Pre-loved: Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2011-2020

by Ewan Kennedy

Say “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili Romeo Giulietta” with an Italian accent.

Then you will understand why lovers of all things Italian like driving cars with plenty of verve.

In case you haven’t worked it you for yourself Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili is what Alfa stands for.

The Giulietta five-door hatchback has been styled to look like a sports coupe thanks to cleverly ‘hidden’ rear door handles.

The rear seat armrest has fold out cup holders that give the hatch the feeling of a luxury sedan.

The rear seats have a 60/40 split fold and there’s also a ski-hatch.

Unless tall front-seat occupants are willing to give up some leg room those in the back seats will find themselves cramped.

Headroom can also be tight for tall rear seat passengers, though it depends on body shape.

Alfa imports the Giulietta to Australia with a choice of three engines.

One is a 1.4-litre Alfa Romeo MultiAir with 125kW of power.

The Giulietta QV with its 1750 TBi turbo-petrol unit has 173kW with torque of 340Nm.

When Dynamic mode is selected it sprints from 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.

There’s a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine if you feel that way inclined.

Can’t say we do. There’s something really irritating about an engine that gets to about 4700 revs than cries out, “enough”.

Alfa Romeo’s Twin Clutch Transmission is a shocker at very low speeds, particularly in stop-start traffic, being frustratingly slow and lumpy at times.

Add that to turbo lag and a stop-start system that doesn’t always seem to talk to the other powertrain computers and it dims the fun of driving this pretty Italian sporty machine.

Get it out of town on your favourite stretch of driver's road and the smile will soon return to your face.

Unless you really need an automatic skip the Twin-clutch and get a slick six-speed manual.

The do-it-yourself shifter even has a touch of Italian bravo to it. Great fun.

Early in 2015 Alfa Romeo added a new-design engine in the Giulietta QV, this time with 177kW.

A special Launch Edition introduced the car, featuring a body kit and revised interior.

Only 500 were built globally with 50 coming to Australia.

Our allocation was 25 units in Alfa Red and 25 in Launch Edition-exclusive Matte Magnesio Grey.

These may be collector cars in the future.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Finale Edizione was launched in November, 2021 and is the last production run of the iconic Italian hatchback, limited to 35 units.

Okay so this obviously isn't a used car yet, but some wise Alfa lovers may grab one and keep it in pristine condition to sell it for big bucks down the track.

Build quality of Alfa Romeos has improved greatly since the bad old days and Giuliettas seldom have any real hassles in the way they are put together.

Alfa Romeo is well established in Australia and there are dealers in the capital cities and in quite a few of the major country cities.

We’ve heard no real hassles with getting spare parts, though as is often the way in cars sold in relatively small numbers you might have to wait several business days to get uncommon parts flown in.

Giuliettas are the sort of cars that enthusiastic amateur mechanics like to tinker with.

But unless you really know what you’re doing it's best to leave the work to professionals as these are complex machines.

And please keep away from all safety items.

Insurance is higher than average for this class, which comes as no surprise as Alfas appeal to those who like to charge hard and may take too many risks.

Shop around for the best price on a policy, but make sure your comparisons are accurate.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Check the service books are up to date as these are complex car and can be driven hard and do need professional maintenance.

Make sure the reading on the odometer is the same as that in the service books. You’d be surprised how many crooks stuff this up.

Look for body damage, or signs of repairs.

Cars that attract enthusiasts do tend to run into things from time to time.

Inside, check for loose items in the trim and on the dashboard.

During your pre-purchase drive listen for rattles or squeaks, particularly behind the dash.

The engine should start quickly, though the turbo-diesel may take a second or two if it’s completely cold.

Check the stop/start system and dual-clutch automated manual work correctly. (See the notes in the body of the story.)

Manual gearboxes may have had a hard life so check all changes are smooth and easy.

The downchange from third to second is often the first one to suffer.

Make fast 3-2 changes and if there’s any noise and/or hesitation be wary.

HOW MUCH?

Expect to pay from $5000 to $9000 for a 2013 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Distinctive or a 2015 Progression; $7000 to $11,000 for a 2014 QV; $9000 to $14,000 for a 2016 Sprint; $11,000 to $16,000 for a 2016 QV; $14,000 to $20,000 for a 2016 Veloce; $16,000 to $23,000 for a 2017 Veloce; $20,000 to $27,000 for a 2020 Veloce; and $31,000 to $39,000 for a 2020 Edizione Finale.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde.

CAR BUYING TIPS

Take a friend with you when shopping for a used car.

That way they can keep the chattering sales person at bay while you check out the car without interruptions.

Used car prices have generally increased during the period of new car stock shortages.

Start looking at adverts for used vehicles several months before you intend buying.

That way you can get a feel for the price being asked and whether they are rising and falling, as dealers need to clear stock due to overcrowding.

Keep an eye on adverts for new cars that say there are specials on particular models.

This can lead to a lot of traded-ins taking up too much space in yards and they will be discounted to get rid of them.

Keep an eye open for ads of unpopular cars, as there can vary greatly in price.

Owners struggling to find a buyers may be forced to grit their teeth and drop their asking price.

If checking a used car at a dealership look at other cars on the lot.

This can provide an insight into the quality of the vehicles in which the dealer specialises.

If buying privately ask for proof of ownership and make sure the insurance covers you for taking a test drive.

Take a slow walk around any car you're considering, looking for obvious defects.

It amuses us how many people dive into tiny details, only to discover later a major ding somewhere on the other side of the car.

Ideally any road test of a car you're getting serious about should be done with the engine stone cold. Early morning is best.

If you're serious about buying a vehicle, tell the seller you would like to take it for a good long test drive.

If they insist on coming that's understandable, but try to avoid them "selling” the car to you.

Put bluntly, ask them to shut up,

In their later years, cars with a reputation for being long lived and trouble free sometimes attract buyers who have no intention of ever servicing them.

The next owner may suffer as a result.

Shop around for the best deals on finance and insurance just as carefully as you do for the car. And be aware that the salesmen get a commission for finance and insurance.