It is a myth. Alfas if looked after will be more reliable than a Merc or BMW. They don't use as many plastic parts in the engine bay as the Germans. Love Alfas
Agreed. Mechanically, Alfas has always been good, as long as the cam belt is changed & regular oil changes. The biggest issues with Alfa 156, GTVs (916), and GTs is their suspension is made of chocolate. 😉 The newer models tend to have eradicated these issues.
Mine is 2016 2,2 diesel and have almost 183000 miles. I'm the owner for about 4 years now and only issues a have was EGR cooler at 140000 miles and electronic hand brake wiring was snapped. Suspension, arms and bushings is still all original. Overall it is the best car that I own and my next car will still be Giulia. I just cant find a saloon car with such good driving dynamics. And yes peoples still thinking about Alfas like it was 30 -40 years ago. But if you look other brands what kind issues they or still have Alfas are actually really reliable among modern cars.
@@ItaliaAutos looking for used Giulia so i have question, finding on italians forum that giulias have problems with o ring on oil pump , droping oil pressure and can destroy engine, so is this serious problem or not because i want this car so much. Its about 2,2 jtd engine
I have a 2015 petrol multiair giulietta with 125000 on the clock. I had to change the multiair unit when I bought the car at 44000 but since it hasn't missed a beat
@@generationx227 yes the same problem was on Giuliettas and 159 (here I'm little mad on Alfa, because they could easily fix this on Giulias) The first symptom is oil pressure warning on cold start. If you fix this immediately no harm is done. On RWD Giulias is quite easy to remove oil pan and replace this O-ring, but on Q4 is a lot of work. But the other problem is also bolts on oil pump housing get loose and from there you can have potential oil pressure issues. But if you fix this immediately there will be no harm in engine. Mine have 183000 miles and didn't have this issue yet.
The cars are reliable, the dealers are utterly terrible. Always find a good independent specialist like Neil to service your Alfa and it will last forever.
I totaly agree. Brilliant car - useless dealers. My nearest dealer - there are two in reasonable distance from my place - just went bankrupt a couple of months after spending a fortune on a new location. They won’t be missed since I never trusted them in the first place.
This is my experience as well. The cost of maintanance for my giulietta is practically not worth speaking of any more. The official dealer's mechanic was a huge rip-off.
In the late 70's , early 80's I had a garage and welded up, for MOT, loads of cars, it wasnt just Italian cars, everything rusted. If an Alfa Romeo breaks down in some way, its a case of "I told you those cars are unreliable!", if a BMW, VW or Audi breaks down its a case of "well, things do happen sometimes". The only problem we have had with our Alfa's was on a 159 1.9Jtdm, and all the parts which gave us problems were the German bits!
Well said, our family has had alfettas, guiliettas, 33, gtv6, 156, 147s and nothing major ever happend. My dad also washed the cars every weekend, no rust ever occurred even though we lived by the ocean. I saw this person the other day moaning about their Giulia having a gearbox issue, I commented saying, thats a zf gearbox, its german, dont bring out the old Alfas break chestnut. The thing that irritates me so much is the perpetuation of this disproven notion that Alfas are more unreliable than bmws, audis or mercs. Even though Alfa outperforms them on the quality studies.
The reason its Fiat group is using lower grade bosch parts and the wiring its done very bad . You have to see how its done on BMW for example. I had 2 Alfas 147 first car and Brera which was just on 70 k when i sold it and already had to rebuild the engine. The 147 was nightmare had to rebuild the gearbox 3 times and than just to change it and the engine 1 time. Lets be honest the reason you are driving italian car its bcs its dirty cheap second hand and looks good which is fine But the problem its even if you give alot more for almost new from the dealership you cant be sure of nothing
@@martintop2605 🤣🤣🤣🤣 The Bosch assertion is complete twaddle. Do you really think Bosch or Sachs would risk their reputation with second rate parts? We bought our cars new!
Than why you say you have problems with the german bits ? :)) They are different tiers of electronics , if you are customer that buy small amounth of them like Alfa you will receive the worst bages. All italian cars incl ferrari and maserati have problems with the electronics. Its some part bcs itlians dont like to look in to small details and part bcs of lack of R&D budget.
I have a 2015 Giulietta, my previous 156 & 159 were unreliable and I took a risk with the Giulietta. It broke down on the A303 with 235 miles on the clock. My first thought was here I go again. The air mass sensor cable had not been tied into the loom during manufacture and had been resting on the manifold. Nine years on, it has just passed its MOT for the seventh time without any work being required. The only non service part I’ve had to replace was the oil filler cap, the ratchet mechanism was causing problems £14.60 to replace. It is the most reliable car I have ever owned
2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio, 62.000 km, trouble free apart from a solenoid valve in the left cylinder bank which was changed under warrantee 2023 Tonale Veloce, 8.000 km so far, trouble free 2014 Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, 45.000 km trouble free 2010 159 TBi Ti, 65.000 km, trouble free 2006 156 2.0 JTS, 52.000 km, trouble free…. I could go back even longer… but nothing can beat my brother’s 1995 model year 146 TS which he drove for 355.000 km only servicing it once a year (just like I do too). Alfista dal cuore 🍀
I have bought an early 2017 model with the 150 hp diesel and ZF gearbox with 199,000 km in Dec 2023... just to familiarize myself with these cars as I fell in love with the Giulia from the first days after its introduction. To my surprise, the interior looks fantastic, the suspension is all quiet, the engine runs perfectly fine and the car drives amazing. The only issues it has, still minor though, is the outside mirror's laquer that is peeling off, easily repairable. I have put nearly 7,000 km on it with 206,000 km right now and I cannot stop driving it. It's my first Alfa and it won't be my last Giulia.
Our 2021 Giulia Ti has been trouble free for 2.5 years and 26,000 miles! Best looking, best driving car we've ever owned! Makes me smile every time I drive!
I had a Giulia for 4,5 years, bought her as nearly 2 and 1/2 years old with 55000 kms. Sold her as nearly 7 years old car with 175000kms, no major issues at all, very solid car with automatic ZF transmission and 2,2 JTD engine. Very satisified
Had a 2.2 Brera Prodrive which I sold last year at 145k miles. Over 5 years of ownership it was fantastic, never let me down, interior still solid and rattle free. A real joy to drive and trouble free to own. Made the mistake of buying a Mercedes - non-stop trouble, has broken down on me. In the first year of ownership it’s been off the road for 6 weeks between its many trips to the dealer. Never again, will be back to Alfa soon.
Currently own a 2005 156 2.0 JTS Sportwagon. It’s as sweet as a nut both aesthetically and mechanically. Just passed the MOT with a couple of advisories (front brake discs and dull o/s headlight cover.) Had the car 8 years, and it's a daily driver. And It’s in a very rare (for a SW) in Azzurro Gabbiano blue.
Nice to see this balanced opinion of the Giulia. I’ve been unlucky with mine, it’s now out of warranty and the dashboard has lit up like a Christmas tree. I’m waiting to see if a replacement ABS sensor will fix the problem but it’s a weird one! It has also had a problem with the water pump and the battery charging circuit. To be honest this car has been the most unreliable car I’ve had since about the 1990s but I love it. Although I have lost all faith Alfa Romeo mainly due to the atrocious dealerships in the south-east of England. After nearly four years of ownership, I would recommend against buying one even though my heart says it’s a great car.
I've owned my 5 1/2 old Giuila Veloce for 3 years & had zero issues during my ownership. Now has 34K on the clock. Car is fantastic to drive & by far the best car I have every owned. Also have a 1999 TS which has never broken down in 7 1/2 years over ownership, just under 120K miles on the clock.
Image is so important in car industry donbe successful. Germans , like BMW have a very good image, "reliable ","ultimate driving machines" but that is often not the case, as a owner i dare to admit this. Technically very complicated and engines and aux appliances not the best reliability. But people keep on buying or at least lease those. Alfa is the real petrol head car for the "connoisseurs ". And Italians know how to engineer an engine that last.
In Australia and North America, the German cars have a terrible reputation for reliability! A good reputation seems more of a European and British thing. It's the Lexus/Toyota and Acura/Honda cars that have the best reputation in North America for reliability (albeit there are occasional serious faults here and there, more often a genuine error than a case of using obviously cheaply made parts like those plastic Dodge V6 oil coolers which leak or plastic VW water pump housings which leak...). 🙂
@@TassieLorenzo Hi here in Europe it's opposite. Germans cars are supposed to be premium . It's an image mainly from the past let's say 20 to 25 y ago. Where indeed German cars were better than cars produced in France . Today picture is a bit different German cars became a luxury product due to their high price point and high performance level. But statistics prove they are average or below average when it comes to reliability.
@@wimcalant8425It's not been 25 years but 35 years since Germany made better cars than France. And for most German brands early '90s were their last good years.
I have a 40 year-old X1/9. Like anything, cars need to be looked after. People think German cars are superior. I worked in the trade. They are not. None of us would have a BMW.
Giulietta benzina owner here, except for having to change the brakes I haven't had any bigger service costs for my giulietta since I got her in 2016. The most important part was switching from the official dealer's mechanic to an indepentend one.
I'm about to retire my 370K mile alfa 166! Last year turbo went, lost aircon, steering rack weared out, DMF is making weird noises and has some shot bushings, plus my past neighbours left it like a golf ball, it's a lost cause. But guess what, i'm getting another one with only 110K miles in superb condition. Alfas are not hard or complex to fix. In fact I find them way easier to work on them than in german cars. They don't have 5000 control units, most faults are easily seen with some OBD testing, 99% of them are split VNT or intake hoses, stuck EGR, upper whishbones and auxiliary belt stuff. However mechanics keep crying for silly things, like there's a hose between him and the turbo that must be removed first, or breaking four things to fix one (Just pull until it comes out no matter what). So I became my own alfa specialist, cheaper, better.
I've had 3 2000s era GTV and Spider (2 Fiat Coupe turbos included) and can honestly state that the quality of components was equal to or better than some the BMW, Mercedes and VWs I worked on and owned!
I owned my first Alfa for 7 yrs and covered 130,000 miles in it. It required the cam variator replacing, but other than that it only needed regular servicing, tyres and brakes. Sadly I didn’t keep my second Alfa for long enough to form an opinion on its longevity - I changed job and that came with a company car. My current Alfa is 13 yrs old, and is just coming up to 130,000 miles - I’ve had it for 4 years, and so far have replaced a thermostat housing, EGR valve, front shocks, and a wheel bearing…..other than that it’s been service items. I think that’s decent going for a supposedly ‘unreliable’ Italian car maker.
Been looking at these lately such a great looking car, thinking about getting the 280bhp 2.0. My Mito was 12 years old and one of the most reliable cars i've had in 20 years of driving (other than the power steering trying to kill me in winter cutting out) which is partly the reason i'm now on my second Abarth. In recent years the "unreliable Alfas" is nonsense really, I'd still have one over a VAG any day.
Great to see a what a great car we all know the giulia really is just a shame you don't see many on the roads but when you do they still stand out from all the German cars by a mile ! Definitely my next car after my 159, great video Neal look forward to the next one
159 or Brera models have many faults. Front Subframes rot out too easily due to bad design and water intake or positioning of the A/C leak off pipe which fills the subframe with water. , rear trailing arms rust away, sills corroded away, coil springs break,
@@Hali88 It's not wasted, the Giorgio platform is used for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer as well. I guess unprofitable body styles like estates, coupes, convertibles are not of interest to the company compared to SUVs. Heck Alfa Romeo don't either bother to make a hatchback anymore! It is the strictly the more saleable Tonale CUV only. IMO, Alfa (and Fiat and Dodge and Chrysler) having huge gaps in their product lineup and stopping models with no replacement is unwise.
I agree, my stelvio 2.2 td has 250.000 km trouble free (only oil pump after 200.000 km), my second Stelvio 2.2 td has 50.000 km trouble free of course, and the second car is a Tonale trouble free. after ten years of BMW these Alfa confirm the quality of the brand.
It's FCA's own fault that the Dodge Dart was marketed as a Dodge and not as the Alfa Giulietta sedan, likewise the Fiat 124 Abarth not being an Alfa Romeo Spider. IMO the "made in Italy only" requirement was dumb, who cares if Alfas are made in the United States and Japan? Having the Giulia as the entry-level model was too expensive of an entry point to build Alfa Romeo market share IMO. Unfortunately not all that many Dodge Jeep Ram Chrysler dealers in North America actually carry Alfa Romeo (or FIAT) AFAIK, it's hard to build market share if you don't have a dealer presence.
I've had my giulia veloce for 4 years now and love it. No issues at all, I've had lots of alfas in the past, also had 2 bmws and audis, not as reliable as my alfa. Look after it and it will look after you.
I had a 156 with 320k km on it bought it when it had 50k km on the dash.. Never had any issues.. Always waited with pushing the engine till it was on temperature.. Did my maintenance in time and to be fair enjoyed that car big time.. Went from the 156 to a Saab 9-5 and now a vw touareg.. But kinda tempted to go back to alfa again because i still like them when i see them driving around
I don't Understand how some Alfa Owners can hold their Cars so dirty especially under the Car, the First thing a do when a buy A Car a make a treatment under the Car Subframes and Wheel Holders frames etc. Spray it whit Color Matt to protect it . Yes and it works amazing my Alfa 147 ti is from 2006 looks like just 4 years under the Car . The Protection layer has protected the Frames from Corrosions 😘
Had one of the original Mitos. Drove 500m from the dealer and had to drive straight back. The heated seats were wired up wrong. In short we had 2 gearboxes, 2 resprays, 3 lots of suspension and a set of replacement window wipers. But we loved it!!
Some diesel versions have a problem with low oil pressure and lose bolts on oil pump. I dont know how common that is. Myself i have Veloce 2.0 petrol. Runs good so far. Fun car. Had to change the factory battery tho.
My father had an Alfasud. He did 250.000 kms in it and he only replaced perishable parts, but it's true that they rust like crazy. A friend of mine has an Alfa Romeo 147 and he says that if you service the engine regularly and don't thrash the car, it's very reliable.
Can’t thank Neil enough for servicing my Giulia Speciale and doing this check over vid 👍 highly recommend and thankful to have such a reliable Alfa specialist local to me Cheers mate!
Had my Guilia for a year and swapped out for a Masarati Ghibli as I fancied a change,probably go back to a Guilia IF..!!I can find one with the tan interior…👍
This was a great video Neal. Would be really awesome if you can do the same thing with a Giulia Quad, and this time dive a bit into the mechanicals of the engine, what tends to go wrong with the power train after X miles and what to look out for in tes of wear and preventative maintenance.👍
My most reliable car ever was an Alfa 156 V6 which I drove for many years. My least reliable car ever was an Audi TT which I disposed of after 12 months. I haven't owned a Giulia yet, but I'm tempted.
Awesome video...Thinking of getting a Giulia Veloce 2024 in Florida. I still have my Alfa Spider Veloce 1976 189,000 miles daily driver when weather permits and just putting around locally no more highway driving people are horrible drivers and it has no safety modern features. A keeper for sure!!!
Who cares if they are reliable, they are Alfas! I had a 156 for two years as a Company rep mobile. Brilliant drive, only had to replace front suspension arms which wasn't expensive. Excellent 1.8 litre twin spark petrol engine. The company sold it to an enthusiast.
Great video and fantastic timing. After having had a 916 for the last 17 years, i am looking to add a 2022/23 Veloce or Competizione as the "family" car to keep for the long run. So tempted by an older quad but frightened by running costs.
I own a Stelvio, bought 2 year's old with 24.000 km now 3 years later 75.000 km. Only thing i had an issue with is a leak from the rear outputshaft from the transmission that's sweating. Thats going to be a pain to repear but it such a incredible car to drive and realy underappreciated by manny people. nice work on all the cars you do and thanks for the great content
My 2011 Giulietta is still in near perfect condition, no rust whatsoever has 185k kms on it now. Only regular maintenenance, oil, filters, brakes, cam belts etc. no big repair jobs necessary until now. The most reliable car I ever owned, and I had a few.
I have a 2010 159 TBi and it's been flawless mechanically. The only thing that broke was the retractable cigarette lighter in the cup holder cubby. And even then, it just pops out of its socket when opened, it still closes fine.
My sister in law has owned her 2013 Gulietta since new and has done 130k miles in it. Apart from a faulty drivers electric window, replaced under warranty, no problems.
…2019 Giulia Veloce, Q4, 60T miles, always properly serviced as Alfa suggests. It is still in mint condition, no whatsoever issues, no breakdowns, no noises, handles like on the first day! Before I‘ve had 14 BMWs, and I was a real Beamer fanboy! But this Italian design queen has proven to be THE best car I have ever driven. And that includes my experiences from before the turn of the millennium, when BMW took far more pride and effort to be way better than "the rest of the gang“! I take a deep bow towards Alfa engineering! What a beautiful and overwhelmingly fun to drive car!
Had 3 147 Alfa's now since 2001 never had a problem on any of them. After years of company cars now looking to get a low mileage 147 for fun again. Lovely little cars
How much should I expect to pay from an indy for my 36k big belts service on my quad pls mate ?? 2018 model and had it 3yrs now, not a single problem at all :) Love it
Mine is a 2020 Ti Sport Carbon (Veloce Ti overseas) with 60k miles. Bought it when it had 38k miles as the second owner, no major issues at all. The only thing that has happened is when the car got closer to 50k miles, a valve in the EVAP system gets stuck closed and will throw the CE light on, it'll happen randomly nowadays but it DOES NOT mess with the drivability at all. A quick use of the OBD scanner to clear the code and it's good to go. Rather just use that than spend hundreds to fix a small issue, so it doesn't bother me but everyone's different.
Brilliant vid. I am looking at buying a Stelvio, just so different style wise from the German options. Always the historic niggle about rust and reliability, you have just shown how far Alpha have come with their current range. Only problem with the Stelvio is they are rare and hard to find!
Until you find one, if you like it, go and buy it. It was properly engineered to beat competitors in its segment. Today cars are becoming cheaper built unfortunately
I had one of the last Lancia Kappa Coupe 3.0V6 24V from 2001. Never had any problems except with the adaptive Kayaba shocks on the front. They started leaking at approx. 100.000 kms. Quite a hefty bill. The new shocks had the same problem but were replaced under warranty. And the front wiper control unit stopped working while it was raining. One of the water spray hoses came loose and flooded the control unit. Also an expensive replacement. Everything worked well, paint was good (no rust whatsoever). I have seen worse German cars from that age.
Ive had mine nearly 3 years now, its been equisite, its comfortable, well screwed togeter and a pleasure to drive, its a 21 Veloce in misano blue with tan leather and 19" petal wheels, its perfect imo 😍
2002 156 GTA, my daily driver, has now done 267,000km, including over 45,000km by me in the two and a bit years I've had it. Apart from minor paint blemishes no one would think it was 22 years old.
I have a 20 year old Alfa 147 since new, it's just turned over 207,000 Klms. Apart from timing belt and water pump changes, at the prescribed mileage, it had the clutch replaced after 201,000 Klms. Nothing else at all. Also a 2014 Giulietta 1.7 litre turbo, it also runs perfectly. Nothing replaced apart from timing belt and water pump when due. They are very reliable cars, they handle beautifully and look great.
Good to know. I have two Jaguars, a 2006 XJ8 and a 2016 F-Type 3.0. Jaguars have a bad reputation but mine are fine, everything on them works fine and the quality of their components is excellent.
It looks in better condition underneath than my 7 year old 50,000 miles VW Golf GTI. Previous to the golf we had a Giulietta and apart from average handling and a very cheap feeling interior that was a great car. No rust issues on that either despite being 13 years old when it was sold.
I own a 2020 Giulia Ti and its the best sedan I ever had. I look forward to driving it everytime! It is a joy to put it to its paces, specially on winding roads. Drives better then a bmw 330m.
Loved my 2.2 speciale .alfa white and red leather .only criticism was how low the front was it caught a lot on on my fairly low kerb.i only changed it because we went to a stelvio for motor practicality for the grandkids .miss it though.i will buy another but maybe the veloce .
Agree with you on this, proving a bit of a nightmare having to navigate around certain roads with newer sleeping policeman, but the comments I get for overall looks when all clean and tidy help a little!
I had a Stelvio and loved it, unfortunately after taking it through a car wash with under body spray the car went into limp mode, they had to do repairs to exposed wires. That was the start of the problems. After 5 trips back for wiring repairs I sold the vehicle. I have never been more disappointed because it was the best driving car I have ever owned.
My Mrs has a 2014 Giulietta JTDM-2 and its fantastic. It's ticked over 165,000 miles and the only thing it really needed were a new set of clutches for the TCT gearbox at 149,000. Currently chasing an issue of suspension knock when going over bumpy roads, changed the wishbones and links but the noise is still there. Any ideas?
The Giulia is a beautiful car, I was looking for one in 2016 but ended up with buying a one owner 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320, I traded that in for a 2000 Mecrury Grand Marquis in 2018 and that car has basically been 100% reliable just the basic oil changes etc. But every once in a while I speculate of getting a Giulia, one of the main concerns is is it going to be reliable and also in the basic models there is no naturally aspirated V6 or V8 available... But I am still considering!
I bought a brand new Alfa Romeo Giulietta back in 2016 and in six of motoring it NEVER missed a beat. Original exhaust and battery, original brake pads. Everything was still tight and everything worked perfectly, absolutely no rust at all Great car, sorry to see it go!!😂😂🇬🇧
I have the Veloce Diesel 01/17 with 150kkm, I use the Giulia for long distance traveling. Very comfortable and so stunning 🤌 The only issue was the rear window heater that's it 👍 Try to reach the million mark 😁
It is a myth. Alfas if looked after will be more reliable than a Merc or BMW. They don't use as many plastic parts in the engine bay as the Germans. Love Alfas
You can’t say a merc that has receipts for it reliability
Agreed. Mechanically, Alfas has always been good, as long as the cam belt is changed & regular oil changes. The biggest issues with Alfa 156, GTVs (916), and GTs is their suspension is made of chocolate. 😉
The newer models tend to have eradicated these issues.
Mine is 2016 2,2 diesel and have almost 183000 miles. I'm the owner for about 4 years now and only issues a have was EGR cooler at 140000 miles and electronic hand brake wiring was snapped. Suspension, arms and bushings is still all original. Overall it is the best car that I own and my next car will still be Giulia. I just cant find a saloon car with such good driving dynamics. And yes peoples still thinking about Alfas like it was 30 -40 years ago. But if you look other brands what kind issues they or still have Alfas are actually really reliable among modern cars.
Thanks for letting us know about your car.
@@ItaliaAutos looking for used Giulia so i have question, finding on italians forum that giulias have problems with o ring on oil pump , droping oil pressure and can destroy engine, so is this serious problem or not because i want this car so much. Its about 2,2 jtd engine
I have a 2015 petrol multiair giulietta with 125000 on the clock. I had to change the multiair unit when I bought the car at 44000 but since it hasn't missed a beat
@@generationx227 yes the same problem was on Giuliettas and 159 (here I'm little mad on Alfa, because they could easily fix this on Giulias) The first symptom is oil pressure warning on cold start. If you fix this immediately no harm is done. On RWD Giulias is quite easy to remove oil pan and replace this O-ring, but on Q4 is a lot of work. But the other problem is also bolts on oil pump housing get loose and from there you can have potential oil pressure issues. But if you fix this immediately there will be no harm in engine. Mine have 183000 miles and didn't have this issue yet.
@@bernymonty22 Thank you for reply. Sp the best solution change this parts after buying car
The cars are reliable, the dealers are utterly terrible. Always find a good independent specialist like Neil to service your Alfa and it will last forever.
I totaly agree. Brilliant car - useless dealers. My nearest dealer - there are two in reasonable distance from my place - just went bankrupt a couple of months after spending a fortune on a new location. They won’t be missed since I never trusted them in the first place.
This is my experience as well. The cost of maintanance for my giulietta is practically not worth speaking of any more. The official dealer's mechanic was a huge rip-off.
Alfa dealers are the worst
In the late 70's , early 80's I had a garage and welded up, for MOT, loads of cars, it wasnt just Italian cars, everything rusted. If an Alfa Romeo breaks down in some way, its a case of "I told you those cars are unreliable!", if a BMW, VW or Audi breaks down its a case of "well, things do happen sometimes". The only problem we have had with our Alfa's was on a 159 1.9Jtdm, and all the parts which gave us problems were the German bits!
You nail it.. True about the behavor of the german cars owners also about the bits.. Well done !!
Well said, our family has had alfettas, guiliettas, 33, gtv6, 156, 147s and nothing major ever happend. My dad also washed the cars every weekend, no rust ever occurred even though we lived by the ocean. I saw this person the other day moaning about their Giulia having a gearbox issue, I commented saying, thats a zf gearbox, its german, dont bring out the old Alfas break chestnut. The thing that irritates me so much is the perpetuation of this disproven notion that Alfas are more unreliable than bmws, audis or mercs. Even though Alfa outperforms them on the quality studies.
The reason its Fiat group is using lower grade bosch parts and the wiring its done very bad . You have to see how its done on BMW for example. I had 2 Alfas 147 first car and Brera which was just on 70 k when i sold it and already had to rebuild the engine. The 147 was nightmare had to rebuild the gearbox 3 times and than just to change it and the engine 1 time. Lets be honest the reason you are driving italian car its bcs its dirty cheap second hand and looks good which is fine But the problem its even if you give alot more for almost new from the dealership you cant be sure of nothing
@@martintop2605 🤣🤣🤣🤣 The Bosch assertion is complete twaddle. Do you really think Bosch or Sachs would risk their reputation with second rate parts? We bought our cars new!
Than why you say you have problems with the german bits ? :)) They are different tiers of electronics , if you are customer that buy small amounth of them like Alfa you will receive the worst bages. All italian cars incl ferrari and maserati have problems with the electronics. Its some part bcs itlians dont like to look in to small details and part bcs of lack of R&D budget.
I have a 2015 Giulietta, my previous 156 & 159 were unreliable and I took a risk with the Giulietta. It broke down on the A303 with 235 miles on the clock. My first thought was here I go again. The air mass sensor cable had not been tied into the loom during manufacture and had been resting on the manifold.
Nine years on, it has just passed its MOT for the seventh time without any work being required. The only non service part I’ve had to replace was the oil filler cap, the ratchet mechanism was causing problems £14.60 to replace. It is the most reliable car I have ever owned
2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio, 62.000 km, trouble free apart from a solenoid valve in the left cylinder bank which was changed under warrantee
2023 Tonale Veloce, 8.000 km so far, trouble free
2014 Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, 45.000 km trouble free
2010 159 TBi Ti, 65.000 km, trouble free
2006 156 2.0 JTS, 52.000 km, trouble free….
I could go back even longer… but nothing can beat my brother’s 1995 model year 146 TS which he drove for 355.000 km only servicing it once a year (just like I do too).
Alfista dal cuore 🍀
147 from 1995? The Alfa 147 starts in 2001, i think you meen 145 or 146?
Indeed a typo, I meant 146 TS 😀
I have bought an early 2017 model with the 150 hp diesel and ZF gearbox with 199,000 km in Dec 2023... just to familiarize myself with these cars as I fell in love with the Giulia from the first days after its introduction. To my surprise, the interior looks fantastic, the suspension is all quiet, the engine runs perfectly fine and the car drives amazing. The only issues it has, still minor though, is the outside mirror's laquer that is peeling off, easily repairable. I have put nearly 7,000 km on it with 206,000 km right now and I cannot stop driving it. It's my first Alfa and it won't be my last Giulia.
This channel and Car Wizard channel rate Alfa Romeo and Maserati highly!
Our 2021 Giulia Ti has been trouble free for 2.5 years and 26,000 miles! Best looking, best driving car we've ever owned! Makes me smile every time I drive!
Man I wish more folks would make the effort of integrating the infotainment unit into the dash as flawlessly as it's done here.
Its the perfect balance of technology and functional buttons!
The only “problem” from the brain-dead modern consumer’s POV is that “iT’s tOo smAlL”
My Stelvio is 6 years old, very reliable!
Very good cars.
I had a Giulia for 4,5 years, bought her as nearly 2 and 1/2 years old with 55000 kms. Sold her as nearly 7 years old car with 175000kms, no major issues at all, very solid car with automatic ZF transmission and 2,2 JTD engine. Very satisified
Had a 2.2 Brera Prodrive which I sold last year at 145k miles. Over 5 years of ownership it was fantastic, never let me down, interior still solid and rattle free. A real joy to drive and trouble free to own. Made the mistake of buying a Mercedes - non-stop trouble, has broken down on me. In the first year of ownership it’s been off the road for 6 weeks between its many trips to the dealer. Never again, will be back to Alfa soon.
Good joke it made me laugh
2.2 jtd 180hp auto 205 000km
Just came back from 2000km trip and i wish tomorrow can do another one, sadly i have work to do
The main issue in this country is finding skilled mechanics!
Currently own a 2005 156 2.0 JTS Sportwagon. It’s as sweet as a nut both aesthetically and mechanically. Just passed the MOT with a couple of advisories (front brake discs and dull o/s headlight cover.)
Had the car 8 years, and it's a daily driver.
And It’s in a very rare (for a SW) in Azzurro Gabbiano blue.
Nice to see this balanced opinion of the Giulia. I’ve been unlucky with mine, it’s now out of warranty and the dashboard has lit up like a Christmas tree. I’m waiting to see if a replacement ABS sensor will fix the problem but it’s a weird one! It has also had a problem with the water pump and the battery charging circuit. To be honest this car has been the most unreliable car I’ve had since about the 1990s but I love it. Although I have lost all faith Alfa Romeo mainly due to the atrocious dealerships in the south-east of England. After nearly four years of ownership, I would recommend against buying one even though my heart says it’s a great car.
How are the petrol engines? We don't get diesel in America, not that I would want it in such a graceful car.
They are pretty good. I'll do a video on one in time.
I've owned my 5 1/2 old Giuila Veloce for 3 years & had zero issues during my ownership. Now has 34K on the clock. Car is fantastic to drive & by far the best car I have every owned. Also have a 1999 TS which has never broken down in 7 1/2 years over ownership, just under 120K miles on the clock.
Good stuff thanks for sharing
I’ve got a 2018 Giulia 2.2 with 117,000 miles on it, great car.
Image is so important in car industry donbe successful. Germans , like BMW have a very good image, "reliable ","ultimate driving machines" but that is often not the case, as a owner i dare to admit this. Technically very complicated and engines and aux appliances not the best reliability. But people keep on buying or at least lease those. Alfa is the real petrol head car for the "connoisseurs ". And Italians know how to engineer an engine that last.
In Australia and North America, the German cars have a terrible reputation for reliability! A good reputation seems more of a European and British thing. It's the Lexus/Toyota and Acura/Honda cars that have the best reputation in North America for reliability (albeit there are occasional serious faults here and there, more often a genuine error than a case of using obviously cheaply made parts like those plastic Dodge V6 oil coolers which leak or plastic VW water pump housings which leak...). 🙂
@@TassieLorenzo Hi here in Europe it's opposite. Germans cars are supposed to be premium . It's an image mainly from the past let's say 20 to 25 y ago. Where indeed German cars were better than cars produced in France . Today picture is a bit different German cars became a luxury product due to their high price point and high performance level. But statistics prove they are average or below average when it comes to reliability.
@@wimcalant8425It's not been 25 years but 35 years since Germany made better cars than France. And for most German brands early '90s were their last good years.
BMW's are crap
I have a 40 year-old X1/9. Like anything, cars need to be looked after.
People think German cars are superior. I worked in the trade. They are not. None of us would have a BMW.
X1/9 hopefully coming to the channel in a few weeks
Giulietta benzina owner here, except for having to change the brakes I haven't had any bigger service costs for my giulietta since I got her in 2016. The most important part was switching from the official dealer's mechanic to an indepentend one.
Awesome 😎
I'm about to retire my 370K mile alfa 166!
Last year turbo went, lost aircon, steering rack weared out, DMF is making weird noises and has some shot bushings, plus my past neighbours left it like a golf ball, it's a lost cause.
But guess what, i'm getting another one with only 110K miles in superb condition.
Alfas are not hard or complex to fix. In fact I find them way easier to work on them than in german cars.
They don't have 5000 control units, most faults are easily seen with some OBD testing, 99% of them are split VNT or intake hoses, stuck EGR, upper whishbones and auxiliary belt stuff.
However mechanics keep crying for silly things, like there's a hose between him and the turbo that must be removed first, or breaking four things to fix one (Just pull until it comes out no matter what).
So I became my own alfa specialist, cheaper, better.
My 22 year old 2.4jtd 156 , with 300,000km still going strong, in 10 years, it's never let me down. Cambelt change was a kick in the nuts, for sure.
I've had 3 2000s era GTV and Spider (2 Fiat Coupe turbos included) and can honestly state that the quality of components was equal to or better than some the BMW, Mercedes and VWs I worked on and owned!
Sure is true. Apart from the 159 generation lol
@@ItaliaAutos Are the 159's best avoided then? I was looking at getting a diesel one...
I owned my first Alfa for 7 yrs and covered 130,000 miles in it. It required the cam variator replacing, but other than that it only needed regular servicing, tyres and brakes. Sadly I didn’t keep my second Alfa for long enough to form an opinion on its longevity - I changed job and that came with a company car. My current Alfa is 13 yrs old, and is just coming up to 130,000 miles - I’ve had it for 4 years, and so far have replaced a thermostat housing, EGR valve, front shocks, and a wheel bearing…..other than that it’s been service items. I think that’s decent going for a supposedly ‘unreliable’ Italian car maker.
Been looking at these lately such a great looking car, thinking about getting the 280bhp 2.0. My Mito was 12 years old and one of the most reliable cars i've had in 20 years of driving (other than the power steering trying to kill me in winter cutting out) which is partly the reason i'm now on my second Abarth. In recent years the "unreliable Alfas" is nonsense really, I'd still have one over a VAG any day.
And in the background - Alfa 147... i'm looking forward to get mine 18 years one back from body-workshop to have a good time... 🤗
Great to see a what a great car we all know the giulia really is just a shame you don't see many on the roads but when you do they still stand out from all the German cars by a mile ! Definitely my next car after my 159, great video Neal look forward to the next one
I do love a Giulia.
I miss my 159, should never of sold it😢
Yeah it is a good platform, Alfa missed a trick not using the platform more, they should have made an estate, coupe and convertible
159 or Brera models have many faults. Front Subframes rot out too easily due to bad design and water intake or positioning of the A/C leak off pipe which fills the subframe with water. , rear trailing arms rust away, sills corroded away, coil springs break,
@@Hali88 It's not wasted, the Giorgio platform is used for the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer as well. I guess unprofitable body styles like estates, coupes, convertibles are not of interest to the company compared to SUVs. Heck Alfa Romeo don't either bother to make a hatchback anymore! It is the strictly the more saleable Tonale CUV only. IMO, Alfa (and Fiat and Dodge and Chrysler) having huge gaps in their product lineup and stopping models with no replacement is unwise.
Any Alfa after the MiTo (including) are on par if not better than most brands in terms of reliability.
If I had an Alfa specialist like you local to me I would have one in a shot !
Thanks
I'd like a mech like you near me Neil.Well done..
I agree, my stelvio 2.2 td has 250.000 km trouble free (only oil pump after 200.000 km), my second Stelvio 2.2 td has 50.000 km trouble free of course, and the second car is a Tonale trouble free. after ten years of BMW these Alfa confirm the quality of the brand.
"IF" Americans were any smart they would be buying these cars like candy. FACTS
Sure would.
*IF* alfa had any kind of market presence worth mentioning in the US they would
Americans buy huge V8 trucks not fast Alfas.
It's FCA's own fault that the Dodge Dart was marketed as a Dodge and not as the Alfa Giulietta sedan, likewise the Fiat 124 Abarth not being an Alfa Romeo Spider. IMO the "made in Italy only" requirement was dumb, who cares if Alfas are made in the United States and Japan? Having the Giulia as the entry-level model was too expensive of an entry point to build Alfa Romeo market share IMO. Unfortunately not all that many Dodge Jeep Ram Chrysler dealers in North America actually carry Alfa Romeo (or FIAT) AFAIK, it's hard to build market share if you don't have a dealer presence.
I've had my giulia veloce for 4 years now and love it. No issues at all, I've had lots of alfas in the past, also had 2 bmws and audis, not as reliable as my alfa. Look after it and it will look after you.
My best car ever, alfa 155. Lpg no problems att all. Drove 345.000 km. No rust at all. 2.0ltr.
I had a 156 with 320k km on it bought it when it had 50k km on the dash.. Never had any issues.. Always waited with pushing the engine till it was on temperature.. Did my maintenance in time and to be fair enjoyed that car big time.. Went from the 156 to a Saab 9-5 and now a vw touareg.. But kinda tempted to go back to alfa again because i still like them when i see them driving around
I don't Understand how some Alfa Owners can hold their Cars so dirty especially under the Car, the First thing a do when a buy A Car
a make a treatment under the Car Subframes and Wheel Holders frames etc. Spray it whit Color Matt to protect it . Yes and it works amazing
my Alfa 147 ti is from 2006 looks like just 4 years under the Car . The Protection layer has protected the Frames from Corrosions 😘
Had one of the original Mitos. Drove 500m from the dealer and had to drive straight back. The heated seats were wired up wrong.
In short we had 2 gearboxes, 2 resprays, 3 lots of suspension and a set of replacement window wipers.
But we loved it!!
Had my 156 from brand new for 5 years when they first came out. Beautiful car and never missed a beat.
great video, will use it as reference when buying and inspecting a used Giulia :) Thank you
Good stuff. Thanks for watching
one leak is fantastic. My N55 powered BMW has the "forever leaky" factory option 😝
Oh dear lol
Some diesel versions have a problem with low oil pressure and lose bolts on oil pump. I dont know how common that is.
Myself i have Veloce 2.0 petrol. Runs good so far. Fun car. Had to change the factory battery tho.
It's not a common fault.
My father had an Alfasud. He did 250.000 kms in it and he only replaced perishable parts, but it's true that they rust like crazy.
A friend of mine has an Alfa Romeo 147 and he says that if you service the engine regularly and don't thrash the car, it's very reliable.
Can’t thank Neil enough for servicing my Giulia Speciale and doing this check over vid 👍 highly recommend and thankful to have such a reliable Alfa specialist local to me
Cheers mate!
Great to hear! the video has gone down well.
Had my Guilia for a year and swapped out for a Masarati Ghibli as I fancied a change,probably go back to a Guilia IF..!!I can find one with the tan interior…👍
Yes, love the tan interior on a Giulia!
Aren't you enjoying the Ghibli ownership, Sir? Any issues? Is it much more expensive than Giulia's?
@@palandi the Ghibli is lovely ,bit more of a tourer than the Guilia but such a nice place to sit..tail happy in the wet though…😳😳😳
This was a great video Neal.
Would be really awesome if you can do the same thing with a Giulia Quad, and this time dive a bit into the mechanicals of the engine, what tends to go wrong with the power train after X miles and what to look out for in tes of wear and preventative maintenance.👍
Great suggestion! have you seen my old quad videos.
My most reliable car ever was an Alfa 156 V6 which I drove for many years. My least reliable car ever was an Audi TT which I disposed of after 12 months. I haven't owned a Giulia yet, but I'm tempted.
Awesome video...Thinking of getting a Giulia Veloce 2024 in Florida. I still have my Alfa Spider Veloce 1976 189,000 miles daily driver when weather permits and just putting around locally no more highway driving people are horrible drivers and it has no safety modern features. A keeper for sure!!!
Who cares if they are reliable, they are Alfas! I had a 156 for two years as a Company rep mobile. Brilliant drive, only had to replace front suspension arms which wasn't expensive. Excellent 1.8 litre twin spark petrol engine. The company sold it to an enthusiast.
I think I'd still have my 1983 1.5 Ti Alfasud had I not totalled it in 1997. It was rustproofed by the initial owner and totally rust free.
Great video and fantastic timing. After having had a 916 for the last 17 years, i am looking to add a 2022/23 Veloce or Competizione as the "family" car to keep for the long run. So tempted by an older quad but frightened by running costs.
I own a Stelvio, bought 2 year's old with 24.000 km now 3 years later 75.000 km. Only thing i had an issue with is a leak from the rear outputshaft from the transmission that's sweating. Thats going to be a pain to repear but it such a incredible car to drive and realy underappreciated by manny people. nice work on all the cars you do and thanks for the great content
My 2011 Giulietta is still in near perfect condition, no rust whatsoever has 185k kms on it now. Only regular maintenenance, oil, filters, brakes, cam belts etc. no big repair jobs necessary until now. The most reliable car I ever owned, and I had a few.
2018 stelvio 60k . Replaced battery.. runs amazing
Thanks for the report. So many assume they are unreliable and as we owners know, That is not true.
I have a 2010 159 TBi and it's been flawless mechanically. The only thing that broke was the retractable cigarette lighter in the cup holder cubby. And even then, it just pops out of its socket when opened, it still closes fine.
Ty, very detailed.
Is the oil segregator clogging common on Petrol Giulias cars?
Thanks for the video!
Hey Neil, it wouldn't hurt would it a dab of silicone spray in rubber bushings every now and then in cars above 5-7 years old, correct?
I have had 13 Alfa's and never had a major problem with any of them ...if you look after them then they will look after you
Yeah the old "alfa sud" trope is usually what your typical german car buyer would refer to......usually based on zero facts but probably snobbery.
Hear it sill most weeks
Great review, my Stelvio is 5 years old and have no problems whatsoever, I actually bought this car after leasing it for 4 years, no regrets at all.
My sister in law has owned her 2013 Gulietta since new and has done 130k miles in it. Apart from a faulty drivers electric window, replaced under warranty, no problems.
Great video - quite fancy a petrol one as it happens after the Giulietta
Mine is 2018 Giulia, AWD, 2,2 diesel with 260 000 km. And I live in Finland(yeah, the winter). No major issues
…2019 Giulia Veloce, Q4, 60T miles, always properly serviced as Alfa suggests. It is still in mint condition, no whatsoever issues, no breakdowns, no noises, handles like on the first day! Before I‘ve had 14 BMWs, and I was a real Beamer fanboy! But this Italian design queen has proven to be THE best car I have ever driven. And that includes my experiences from before the turn of the millennium, when BMW took far more pride and effort to be way better than "the rest of the gang“! I take a deep bow towards Alfa engineering! What a beautiful and overwhelmingly fun to drive car!
Had 3 147 Alfa's now since 2001 never had a problem on any of them. After years of company cars now looking to get a low mileage 147 for fun again. Lovely little cars
already if there is no rust it is because it is very resistant to the English climate, besides many other brands it is the opposite the rust is back!
How much should I expect to pay from an indy for my 36k big belts service on my quad pls mate ?? 2018 model and had it 3yrs now, not a single problem at all :) Love it
Mine is a 2020 Ti Sport Carbon (Veloce Ti overseas) with 60k miles. Bought it when it had 38k miles as the second owner, no major issues at all. The only thing that has happened is when the car got closer to 50k miles, a valve in the EVAP system gets stuck closed and will throw the CE light on, it'll happen randomly nowadays but it DOES NOT mess with the drivability at all. A quick use of the OBD scanner to clear the code and it's good to go. Rather just use that than spend hundreds to fix a small issue, so it doesn't bother me but everyone's different.
Brilliant vid. I am looking at buying a Stelvio, just so different style wise from the German options. Always the historic niggle about rust and reliability, you have just shown how far Alpha have come with their current range. Only problem with the Stelvio is they are rare and hard to find!
Until you find one, if you like it, go and buy it. It was properly engineered to beat competitors in its segment. Today cars are becoming cheaper built unfortunately
Had my Giulia just over 2 years now, 15000 miles, not a single fault with it so far, this video made me feel even better about it.
I love Alfa a lot, but my 2014 Lexus CT200h has 200K miles on it and looks just like this one in terms of wear.
I had one of the last Lancia Kappa Coupe 3.0V6 24V from 2001. Never had any problems except with the adaptive Kayaba shocks on the front. They started leaking at approx. 100.000 kms. Quite a hefty bill. The new shocks had the same problem but were replaced under warranty. And the front wiper control unit stopped working while it was raining. One of the water spray hoses came loose and flooded the control unit. Also an expensive replacement. Everything worked well, paint was good (no rust whatsoever). I have seen worse German cars from that age.
Ive had mine nearly 3 years now, its been equisite, its comfortable, well screwed togeter and a pleasure to drive, its a 21 Veloce in misano blue with tan leather and 19" petal wheels, its perfect imo 😍
I will oder veloce misano blue soon! Perfect color. 2.0 280 HP.
well ,as my 460.000 km alfa 147 , and my 270.000 km alfa 159 would say , "just love me and ill love you"
2002 156 GTA, my daily driver, has now done 267,000km, including over 45,000km by me in the two and a bit years I've had it. Apart from minor paint blemishes no one would think it was 22 years old.
Bought a 2012 Giulietta last October, did 10 000 kms so far, no issues to report
I have a 20 year old Alfa 147 since new, it's just turned over 207,000 Klms. Apart from timing belt and water pump changes, at the prescribed mileage, it had the clutch replaced after 201,000 Klms. Nothing else at all. Also a 2014 Giulietta 1.7 litre turbo, it also runs perfectly. Nothing replaced apart from timing belt and water pump when due. They are very reliable cars, they handle beautifully and look great.
Thinking about trading my Forme for for a Giulia, just asking how is the sound system in it, does it sound decent?
Good to know. I have two Jaguars, a 2006 XJ8 and a 2016 F-Type 3.0. Jaguars have a bad reputation but mine are fine, everything on them works fine and the quality of their components is excellent.
The exhaust tailpipes still have some shine to them.
I’m convinced. Shut up and take my money 💰
It's a diesel normally covered in soot.
How good is this video? Fantastic detail and what a great looking car that Giulia is. My future car once im over the Jag XF
It looks in better condition underneath than my 7 year old 50,000 miles VW Golf GTI. Previous to the golf we had a Giulietta and apart from average handling and a very cheap feeling interior that was a great car. No rust issues on that either despite being 13 years old when it was sold.
I own a 2020 Giulia Ti and its the best sedan I ever had. I look forward to driving it everytime! It is a joy to put it to its paces, specially on winding roads. Drives better then a bmw 330m.
Veloce owner from NEW 2017 44,000 miles no issues and very reliable. Love my car!
Good long term review
We are on our 3rd, a guilletta a guilia and now a stelvio……no issues apart from the washer pump on the stelvio
Always happy to see a Neil vid ☕️ 🚗 #alfa #youtube
Cheers.
Loved my 2.2 speciale .alfa white and red leather .only criticism was how low the front was it caught a lot on on my fairly low kerb.i only changed it because we went to a stelvio for motor practicality for the grandkids .miss it though.i will buy another but maybe the veloce .
Agree with you on this, proving a bit of a nightmare having to navigate around certain roads with newer sleeping policeman, but the comments I get for overall looks when all clean and tidy help a little!
I had a Stelvio and loved it, unfortunately after taking it through a car wash with under body spray the car went into limp mode, they had to do repairs to exposed wires. That was the start of the problems. After 5 trips back for wiring repairs I sold the vehicle. I have never been more disappointed because it was the best driving car I have ever owned.
Oh dear not good
My Mrs has a 2014 Giulietta JTDM-2 and its fantastic. It's ticked over 165,000 miles and the only thing it really needed were a new set of clutches for the TCT gearbox at 149,000.
Currently chasing an issue of suspension knock when going over bumpy roads, changed the wishbones and links but the noise is still there. Any ideas?
If its rearvit will need bushes on the rear hub
1983 Alfa 33 bought in 1991 was crusty beyond salvation. Glad they are doing better now.
The Giulia is a beautiful car, I was looking for one in 2016 but ended up with buying a one owner 2006 Mercedes-Benz E320, I traded that in for a 2000 Mecrury Grand Marquis in 2018 and that car has basically been 100% reliable just the basic oil changes etc.
But every once in a while I speculate of getting a Giulia, one of the main concerns is is it going to be reliable and also in the basic models there is no naturally aspirated V6 or V8 available... But I am still considering!
I bought a brand new Alfa Romeo Giulietta back in 2016 and in six of motoring it NEVER missed a beat. Original exhaust and battery, original brake pads. Everything was still tight and everything worked perfectly, absolutely no rust at all Great car, sorry to see it go!!😂😂🇬🇧
I have the Veloce Diesel 01/17 with 150kkm, I use the Giulia for long distance traveling. Very comfortable and so stunning 🤌
The only issue was the rear window heater that's it 👍
Try to reach the million mark 😁
Rear window is a common fault. Thanks for watching
Ive wnated 1 of theses since they 1st came out, price is dropping so hopefully ill be able to afford 1 maybe this year
I'd love one but I just don't need a big car. I wish Alfa had done a new Giulietta QV or GTV.
I had a 156 veloce for 5 years … only issue I had was a single drop link 🤷🏻♂️