Giulia, xe or vRS ?
Discussion
Hi everybody, just joined the forum today. It's time for a change, the last 15 years I've had a mix of mini's and bm's (current car's a mini cooper s works 210) I'm looking for member's/owner's honest opinions on the following motor's. My first choice is the Jag xe but have concerns about reliability, I've heard cases of pads and discs wearing out early, leaking shockers as well as various tech and sensor issue's, also depreciation is pretty poor. My next choice is the Alfa Giulia, again bad reputation for reliability with various tech and sensor issue's but does'nt seem to be as bad as the Jag. Both cars look fantastic and I believe drive superbly, the Alfa being the sportiest drive. My final choice is the Skoda vRS, bit of a difference I know but the new one looks excellent particularly for a Skoda, not heard of any issues just yet but it is too early and will a fair bit cheaper. I'm looking for nearly new upwards.
Alfa, 100%
I wouldn't touch a Jag personally after having friends with XEs, XFs and Discovery Sports having all sorts of mechanical and electrical failures, and parts dropping off left right and centre.
The Skoda is a nice car, but having owned one you can really tell from driving where they cut costs. Mine used to wheel hop like a b
d and wasn't all that refined.
The Alfa is (in my opinion) far better engineered than either, has a really nice material feel, and leagues better to drive than the Skoda, probably better than the Jag too. Rides beautifully as well. Had a Veloce (and for a short time a QV), which admittedly was pretty poor on fuel but drove better than anything else I've driven.
Most important thing is to have a decent dealer close for an Alfa for servicing etc, good ones are few and far between, and this is what let's the side down massively.
I wouldn't touch a Jag personally after having friends with XEs, XFs and Discovery Sports having all sorts of mechanical and electrical failures, and parts dropping off left right and centre.
The Skoda is a nice car, but having owned one you can really tell from driving where they cut costs. Mine used to wheel hop like a b
d and wasn't all that refined.The Alfa is (in my opinion) far better engineered than either, has a really nice material feel, and leagues better to drive than the Skoda, probably better than the Jag too. Rides beautifully as well. Had a Veloce (and for a short time a QV), which admittedly was pretty poor on fuel but drove better than anything else I've driven.
Most important thing is to have a decent dealer close for an Alfa for servicing etc, good ones are few and far between, and this is what let's the side down massively.
I was not aware the Guilia had a bad reputation for reliability, but don't own one so have not paid much attention. Obviously nothing can be worse than a JLR product.
Out of those 3 only the Guilia would have me looking forward to getting in the car of a morning, or have me glance back at it after I've parked up. Plus the driving bit in between is the pick of the 3. The 2.0T Veloce is the sweet spot unless you need a high mining DERV.
I think they introduced 5 yr warranties in mid 2018, so if you can go after then you're sorted till mid '23.
Out of those 3 only the Guilia would have me looking forward to getting in the car of a morning, or have me glance back at it after I've parked up. Plus the driving bit in between is the pick of the 3. The 2.0T Veloce is the sweet spot unless you need a high mining DERV.
I think they introduced 5 yr warranties in mid 2018, so if you can go after then you're sorted till mid '23.
Many thanks fella's for your opinions, it's pretty much what I expected although did'nt expect as much praise for the Alfa, my thought's on the Alfa's reputation goes back to the 70'ies 80'ies sort of era which is obviously a bit out of date and to be fair they have come on in leaps and bounds over recent years. The Jag really has a good look as you'd expect but as you say too many things against it to make it a sensible choice, and the Skoda again the new one looks pretty good but just has something missing. Thanks again fella's, as soon as I can legally and practically take these three for a test drive I will do and keep you posted of the outcome.
Boringvolvodriver said:
Every one should own an Alfa at some point in their life - it’s the law!
I used to believe that nonsense and then got a Giulia Veloce. The car was good to drive for the most part but the quality & reliability was poor - I was glad to see the back of it in the end. The Jaguar XE was a car that I’d looked at before and after the Alfa, but I just find them pretty dull for the money in many respects and they just don’t ‘look’ right to my eyes. I’m afraid, out of those 3 options, I’d reluctantly take the Skoda. But in reality (from a personal perspective), I’d look elsewhere.
Edited by MarkJS on Friday 26th March 08:14
I saw somewhere that all the 2-litre petrol Giulias are identical so the lower powered ones can be remapped to the higher power level quite safely - and, of course, further gains available for the brave.
I've been in an XE and there is very little leg room in the back seat if that's something that matters.
vRS is the sensible choice, for Good or Ill.
I've been in an XE and there is very little leg room in the back seat if that's something that matters.
vRS is the sensible choice, for Good or Ill.
MarkJS said:
I used to believe that nonsense and then got a Giulia Veloce. The car was good to drive for the most part but the quality & reliability was poor - I was glad to see the back of it in the end.
The Jaguar XE was a car that I’d looked at before and after the Alfa, but I just find them pretty dull for the money in many respects and they just don’t ‘look’ right to my eyes. I’m afraid, out of those 3 options, I’d reluctantly take the Skoda. But in reality (from a personal perspective), I’d look elsewhere.
I'm extremely flexible and open to all suggestions, so excluding the bm's volvo's vw's, seat's and audi's, and definately not a merc, what would you recommend ?The Jaguar XE was a car that I’d looked at before and after the Alfa, but I just find them pretty dull for the money in many respects and they just don’t ‘look’ right to my eyes. I’m afraid, out of those 3 options, I’d reluctantly take the Skoda. But in reality (from a personal perspective), I’d look elsewhere.
Edited by MarkJS on Friday 26th March 08:14
My issue with the Jaguar XE is that it's a shrunken version of the XF that weighs the same as an XF, and used seems to cost about the same as an XF. Why not just get the full-sized version?
Either way I'd still go for the Alfa. I think it's clearly the best car to drive in this class and, having owned a few Italian cars, I know I can live with the potential issues.
Either way I'd still go for the Alfa. I think it's clearly the best car to drive in this class and, having owned a few Italian cars, I know I can live with the potential issues.
ZX10R NIN said:
I've supplied a fair few Giulia's & reliability is on par with everything else on the market BUT the main dealers are patchy I'd look for a specialist near you.
I've come across similar comment's before, my nearest dealership is Stoneacre, (Fiat and Alfa) Chesterfield, they seem to get reasonable reviews, if anyone knows any different, please tell !Truckosaurus said:
I saw somewhere that all the 2-litre petrol Giulias are identical so the lower powered ones can be remapped to the higher power level quite safely - and, of course, further gains available for the brave.
They were in 2016, maybe early 2017 when they launched, but after that they used different components.Bloody lovely cars either way. Mine were both pre facelift, and I understand the few annoyances with the interior have been sorted now.
Jak dan1els said:
MarkJS said:
I used to believe that nonsense and then got a Giulia Veloce. The car was good to drive for the most part but the quality & reliability was poor - I was glad to see the back of it in the end.
The Jaguar XE was a car that I’d looked at before and after the Alfa, but I just find them pretty dull for the money in many respects and they just don’t ‘look’ right to my eyes. I’m afraid, out of those 3 options, I’d reluctantly take the Skoda. But in reality (from a personal perspective), I’d look elsewhere.
I'm extremely flexible and open to all suggestions, so excluding the bm's volvo's vw's, seat's and audi's, and definately not a merc, what would you recommend ?The Jaguar XE was a car that I’d looked at before and after the Alfa, but I just find them pretty dull for the money in many respects and they just don’t ‘look’ right to my eyes. I’m afraid, out of those 3 options, I’d reluctantly take the Skoda. But in reality (from a personal perspective), I’d look elsewhere.
Edited by MarkJS on Friday 26th March 08:14
You’re not that flexible then as you have discounted quite a bit of that segment of the market right there. Anyway, a couple of other things that were on my list which I drove when I was replacing the Alfa were the Kia Stinger and the Macan S. Just tried the Alfa and the Jag today, surprisingly unimpressed with the Alfa, the dealer said he would change the battery as it was flat the previous week when I saw it, did'nt even charge it, anyway allsorts of flashing lights on the dash dna would not work among other things, not a good start, the drive was ok but was I thought a bit thrashy and some lag on acceleration, could'nt tell if it was the gearbox or turbo but a nice feel to the interior. Next the Jag, different again felt luxurious inside by comparison, the response was immediate and quick on acceleration with a superb ride, so up to now the Jag has it hands down, testing the vRS tomorrow, could be fun.
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