"mitology" (mitology)
09/21/2015 at 15:52 • Filed to: alfa, romeo, fiat, 75, milano
4
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"mitology" (mitology)
09/21/2015 at 15:52 • Filed to: alfa, romeo, fiat, 75, milano | 4
| 16 |
Alfa is undeserving of our love, trust me...
Well, hello there, you must be asking yourself what is this crazy person doing and while you could be right before you put the pitchfork and the rope to use i might prove you are either as crazy as me or that im not crazy after all.
I shall start by trying to convince you that Alfa has not been deserving of our love in the past 30 years, oh man, im definitely crazy…
Well, it all starts all the way back in 86 to be precise, when Fiat bought Alfa.
What many saw as a great event in which an adored car company would be free’d from the creative shackles of the government, and its associated risk aversity turned out to just be a change of prison.
Many celebrated and rejoiced with the news for it could finally mean that with a bigger and resource rich company at the helm a small brand like Alfa that was focusing on small cars would likely go back to producing those beautiful and sporty enthusiast cars.
This did not happen, Fiat strangely would continue with the same strategy that was hurting Alfa, by continued focus on small cars, some sharing platforms even, ditching rear wheel drive in favour of the infinitely more enthusiast oriented (read definitely not enthusiast oriented) front wheel drive.
While the world would continue seeing beautiful Alfa designs and continued motorsport success in the years that followed Fiat’s acquisition, we the true gear heads knew the truth.
The Alfa we all knew and longed for died with the 75, the last everyman Alfa... although not luxurious and as some might say not handsome, it had that famous Alfa charm, had a thundering v6 under the hood, and it had rear wheel drive, allowing it to rightfully claiming a spot on the list of sporty sedans, beside the BMW’s and Mercedes of the time.
Further proof Alfa died then and there, was that the first order of business of Fiat was that a wagon version of the 75 was canceled, dubbed the 75 turbo wagon as pictured above. I mean, how could they? (runs and locks himself in the bathroom crying like a baby)
Really Fiat? That was Alfa’s most successful car at the time...
Well in the years that followed Fiat kept Alfa churning bad cars with great desing, there was the handsome 155, the gorgeous GTV and the Spider, there where even death traps like the 147 GTA however they did not have that soul of the brand, these where Fiat’s half hearted attempts at reaching us the gear heads that had long extinguished the flame of passion of the brand and the sales numbers spoke to that truth.
Now, many would blame the economy and what not for this, but wouldnt it had worked had Fiat really kept their word and made Alfa just an enthusiast focused brand streamlined with only three models:
1 - M3 Fighter 2 door coupe
2 - M5’ish sports 4 door sedan
3 - S class type luxobarge
This seems to have worked for Jaguar that was almost dead in England, why not for Alfa???
Anyway, by the 2000’s Fiat realized they should have done something and come 2007 they went all the way to the end of the spectrum creating a impossible to own 2 door coupe, they came up with the 8c in its v8 rear wheel drive glory. But with just a run of 500, is this really the Alfa we fell for?
Well, come 2015 Fiat seems to finally have cracked it, come the Giulia, and while i find myself lusting for it with the handsome looks it has, giggling by the promise of the ability to wipe the smile out of Bmw owners all over the world i am not fooled, and so aren’t you by now.
This is not the Alfa we know, this is Fiat wearing the carcass of the brand we love simply trying to crack a segment of the market it hasn’t been able to on its own until now.
Your ever pessimist jalop, signing out
RallyWrench
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 15:53 |
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Before I go back and read this...
OMIGOD THEY MADE A MILANO WAGON I MUST HAVE IT
Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 15:54 |
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I don’t care about Alfa because I wasn’t alive when they were stateside and cannot afford one of their new cars coming stateside
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mitology
> RallyWrench
09/21/2015 at 15:57 |
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haaaa Fiat Killed it
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mitology
> Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
09/21/2015 at 15:58 |
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but but.... maserati bringing them over, something something kidneys, Giulia??
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RallyWrench
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 16:01 |
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Not bad points here. The newest Alfas I want are the GTV6 and Milano. The newer cars don’t interest me, even if I could get them in the US. Maybe a Brera, but certainly none of the others.
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mitology
> RallyWrench
09/21/2015 at 16:08 |
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Thank you kind sir, GTV6, not a bad choice indeed :) here have this one,
Pre-Fiat Alfa’s for everyone
CalzoneGolem
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 16:12 |
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Alfas lead to some pretty good Top Gear so there’s that.
AMC/Renauledge
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 16:18 |
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Uh, Alfa had switched to FWD with the Alfasud and its many derivatives in the early ‘70s. Thing is, the government sold out to Fiat in 1986 because sales and profits hadn’t materialized in ages.
The Alfasud platform was already 15 years old by 1986. The ARNA was a massive and disastrous flop. The Spider was 20. They were struggling to fund the Fiat/Saab derived Type 4 164 replacement for the Alfa 90, which was based on the ‘72 Alfetta. The FWD 164 was almost ready for launch when Fiat bought Alfa.
And the 75, while their first all-new car in 13 years (since 1972), was expensive to build and didn’t bring in the profits needed to replace the aging lineup. Which is probably why Fiat didn’t throw more development money at the 75.
It wasn’t Fiat who turned Alfa FWD. Alfa was well on their way already. Had Fiat not scooped up Alfa when they did, there would be no pretty GTV/Spider, chromed and rorty 3.0/3.2 V6, 155/6/9, Brera, or 4C.
Fiat couldn’t even afford to replace the Alfasud-derived 33 until 1995! It's mechanicals were 24 years old! The Spider was 27 when it was finally replaced. And they weren't about to replace the 75 with another expensive and unique RWD platform. And not when they had jusr added a desperate Maserati to the fold.
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mitology
> AMC/Renauledge
09/21/2015 at 16:24 |
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indeed, but wasnt it expected that by “saving” Alfa, Fiat would “ save ” Alfa? They had the money, why not bite the bullet already on the 75? if a canceled wagon doesnt bring tears to your eyes i dont know what will, you...you, stone hearted person... (leaves room crying)
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AMC/Renauledge
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 16:33 |
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The hope was that Fiat would save Alfa. And they did. They’re building a RWD 3 competitor now.
But if they had to kill the 75 wagon (which would have been awesome) to save it, then I think the cars I named above - including the 156 and 159 wagons - were worth the loss of a car we probably wouldn't have seen in America anyway.
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mitology
> AMC/Renauledge
09/21/2015 at 16:48 |
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oh well, guess so... meanwhile let us see how the giulia will turn out
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mitology
> CalzoneGolem
09/21/2015 at 16:53 |
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lol true, but the door knobs will have no more understeer jokes after the Giulia comes out :)
pip bip - choose Corrour
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 22:03 |
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MMMMMMMM!
Nauraushaun
> mitology
09/21/2015 at 23:36 |
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As someone born in 1990, I’ve never really understood Alfa. The 155, 147, 156 and 166 were ugly, boring, slow, poorly built FWD cars. The Giulietta is funny-looking. The MiTo is okay, but only because it’s a squashed 8C, which is weird in itself.
Top Gear always said you’re not a true enthusiast until you’ve owned an Alfa, and I understand what Alfa is supposed to be and what some gearheads see them as. But this is the Alfa I’ve grown up with and it’s sad.
That said, bring on the 4C and the new generation. No matter what Fiat did or whoever old Alfa was, if they want to do something worthwhile today I’m all for it.
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mitology
> Nauraushaun
09/22/2015 at 01:25 |
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yeah, lets see how it goes with the new gen, secretly i have hopes that Fiat will go all out into making Alfa, Alfa again
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CalzoneGolem
> mitology
09/22/2015 at 09:11 |
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Never let truth get in the way of a good joke.