I love the aesthetics of Alfa's, but always resisted the temptation to buy as they seem to consistently finish in the least reliable category in surveys. https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337 Having said that, Metro's and Montego's had awful reputations but I've had both and they were sound.
Like any car, they will have their issues. The 1750 TBI engine is a peach and gives great performance in what is a fairly small car.
My mate has one and loves it. But he also had a Giulia previously and had no end of issues with it. Admittedly i think the cause was that he’d tried to have it re-mapped and afterwards he just had no end of electrical issues.
Alas another year of Mini. Boy wonder is after one (actually heart set on one). Mrs Mac done her research and dead against Alfa. Andy Mac stuck in the middle of WW3.
The problem with Alfas is, they used to drop to bits as soon as they met the British weather. That problem was addressed years ago but unfortunately for Alfa, that memory has stuck in the minds of people who were there and has been passed on to people who weren't.
Whilst there is some of that tbf, Alfa are consistently low on reliability surveys by consumer organisations...I tried like hell to find some positive owner based surveys to rationalise buying one...and ended up buying a Honda.
Whilst I’m sure many manufacturers have upped their game with regards to reliability, I go by the saying of German or Jap, the rest are crap . The last car I bought was back in 2013 and it was a Honda Civic 2.2 CTDI on a 58 plate with 45k on the clock. I’ve put a further 60k on it and it has been hands down the best car I’ve ever owned with regards to reliability in all my 36yrs of driving. Other than replacing the usual of tyres, servicing and other consumables, the most I’ve ever had to spend on it was discs and pads all round. Even then, I purchased them online and my neighbour who has his own garage fitted them for me on the cheap. Absolute solid as a rock car. Bet I’ve just jinxed that now
I’ve sold a few Alfa’s but as a general rule we avoid buying them unless they are really cheap and we have thoroughly pre inspected them. Build quality not great and electricals can get expensive. But do look good.
Get a diesel if you're getting one. FIAT diesels - which are in the Alfas - are fantastic motors, far better than any German blocks (German reliability is a bit of a myth, to some extent, especially with a lot of the popular diesel lumps...). Keep em well maintained and they'll run forever. Wouldn't buy a petrol Alfa, personally.
I have a Giulietta Sportiva. Having had various fancy motors over the years, I'd consider myself a bit of a petrolhead and they say you must have owned an Alfa. Well I'd made the decision to get a cheap runaround as my final car before we went down to a 1 car family and thought, never having owned one, I ought to get an Alfa. White, black turbine style alloys and red leather, it's very nice looking. But in hindsight I wouldn't have missed out if I'd never had an Alfa. Looks good and in dynamic mode it shifts for a 1.7, though the sportiva runs on rubber bands and the ride is very harsh. The major downside for me has been electrics, well it's an Alfa. The stop/start function is intermittent at best. The rear light and wash wipe cables run through the tailgate in a loom and repeatedly split, and the check engine light comes on like clockwork just before an mot. Oh, and headlight bulbs need the dexterity of a 4 year old or you need to rebuild the whole car, the advice is take the front bumper and fascia off, seriously. tho I managed without......found a four year old. So, if it's for your young un.......it looks good and it shifts and they are easily tweakable. But, I wouldn't imagine insurance is friendly and he'll need a fairly hefty maintenance fund unless he's switched on about car electrics. But I had all manner of poor choices of cars as a youngster......3 x Fiat x1/9s frinstance...... when did we ever listen to practically. I'm selling mine next month, I'm just trying to keep the mot secret from it, to catch it out with its check engine shenanigans.
Let the lad get his Alfa. Everyone should own an Alfa once in their lives. I've had two and never regretted it. Wish I had my 164 now. Lovely car to drive. I'd get a Giulia now if I didn't need an estate car for my current old man's lifestyle.
