It’s time to take off, because 66% of you want the Draken. This week, let’s stay firmly planted on the ground with a car that requires you to have a pie-in-the-sky attitude: the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Reliability – atrocious. Sex appeal – maximum.
Let’s do sports sedan, Italian style.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio vs any Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
See the Alfa Romeo listing here
Sad news: Alfa Romeo is discontinuing the Quadrifoglio this year. In fact, if you want to order a new one, you have about a week left – the books close at the end of April 2024.
Like dogs, all cars go to heaven. Hmm, maybe not – but this one should. It’s Italian, so the Pope likes it. It’s very fast and sexy, so you’ll like it. And it’s now becoming cheap, which means we can all like it.
The Quadrifoglio has no manual option, but that’s really okay because driving one is still a surreal experience. How did they tune the ZF so much better than everyone else? It sounds great, steering feel is wonderful, and the chassis strikes that ever so hard-to-find balance between comfort and sport. I’d rate that Ferrari-derived 2.9 liter V-6 nearly on par with the best of BMW’s inliners.
Of course, as the Alfa arrives at the Pearly Gates and the angels ask if it’s been a good boy, the car must answer in a sheepish tone, because it breaks in a manor not seen since the 90s. Electrical issues, coolant leaks, engine problems – you name it. From Car & Driver’s long-term test:
“We settled into a routine with the Giulia: periods of praying in vain for the problems to cease interspersed with flashes of pure driving joy. We were elated when we could finish a long drive without scheduling a dealer visit.”
They aren’t being facetious either. When I drove one, the nice gentleman that owned it was genuinely happy he only had to replace his motor once, as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Actually, in the Quadrifoglio it has the potential to be.
Let’s look at our example first, then see if there’s something comparable out there.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
This might just be the spec for me:
- 57,800 miles
- Bid to $28,000 so far
- Monte Carlo Blue Metallic over black, with aftermarket-painted Bronze wheels. So yummy.
- Clean title and CarFax
- The service history isn’t terrible – only the radiator needed to be replaced. Course, that could mean it’s due to blow up.
- Why only one key? Where are you putting your keys people? It’s still a newish car.
- Brembo carbon ceramics are here, an $8,000 option.
- Not here: carbon fiber-backed bucket seats. Like the G80 M3, the regular ones are more comfortable.
- The interior is looking a bit dated. I realize I can’t have it both ways, asking for real dials yet saying it’s old, but this is still a car available today. Maybe if they updated it, they might have sold more. In-betweens are always weird.
Ah, price. Let’s keep in mind that this car can pull a solid G on the skid pad, get to 60 in 3.6 seconds, and run the quarter-mile in 11.8. It’s not G80 M3 fast, but it’s damn near close, and here you’re getting some feedback.
So when I say some of these go for just $30,000 (depending on options), I want you to know that you’re getting a really good performance deal. I think this car will go up over the next ten years, and if you want one, now is a sweet time to buy.
If you go scrolling through the comments on the bid listing, you’ll see fellow owners say “Mine’s been great!”. I don’t know that I believe all of them, and saying your new car doesn’t misfire is like saying you’re the fastest person on the planet to add 2+2. Congratulations, nobody cares.
Not convinced? Allow me.
The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
To show you what a good deal the Alfa is, let’s bring in a car that I think is more closely related to it than an M3: The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing.
The Caddy has a manual option, and thus can be slower. The twin-turbo six also isn’t nearly as nice as the Italian heart. But the car is just as tactile, and you can actually own one without saying things like “It never misfires.”
The Alfa and the Caddy both sell in limited numbers and it shows. Just four have been listed on Cars & Bids, just 13 on Bring a Trailer. The Blackwing is soon dying as well, but you can still order a new one. Despite that, used examples are way up there, with an average price around $60k, not much of a discount. The cheapest I could find was a black one in Hawaii – cheaper sticker because you must pay to ship it (most likely).
Convinced I am that both of these beauties are headed for the clouds. The Cadillac walks right in. The Alfa should be good too, at least this one.
Not like it’s red…
Want MWS to review your car?
If you live in the tri-state area and want me to check it out, send me an email!
Support Machines With Souls
Commissions may be received for product links on this site. Help out if you can.
I use Nikon camera bodies and lenses, a Westcott Ice Light 2, Manfrotto tripod, B + W filters and an iMac Pro to make the art you see here.
One thought on “Does the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio deserve to go to heaven?”