2002 BMW 530i Sport
2006 Lotus Exige on order
2006 Lotus Exige on order
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Hey Everyone! May's Bike of the Month challenge is now open for entries!
What do you Duc owners drive?
121 - 140 of 260 Posts
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Yeah, it's interesting to see that Fiat/Alfa tanked in the U.S. They are BIG in Europe and have some nice models.bevel450 said:
http://alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/ALFAROMEO_COM/models/[email protected]@@@[email protected]@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddhhjjdhmmcefecejgdfiidgnl.0
Note that in the "Select Countries" drop down window, the U.S. is NOT listed.
Here is the Alfa 159
And the Spider
Oops, should be 1988migz123 said:
AFAIK they made the Alfa 75 in Europe well into the 90's though. In the US they went from 86-89.
Alfa is supposed to come back to the US with the 159 and Brera as early as next year. Their new director came from building the M division at BMW to what it is now and he said US reentry is key to their strategy.RotoRooterGuy said:Yeah, it's interesting to see that Fiat/Alfa tanked in the U.S. They are BIG in Europe and have some nice models.
http://alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/ALFAROMEO_COM/models/[email protected]@@@[email protected]@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddhhjjdhmmcefecejgdfiidgnl.0
Note that in the "Select Countries" drop down window, the U.S. is NOT listed.
Part of the reason the dealer network tanked was because they were not owned by Fiat at the time. They were owned and operated by the Italian government at the time which was a bad concept no matter how you slice it.
The problem with quality mainly stem from the fact that these are not Toyotas or Hondas. They need regular maintenance and timing belt/tensioners just like our Ducatis. Lots of people drove them into the ground and they got a bad rep. I can state for a fact that I can drive my car at redline ALL DAY LONG and it will not miss a beat. Why? Because I am religious on the timing belts and mechanical maintenance. The cosmetic part and paint... err... that'll happen some day
The new cars are completely different beasts with Saab chassis and GM/Maserati engines and Selectronic transmissions bred from Ferrari. They should be much more user friendly. I have never owned a new car but will be one of the first to buy a 4wd 159 when they get here!!!
BTW... http://www.alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pb...yOID=-1073751366&contentOID=1073827171&page=6
Currently shopping for a bike to replace the 998 I sold in Nov/Dec.
Im currently driving:
MB CLK500 Cab
or
Nissan Xterra
Im currently driving:
MB CLK500 Cab
or
Nissan Xterra
Attachments
RE: Wheels
A 1993 Mazda Miata, How else can I afford a 999? On the plus side it's Japanese and only has 40K miles, so it should last me until the year 2033 or so (I bought it 3 years ago with only 18K miles - in like new condition, it still had the window sticker and spare tire). Of course it's also the fastest color RED!
I must say that like a Duc it handles really well in the curves, but in a straight line it is rather sad when you consider it has less HP than the 999.
But, since it can't carry the bike it might eventually have to be replaced by a Toyota, King Cab, 4 x 4 Pick Up. :think:
A 1993 Mazda Miata, How else can I afford a 999? On the plus side it's Japanese and only has 40K miles, so it should last me until the year 2033 or so (I bought it 3 years ago with only 18K miles - in like new condition, it still had the window sticker and spare tire). Of course it's also the fastest color RED!
I must say that like a Duc it handles really well in the curves, but in a straight line it is rather sad
when you consider it has less HP than the 999. But, since it can't carry the bike it might eventually have to be replaced by a Toyota, King Cab, 4 x 4 Pick Up. :think:
Franz,
I have heard the same thing and I hope it is true. Alfas, for me anyway, have always been pretty special. But I disagree with your statement that we can't or shouldn't expect them to be (as maintenance free) as a Toyota or Honda.
Sorry, but you are dead wrong if you think that will be enough in the current auto market here. There are several good reasons why it isn't, but consider that they don't have the cache of either Ducati (arguably) or Ferrari ( absolutely) to provide owner sympathy and patience for bad quality bullshit. If they don't come in with at least the reliability and cost of ownership of a BMW, then they better forget about it. The last Alfa that I bought new crapped out all of the exhaust valves within 6,000 miles and the tranny a few oil changes later. Mercifully it was taken from the SoCal highways by a high speed impact.
The best thing about the Alfa was that it introduced me to the jr. executive from FIAT Sales and Service Representative who was assigned to SoCal Alfa Romeo at that time and we ended up playing tennis for several years. I never had a bad quality Alfa again. His name was Luca de Montezemolo. Sure wish I had stayed in touch.
Cheers,
b.
I have heard the same thing and I hope it is true. Alfas, for me anyway, have always been pretty special. But I disagree with your statement that we can't or shouldn't expect them to be (as maintenance free) as a Toyota or Honda.
Sorry, but you are dead wrong if you think that will be enough in the current auto market here. There are several good reasons why it isn't, but consider that they don't have the cache of either Ducati (arguably) or Ferrari ( absolutely) to provide owner sympathy and patience for bad quality bullshit. If they don't come in with at least the reliability and cost of ownership of a BMW, then they better forget about it. The last Alfa that I bought new crapped out all of the exhaust valves within 6,000 miles and the tranny a few oil changes later. Mercifully it was taken from the SoCal highways by a high speed impact.
The best thing about the Alfa was that it introduced me to the jr. executive from FIAT Sales and Service Representative who was assigned to SoCal Alfa Romeo at that time and we ended up playing tennis for several years. I never had a bad quality Alfa again. His name was Luca de Montezemolo. Sure wish I had stayed in touch.
Cheers,
b.
fraz said:Alfa is supposed to come back to the US with the 159 and Brera as early as next year. Their new director came from building the M division at BMW to what it is now and he said US reentry is key to their strategy.
Part of the reason the dealer network tanked was because they were not owned by Fiat at the time. They were owned and operated by the Italian government at the time which was a bad concept no matter how you slice it.
The problem with quality mainly stem from the fact that these are not Toyotas or Hondas. They need regular maintenance and timing belt/tensioners just like our Ducatis. Lots of people drove them into the ground and they got a bad rep. I can state for a fact that I can drive my car at redline ALL DAY LONG and it will not miss a beat. Why? Because I am religious on the timing belts and mechanical maintenance. The cosmetic part and paint... err... that'll happen some day
The new cars are completely different beasts with Saab chassis and GM/Maserati engines and Selectronic transmissions bred from Ferrari. They should be much more user friendly. I have never owned a new car but will be one of the first to buy a 4wd 159 when they get here!!!
BTW... http://www.alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pb...yOID=-1073751366&contentOID=1073827171&page=6
A Cobb-tuned version? Neat. I've never invested much in aftermarket stuff for the cars or the bike for that matter.PC_tuner said:It's nice to know there's another suby fan on here
How do you like this STi?
Let's see president and CEO of Ferrari, president of Maserati, and chairman of FIAT...yeah maybe you should have.bevel450 said:
1967 Land Rover, SWB
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cars
02 C5 vette-hers
05 Magnum R/T-Mine
91 5.0 "Stang" I built a bullet for-hers
97 Ram 2500 v-10 4x4 x-cab- mine
Yup, she has the sport"s"
and I have the "Utility"
02 C5 vette-hers
05 Magnum R/T-Mine
91 5.0 "Stang" I built a bullet for-hers
97 Ram 2500 v-10 4x4 x-cab- mine
Yup, she has the sport"s"
and I have the "Utility"
121 - 140 of 260 Posts
