DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Posted (10 years 2 months 3 days ago) and read 2085 times:
With any luck Alfa will return to the US sometime before the decade is over and bring back a line of fine looking Italian cars. I have drooled over pictures of the stunning looking 147 and 156. It just makes me want one even more.
This is the Brera concept, which sadly will not make it into production... but rumor has it that some of its design cues will be in next generation Alfas.
This is the gorgeous looking Alfa 156 GT coupe. SImply stunning looking if you ask me.
And a shot of the Alfa Spyder, which is rumored to be among the cars that will return to US shores.
And lastly, a shot of the Mazda MX Sportif prototype. I put this here b/c it looks uncannily like the 147 5-door, and is a loosely disguised version of the next generation Protoge.
I really do think that the Italians make the best looking cars by far. I cannot quite put words to it, but they have a soul. Sure the Germans make great mechanical marvels, but they are cold. Same for the Japanese. Now an Alfa is something that I REALLY want.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 1, posted (10 years 2 months 3 days ago) and read 2049 times:
Rumour has it that GM will bring Alfa to the U.S. in the next few years. That should spice up their dealerships appreciably! I also think they will complement the current Saab offerings, bringing in more traffic to those dealerships. Mechanically though, Alfas have always been troublesome. Hopefully the new ones are better, but yes, they certainly have a soul!
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2004 times:
I drive both a 01' 156 selespeed and a '76 Guilia Bertone, I just love them.
The newest ones have lost the driving pleasure of the older ones, but the look is still there for sure. Great cars, but not as reliable as german's products.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 5, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1992 times:
Actually I like the squarish lines of the 164 and other Alfa sedans of that era. It is the Spider that I think is rather ugly.
OO-AOG... you have a 156.... I am sooo jealous. Such a beautiful looking car. Do you have the 2.0 TS or the 2.5 V6?
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
DesertJets,
I have the 156 Selespeed Station Wagon version, the 2.0 engine with a electronic sequential gearbox. To be honnest, the 2.0 engine is quite limited, and I would suggest the 2.5V6 or of course the GTA.
Sabena 690 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1971 times:
The 2.0 quite limited?
My dad has the 2.0 in it's Alfa 166, and is very happy with it.
In fact, it's not necessary to have something stronger with all the traffic jams and speed limitations
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1963 times:
Sabena690
Don't get it wrong, I like my 156 2.0 but indeed, next time, I will get the stronger engine and definitely a normal gearbox, I don't like this sequential stuff, slow!
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1962 times:
Captaingomes, the issue of whether GM will get their paws on the FIAT group is highly debatable, so any rumours of them taking Alfa to the US are pretty baseless unless that proviso is met.
As for reliability, Alfa Romeo have improved immeasurably over the last few years. They still have major problems with the electrics and other related issues, but mechanically there are few problems these days.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 12, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1942 times:
Banco, with the death of signor Gianni Agnelli, founder of Fiat, and his son at the helm, we'll have to wait and see. I think Gianni was unwilling to see his baby (the car company) go, but his son sees it more from a business perspective, and the auto division of Fiat has been suffering for a long time. If I understand it properly, GM owns a big share of Fiat, but it's losing a lot of money with it. However, some claus in there means they might be forced to purchase the rest, so GM will be forced to do whatever it can to make Fiat profitable once again. Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I probably have a few incorrect facts.
Nuno.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 18 Reply 13, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1935 times:
GM has a 25% stake in the Fiat Group I believe. Whether it wants to or not, it is pretty much going to have to bail it out when the time happens. Which would get them control of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. Though with GM picking up the pieces of Daewoo, I am not certain about this actually happening now. But it might be worthwile picking up just Alfa and Lancia.
OO-AOG: Is the selespeed a manu-matic like the Porsche/Audi/VW Tiptronic, or a real sesquential shifting manu box, like in the Ferrari and Maserati?
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1926 times:
DesertJets
It's a real sequential shifting, like the Ferrari, but much slower. I just had a long test drive in the Modena last week and I can tell you that the 156's sequential is really slow when you compare. On the Alfa it's fun, granted, but not as efficient as it should be.
Staffan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1924 times:
Actually, the 2.0 TS in the 156 is said to be the best engine for that car in terms of weight balance, the 2.5 V6 is heavier and takes away cornering performance. I'm not sure if the 2.0 V6 Turbo is available for the 156?
The 2.0 TS is great, only con is that it doesn't pull very well under 3000 rpm.
DesertJets, I think the Selespeed is a manual gearbox, shifted automatically.
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1922 times:
The new 2.0Ts engine (after 2002) has been improved, more powerful and is great, but the older one, mine actually, with just 150cv is just average. Once again is a good car, but hardly a real sport car.
Staffan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (10 years 2 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1916 times:
OO-AOG,
Didn't the first 156 2.0 TS have 155 hp, then it was changed to 150, and now it has been changed again?
And regarding the Selespeed, is it a proper sequential gearbox? I've always heard it's a manual gearbox with a normal clutch, that is shifted with hydraulics. And by pressing a button, you don't even have to change the gears, it works like an automatic.
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