Now, here's the car Dodge should have used as a basis for the new Dart.
If we're judging the book by its cover, the Giulia Quadrifoglio might be one of the best cars we've tested in 2017 so far. After all, it's a 505-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive sedan. And it looks absolutely stunning, but hey, that is subjective. How does this compare to say a BMW M3 or other entrenched sports sedans?
Perhaps Alfa Romeo should have introduced this one first. Sure, the 4C is your dream date, but we found it to be a bit too real for us—and you know that’s saying something. The 4C simply didn’t want to track in a straight line, while the fit and finish left much to be desired. It's perfect for a 60-second autocross run. For anything else, it's just too much. Let’s put it this way: In comparison, the Lotus Elise is a comfortable, practical machine. Yeah, we know.
After much anticipation the Giulia is finally here, and its online tagline seems to acknowledge those delays: “Proof that Love is Worth the Wait.”
So, is it worth the wait? Yes. The big reason: Unlike the 4C, this feels like a real car produced by a modern car company. It’s not trying to tear itself apart. Pieces aren’t clinging on with their last breath. You can comfortably live with this one.
Then there are the looks. It’s stunning, especially its side profile and rear three-quarter view. The nose might be a little polarizing, but I like it. Some might find the carbon accents on our Quadrifoglio test car a bit too boy racer, but I thought that Alfa integrated them well, especially the lip spoiler. It doesn’t look like the herd.
How’s the interior? Pretty darn good. I love the seats, the controls and just about everything. Where the 4C feels like a kit car, the Giulia feel like its European contemporaries.
One small complaint on the interior: The steering wheel is simply too busy. Tom counted like four materials on this one item alone: carbon-fiber, Alcantara, aluminum and one other. I forget. I got too distracted. And then add the start button to that steering wheel, but of course it’s on the left side, not the right, so I constantly found myself taking a second to look for it. "If I were the start button, where would I be…?”
Okay, what about the important bits, like the engine and transmission? I’ll be honest, it doesn’t feel like 505 horsepower live under the hood. Maybe they’re some kind of little Italian ponies. I’m not really a horseologist. It could also be because our test car was locked out of the available Race mode. Yeah, I know.
I’m thinking that some of that blame might also lie with the twin-clutch, eight-speed transmission. On paper, that sounds like a heck of a gearbox, as the Alfa should always be in the proper gear. In reality I found it too eager to upshift and too slow to downshift. As a result, around town it always seemed to be in sixth. I know that we’re trying to save fuel, but then why bother with such a high-output engine?
Fortunately you can manually shift the box, but Volkswagen and Audi just nail it here. Shift a DSG transmission into S, and it will read your mind. The Alfa just didn’t deliver there. A real stick shift would be a great solution, but perhaps what we have just needs some better programming.
Final thoughts: The Giulia Quadrifoglio is so, so close, and for a first-year offering I’d call it a very solid effort. Can it sway people away from a new BMW M3, specially at a $10,000 premium? With the M3, you know what you’re going to get, including a very established dealer/support network. Like I have said with my BRZ reviews, though, perhaps the Alfa is for those who know what they want, never mind what logic offers.
Now, here's the car Dodge should have used as a basis for the new Dart.
The Quadrifoglio is a breathtaking car, sure, but a Giulia Ti with the Sport package is likely close enough for those of us that just want a wonderful drive to work. I optioned one up to $47k on the Alfa site; how many years of lease returns will it take for that to be a $20k car? Two or three? Count me in when they have a CPO program.
The local Fiat/Maserati/Alfa place has two sitting out front. They're gorgeous.
Lugnut wrote: The local Fiat/Maserati/Alfa place has two sitting out front. They're gorgeous.
They really are pretty, and glad to hear others share that emotion. Our test car looked stunning in red. With a few tweaks (mainly the transmission logics) I can't wait to see where they take this.
It's drop dead gorgeous. I wish I could afford one.
In reply to David S. Wallens:
Very kind of you to call it a first year offering. Perhaps of that car.
Thing is, this is the theme of cars that they should have continued in 1975. While the Alfetta was a fine car, it wasn't a 325, and that is where Alfa and BMW really parted ways in terms of competing with each other.
MadScientistMatt wrote: Now, here's the car Dodge should have used as a basis for the new Dart.
Rumors suggest that the next Charger/Challenger will share this platform, since they're using window dressed versions of 15 year old Benz platforms right now, that should be a big improvement. At least in performance.
I might have to stop by the local Fiat dealer and see one in person. He handed me the keys to a 124 when they first came out like "here you go, see you when you get back".
But I'm still interested in a 4C if I'm honest.
pointofdeparture wrote: The Quadrifoglio is a breathtaking car, sure, but a Giulia Ti with the Sport package is likely close enough for those of us that just want a wonderful drive to work. I optioned one up to $47k on the Alfa site; how many years of lease returns will it take for that to be a $20k car? Two or three? Count me in when they have a CPO program.
I am curious to hear the driving impressions on the Ti with Sport Package as well. I wonder what kind of lease offers will pop up when they can't move them like they hoped. Worst case, I could see CPO-ing one in a couple years, as I'm sure depreciation won't be kind to them.
Beautiful car, and the Grand Tour episode made me like it even more...
FCA is advertising Giulia leases from as little as $299 per month (more like $350 with a more manageable down payment). That's a lot of car for the money; I'm keen to drive one myself.
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