Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (minor thinking)

Ted

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I've made references to this purchase in other threads, but yesterday the dealership sent me this picture, so I figure it's time for a thread:

upload_2022-2-27_6-48-8.png

So, I think now it's time for the thread.

Ok, what is this: This is a 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Aside from being a mouthful, this is Alfa Romeo's SUV (the Stelvio). The four leaf clover in the white triangle on the fender indicates that there's more to it - as that's Alfa's racing symbol. The history is actually quite interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Quadrifoglio

So let me back up. Back in October, Laurie and I were going around kicking tires at dealerships. Her Mercedes had 135k miles on it and while it still drove fine, she was getting ready for something different in the future. We went by the Alfa Romeo dealer as the Stelvio interested her. We'd done zero research. Test drove one, actually didn't much care for it with the 4-cylinder. Then I saw one on the lot that had the Quadrifoglio badge on it, and asked "Now, what's different with that one?" Last time I touched a Quadrifoglio was when I was a Jag mechanic. It was a Spider (the little convertible) and as far as I could tell it was an appearance package more than anything, probably a bit in the handling department. No, in this case, it's basically a completely different car. A lot closer to what you see with true AMGs and M3s (not "AMG Sport package" or "M Sport Package" where it really is just appearances). This has a fire-breathing 505 HP twin-turbo V6, and ran a 7:52 at the Nurburgring (with a driver much better than me).

The one they had was a used 2019, and we test drove it. Yes, this is what we want. No question. We were going to buy that used one and then looked at a few other used ones. In the end, used just didn't make sense because of the relatively small depreciation in this market, plus I get a corporate discount on any Fiat/Chrysler/Alfa/Stelantis vehicles as my company is a supplier - including the Quadrifoglio. So we went to the local dealership, who we ended up walking out on after they tried to change pricnig and terms at the last second. No thanks. This is why Alfa is having trouble in the US - something like 10% of dealers are responsible for 90% of sales, because most of the dealers are just bad to deal with.

I found a high volume Alfa dealer in Ohio that was good to work with and high volume, got better terms and pricing, and placed the order towards the end of October. Keep in mind that Alfas are really a good deal in today's market, as far as I can tell about the only good deal. We sold the old Mercedes GL550 and Jaguar XKR for enough to pay for between 1/3 and 1/2 of the purchase price of this car, with the used values being as high as they are. Alfa still struggles some with the reliability image, and I'm sure there are concerns about how long they'll stay in the US again. I share that latter concern, but for now we'll have the car. In the end, this cost a lot less than any of the competitors in equivalent trim levels. We could've gone for a Wrangler Unlimited with a Hemi, but this cost only slightly more than that would've. And then we wouldn't have had a need for the Rover since Wranglers are good tow-behinds, and I still need to do that diesel engine swap. :)

Almost 4 months to the day from when I placed the order, our car arrived at the dealership in Ohio. So now comes the final paperwork and getting it to us, which we're still working the details of. Probably the only extra detail to work out is whether I want to extend the factory warranty (with a factory backed extended warranty). Given the complexity of the car, I think the answer is probably yes if the pricing is reasonable. At this level with the parts pricing, probably actually worth it.

We can't wait to get the car and put some miles on it, this will be fun.
 
In another thread you'd asked:
Yeah, I'm similarly in the :dunno: category. I don't get why we're able to buy a 505 HP luxury SUV that can run the Nurburgring faster than a Lamborghini Gallardo (or was it a Murcelago? I can't remember. They're both not slow) for less than I could realistically buy a new Tahoe for.

I think it's mostly because people buy SUVs to haul people, not a**.

I had been considering a Giulia for my next car, but that was before I realized the Cayman was within reach. The early reviews on that car were dogged by reports of unreliability. Alfa's always been a niche market in the U. S, when it was available at all, so I'm not surprised the the Quadrifoglio isn't selling in volume.

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions one it arrives, and your wife lets you drive it.
 
Should be a great car! They've really gained in popularity ever since Top Gear has been showcasing them about 10 years ago. It's been a steady increase - hell they're even somewhat regular sights in the midwest which is the land of 'merican made cars.
 
Ted, I gotta tell you, crossover SUV's have a stigma somewhere between a Nissan Sentra and a minivan. And closer to the minivan. I mean, just sayin'.

I don't understand the point of a high end euronameplate SUV. It's an SUV, not a sports car.
 
I would much rather have a Tesla Y or X. No maintenance, no gas, fabulous acceleration, etc.
 
Having owner several alfa spyders and a Euro-spec 144, good luck and best wishes.
 
actually didn't much care for it with the 4-cylinder. Then I saw one on the lot that had the Quadrifoglio badge on it, and asked "Now, what's different with that one?"
Finally got around to reading the OP.

You chose... wisely.
The 2.0T is essentially a Fiat engine, a development of the Multiair. The 6 cylinder is more or less 75% of a Ferrari Portofino.
 
I think it's mostly because people buy SUVs to haul people, not a**.

I get that and I agree with the point, but if you compare this to its competitors from Mercedes, BMW, etc., it's by far the cheaper option. Basically, it's a good value no matter how you slice it, even though it's not cheap.

I had been considering a Giulia for my next car, but that was before I realized the Cayman was within reach. The early reviews on that car were dogged by reports of unreliability. Alfa's always been a niche market in the U. S, when it was available at all, so I'm not surprised the the Quadrifoglio isn't selling in volume.

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions one it arrives, and your wife lets you drive it.

There have been certainly been reliability issues, one of the bigger ones being the initial direct injection system. They've since updated it to both direct and port injection, like every other manufacturer has done. We'll see if they've got the bugs sorted out or not.

See, I kind of like it

Eye of the beholder and all

We actually thought the green looked pretty good, although not something we'd buy on that car.

Should be a great car! They've really gained in popularity ever since Top Gear has been showcasing them about 10 years ago. It's been a steady increase - hell they're even somewhat regular sights in the midwest which is the land of 'merican made cars.

That's interesting that you're seeing them where you are. I see very few around here, and Johnson County (the county just north of us) has a lot of high dollar cars driving around. I'd blame the local dealer given our experience, but that same dealer sells all of the other high dollar cars, so I'm guessing it's a choice.

Ted, I gotta tell you, crossover SUV's have a stigma somewhere between a Nissan Sentra and a minivan. And closer to the minivan. I mean, just sayin'.

I don't understand the point of a high end euronameplate SUV. It's an SUV, not a sports car.

Easy - want a really fast and fun car, but need to buy groceries too.

Finally got around to reading the OP.

You chose... wisely.
The 2.0T is essentially a Fiat engine, a development of the Multiair. The 6 cylinder is more or less 75% of a Ferrari Portofino.

That second part (the V6 being a Ferrari V8 with two cylinders chopped off) was what the dealer said. You can tell the Ferrari inspiration in the sound and behavior. That 2.0T engine just seemed very generic and the sort of engine you build to meet emissions and mileage standards. I'm not a fan of 4-cylinders in general, and this one seemed very mundane. Reliability, I suppose we'll see how it goes. Supposedly one thing Ferrari has gotten much better at in the past 20 years is maintenance/reliability aspects, so hopefully that carries over. The transmission is a ZF so I'd generally be unconcerned there, they make good boxes.
 
I keep looking at that picture and thinking how odd it is that the snow ONLY stuck to the hood & roof....

Then it hit me :rolleyes:
 
Interesting, fun, and unique car, but not for everyone I suppose.
 
That second part (the V6 being a Ferrari V8 with two cylinders chopped off) was what the dealer said.
Philippe Krief, who helmed the Giulia upon which the Stelvio was based, was formerly technical director for Ferrari at the time. Legend had it that after Sergio Marchionne (CEO of Fiat group and an interesting character in his own right) pulled Krief from Ferrari that his new task was to build the best sedan that could be built, no holds barred.
 
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Marco Tencone, who helmed the Giulia upon which the Stelvio was based, was formerly head designer for Ferrari at the time. Legend had it that after Sergio Marchionne (CEO of Fiat group and an interesting character in his own right) pulled Tencone from Ferrari that his new task was to build the best sedan that could be built, no holds barred.

Wouldn't surprise me. The test drive of this was seriously impressive, and this is coming from having had an E55 Kompressor, the GL550, Jags, etc.

I've already told my wife to never engage the "Advanced Efficiency" mode (which has cylinder deactivation). She'll probably leave it in "Race" most of the time.
 
I considered Giulia QF a while ago. 3 issues: No manual, questionable reliability, poor dealer network with accompanying poor MX support(lack of trained technicians and long waits for parts) for QF. There was a dealer nearby. Now it's gone. While I think Giulia is one of the best looking sedans out there, the Stelvio is (although much more usable to me) awkward looking. Not ugly, just not really working for me.
 
Interesting choice! I will say they look better in person than pictures. Did you look at the Genesis GV70? That's probably my favorite performance SUV on the market right now.
 
Interesting choice! I will say they look better in person than pictures. Did you look at the Genesis GV70? That's probably my favorite performance SUV on the market right now.

The GVs are on our short list, our local dealers have pre-sold every one they cam get their hands on. I need to sit in one before I can get serious about it though. A lot of the midsize vehicle seats may be comfortable for many, but I always seem to end up with my hips on the bolsters which gets old real quick and sours me on the luxury premium.
 
Ted, I gotta tell you, crossover SUV's have a stigma somewhere between a Nissan Sentra and a minivan. And closer to the minivan. I mean, just sayin'.

I don't understand the point of a high end euronameplate SUV. It's an SUV, not a sports car.
It, and a few other sporty SUVs, will eat most ten-year-old "sports cars" for lunch.
The times they are a changin'.
 
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It, and a few other sporty SUVs, will eat most ten-year-old "sports cars" for lunch.
The times they are a changin'.

So will Toyota Camry. Really doesn't mean anything.
 
I considered Giulia QF a while ago. 3 issues: No manual, questionable reliability, poor dealer network with accompanying poor MX support(lack of trained technicians and long waits for parts) for QF. There was a dealer nearby. Now it's gone. While I think Giulia is one of the best looking sedans out there, the Stelvio is (although much more usable to me) awkward looking. Not ugly, just not really working for me.

Like anything styling related, it's that whole "Beauty in the eye of the beholder" thing. We both really like how it looks, but it's not for everyone.

I agree that the concerns about parts availability, dealer network, trained technicians are all reasonable. We really don't drive much beyond local, and there is the local Alfa dealer that sells enough other higher end cars that I don't see them going anywhere. While we didn't have a good purchase experience, I've had to use the service department before for the Mercedes and was pleased.

The lack of a manual is something that annoys me significantly. However, it annoys my wife less, and this is her daily driver. I wouldn't buy it if it were a car just for me.

Interesting choice! I will say they look better in person than pictures. Did you look at the Genesis GV70? That's probably my favorite performance SUV on the market right now.

We did not consider it. While it doesn't play in as the only factor, the fact that I do get decent discounts on certain vehicles through work makes us inherently more likely to consider those when buying new. Genesis isn't one of them, and that brand really doesn't appeal to me any more than Acura/Lexus (which is not at all).

Since FCA does give me discounts and we generally like the vehicles they produce, that makes that easier. Also, FCA is still honoring those discounts, which a lot of other manufacturers aren't.

If we had bought something different, I think a Wrangler Unlimited would've been the most likely option. That would've been more practical for a lot of reasons, but we agreed we didn't really want a toad (tow behind the RV) to be nice as it gets beat up pretty badly back there.
 
Congrats Ted - hope you enjoy it!

Ted, I gotta tell you, crossover SUV's have a stigma somewhere between a Nissan Sentra and a minivan. And closer to the minivan. I mean, just sayin'.

I don't understand the point of a high end euronameplate SUV. It's an SUV, not a sports car.

The reason for us (my wife has a Cayenne) is because while I like to drive sports cars (all of "my" cars are sports cars), sometimes we take the Cayenne when we all go somewhere as a family and I enjoy driving it more than I would a non-sporty SUV or sedan - or god forbid, a minivan. My wife doesn't care either way so it's a choice we/I made for my own benefit.

Oh and I don't care about the stigma.
 
The GVs are on our short list, our local dealers have pre-sold every one they cam get their hands on. I need to sit in one before I can get serious about it though. A lot of the midsize vehicle seats may be comfortable for many, but I always seem to end up with my hips on the bolsters which gets old real quick and sours me on the luxury premium.
I think they are amazing looking with probably the best interior I've seen in a long time. You get near Lexus reliability with much better looks and cost. I also like that they don't make the ride quality overly stiff trying to chase the Germans. Every car these days seems to have a harsh ride trying to be sporty.
 
It, and a few other sporty SUVs, will eat most ten-year-old "sports cars" for lunch.
The times they are a changin'.

Yep, but with a complete lack of style. :D My 76 Alfa could have its ass kicked by any Miata ever made. But it's the one people came over to look at (even if only to place a bet on when it would burst into flame)
 
Dealer says it should arrive Tuesday... :happydance:
 
...That second part (the V6 being a Ferrari V8 with two cylinders chopped off) was what the dealer said...

Sounds like something a dealer would say. A V8 has 90 degrees between banks, that's not gonna work on a V6. So I think it would require more than a Sawzall to accomplish.
 
Sounds like something a dealer would say. A V8 has 90 degrees between banks, that's not gonna work on a V6. So I think it would require more than a Sawzall to accomplish.

Yeah, anyone who understands engines knows that it's more complicated than that. But the oversimplification works for a basic description. Ford 5.4 V8 with 2 cylinders added to the end makes the 6.8 V10 (and add in a splayed crankshaft to allow an even firing 90-degree V10).

I can accept the oversimplification.
 
Sounds like something a dealer would say. A V8 has 90 degrees between banks, that's not gonna work on a V6. So I think it would require more than a Sawzall to accomplish.

While 60deg V6 is perhaps most common, there are a lot of 90 degree V6s out there in the wild. As well as a few other angles. There have also been a few 60 degree V8s. They really are usually based on a V6 with cylinders added(and a bunch of other changes) or reverse of that.
 
The Chevy 4.3 is a 90* V6, basically a SBC with #3 and #6 cylinders removed.
 
...there are a lot of 90 degree V6s out there in the wild. As well as a few other angles.
The Volkswagen VR6 stands out as one of the "few other angles" (15 degrees).
 
Yup, I'm wrong. The Quadrofoglio engine is a 90- degree V6 and by all accounts it definitely does work.
 
I keep looking at that picture and thinking how odd it is that the snow ONLY stuck to the hood & roof....

Then it hit me :rolleyes:

I knew what it was when I first saw it, but since you mentioned it I went back and looked and it does look like snow, especially on the hood. :cool:
 
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