ALFA ROMEO GIULIA BUYERS’ GUIDE
- There are quite a few Quadrifoglios for sale that
are Category S write-offs. Says Adie Hawkins: "Owners
use Race mode which turns off the electronic safety
net. Part of the reason why this mode is chosen is
because it increases the exhaust noise, but for £359
we have a fantastic little modification which allows
the flaps to be operated via a key fob, whatever the
driving mode. So you get the noise with the added
comfort of traction.” - The Giulia has two main ECUs (master and
slave), which can get wet when water gets through
the scuttle. Alfa's own fix isn't always 100%
effective, but AHM has come up with a solution for
about £200; it seals up the box and fits a drain to
channel the water away. - It's easy to remap the four-cylinder petrol
engine to give around 300bhp, although entry-level
cars do have smaller brakes than the more powerful
editions. Numerous companies, such as Celtic Tuning,
offer upgrade packages for around £400, and as well
as the extra power you'll also get more low-down
torque. You can also get the stop/start function
removed; otherwise you have to switch it off each
time you start up. - There has been just one recall so far. Issued in
March 2018 and affecting some Giulias built in
November and December 2017, the action was
launched because the brake and clutch system
components could be damaged by mineral oil
contamination on the production line. Just 11 cars
were affected.
Buy a petrol-engined Giulia and you'll have to get it
serviced every 9000 or 12 months; the diesel stretches
this to every 12,000 miles or annually. Only the diesel
engine has a cambelt, which should be replaced every
three years or 36,000 miles, at around £540. AHM
charges £420-£540 for servicing the four-cylinder cars,
but if you've got a Quadrifoglio the range is typically
£358-£647, although a big service is due every four
years or 36,000 miles, at £1523. This includes
replacing the auxiliary drive belt and tensioner, which
on its own is a £407 job.
From 1 July 2018, all Giulias came with Alfa's 5-3-5
package which brought a five-year warranty, three
years' routine maintenance plus roadside assistance
for five years. The warranty and roadside assistance
are subject to a mileage limit of 75,000, however. Buy
a Giulia registered before the start of July 2018 and
it'll come with only three years of warranty cover –
so if it's an early car it'll be out of the guarantee
period very soon.There are plenty of used Giulias out there to buy,
but with quite a wide model range you might have to
travel if you want a specific derivative. The Tecnica
and Veloce Ti are very rare, for example; prices for
these start at £20,000 and £45,000 respectively.
Intriguingly we found four Quadrifoglio NRINGs for
sale, all with delivery mileage, priced betweenRUNNING COSTS
PRICES