2011 Hyundai Sonata debuts with style, four-cylinder only and less weight
2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg
LA 2009: Third-Gen 2011 Toyota Sienna is a rock star
LA 2009: Mazda unveils North American spec Mazda2 for 2011
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Green:
LA 2009: Officially, Official: Golden state to get first dibbs on the Chevy Volt
Chris, Dan, and Editor Paukert go over some LA Preview action and quietly whoop it up on the podcast.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
peej 11:26PM (11/03/2006)
Saw an AR on a flat bed in Westlake Village (very upscale community, lots of stars, executives) next to all of their car dealerships... didn't see any tags or anything, so I assume that it was imported.
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Tom Winch 9:48PM (11/03/2006)
I'm in Miami on business and I just spotted one outside my hotel. It was silver with Panamerica 2000 and sponsor decals all over it and NJ plates. I did a double take when I saw it's front end, but there was no mistaking the Alfa grill and the 159 on it's rear end.
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Kamil 10:27PM (11/03/2006)
I was in Italy last month and had a chance to look them over. They look pretty, interior was GM-like, except for seats which seemed Ferrari-like. Most were turbo-diesels... probably much faster looking than anything. I don't know what the appeal is.
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G 10:38PM (11/03/2006)
I think the appeal is the same thing as VW. The Alfa is like an affordable Ferrari, while the VW is an affordable Mercedes. Just a way to say you drive an Italian car. Ive seen one in real life, and its not really that amazing.
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DKB_SATX 11:41PM (11/03/2006)
#2, Kamil: They're not just fast LOOKING... European diesels will SCOOT. Alfas have been about visual sex for years, though... a few high-end ones are fast, they handle nicely, and they look like sexy Italian cars but don't cost as much as a Maserati. I wanted a 147 when I was working in Italy.
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BOB 1:32AM (11/04/2006)
I SAW A PAIR OF CARS -- THE ONE #1 SAW IN MIAMI, AND ITS BLACK COMPANION, ON LA CIENEGA BLVD IN LOS ANGELES A FEW DAYS AGO. I PULLED ALONGSIDE AT A LIGHT, AND SPOKE TO ONE OF THE ITALIANS DRIVING THEM.___ THESE VEHICLES ARE MUCH MORE ARRESTING IN APPEARANCE THAT THE PHOTOS SHOW -- VERAMENTE BELISSIME!!!
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NN 6:48AM (11/04/2006)
You have to drive an Alfa to understand... its not about how rich you will look inside one , its about fealing...
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the friendly grizzly 6:59AM (11/04/2006)
I had the unbounded joy of running around San Francisco in a 1750GTV back in the early 70s; I borrowed it from a friend. It was, without doubt, the most "right" car I had ever driven. Everything about the car was "right. The shifter was perfection, as were the brakes, steering, and handling. Just an AMAZING experience. Were it not for my being older and arthritic, I'd want one exactly like it again.
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J.C. 7:01AM (11/04/2006)
What is it about Alfa Romeo that North American's do not understand? They are NOT just fast looking, they are awesomely quick. I drive here in Europe and my choice of car is the Alfa 159 Sportwagon, I got it earlier this year. It is a diesel BUT here's where European diesel technology gets scary, top speed is 140 mph or 230 km/h and acceleraion to 60 mph (100 km/h) takes just over 7 seconds. I don't do the top speed often-but it's there if I ever did need it. This mother has a multijet 16v turbo diesel engine and i often thing the fuel gauge is frozen on 'full'. I know this sounds like a commercial, but if you have to cover around 30,000 miles each year, you want to do it quickly and in comfort, economically and in great style. Sadly, I would never buy a car from my home-town in Detroit ever again.
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Adam 7:48AM (11/04/2006)
"VW is an affordable Mercedes"
That's a joke!!!! I live in Europe but I never heard a similar statement!!!
Do you know what VW is mean?
The vw is bullshit! The interior is boring, grey and the quality is not enough good for their price.
About the Alfas: there's two way: you fall in love or not. You buy an Alfa becaus you like the style, the feeling, the sound of the engine! And not for the good price.
The Alfa is not a Ferrari expletive.
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car specifications 10:31AM (11/04/2006)
Adam, you are totaly wrong about VW.
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
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Andy 1:52PM (11/04/2006)
Haven't seen a new Alfa yet in LA, but if I do, it'll beat the Volvos, VWs, and Bimmers that crowd the LA streets. Give me an 8C.
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Martin155V6 1:53PM (11/04/2006)
I work for a company in Holland, we sell Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia.
I have driven in all type of engines in the Alfa 159 and the Diesels are scary fast!!!
Special the 2.4 JTD 20v 200hp!!
At the moment we have the Automaticgearbox (good for Amerika!!! ;)).
You like the Alfa or you don't!
Most of the people like the 8c Competizione
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Kamil 6:36PM (11/04/2006)
Hmm... so, how much do they weight? 1500kg/3000lbs (approx)? with 200HP, and even with the torque of a turbo-diesel, can anyone honestly all it "scary" or "crazy" fast? And it's FWD too... the Acura TL (a.k.a. Honda Accord Type R) would run cirles around it.
I'll make sure to drive one next chance I get.
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USS 8:55PM (11/04/2006)
Alfa-Romeo 156 with an inline 4 is probably the best handling cheap car I has ever driven, but the quality is, hmmm Italian aka crappy. Corrosion is also a b***ch if you live somewhere where they use a lot of salt on the roads.
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Chris Goldrick 9:42PM (11/04/2006)
Hah, typical European (#13) thinking there's no appeal for manual transmission on this side of the pond. As for "scary fast," I'll have to go with Kamil too. I used to think we were missing out on Alfas here in the states with the great designs, but even the British auto shows (Fifth Gear and Top Gear) say Alfas plow like crazy when driven semi-hard (FWD) and are somewhat uninvolving. I think if I had the choice I'd still buy German anyway (the one from München, particularly). Of course I haven't driven an Alfa so I don't know. Just speculation. I just know how a E36 3 Series feels, which is setting the bar rather high.
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verdegrrl 2:00PM (11/05/2006)
I have owned numerous V6 Alfas for over 14 years and get to drive the new ones when visiting family overseas.
For people who just look at specs, you will never understand an Alfa. For people who go on a 5 or 10 minute test drive, you will never understand an Alfa. Unlike a German or Japanese car that conforms to your desires like a good servant, the Alfa is like that zany friend who helps you create the most remarkable memories - but on their terms. It takes time and certain mechanical sympatico to bond with an Alfa and understand what it is about. Most people won't "get it" and that's fine so long as there are still some people with motor oil in their blood.
The newer Alfas have had to become more conventional in some ways, but the essential character of the brand seems intact. They have never been about swanky high class interiors. They have often had a quirky appearance. The engines rarely the most powerful in their class. It's more than a sum of the parts.
As for reliability, I have a 19 year old Milano with 258,000 original miles. It sees the track regulalry and has been to the Yukon twice. No, it's hardly low maintainence, and I can see how somebody who wasn't used to being in tune with the car might miss the warning signs of something about to fail.
All I know is that for daily chores I use my Audi A3, but when I want to actually enjoy the road, I take the Alfa. The sun is shining and the leaves are falling here today. It's time to warm up those 7 quarts of oil, drop the windows, and go find a good twisty road.
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verdegrrl 3:55PM (11/05/2006)
For the people who believe the reviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m194Venu5j4
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Michael Kenward 2:06PM (11/05/2006)
Alfa, er, licked corrosion years ago. Same time as Fiat.
The idea that the VW is a poor man's Merc is a joke. Unless you think that the idea of a Merc is also to be as dull as dishwater. Audi, on the other hand, does make a clunky looking, and doubtless overpriced, like everything Audi, clone of the Alfa 147.
As someone else mentioned, the other important aspect of the Alfa is the sound it makes. When did anyone accuse a VW of making an interesting sound?
The only problem with the Alfa is that you pay a good 20% more than you would for something more ordinary.
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