The 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Group Review: If Only More Sedans Had This Much Character

willscourtney

So, how about that Alfa Romeo Giulia?

mikespin

I really liked it

asiceloff

Yeah same. even through the NY grime that had accumulated...still looked real perdy

mikespin

The Quadrifoglio is excellent, but I wasn't expecting the two liter to be as sharp as it is

willscourtney

Me neither. It was damn peppy

Engine didn't have a lot of character but it made up for it with that midrange

asiceloff

Definite pep

mikespin

Yeah. The engine is all midrange. It's kind of a workaday engine, but it's got decent torque at a pretty wide band. Kind of a perfect performance-commuter engine.

willscourtney

*midrange*

asiceloff

Yeah agreed, I only had it in city driving and it seemed like a great daily

willscourtney

And those giant paddle shifters made keeping it in said midrange really enjoyable. They look like some sort of terrifying ninja weapon.

asiceloff

But if we are talking that, I'd like to talk comfort, that backseat is pretty small

one of few cars that was hard to pile in to

willscourtney

Yeah. When we crammed four people in there for that Whole Foods run, it was...tight.

Admittedly, I was one of the four. But still.

mikespin

They did their best with the space. The carveouts for the front seatbacks were enough for me, though arguably I'm only in the mid fives in height.

asiceloff

You should be able to fit four adults somewhat comfortably

willscourtney

I don't think there's anything arguable about that, @mikespin. You are absolutely in the mid-fives.

I did think the interior was well-designed. The seats, in particular, looked and felt nice.

mikespin

I was disappointed with the interior design and materials, though. Hard to get out of an Audi and into this.

willscourtney

Was just about to say that. Well, the material part.

asiceloff

I mostly felt that in the back, seemed like they ran out of budget

mikespin

I like the gauges.

willscourtney

They did a great job blending the infotainment screen into its surroundings. All those companies that basically superglue iPads onto the dash could learn a thing or two.

asiceloff

Yeah I didn't feel that [the materials were disappointing] in the driver's seat

I'll also say that the brakes felt a little soft

But I'm also being nitpicky because I really like the car

mikespin

They have that drive-by-wire vagueness. They felt wooden to me. Not great to modulate.

willscourtney

*fly by wire*

asiceloff

that was beautiful

mikespin

But what a great chassis. Really sharp. Quick steering.

willscourtney

No, the brakes were definitely soft at the top of the travel, too.

LOVED the steering

mikespin

That's what Alfa's doing the best right now. Even the Stelvio. Sharpness

asiceloff

Yeah you nailed it, driving around traffic was really fun

willscourtney

I would buy it for the steering and the dynamics.

Well, lease it.

asiceloff

Leasing it is the way to go

*nailed it*

willscourtney

And then just play "Mrs Robinson" on a loop

*the graduate*

mikespin

If it had a BMW S54 inline six it would be the perfect car

willscourtney

To be fair, most cars could be improved with an S54

mikespin

Definitely this chassis could.

asiceloff

What was the price tested?

willscourtney

$50K, about

mikespin

LOW MILEAGE LEASE

willscourtney

I really wish they had an intermediate model between this and the Quad.

mikespin

Yeah

willscourtney

Like an AMG 43 type thing.

asiceloff

YUP

mikespin

They don't have an engine for it

willscourtney

I know. It'd just wind up being an even-more-boosted four

asiceloff

Who is this car perfect for?

willscourtney

I think, honestly, people like us. Folks who want a daily that's fun to drive, but don't need the room of an SUV

mikespin

Me in my next job as an accountant at a firm in the suburbs.

willscourtney

Haha

asiceloff

So someone who doesn't have a giant family and that needs a good, fun commuter.

mikespin

Honestly, an adult commute on nice b-roads would be pretty sweet.

willscourtney

Yeah. And clearly has to care about either a) driving fun or b) fashion and appearance

asiceloff

Yeah, architects?

willscourtney

Because an Alfa Romeo is never the rational choice

Not that that's a bad thing. Hell, it could probably be their slogan.

mikespin

Ah yes. So, marketing department at a high-end consumer goods company.

asiceloff

Definitely wears a turtleneck

(looks at Josh Condon)

willscourtney

hahahaha

mikespin

"Hey Jim, I got an Alfa Romeo."

Jim: "Have you seen a doctor?"

willscourtney

*clap*

asiceloff

"It's a Lease!"

willscourtney

Mike Spinelli's Catskills Revue, ladies and gentlemen

asiceloff

nod

willscourtney

"At least what?"

mikespin

"Hey guys, want to try out that new lunch spot. I'm driving."

asiceloff

haha wasn't that a VW campaign

mikespin

Guys: "Naah. I got car sick last time."

willscourtney

*derailed*

mikespin

DAMN

asiceloff

So, final thoughts?

willscourtney

Would daily.

mikespin

Nice car. Good comeback.

willscourtney

It deserves to do well. Better than it is doing. Sales-wise, at least.

mikespin

Yeah.

willscourtney

EVERYONE GO OUT AND LEASE ALFA ROMEOS

OR ELSE YOU DON'T GET TO WONDER WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS

asiceloff

Totally agree, I would have liked to see interior a little better, as that's the price point, but man the car is real fun, and doesn't look like everything on the road these days

willscourtney

I still think it looks like a perturbed owl from the front.

mikespin

*owl*

asiceloff

Will is agro towards owls

willscourtney

I do love owls

agro or otherwise

mikespin

WAIT

willscourtney

yes?

mikespin

Are the driving dynamics good enough to lure you suburban office workers away from the interior and tech of an Audi?

asiceloff

AND AUDIS DON'T DRIVE GREAT???

willscourtney

*gasp*

asiceloff

Watch what you say next

willscourtney

Most suburban office workers, no.

Because they don't care that much.

This is a car for the 10 percent of people who do care about how a car drives.

mikespin

Split three ways between the Jaguar XE, this and the Cadillac ATS

willscourtney

Yeah. There really is this whole second tier of entry-level luxury sedans that plays more towards sportiness than the big three (of Audi, BMW, and Benz)

asiceloff

Hmm ATS is a really good comparison

That's a toughie for me

willscourtney

But I think the Alfa's handling and its style puts it ahead of ATS and XE in a lot of subjective measures. Especially if the buyer's emphasizing sportiness

mikespin

And also having that Alfa logo on your key fob is kind of exciting

willscourtney

That key fob.

asiceloff

Casually drop my keys all day long

exclaiming that I had done so

willscourtney

Let's talk about that.

Because it's WAY TOO BIG.

mikespin

It's too big

asiceloff

*yuge*

willscourtney

It takes up your entire pocket. I feel like they designed it for purses.

Or whatever men carry in Italy. Man-satchels.

mikespin

IT'S EUROPEAN!

willscourtney

*european*

mikespin

*seinfeld*

asiceloff

If you just got married and aren't ready for that SUV, and you just got a promotion, I'd say go low mileage lease it for two years.

willscourtney

Agreed.

And on that note:

*alfa romeo giulia*

asiceloff

I see the owl thing now

*golf clap*

Base Price (Price as Tested): $40,990 ($50,035)

Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, 280 horsepower, 306 pound-feet of torque; eight-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive

Fuel Economy: 24 city, 33 highway

0-60 MPH: 5.7 seconds (Car and Driver testing)

Top Speed: 149 mph

 Must-Have Options on Our Test Car: 19-inch Sport Package with performance tires, sport seats, aluminum paddle shifters ($2,250); Ti Performance Package with active suspension and limited-slip differential ($1,200)

Options You Could Skip on Our Test Car: Driver Assistance Dynamic Plus Package with adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning ($1,500); Harmon Kardon