Alfa Romeo SZ review. What's this 152mph Alfa really like to drive?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2020
- The Alfa Romeo SZ was launched at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show and immediately divided opinion thanks to its challenging looks but with a 210bhp V6 engine and RWD, it soon won over enthusiast's hearts. Thirty years on, does it ultra rare Alfa still have the same appeal? Find out here..
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When I saw this car the first time on the Geneva Motor Show in 1989 I ordered 1 when back in Holland. After 3 years of waiting and many visits to the Zagato factory I collected the one Harry tested.This SZ never saw rain during my 25 years of ownership. Highly recommended ! Rob
That what I would call successful asset liquidation. :)
Lol. That's probably why it's still in one piece! Appalling handling, terrifying snap oversteer, especially in the wet. Most of them have waved goodbye to dear old Blighty, usually after disappearing off the road, usually backwards, with the horror-stricken drivers frozen look of disbelief etched on their face!
Holy shit. Rob van dam
bugattieb110ss I doubt you’ve ever owned one. Or driven it
Mag ik eens mee rijden? Heb zelf een 75 gehad, was duur om te rijden, maar wel erg van genoten!
This car has two of my personal favourite traits: it's a crazy, unreasonable car from the late 80s and it's an Alfa Romeo.
you basically said the same thing twice lol
so you are an Italian that loves ugly cars
@@saidalas7763 ugly to you*
I didn't care what anyone said, when this car was launched, I loved it then and I still love it now. It was just such a daring and different look, I thought it was amazing looking machine. As for that engine too, the Alfa V6 from that era is one of the best sounding engines of all time.
Thanks for reminding me of this car Harry.
One of my absolute favorite cars of all time. Whenever people call them ugly I just say "yep" in the hopes that prices won't skyrocket before I get a chance to buy one
The way car design has evolved over the last years, the SZ has rather grown on me.
@Viktor Sligo the 75 is a beautiful wedge, this one is an ugly wedge.
That said, i've always liked many of the individual design elements of the SZ, and i think it looks great from the front and the back. From the sides it looks like a dodgem, or a cartoon car or something. Eew.
Viktor Sligo opssospzsa
I was 14 when these were released. I thought they were fantastic then and still do now. Got one parked up in my dream garage 😁
One of my favourites as well.
in my dream garage, it is parked between my Lancia Stratos and BMW 2002 Turbo.
You are still 14 now
@Howard Hamlin excellent
You could have bought it on the "cheap" 20 years ago. ;)
Alfa SZ is ageing so well, well ahead of its time and if you look at this along side the Alfa Romeo Zagato Junior you can understand it’s proportions !
I hated this car until I saw it in a dealer showroom, from then on, I have loved it!
For a long time i was thinking abojt buying a Giulia perhaps some time in the future when it's aged and upgraded. I went to a car dealer about to buy a merc but i saw a Giulia there and i literally fell in love and had to buy it.
It was the same feeling as when there is a big time rockstar or a beautiful model in the same space as you, it just popped out from the mass...
I 100% agree, it is a car that looks way WAY better in the flesh than on video or in pictures. A guy in the next village to me had one and driving past it was STUNNING.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL
I saw one for sale, many years ago, in a small carsales showroom, in Kew, London.
Why oh Why do manufacturers not have the confidence to design something as radical as this,
Just love the looks of the thing.
Oh my God a simply sublime Harry review.
This thing looks wicked in my eyes. Pure 90s styling in the best way
80s*
More like mid-late 80s.
Finally Harry driving the legendary Busso!
Good choice Harry. When I made a video about an SZ I thought it would get a load of views, and yet it is one of my least popular episodes!
can't get enough content on the SZ / RZ, what I'd give for a couple of hours just to photograph one
I dunno if You will see this comment, but I think a large part of that, was due to the thumbnail, u need the bright car to be centre stage and clear and maybe switch up the title!👌
It’s both ugly and beautiful at the same time. Incredibly unique and for that reason I love it.
like all Zagatos?
Like Bull Terriers
@@treyquattro No, like for most Zagatos the eras pass away and their cars become more younger and actual than the others; but this one wasn't drowed by Zagato
The French have a term for that: "jolie laide".
To appreciate beauty of the unique, the imperfect, the unusual , etc.
It's just different.
9:27 sourced SZ wheel from the shop in Germany. Fun fact, Honda used Zagato designed Momo made wheel on NSX Type S. Exactly the same wheel.
Same with spoon mugen wheels
Its been a long time coming for a decent TH-cam review of this wonderful motor car. I'm biased, as I now own one, and I can testify to the accuracy of Harry's assessment. It ain't quick by modern day standards, but in one sense that's its great advantage as on the road it FEELS quick and you can happily row it along as it handles rough road surfaces, tightening corners, accompanied to the best engine and exhaust tone this side of a Ferrari. Its also remarkably refined on motorways with very little wind noise being so slippery. Drawbacks? Long armed short leg seating position, but you get used to it, and the brakes feel their vintage. I've used mine for several European road trips and it makes a great GT. They're roughly the same price now as when they were launched 30 years ago - and the radical styling still looks contemporary. Arguably, with all the speed cameras on the road, the package is even more relevant now....
Harry ought to buy it, right?
One of my favorite cars ever - there was one for sale here in California recently for $90k..... A worthy successor to the GTV6 - one of which I had - pretty much the same suspension (deDion with rear triangle/center bushing & engine) but what a body.
I bloody love these. I remember vividly where one used to park in the early 2000s and I used to detour to drive by it when I was in the area. They do have an exotic feel, and in that condition with those miles I'm astonished it's only £60ks...
It's not my preference with respect to looks, but Harry's dissection of all of the features and historical context makes for an engaging video, as always!
Also the videos are always >50% driving of the car, with commentary from a man who knows his stuff, and yet Doug DeMuro's squealing about the lining of the glovebox gets 10x the views. Says plenty about motoring "enthusiasts".
@@davidedney2323 Aaaaargh, PLEASE do not mention this name, the one we, enthousisats, should never say !
David Edney And now its time to give this car a Harry Score......
Only Alfa could have the balls to make something so ridiculous looking, and yet so loveable. Once seen it's a car that can never be forgotten. It pushes your design thinking to its limits and, as always with cars so extreme, future cars took styling cues from it. And who else makes V6 engines sound so delightful. Really enjoyed this video Harry. Thanks
Lovable?
It’s both ugly and slow so not sure exactly why it would be lovable
It’s literally the first Meme Car
It's ALFAantastic. The V6 is a dream. The looks - hm, COOL! Love this car!
I've always had a soft-spot for the SZ, it's quite genuinely one of my favourite Alfas.
Very important bit of input, where your soft spots lay.
Oh yes. One of my favorite car. So bizarre ,so unique , so much love it.
God this car sounds perfect. Music to my ears!
Fell in love with these when they used one for advertising Clarion car stereos in the car magazines back in the day, absolutely gorgeous.... one day ❤😍
Stunning vehicle. I’m sure the front end was the inspiration for the later 159.
Paint finish like a welder's bench
Bad times, grounding out a 5k miles minter!! Great to see a Busso V6 on the channel, that distinctive sound won't be heard of again in modern design. I'll keep hold of my Busso for as long as possible. The SZ would be a dream garage car for sure, it's inboard brakes blow my mind however!!
Negativvv all transaxle rear drive Alfas of that era had inboard rear brakes. Most were solid, not vented like those on the SZ.
Yeah I did some reading after and noticed the 75 had inboard too. Last era where brakes were not all wheel mounted I suppose. Must be an utter pain in the backside when the discs start to go... I did read some suggestion that braking is better when it's inboard but that seems to be less important than ease of access these days or the difference is so small that it isn't worth the pain.
Amazing beautiful car 🚗
When it came out, this car graced the front of all the magazines for months, maybe years.
It was beautiful then an beautiful now.
Better than Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche and Lamborghini from 30 years ago.
Good video 📹 thanks 😊
"the world needs more great alfas"
i think that's why even though the company history is full of bad decisions, a ruthless corporate like marchionne still decided to pour money into an alfa revival.
When you're run by the mafia, money is no issue
@Lassi Kinnunen They always half-ass it and never quite make the investment the brand needs, actually.
The new Giulia is exactly what the brand has needed for the past 20 or 30 years. The Stelvio too, although I loathe SUVs it's what the market wants. Now they need a new Giulietta that's actually good and not an upjumped Fiat and they're on the right track.
Spending *a little* money on Alfa and ending up with products like the Brera, which is supposed to be a sporty coupe but they made it with basically a Vauxhall chassis and a GM engine to cut costs, is what was killing it.
As per Clarkson, real petrol heads own an Alfa.......though TG admitted the pain of ownership is real! I wish there was a dealer in NWA AR , would take the risk on Giulia.
In a parallel universe, Alfa and Lancia would be BMW and AUDI but I guess in this world they did not fit the profile. For those who say Alfa where rebadged FIAT's in the 90's and 00's too me, they are very very wrong. even 147 were miles better in corners than any car of its day. They were engineered to be so.
@Lassi Kinnunen perfect reliable cars when correctly manutentioned by real (professional) mechanincs
Bottoming out a mint Alfa at speed... with a priceless reaction 🤣
Gotta love the man's lifestyle....
The moment Harry realises he’s just bought it (if you break it you pay for it!).
Lol
I think they way he was caning it and his muted reaction to bottoming out suggests he has decided to buy it!
You'll get over it..
Thanks Harry, I've got one parked up in my garage been waiting for this review for a long time. Spot on as always.
This car was one of my favourite ever cars. Just to let you know how special it was/is, a business colleague and I drove one from Yorkshire to Rimini and it was absolutely superb. We got stopped by the police on the autostrada just outside Bolgna and the only reason they stopped us was to look at the car. Bonnet up, full walk around etc. They spoke no English and we spoke no Italian but we understood perfectly that we each respected the car and the manufacturer.
If I had the money these days I would have another immediately.
been waiting for another Alfa review, and this was just perfect, love this car
Life’s too short, swap the Esprit for the Sz change the exhaust and do a road trip to Italy. Great video as usual.👍
liking the over the shoulder camera angle. Thanks for the review. Love the SZ's!
Absolutely my favourite car in terms of style, I had the chance to buy one for 13gs back in the day and passed. Not one of my best decisions
Great review Harry - ES30 SZ has always been so special. Love seeing them at the Alfa Romeo Owners Club shows.
Love it; owning one since six years. Still fairly quick, corners nicely, and simply a cool ride. The pump in the trunk is for the front lift, indeed similar to modern days Lambos. But it’s not to change the suspension, it’s really just for ground clearance.Btw, these cars are currently a bargain!
That rear camera shot as you were hurtling along is really great! Love it!
This is one of my dream cars. I remember when it came out. I saw one go by once on a trip to Europe. Thanks.
A windscreen replacement itself should cost a fortune. This is Citroen crazy design level here
No suprise.. Robert Opron was involved!
Richard Kelbe they an be purchased through specialist.
Ah! I wondered why I like it. Wouldn't spend 60k on it. It's not 55k better than my 96 3.0 GTV.
75 quid if your fully comp lol
There are companies that do vinyl protectors for windscreens that would prevent damage. So I'd of thought you fit something like that.
Took me about 20 years, but it's starting to grow on me.
Fantastic start to the video!!!
I remember these when they were first announced back in the day. Still a wonderful looking car today.
I’d say it would be a good shout to add this into your collection Harry. You are definitely tempted I can tell 😃
Great video - looks like a good example, driven properly! Surprised to see my own RZ making a guest appearance too!
That must've been pretty fucking cool. :-8
il Mostro! God, what a car! 30+ years later, and it’s still a stunner. Thank you, Harry
Thank you Harry. Unbelievably, I’ve spent the weekend trolling back through TH-cam looking for videos on the SZ and, while there are a few good ones, there aren’t that many. I was wishing that there was a Harry’s Garage review. Then my wish came true this morning when my TH-cam notification popped up. Amazing. I hope you do buy it so it can be in the background in all your videos. There is one for sale in Australia at the moment that I am dreaming about because, as you say, what a special car to own. Thanks again for the wonderful review of such an amazing and significant car.
Always loved it for its whackiness, that front is just epic
Back in the late 90s/early 2000s when the Delta integrale and SZ became my realistic dream cars once they were 25 years old and allowed to be imported to the US, they looked like they would be affordable. 26 years came and went, and I was wrong. Still, I love the way the SZ looks and sounds.
Your reviews are world class Harry - thanks for keeping the channel up also in these strange times!
Harry, your knowledge on cars is just stunning. You have forgotten more than I’ll ever know. Luv your no nonsense, honest review of the cars on your channel. One of the best all cars channels on TH-cam😎
I must remember not to tell my wife she has a “distinctive” face.
Zagato designs rarely look good on camera.
Brave Man if you do!
Hi Charles!
calicostrawberry Oh, hello!
Lol!
I love the SZ. I remember driving one around Wimbledon with a chum of mine who was an Alfa dealer in 1990. That's a great engine/chassis. I later owned a GTV6 and 75 because of it. Best noise of any car, until I got an F355.
This was on my wish list for so long. Had the chance to buy one when they were sub £30k and am still kicking myself about it. Epic - thanks for the vid Harry..!
Amazing design that has improved with age. Thanks Harry.
It's absolutely magnificent looking
Just wanted to say I love these reviews and share the fact that I once saw one of these but had completely forgotten.
I went to share this video with my dad, and despite having watched the video, it wasn’t till I pasted the link over to him that I got the memory back. We were sat in a cafe in Spain, it was a really sunny evening next to a little road. I would have been about four and one of these parked right in front of us. We both agreed that it was ugly and then sat there staring at it for half an hour anyway.
Loved the design on this Alfa since day one, motor sounds so good! Great vid Harry, thank you.
Love these things. A real concrete block of a car. Like the EB110, BMW Z1, or Nascar Luminas. Not everything has to be sleek and pretty to be iconic.
When they relesed it I thought it was horrid. Now it looks kinda nice actually.
No wonder...with today's maxed out flashy design language car manufacturers have... up untill 2000 were pure elegance:)) in many cases :))
Considering most, if not all, Alfas introduced after '77 weren't exactly eye catching, I don't see what everyone was complaining so hard about... It's quite fetching
It looks like a big CRX
Yea I agree. I Rememeber seeing one behind park Lane in the late 90s or early 0s and asking my dad why it looks so boxy and who would buy that
But it actually looks quite nice now
I think it's still ugly but it's fantastic at the same time! I would have one for sure!
The SZ had not long been released and I was at upper school. I am now in my 40s. Chris Packham of springwatch fame ( the really wIld show) came to our school to do a talk on wildlife and he arrived in an SZ . Chris and that car became legends to me that day. Still love the look of that car as much to day as I did then. Thanks for the review Harry. Fantastic!
That paintwork!.. Detailer's heaven... Thx Harry!
In my top 20 cars. Used to see a guy driving one of these to work daily. I used to give him a wave just because...and at a similar time my Dad had a 75 3.0 Veloce so was brand loyal.
The front profile reminds me of the bmw 8 series from the same era.
Harry, I really like the camera angle you've got going on at 14:56 in the video. I think it captures the spirit of the drive so well. Keep up the great work!
My all time favourite Alfa Romeo, fantastic video, Thanks Harry
Great vid, great car. Whilst it’s ‘slow’ by today’s standards, for me I think it’s perfect performance for a road car. Listening to it being wrung out as Harry pulls away, it’s a beautiful V6 howl but also just the right speed of manual shift. Enough of a break during the shift to really enjoy the next gear when it comes. Not the bah/bah/bah of modem seamless etc. Massive 👍
😁 right!
This is one of the greatest Alfa’s Harry just get it!!!
Don’t even think about it
Yup, this thing will only skyrocket in price like the Delta Integrale. Oooh imagine those two in your garage?!
Vince de Simone, it’s already priced at the level of a Delta Evo II. 60k Euros...
@@Vincenzo-wn1or It has already skyrocked in price.
I just love these - thanks for reviewing one Harry.
Thank you for the video Harry!
Since I saw this car on the Cover of Road & Track I fell in love, now that I have the chance to listen to the engine I love the car even more! It's a privilege to drive a machine like this SZ!
Always loved these when I was growing up in the 90s. Definitely one on my dream ugly/beautiful car garage list - along with the Aston V8 Zagato and a Bristol Beaufighter.
When i used to live in Wallington,which i presume is now classed as South London,a bloke who owned a restaurant there had one of these and i thought back then what a lovely looking car,nothing's changed,still looks gorgeous.
The best honest reviews anywhere ...great stuff Harry 👍
Go on Harry, buy it. We'll all love you for it. I remember the Car mag article at the time. It looked nuts then but sort of works now. A truly cool car. Thanks very much.
Loved il monstro since it came out. It always was in my list of cars to bought when my lottery numbers came up. Would also have the RZ
Something about the shape of the windscreen puts me in mind of the Stratos
Always loved the look and sound of these. I had a 3 litre 75 back in the day and always loved the noise that made too. Definitely special.
Love the camera angle from behind the seats. It gives a fantastic view of the road and sense of speed.
Really like the Group B Quattro vibe with the SZ.
Go on Harry you know you want to and then take it on the Mille Miglia spectator tour again.
The material was called MODAR developed with ICI
And Modar is assembled with glue who smells after some time...especially when car is exposed to sun for some time
Why was it used if it is not lighter than metal?
@@schumifannreins295 Probably cheaper for a low production run. Building the tooling to press metal panels is very expensive. You can also do sharp radius edges more easily in composite than steel.
@@timc5969 Thanks.
"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion." Never does that phrase ring truer than when I'm looking at this car. A truly superb and quintessentially Italian dream car.
Wonderful reviews Harry
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Metcalfes latest acquisition 😁😁
It's an Alfa, that really is all that needs to matter here 😂 Weird but great unique looking machine.
Thanks Harry for upload this video on my Birthday!
Great video, Harry. Love the way these look.
Liked the section looking at the car from underneath, always gives an interesting perspective. Mark on the Savagegeese channel has been doing it for a while, putting the car up on the lift and talking through it's design and use of materials. Would love to see more nerdy things like this. 👌
Like many of us, I don't think Harry's seen a barber for 4 months.
RufusT9 just had my first cut last week here in the states.
They don't call him Harry for nothing.
For those who think it’s ugly, I think the convertible is even worse! Love the interior and the wheels...oh and the engine. I wonder what Pininfarina thought of it.
The RZ doesn’t work IMHO...but the SZ does.
Funny. I always preferred the RZ.
@@richardhoulton4016 the SZ's slanted roofline and tasteful spoiler really complete the look of this car!
Brilliant car. I remember seeing a convertible version in yellow when I was a kid, looked absolutely stunning.
One of the best cars ever made! 80's race car turned exotic sports car. The design is so original, a bit cyber-punk like it belongs in the movie Akira, dodging bullets through the streets of Neo-Tokyo
Very rare and very expensive car. I wish to see a video with Lotus Omega, Renault Safrane Biturbo or other special cars from 90's.
The Safrane Biturbo. We didn't get that spec in the UK. I remember pics of it from articles. Yes, would be a very interesting road test.
Wasn't Safrane biturbo the one with yet another engine borrowed from Nissan, the RB26DETT this time? I know Renault borrowed VG30DE and SR20 for hot Clio variants..
@@Leonidae The Safrane Biturbo has a PRV V6 engine. (Jointly developed by Peugeot, Renault and Volvo which gives the acronym). Safrane Biturbo has the same engine as in Alpine GTA Turbo, but further developed. The base engine, naturally aspirated, was also used in Renault 25, Volvo 760, Citroen XM, Peugeot 605, and many others. No Nissan connection with this one.
Whistler loves you.
From the moment the sz was seen in car magazine’s It was a car of my dreams and I still love it. I’ve always been a Alfa lover from my first sud ❤️ great video 😊
Utterly beautiful. Incredible that this was produced in 1989! I'd forgotten about this one, and how it just blew my mind back in the day. Absolutely nothing else like it.
Almost perfect timing given Alfa Romeo is 110 on the 24th🎂😎
That whole front end actually reminds me heavily of the 155, although somehow it looks several years newer
Never thought about that before, but it might explain why I own both :)
Thanks Harry. Once again a great video.
Always loved these, was surprised how compact they were when I saw one in person.
Hope all is well on the Farm Harry, glad there was finally some decent rain (not too much I hope!)
Please do some more old lancias I’d love to see a flammina Zagato and a flavia