1988 AR Milano Verde owner here. Engineering tour de force. 3 liter Busso v6, 5speed MT, rear transaxle, de Dion rear suspension, in board rear brakes, brembo brakes. Recaro interior. Will be gifting to my son this year.
The trouble in the 90s was that Alfa Romeo was up against Sacco-era Mercedes and the golden era of BMWs. The Mercs were designed by an Italian, built by Germans without a budget, they were gorgeous things I''ve had 7 cars. An Alfa, then 3 Germans, then I've only owned Alfas since, daily driving a 4C for 5 years... Last week I moved country and bought my 4th Alfa, and I won't go back to having a garage without one.
My first job was working in the parts department of a Fiat/Alfa dealership, I then when into Alfa sales and that’s where my passion for the Italian cars , especially Alfas started . I’ve had a couple of Alfasuds , a Sprint QV , 147 , 156, 2021 Giulia Veloce and currently I daily a 2006 GT and have a 1995 155 wide body which I’m restoring and swapping in a 3.0 24V Busso . I’ve owned a number of German cars , 3 series touring and an A6 Avant . All good cars but I always end up going back to Alfas . There’s just something special about them that I don’t get from other brands
Yes I'm a true petrolhead and never had an alfa romeo. Some people can't afford to own multiple cars just to say I had an alfa. FWD is not the best layout for a sports car and alfa was not making a good FR RWD car which is affordable since the 75 which is an old car that is expensive, old, and mostly rusty or needs restoration.
As somebody who had worked in the motor trade for many years, and also actually confess to being a real petrolhead too (many who work in the motor trade are sick of cars after 8 hours+ a day working on other peoples, and drive sheds themselves). I have 'almost' bought many Alfa's, as they are good looking cars, and when you sit in one, even though the interior may be cheap quality they do feel 'special' and a nice place to be. I still have not owned one though. The disadvantages of cheap materials, and unreliability, combined with the fact they never really delivered the performance or handling that they promised (aside from a small number of models, the 4c, the Giulia quadrifoglio), just made me choose something else. I don't think anyone can say 'if you haven't owned an Alfa you can't be a true petrolhead' because there are so many really good cars that a 'petrolhead' could own instead, which are better than the Alfa equivalent. I'd like a Giulia GTV, but I can't afford one at this point in time, and I think my OG M2 qualifies as a true petrolhead's car anyway.
This is a great series you’ve got going, so much information and learning more with each episode. What’s a good entry level Alfa to get a taste of what they offer? Looking forward to the next one!
Good question, there are a few to choose from. Alessandro has recently bought a 156 with a 3.2 busso and loves it. Maybe go a bit further back into the archives, the GTV is sublime
I have not one but 10 alfas one of them 2005 147 gta selespeed 2019 stelvio quadrifoglio 2.9 1982 alfetta 2lt 1981 giulietta 2.0 1988 milano(75) quadrifoglio oro Also.i have 2009 maserati quattroporte s 4.7 v8 2023 fiat 695 abarth. Thanks guys for your program ❤
A lot of people wrongly believe that FWD cars cannot be good sports cars or compare to RWD sports cars. Its completely wrong. This belief almost doomed Alfa Romeo during the 90's even though the GTV, the 156 or the GT were absolutly brilliant.
@rossbethell4187 or some great HillClimb runs available on YT, I recently saw a 147 2.0 twin Spark fully built to 9000 rpm go through difficult turns as flat as an F1 while going insanely fast. Very impressive.
As a former Alfa 147 gta owner for 6 years I can say they are incredible cars when there running right, finding parts is a nightmare and when you do there Ferrari money to buy. Alfa decided it was a good idea to stick the ecu on top of the manifold cat at the back of the engine on the gta which meant the ecu would get cooked🤷🏼♂️My car was off the road for 3 months in the summer of 2024 because of the clutch master cylinder, could anyone find the part? NO! That’s just 1 of many times I couldn’t find parts. It was becoming a money pit too. I grew out of love with it and had to move it on. I had a gtv 3.0 V6 which was worse😡 I love to look at Alfas but never will I own another
a quadrifoglio trounces a f series bmw. still now competes with the massively overpowered g80 m3. like a g80 on dyno is what 600bhp 4wd lmaao its not an m3 anymore. and guess what still looks better lol
Whoever came up with the saying “you’re not a true petrolhead if you’ve not owned an Alfa”, is an idiot. Why would I want to own a car that notoriously has/had problems with reliability, especially Italian wiring,
Trying to solve for those problems makes you build a better relationship with it + you have a rewarding driving experience. Having owned, I have to say reliability is not as bad, in fact it's no worse than German brands especially as they get older
You obviously haven’t owned an Alfa, I’ve had the 2003 147 since new No major issues only replaced rear shocks about 3 years ago Drove solid & looks better then any other hatch in its class, Alfa all day every day for me
1988 AR Milano Verde owner here. Engineering tour de force. 3 liter Busso v6, 5speed MT, rear transaxle, de Dion rear suspension, in board rear brakes, brembo brakes. Recaro interior. Will be gifting to my son this year.
well said i agree
The trouble in the 90s was that Alfa Romeo was up against Sacco-era Mercedes and the golden era of BMWs. The Mercs were designed by an Italian, built by Germans without a budget, they were gorgeous things
I''ve had 7 cars. An Alfa, then 3 Germans, then I've only owned Alfas since, daily driving a 4C for 5 years...
Last week I moved country and bought my 4th Alfa, and I won't go back to having a garage without one.
The W124 and the 190E were remarkable cars. Maybe we should review the 500E what would you put it against?
My first job was working in the parts department of a Fiat/Alfa dealership, I then when into Alfa sales and that’s where my passion for the Italian cars , especially Alfas started . I’ve had a couple of Alfasuds , a Sprint QV , 147 , 156, 2021 Giulia Veloce and currently I daily a 2006 GT and have a 1995 155 wide body which I’m restoring and swapping in a 3.0 24V Busso . I’ve owned a number of German cars , 3 series touring and an A6 Avant . All good cars but I always end up going back to Alfas . There’s just something special about them that I don’t get from other brands
We totally understand that there is something about them that the Germans don’t really replicate. It’s all about motoring experiences
Great comparison of two under appreciated and misunderstood cars! Good job guys
Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Great insight and education on the brand. Brilliantly made video brimming with authenticity. Keep them coming
More to come!
Had two, some of the best cars I have owned. Both 156 with V6 Busso, drove several other Alfas during the time, mostly fun cars
The busso does sound great ❤
Yes I'm a true petrolhead and never had an alfa romeo. Some people can't afford to own multiple cars just to say I had an alfa. FWD is not the best layout for a sports car and alfa was not making a good FR RWD car which is affordable since the 75 which is an old car that is expensive, old, and mostly rusty or needs restoration.
A well looked after example presents itself as quite a character. A good Indy is probably needed to maintain it
If you can get into one, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is a magnificent car, and is practical enough to be your only car
As somebody who had worked in the motor trade for many years, and also actually confess to being a real petrolhead too (many who work in the motor trade are sick of cars after 8 hours+ a day working on other peoples, and drive sheds themselves).
I have 'almost' bought many Alfa's, as they are good looking cars, and when you sit in one, even though the interior may be cheap quality they do feel 'special' and a nice place to be.
I still have not owned one though.
The disadvantages of cheap materials, and unreliability, combined with the fact they never really delivered the performance or handling that they promised (aside from a small number of models, the 4c, the Giulia quadrifoglio), just made me choose something else.
I don't think anyone can say 'if you haven't owned an Alfa you can't be a true petrolhead' because there are so many really good cars that a 'petrolhead' could own instead, which are better than the Alfa equivalent.
I'd like a Giulia GTV, but I can't afford one at this point in time, and I think my OG M2 qualifies as a true petrolhead's car anyway.
We think historically period did, but due to a lull in the 80s-00s it’s really affected Alfas reputation.
This is a great series you’ve got going, so much information and learning more with each episode. What’s a good entry level Alfa to get a taste of what they offer?
Looking forward to the next one!
Good question, there are a few to choose from. Alessandro has recently bought a 156 with a 3.2 busso and loves it. Maybe go a bit further back into the archives, the GTV is sublime
I have not one but 10 alfas one of them 2005 147 gta selespeed
2019 stelvio quadrifoglio 2.9
1982 alfetta 2lt
1981 giulietta 2.0
1988 milano(75) quadrifoglio oro
Also.i have 2009 maserati quattroporte s 4.7 v8
2023 fiat 695 abarth.
Thanks guys for your program ❤
That is one hell of a collection
A lot of people wrongly believe that FWD cars cannot be good sports cars or compare to RWD sports cars. Its completely wrong. This belief almost doomed Alfa Romeo during the 90's even though the GTV, the 156 or the GT were absolutly brilliant.
Lift off oversteer can help silence the critics.
@rossbethell4187 or some great HillClimb runs available on YT, I recently saw a 147 2.0 twin Spark fully built to 9000 rpm go through difficult turns as flat as an F1 while going insanely fast. Very impressive.
@rossbethell4187 or watch Micha run the Nurb with 156 or the gtv some month ago
We have heard the Brera Prodrive is also pretty epic
As a former Alfa 147 gta owner for 6 years I can say they are incredible cars when there running right, finding parts is a nightmare and when you do there Ferrari money to buy. Alfa decided it was a good idea to stick the ecu on top of the manifold cat at the back of the engine on the gta which meant the ecu would get cooked🤷🏼♂️My car was off the road for 3 months in the summer of 2024 because of the clutch master cylinder, could anyone find the part? NO!
That’s just 1 of many times I couldn’t find parts. It was becoming a money pit too. I grew out of love with it and had to move it on. I had a gtv 3.0 V6 which was worse😡
I love to look at Alfas but never will I own another
People took entertainment show way too seriously. No, you don't need to own a specific brand to earn the name.
😂 very true
Automotive Art ❤
That gta has aged like a fine steak beautifully
Tony has done an epic job of adding as well making it his own GTA -“M”
i love the look but everything ends there,I'm talking from a former owner experience
They do look fantastic, especially in red (or green 😂)
Great video, learnt so much about Alfas. How do these compare with their M Car equivalent?
a quadrifoglio trounces a f series bmw. still now competes with the massively overpowered g80 m3. like a g80 on dyno is what 600bhp 4wd lmaao its not an m3 anymore. and guess what still looks better lol
@ISOLATICN1 agree the Alfas look far better than modern BMWs, come to think of it they've always looked better 👌🏾
Are those double yellow lines your parked on, and yeah the money you save buying it, goes on fixing it
They can be financially ruinous
a true petrol head would avoid a new Alfa Romeo.
A quadrofolgio is a wonderous thing 😂
Just bs rule made up by the top gear lot. Particularly Clarkson
CLARKSON!! 😅
Whoever came up with the saying “you’re not a true petrolhead if you’ve not owned an Alfa”, is an idiot. Why would I want to own a car that notoriously has/had problems with reliability, especially Italian wiring,
Trying to solve for those problems makes you build a better relationship with it + you have a rewarding driving experience. Having owned, I have to say reliability is not as bad, in fact it's no worse than German brands especially as they get older
You obviously haven’t owned an Alfa, I’ve had the 2003 147 since new
No major issues only replaced rear shocks about 3 years ago
Drove solid & looks better then any other hatch in its class, Alfa all day every day for me
@@paulducati3283 you’re correct, I never have and never will, but I’m still a petrolhead.
@@Metal05 and thats okay, but it does make your comment invalid.
@@thijss1272 but it doesn’t.
Isn't it time to move on from the mostly bs remarks in the name of entertainment on Top Gear 🤷🏽♂️
Haha quite possible 😂