… Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB …
I’m a sucker for a ‘Sport’ button. Not all ‘Sport’ buttons do what they say on the label though. Some hunker down and firm up the suspension, hang on to gears longer and sharpen the steering, while others simply add a false acoustic inside the car to amplify the noise and make it sound more ‘sporty’. What a waste of a button.
In Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta it makes a difference. Not much but noticeably sharpening up the car’s responses and making the drive more enjoyable. Without it, it’s just another good looking car, albeit with an Alfa badge, hence the reason that most owners will leave it permanently switched on!
The measure of a good sports car is not simply a matter of power and torque. A good handling car can reward the enthusiast with an entertaining and involving automotive experience. So although the 1.4 litre Giulietta only has 150hp, the DNA button sharpens up the throttle response to help it make the most of what it’s got.
The suspension might be regarded by some as being a bit harsh, but at its core, the Alfa has a decently sorted chassis while a light touch on the steering wheel satisfies the driver with a job well done when tackling a set of ‘S’ bends.
I may have mentioned it before, but just a few miles south of Moniaive on the A702 on the run down to New Galloway there is just such a set of bends, all different, and which offer a good clear view of traffic coming the other way. Even at the legal speed limit, making good progress through this sequence is one of life’s last remaining little motoring joys.
The Alfa swept from one apex to the next in giggle inducing fashion with the wee four pot spinning away under the bonnet like a demented peerie.
It’s equally nice inside, although the finish on some of the plastics is more ‘bling’ than luxury, while the driving position is good although not quite perfect. I wouldn’t call it cramped but it’s just one size above it. However, that intimate feel may also be another reason to like driving it.
Although it looks like a two-door coupe, the Guilietta is a proper four seater, provided the folks in the back leave their legs at home, but the Italians are amongst the best when it comes to ‘disguising’ the rear door. The handle is cleverly concealed in the window frame and the shut-lines re-inforce the initial perception that this is a two-door. It certainly confused the Missus!
Alfa Romeo has come a long way since the early days of its detractors who reckoned they could watch the car physically rusting away while sitting in their drive. Mind you, that could be said of most family cars and sporting saloons in the 1960s and 70s, including our own dearly beloved (!) British Leyland, but like every other manufacturer, Alfa has improved its materials and build quality and new owners should have no fears on that score these days.
As for myself, would I have one? Although I liked it, I’m not so sure. I would like a bit more room in the back and in the boot. Apart from that, the Giulietta has a lot going for it.