OV9

New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

You can just imagine the board meeting where the Ferrari execs determined all the stuff the 4C couldn't have in order to not be the cut price baby exotic everyone actually wanted.

V6? No.
Decent interior? No!
Functional damping? No.
V6? Fucking NO. NO. NO. NO!
Pretty headlights? Maybe. Actually No.
Manual box? No.
V6? Fuck! No!

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

I really want a Giulia Veloce (the Quad only has 4 seatbelts and I can't pick which of my kids I love least) but can't bring myself to do it. I've heard nothing but reliability scare stories before the drivers have barely wiped the second application of journo jizz of the paintwork.

The Quad is one of those cars you love to see on the road, tip your cap to the owners of them, day dream about owning one, then get back to reality and buy a BMW or Merc.

There’s a few round my way and they look epic and much more desirable than an M4 for me. Sadly they sound turd though like all other comparable blown sixes so I’d definitely end up veering off and buying a C63 S if it came down to it.

I've got the Giulia tagged as my next car. They've recently released the Veloce "Ti" which gets the QF wheels (previously they never offered it as an option on the Veloce to make sure the gap between it and the QF was maintained) but with those added, it makes it look significantly better.

I'd like to think the QF itself was an option....but I've seen some of the bills The "active front splitter" which I can imagine is easily damaged is a £1600 part (someone on PH nudged theirs). On the Giulia forum an owner needed an oil seal (?) replaced and it was engine-out job (can't find the link for that now). I know it's never going to be cheap, but I get the impression it'll tank pretty hard in resale once the warrranty (5 years now I think?) expires as it looks like it'll be an expensive car to fix.

As for the 4C, I love those. Very nearly bought one instead of the Evora, but the sudden price surge a while ago put them out of reach.

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

Sorry, since read the article. I can understand the disappointment in the 4C - have you ever driven or sat in an Elise, which is in reality it's only competition? It might give a bit more context to your expectations.

And yes, you *could* buy a 355 for the same money....but from a running cost perspective they're in completely different leagues! The 4C is apparently a very cheap car to run.

Jimmy Choo wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 7:01 pm

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

I really want a Giulia Veloce (the Quad only has 4 seatbelts and I can't pick which of my kids I love least) but can't bring myself to do it. I've heard nothing but reliability scare stories before the drivers have barely wiped the second application of journo jizz of the paintwork.

Bloke at work has a Veloce, I think he’s had it about a year now with zero issues, as you’d expect for a new car.

Jimmy Choo wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 7:01 pm

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

I really want a Giulia Veloce (the Quad only has 4 seatbelts and I can't pick which of my kids I love least) but can't bring myself to do it. I've heard nothing but reliability scare stories before the drivers have barely wiped the second application of journo jizz of the paintwork.

I looked through auto trader the other day and out of all on them ( where you could see the rear seat anyway ) there was one which had a rear middle belt.

Don't know if it was an option which few have or an owner had retrofitted the belt from a standard one which all seem to have three belts.

Matty wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 7:35 pm

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

Sorry, since read the article. I can understand the disappointment in the 4C - have you ever driven or sat in an Elise, which is in reality it's only competition? It might give a bit more context to your expectations.

And yes, you *could* buy a 355 for the same money....but from a running cost perspective they're in completely different leagues! The 4C is apparently a very cheap car to run.

I have driven an Elise a couple of times. Great on a back country road. Fairly terrifying on a major highway.

RobYob wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:22 pm You can just imagine the board meeting where the Ferrari execs determined all the stuff the 4C couldn't have in order to not be the cut price baby exotic everyone actually wanted.

V6? No.
Decent interior? No!
Functional damping? No.
V6? Fucking NO. NO. NO. NO!
Pretty headlights? Maybe. Actually No.
Manual box? No.
V6? Fuck! No!

You got a copy of the meeting minutes as well?

Jimmy Choo wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 7:01 pm

SSO wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:55 pm New blog on the Alfa 4C & Giulia Quadrifoglio just posted: https://karenable.com/alfas-the-4c-giulia-quadrifoglio/

Comments?

I really want a Giulia Veloce (the Quad only has 4 seatbelts and I can't pick which of my kids I love least) but can't bring myself to do it. I've heard nothing but reliability scare stories before the drivers have barely wiped the second application of journo jizz of the paintwork.

Boarding School can be a good solution to the extra child issue.

I had a Guilia for a few days and found it to be disappointing. The boot is next to useless, the rear feels tiny even in comparison to my M140i, if your sunglasses happen to be polarised then you cannot see the satnav/infotainent. Handling wise it was better than a 3 or a C. I really wanted it to be great but it was a bit shit to live with.

McSwede wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 10:50 pm I had a Guilia for a few days and found it to be disappointing. The boot is next to useless, the rear feels tiny even in comparison to my M140i, if your sunglasses happen to be polarised then you cannot see the satnav/infotainent. Handling wise it was better than a 3 or a C. I really wanted it to be great but it was a bit shit to live with.

I thought the boot was quite large.....then again my benchmark might be a bit different.

SSO wrote: Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:09 pm

McSwede wrote: Fri Dec 28, 2018 10:50 pm I had a Guilia for a few days and found it to be disappointing. The boot is next to useless, the rear feels tiny even in comparison to my M140i, if your sunglasses happen to be polarised then you cannot see the satnav/infotainent. Handling wise it was better than a 3 or a C. I really wanted it to be great but it was a bit shit to live with.

I thought the boot was quite large.....then again my benchmark might be a bit different.

True.

What worse that the small boot size is the tiny opening to chuck stuff in. I'd bet IanF's M4 Convertible has a better boot.

These are the reasons it looks good though, it’s a styling over function compromise as all good Italian cars should be as otherwise they might as well be German.

Competitively-sized boot with slightly awkward shape

not quite as cavernous in the back or boot as an Audi A4.

As for practicality, the 480-litre boot is spacious enough

The Giulia's boot has the exact same on-paper capacity figure as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. However, although the Giulia's boot is competitive in the class, the A4's actually has better access and a more consistently square shape.

Or, y’know, “next to useless”

I must admit I googled a pic and it doesn't look any worse than anything else modern. Looks an easier entry and with more room than either of my m3s which have been perfectly acceptable practical family transport

integrale_evo wrote: Sun Dec 30, 2018 8:20 pm I must admit I googled a pic and it doesn't look any worse than anything else modern. Looks an easier entry and with more room than either of my m3s which have been perfectly acceptable practical family transport

I’ve had a good look round the bloke’s at work and, whilst admittedly I wasn’t filling it with suitcases or a week’s shopping, it didn’t strike me as anything out of the usual for a saloon. Seemed about the same as the F31 BM I had, and loads bigger than our 4 series convertible, but what isn’t?

I don’t get it? How is this “next to useless”?