You mean a Forrester?

I had a Liberty MY10. Same seating and driving position. 6.5cm lower to the road than an Outback. Yeah it was OK. Looked like a slab of VB tinnies after a car accident. The Ouback looked slightly worse, with all that grey plastic glued on trim.

It's really quite an un-sporty station wagon with 6.5cm more ground clearance and the internal ergonomics of a Liberty, which is now only available as a sedan.

Out of interest, I was going to buy a Liberty GT wagon but Subaru discontinued it in 2014 and replaced it with that horrendous Levorg abomination for aesthetically ambivalent buyers - which is selling beautifully....

Here's what you need Adriano. You'll never look back.

Nah if I was going to buy a van I'd get a real one - a Kombi. Grew up with the fully decked out pop top camper.

VIDEO, Alfa Romeo GTAm sound. - Alfa Romeo Project 950

www.facebook.com/alfaromeoproject950/videos/1736880399943561/

If I was getting a van I would want this one:

Ferrari Breadvan.

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RichardG said..
VIDEO, Alfa Romeo GTAm sound. - Alfa Romeo Project 950

www.facebook.com/alfaromeoproject950/videos/1736880399943561/

Gorgeous. SO no MiTo 58kW for you then?

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Adriano said..

RichardG said..
VIDEO, Alfa Romeo GTAm sound. - Alfa Romeo Project 950

www.facebook.com/alfaromeoproject950/videos/1736880399943561/

Gorgeous. SO no MiTo 58kW for you then?

No definitely not. I don't believe that they were available in Australia in that spec. Similar for ARNA I don't believe it was ever sold in Australia although in Nissan form they were and possibly as a Holden Astra, both of which were not Alfas... I have a 159 and have no use for a MiTo or an ARNA.

Sure but you said "any Alfa"...

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Adriano said..
Sure but you said "any Alfa"...

Any Alfa sold in Australia is what was intended...and, of course it was a form of puffery, as I don't believe Skodas of today, are bad cars. I just prefer Alfa.

While this is a Fiat, they are excellent value and are by all accounts a great sportscar particularly in Fiat 124 Abarth form. Watch the launch video at the link, they have a great sound too. Does anyone own one ?

www.fiat.com.au/abarth/124spider.html

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RichardG said..

Adriano said..
Sure but you said "any Alfa"...

Any Alfa sold in Australia is what was intended...and, of course it was a form of puffery, as I don't believe Skodas of today, are bad cars. I just prefer Alfa.

So do I - prefer Alfa that is.... I chose the Octavia RS as a value-for money proposition. Unbeatable in that price and segment really. Fun, reliable and family friendly.

There's no Alfa that ticks all my boxes at the moment....but if I had to pick a European car, it would be the only one with real personality - and that's an Alfa. Personality mixed with raw performance and reliability - makes Alfa a simple decision if you have the funds and your mentality is not still stuck in 1986.

Select to expand quote

Adriano said..

RichardG said..

Adriano said..
Sure but you said "any Alfa"...

Any Alfa sold in Australia is what was intended...and, of course it was a form of puffery, as I don't believe Skodas of today, are bad cars. I just prefer Alfa.

So do I - prefer Alfa that is.... I chose the Octavia RS as a value-for money proposition. Unbeatable in that price and segment really. Fun, reliable and family friendly.

There's no Alfa that ticks all my boxes at the moment....but if I had to pick a European car, it would be the only one with real personality - and that's an Alfa. Personality mixed with raw performance and reliability - makes Alfa a simple decision if you have the funds and your mentality is not still stuck in 1986.

The future belongs to those who have a great history. Alas that is not Skoda. It is definitely Alfa Romeo, the car with a beating heart.

"Alfa Romeo is a particular way of living, of experiencing an automobile. The real essence of Alfa defies description. It can be compared to those irrational movements of the spirit that sometimes occur in man, and for which there is no logical explanation. We are in the realm of sensations, passions, things that have more to do with the heart than with the head."

- Orazio Satta Puliga, Head of Design at Alfa Romeo in 1946

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RichardG said..

Adriano said..

RichardG said..

Adriano said..
Sure but you said "any Alfa"...

Any Alfa sold in Australia is what was intended...and, of course it was a form of puffery, as I don't believe Skodas of today, are bad cars. I just prefer Alfa.

So do I - prefer Alfa that is.... I chose the Octavia RS as a value-for money proposition. Unbeatable in that price and segment really. Fun, reliable and family friendly.

There's no Alfa that ticks all my boxes at the moment....but if I had to pick a European car, it would be the only one with real personality - and that's an Alfa. Personality mixed with raw performance and reliability - makes Alfa a simple decision if you have the funds and your mentality is not still stuck in 1986.

The future belongs to those who have a great history. Alas that is not Skoda. It is definitely Alfa Romeo, the car with a beating heart.

"Alfa Romeo is a particular way of living, of experiencing an automobile. The real essence of Alfa defies description. It can be compared to those irrational movements of the spirit that sometimes occur in man, and for which there is no logical explanation. We are in the realm of sensations, passions, things that have more to do with the heart than with the head."

- Orazio Satta Puliga, Head of Design at Alfa Romeo in 1946

"cars are to be designed to carry loads and get them from point A to B . This should be done with reliability and comfort in mind "

- sands potential customer 2017

Couldn't agree more. Why do that in a cheap van or crappy FWD soft-roader "SUV" unless one absolutely has to?

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RichardG said..
While this is a Fiat, they are excellent value and are by all accounts a great sportscar particularly in Fiat 124 Abarth form. Watch the launch video at the link, they have a great sound too. Does anyone own one ?

www.fiat.com.au/abarth/124spider.html

No, but I had for many years a 124BC. One of the best to drive..... loved it till it rusted away. ?? . Maybe when I can no longer windsurf I'll buy one .

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Adriano said..
Couldn't agree more. Why do that in a cheap van or crappy FWD soft-roader "SUV" unless one absolutely has to?

Everything is a sporty compromise except an F1 race car. And you have to pay per lap to use a road where it's acceptable to drive in a sporty manner. Check out the DHL van at 1.50 overtaking a Skoda hot hatch on the outside! $40 Vans aren't cheap and will keep up with most cars in comfort.

Funny Ian, although the hatch was a VW being driven like a tractor - not hard to go past that in a brick.

Don't take it toooo seriously....this is clearly the idiots day on the track....

Well it's a day for us, we'd all be idiots on the Nurburgring. Anyone out there think they can drive like Jack Brabham?

Nah mate. "Idiots" - speak for yourself!

Take the VW Driving Experience for example. No one drives like an idiot on the day, but they do go full pelt under the guidance of professional drivers. Great driver training for safety and fun and a chance to drive Golf R and Sirrocco R to the max.

You're going waaaay off topic now....

My first car was a 1969 1750 GTV.Followed by two 2000 Berlinas.
The mechanic who looked after them raced a TZ1.

Now I drive a Camry........

1971 Alfa Romeo Advertisement

Someone's got all the cars registered in Oz on a spreadsheet!

www.drive.com.au/motor-news/tesla-on-track-to-double-its-numbers-in-a-year-65044.html

" There were 216 fewer Alfa Romeo cars on the road in July 2017 then there were in December 2016, suggesting that sales of new models such as the heavily-promoted Giulia are not enough to offset the number of older cars pulled off the road due to crashes, rust and reliability problems.
Alfa Romeo's presence on NSW roads is dropping faster than Datsun's, even though the Japanese marque has not sold a new car in decades.
Citroen, Chevrolet and Cadillac are also going backwards. "

The Giulia QV is sold out and it's barely arrived. It's a new luxury car with a heart and a soul Ian. Some people don't get it but that's OK.

Fair shake of the sauce bottle.

www.drive.com.au/motor-news/alfa-romeo-giulia-qv-sold-out-20170201-gu3lln.html

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio local details-Forza Alfa

Alfa Romeo's Q4 all-wheel-drive system will be standard across the Stelvio range, along with a carbon-fibre drive shaft and what Alfa Romeo calls 'class leading steering and handling ability'.
Local pricing will be announced closer to the model's local launch, but in other markets the Stelvio commands a slight price premium over the same grade Giulia as a guide to what we are likely to see.


www.caradvice.com.au/584520/2018-alfa-romeo-stelvio-local-details/

Just bought a 156 selespeed 2.0l twin spark . . Love it , really tight , handles like a go kart and no problems so far except for fuel , temp lights remain on permenantly . Great to drive !

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Leprechaun said..
Just bought a 156 selespeed 2.0l twin spark . . Love it , really tight , handles like a go kart and no problems so far except for fuel , temp lights remain on permenantly . Great to drive !

Fantastic cars. I had two 156s one was a red 156 Ti JTS 2.0 with Selespeed and red stitched momo leather. The other one was a silver 156 JTS 2.0 manual with wooden steering wheel and Alfa Lusso leather. True drivers cars, everytime you drive you enjoy the experience. They also look incredible and when parking always made sure to take a look as I walked away just to enjoy the lines of the Italian beauty. The spirit of Tazio Nuvolari lives on in these vehicles.

July 28: Tazio Nuvolari in the Italian Alfa defeats the might of the German Mercedes and Auto Union cars in the "greatest motorsports victory of all time" on this date in 1935.

Alfas have had their day. Check out the new Kia Stinger. Coming out later this month. You'll see the ad for it up front of this video.