff kicking in and effectively cooking the brakes during spirited driving.

Nice car but I don't miss it, I replaced it with a 147 GTA which is infinitely more special despite being a lot higher maintenance!

[Stroudy1]

I had a 2014 Cloverleaf Launch Edition one of these until a couple of years ago. 1.75 TBi which was much faster than many other challengers expected, especially with a semi-auto gearbox remap. Dynamically very good and a proper looker in Rosso with graphite Alfa ring alloys. Don't believe the anti-Alfa press hype on these particular cars, they are a hidden gem.

[Jimjimhim]

Stroudy1 said:

I had a 2014 Cloverleaf Launch Edition one of these until a couple of years ago. 1.75 TBi which was much faster than many other challengers expected, especially with a semi-auto gearbox remap. Dynamically very good and a proper looker in Rosso with graphite Alfa ring alloys. Don't believe the anti-Alfa press hype on these particular cars, they are a hidden gem.

I thought the press was fairly positive on these?

On the whole they are ok cars, the interiors look nice, but in reality are total crap.

Edited by Jimjimhim on Tuesday 2nd July 10:11

[jamesbilluk]

Stroudy1 said:

I had a 2014 Cloverleaf Launch Edition one of these until a couple of years ago. 1.75 TBi which was much faster than many other challengers expected, especially with a semi-auto gearbox remap. Dynamically very good and a proper looker in Rosso with graphite Alfa ring alloys. Don't believe the anti-Alfa press hype on these particular cars, they are a hidden gem.

Same spec as mine that, that's a modification I'm thinking of doing as well, the gearbox remap, did you find the changes noticably quicker?

[the-norseman]

jamesbilluk said:

Same spec as mine that, that's a modification I'm thinking of doing as well, the gearbox remap, did you find the changes noticably quicker?

not Alfa boxes but I have had all my PDK/DSG boxes mapped, I like the ability to change the + and _ so you push forward for down gear and back for up gear like a sequential box, not sure if you can do that with the Alfa boxes.

[jamesbilluk]

the-norseman said:

not Alfa boxes but I have had all my PDK/DSG boxes mapped, I like the ability to change the + and _ so you push forward for down gear and back for up gear like a sequential box, not sure if you can do that with the Alfa boxes.

I've found the Alfa TCT changes to be quite slow in some scenarios, on the ul shift and down shift. I think you can just pull back with the Alfa box. I quite enjoy using the gear selector to change gear as well.

[Lancsbreaker]

My very similar, but one year older, model has given me two years trouble-free service, being on over 140K miles now - and is still a fun, nippy car. With the "170" model I've found very little need of the DNA switch - only put it in D twice, and the second time I got nicked for speeding, so don't use it now

Only issue with this one is if the EML is on, you won't have use of the DNA switch, or cruise control, even if power isn't restricted. Probably only a sensor issue, though, as Shed says.....

[roadie]

I quite like the look of these for a family hatch. They appear small in the back with a reasonable boot.

I think it would have to be an auto though due to the manual lacking a footrest as identified above!

[GeniusOfLove]

AMGSee55 said:

Much love for the Alfa 90 next to you RHD is proper rocking horse poo rarity!!

When I was working in my fathers garage in the mid/late 90s and early 00s there was an old chap, a retired engineer in his 80s, who brought in his increasingly dilapidated Alfa 90 Gold Cloverleaf for the many and varied repairs it needed. I was fortunate enough to have to fetch it and deliver it back to him a few times and it was an interesting experience, it was and old car in 1998 but it felt far more than 14 years out of date. He'd bought it for himself brand new as a retirement present and we were both very sad when he had to give up the fight and scrap it.

All this "you must own an Alfa" stuff was maybe true for the old RWD stuff with charismastic engines and quirky interiors but I can't say I have ever managed to summon any enthusiasm for the transverse FWD cars based on rehashed Fiat Tipos and the like that they've been selling for the last 25 years. These Giuliettas are nice enough, I know a few people who have had them and they've been no bother and gone to big miles, but it's just another generic hatch completely undeserving of the regurgitated Clarkson-isms about Alfa Romeo.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 2nd July 15:14

[Tiglon]

I remember really wanting one of these when they first came out, but couldn't come close to affording a new car, so I put it down as one to buy 10 years later.

Had a test drive in one 10 years later and it felt wallowy and just... wrong. Didn't feel as exciting as the 147 and 156 sheds I'd had back in the day (I still tend to keep my left hand on a manual gear lever 90% of the time after owning a 147 that needed 1st, 3rd and 5th to he held in place or they'd pop out).

Bought a golf instead and absolutely despised it. The epitome of dull in every respect. Sold that 3 months later and bought a Focus, which was by far the best of the lot apart from the door seals that like to flop out of the door - easily fixed though.

Back in the market for a cheap commuter car now and keep thinking of the Giulietta and would love another Alfa, but.... I just don't want one, no matter how much I want to want one.

[Mr Tidy]

GeniusOfLove said:

All this "you must own an Alfa" stuff was maybe true for the old RWD stuff with charismastic engines and quirky interiors but I can't say I have ever managed to summon any enthusiasm for the transverse FWD cars based on rehashed Fiat Tipos and the like that they've been selling for the last 25 years. These Giuliettas are nice enough, I know a few people who have had them and they've been no bother and gone to big miles, but it's just another generic hatch completely undeserving of the regurgitated Clarkson-isms about Alfa Romeo.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 2nd July 15:14

Yes, and from what I can make out Clarkson had a few issues with his V6 GTV!

I had a couple of 70s twin-cam Fiats that also had bags of character, but that was my Italian car fix done without needing an Alfa for more painful bills.

Then they all went FWD and there didn't seem anything that special about them any more.

[the-norseman]

Lancsbreaker said:

With the "170" model I've found very little need of the DNA switch - only put it in D twice, and the second time I got nicked for speeding, so don't use it now

I've got the 150 and have to drive it in D all the time, N is awful and to be honest D ins't great, it needs a remap basically.