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RobotBoogie November 18, 2008 3:54 PM

I'd place a wager that what the Mito really needs is not chassis input from Lotus but build quality input from someone who knows how to engineer a car that lasts more than a couple of years. Alfas - and often Fiats, too - remain heart rather than head decisions.

robk77 November 18, 2008 4:22 PM

How much longer do these stereotypical remarks about Italian cars have to persist? I see more VWs and BMWs broken down at the side of the road these days.

I've had my Fiat Grande Punto for almost three years and it feels as good as when it was new. Has been totally reliable the whole time despite a 70 mile daily commute up and down the M6 and along rough country roads. I've a lot of faith that the Mito's better material quality will stand it in very good stead in this respect.

Chas Hallett. November 18, 2008 4:30 PM

I agree robk77. Fiat Puntos now have rather good warranty records. This Alfa Mito felt extremely well put together. All of the bits that you see and touch felt extremely high quality. Don't forget that the original BMW Mini was hardly a paragon of reliability - although admittedly they ironed out quite a few of the flaws during its life.

phenergn November 18, 2008 4:43 PM

"I see more VWs and BMWs broken down at the side of the road these days."

Hardly conclusive since VW sell 3.3 times as many cars as Fiat, and BMW sell 16.6 times as many cars as Alfa (SMMT figures for 2007). Bound to see more of them really.

TegTypeR November 18, 2008 4:57 PM

Why Lotus Chas?

I know they are the recognised guru's of ride and handling, but surely a Prodrive version (aka Brera) with the current links would be just as good.  

Now there's a thought!

Chas Hallett. November 18, 2008 5:53 PM

I'd just fancy a Lotus-tuned Mito more. We weren't exactly blown away by the Prodrive Brera. Then again the starting point isn't up to much...

Ubizzle November 18, 2008 7:12 PM

I'd love there to be available upgrades, though to the Mito.

I've heard from some who have driven it, that they are shocked at how WELL it rides, especiall considering the mini's terrible.

However, if there is an upgrade, I'll gladly take it on my Mito, as i doubt it's gonna happen in the 2months before mine is built. Hehe

theop November 18, 2008 7:31 PM

"I see more VWs and BMWs broken down at the side of the road these days."

Hardly conclusive since VW sell 3.3 times as many cars as Fiat, and BMW sell 16.6 times as many cars as Alfa (SMMT figures for 2007). Bound to see more of them really.

Agred on this too.

And I think Italian stereotypical remarks nowadays concern build quality and finish rather than reliability. Most cars are after all assembled from components made in a dozen suppliying factories. We just do not want to know that whoever makes the windscreen wipers of Ferrari 599 is also making Punto's.

On the material quality things are also impoved from Italy - more often than not you see quite better material (leather quality for one example is famously better in a 8yo Alfa 156 worth 5.50pence than on a RS6 estate worth 80k...)

However its the way things are put together that annoys me most (I love Italian cars). Italy gets shoddy with age, Germany does not. I m sorry for it but thats the way it is.

In Italian cars even the smell deteriorates with age. You enter a 15yo Merc SL and it feels fresh - no creaks, no whiff of things abt to fall apart (even if it is!). You get in 5yo Maserati GT4200 and the thing is s*ite.. All creaks and thuds and tinking noises, painfull switches sticking, and interior fitting gaps you can lose a wallet through...

theop November 18, 2008 7:33 PM

apologies on spelling..... They are typos....

agreed

supplying etc

Zeddy November 18, 2008 8:29 PM

"Brilliantly proportioned, taut, and glamorous, inside and OUT – especially for the money. "

What?

50p?

montgomery November 18, 2008 8:57 PM

I often wonder whether people in the U.K. that slag off Alfas have ever actually sat in one. It seems they are just lead astray by the old clichès and stereotypes the press over there love to perpetuate. My 1995 GTV has been faultless since I bought it 5 years ago. The leather is gorgeous, the carpet deep, and it's beautifully put together. It smells like an Alfa too. I particularly like the(much derided in the U.K.) driving position. I also own a 147 GTA. Whan my Golf GTI driving friend from the U.K. visited recently he drove both cars and said he couldn't understand how they were so different from what he had expected after reading the British magazines. He was enamoured by the steering, handling and, above all, the noise. When I visited him back home I drove his Golf GTI and all I can sa..........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

montgomery November 18, 2008 9:37 PM

My colleauge bought a new 330d last year for 45,000 euros. In 1 year it had over 20,000 euros of repairs under warranty. Principally engine, steering, suspension and turbo problems. Most seriously the suspension failed on the autostrada, luckily not in a curve. Obviously this was an unlucky car and not representative of your average BMW but it proves there are horror stories about the Germans too.

michael knight November 18, 2008 11:00 PM

Chas, it certainly looks odd in some photos, the one above being a prime example..droopy-mouthed. I'm generally not a fan of grating sports-car front end styling-cues on to shopping trolleys (8C in this case) but i admit in metallic red and on decent wheels it looks to be a pretty desirable beast.

I'm with montgomery on this one - Golf's send me to sleep; where's the joy? I've driven several -though not the latest - and each one leaves me grim-faced but aware that it's a thoroughly competent car.  Rather like a competent accountant - undoubtedly useful at times, but not exactly the life and soul...

Cheltenhamshire November 19, 2008 8:45 AM

I like the way you can spec this car.  You can get the small engines with the top Velcoe trim, so you are not penalised with stingy equipment if you want to have a frugal and cheap to run engine.  And it looks great in black on the 17inch wheels that come standard on the Velcoe, and the red brake calipers look amazing!  The interior is streets ahead of the cliched and plasticy Mini and also more prosaic rivals like the Fiesta.  I can't wait to order mine (sadly not until my wife returns to work after her maternity in September 2009) in red with natural leather interior!!  As for the snobs who deride italian cars in general, skulk off to your dull Audi's, VW's and overpriced Beemer 1 series you dull silver choosing drones.

theop November 19, 2008 6:24 PM

Took Cheltenham's idea and went to the website and just specced a 1.4T 155 one... Well, like the Mini, 19k is hell of a lot of money for a little beautiful puny car, that will be worth 2k in 3 years time so no,  sorry once again Alfa...

In the current environment with used prices in free fall across the board £19k buys one a hell of a lot more car than an Alfa - See this weeks Autocar: Cayman, Audis of various ranges incl 4.2 S4s, 1yo BMW 330's, you name it...

I ll pick the same car for a cup of coffee and a song in 3 years (or a 147 GTA - 4 of 8 advertised cars in Autotrader currently under 9k- that someone mentioned above owns).

I ll also have any 3.2 GTV for 5k instead. In fact I ll buy 4 3.2 GTV's in every colour instead of 1 Mito.

Finally, another point to mention against any Alfa ownership in the South east of the UK (in comparison to usually excellent BMW and VAG products):  

Servicing. WHY IS ALFA SERVICING SO SH*T? London has like 3 dealers or something - al lof whom notoriously bad as EVEYONE knows (specialists like Veloces etc don't count) VAG has 30, some of whom bad, most of whom ok.

Answers please....

Dr Ita November 19, 2008 8:17 PM

There are some particular unjust comments here, but ultimately we always end up with the same old arguement of, Italian Vs German vs (perceived) "quality"!

One says they see more German cars broken down at the side of the road than Italian, ( to which i concur). The retort is that it is hardly surprising given the ratio sold from German to Italian...

So the arguement for the vehicles of such high perceived quality breaking down is that there are more of them? Really? Tell that to the poor soul who has bought his 1st German car on the perceived quality above its other "rivals".

This same would then argue, well it's to be expected as there are more of them so i must have got a dud? So the more you build the more acceptable it is for a percentage to go wrong?

Ultimately you are only ever really going to be bothered whether your own car breaks down.

I for one know of a number of German car owners that have had numerous issues with thei vehicles, but when it comes down to it they are afraid to speak up beacuse they feel they are speaking against the grain. ( A variety of people with Audis, Mercedes, Bmw's and even Porsches)

On the other hand people are often quick to criticise their Italian vehicles , and why not everyone else does don't they? One chap i know bought a Q7 and went to trade it in after approx 18 months, they offered him less than half what he had paid with barel any miles and in as new condition. Had he bought for example a Maserati over the equivalent period he would have ben better off. Had he bought lts say a top of the range brera for example, he could have used it for the same period and actually thrown it away and been better off. He had issues when trading his Porsche in also in terms of value, (which was subject to anumer of recalls btw)

I have had a large number of Italian cars in my time and the things that have gone wrong have really been down to wear and tear. Yes they go wrong, but the stereotypical comments are getting a bit old now, yes car for car there may be small percentage of "superior quality" but it is nothing like what the naysayers would have you believe and nothing like it was in lets say the 70's and 80's. But on the flip side you will have to pay for that additional quality, sometimes right therough the nose...

dillonsamben November 19, 2008 8:21 PM

All FIAT products do now last, they are every bit as well made as any other mass market car.

Here in France where I live % wise you see just as many Alfas as you do any other make of car.

The trouble is that in the UK so many people look upon all Alfa products as something very special, which they are, but having said that they are only as special as any other make of car that people wish to cherish.

Quite literally the Alfa Mito and any car like it must be seen to succeed if it is to stand any chance of knocking mega engine sized cars at mega prices truly into the wilderness they should be left in.  Good luck Alfa, good luck Mito.............

RobotBoogie November 20, 2008 9:54 AM

As the chappie at the top of the thread, I was thinking more of the Japanese and even, God forbid, Jaguar as build quality icons. In my experience, and industry surveys tend to back this up, the actual quality of German cars as opposed to build quality is always disappointing.