--- On Sun, 8/19/12, Bernie Bennett <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Bernie Bennett <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [alfa] Alfa Alternative To: [email protected] Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012, 2:22 PM Mike and George et al.: And two years after, there will be certified used ones for those in the stage of life where budgetary concerns have become an issue. 'Til then my Alfetta sedan and Elantra Limited will have to keep us touring and running errands in the meanwhile. Best Wishes, Bernie & Diana ------------------------------ On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 1:49 PM CDT George Graves wrote: >I'll believe it when I see it! Of course, it's largely academic at >this point. The 4C will cost north of $70,000. Way out of my league at >this stage of my life. > > >George Graves > > >On Aug 19, 2012, at 5:19 AM, Mike Hemsley wrote: > >> Hi George: >> >> Actually, it's looking more hopeful that the 4C will be here next >> year. Recently, Alfa techs from Fiat-Chrysler came to a Detroit >> Chapter event with two non-US cars and gave people the opportunity >> to drive them. They also talked about the technology that will be >> in the new cars. Last weekend, I happened to be in Detroit and >> helped at their autocross. I met an Italian fellow who is working >> on the Alfa side of Fiat. He didn't make any predictions, but these >> folks are here now. The problem is that the 4C is projected to be >> something like $66K. The Giulietta is supposed to come after the 4C >> then the Giulia. I've talked with two Fiat dealers (New Orleans and >> Birmingham, AL), and both are anticipating Alfas. Fiat needs more >> than the 500 and Abarth. They've got a bigger car coming (4 door), >> but it's still not up market enough - the dealers are very open >> about needing Alfa Romeos on their showroom floor. >> >> So, I hope you don't have to eat your GTV-6, but I also hope you're >> wrong. Yeah, I've become an optimist this past year, but I'm still >> looking for a car I can drive now. Got a call from the Hyundai >> dealer - they've got a turbo Veloster on the lot. I'm going to go >> look at it this week. I still want the Focus ST, but I'm hearing >> that it might be pricier than I had hoped. We'll see. >> >> Even though I'm not likely to own an Alfa newer than my '73 Super, >> but I really do want to see new ones back in the US. >> >> Ciao, >> >> Mike >> >> > CC: [email protected] >> > From: [email protected] >> > To: [email protected] >> > Subject: Re: [alfa] Alfa Alternative >> > Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:25:39 -0700 >> > >> > Can't say I blame you for not waiting. I've gotten old waiting for >> > Alfa to come back. I will get a lot older before they actually do. >> > What's the latest prognosis, 2015, 2016? If they appear before 2020, >> > I'll eat my GTV-6! >> > >> > George Graves >> > >> > >> > On Aug 18, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Mike Hemsley wrote: >> > >> > > I've also been looking for an alternative, but I had an >> advantage as >> > > I have >> > > owned an SVT Focus since 2002. It's like a 147 - hot hatchback! >> > > So, when I >> > > decided to look for something in 2012, I discovered that there are >> > > several hot >> > > hatchbacks either here or coming soon. I've driven the Abarth, and >> > > I LOVE it, >> > > but the seat bolsters cut into my thighs - guess my 68 year old >> > > thighs have >> > > spread a bit. So, I initially narrowed the search to three in the >> > > low to mid >> > > $20s, only one of which is actually here: >> > > >> > > Mazdaspeed 3 - 4 door, turbo hatch with 220+ hp, 6spd manual, and, >> > > it is >> > > claimed, torque steer that's under control - we'll see on that >> one. >> > > It's the >> > > only one of the three that's here now. It's the largest of the >> three >> > > >> > > Hyundai Veloster Turbo (Velociraptor?) - 3 door (2 on the >> passenger >> > > side), >> > > turbo hatch with 201hp, 6spd manual. Pretty cool idea to have two >> > > doors on >> > > the passenger side. It's the smallest of the three and due in >> > > dealers any >> > > time. >> > > >> > > Ford Focus ST - 4 door, turbo hatch with 250+hp, 6spd manual. I >> saw >> > > this car >> > > at the SVT facility in Detroit last weekend, and I think I've >> found >> > > my next >> > > car. It is really, really nice and should be quite fast. Easy >> > > entry and exit >> > > for an old guy with the ST-1 level seats (not the Recaros in the >> > > other two >> > > levels). These are due in the dealerships in the next few weeks. >> > > >> > > I've pretty much decided to buy the Focus ST, since the Alfas that >> > > are coming >> > > in the next few years aren't likely to be in my price range, >> > > although they're >> > > probably going to make me drool. >> > > >> > > Hope that helps. >> > > >> > > Mike Hemsley >> > > >> > > From: [email protected] >> > > To: [email protected] >> > > Subject: alfa-digest V10 #2614 >> > > Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 21:39:14 +0000 >> > > >> > > >> > > Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 02:53:47 -0400 >> > > From: Paul Witek <[email protected]> >> > > Subject: [alfa] Alfa alternative for daily driver... >> > > >> > >> of course then the question becomes: what on earth approaches >> th e >> > > experience of driving my Alfa? >> > > >> > > The only thing I can think of might be a Fiat 500 Abarth... >> > > >> > > ------------------------------ >> > > -- >> > > to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi >> > > or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] >-- >to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi >or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
