Why Are Alfa Romeos So Cheap?
For a luxury vehicle brand, Alfa Romeo can look like a cheap option, especially for an Italian luxury brand.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that Alfa Romeos are affordable, just that an Alfa Romeo can be cheap for what you’re getting. Especially considering how high the luxury vehicle market can go, the more reasonable prices of the Alfa Romeo can leave luxury brand enthusiasts a little skeptical.
Can you really get a good luxury brand at the low prices of an Alfa Romeo?
Let’s take a look at what makes Alfa Romeos so cheap, whether they’re worth the cost, and what you should expect when you buy one.
Alfa Romeo Has A Reputation Problem
The first thing you need to know about Alfa Romeo is that they have a reputation in the luxury car community and the gearhead community. Both groups will tell you, almost without hesitation that Alfa Romeo vehicles are just as likely to leave you stranded as they are to work.
The thing is though, that reputation might not be as accurate as car fans would have you believe.
For the brand, though it doesn’t actually matter if the reputation is deserved (and we’ll talk about that more in a moment). The fact that they have the reputation, to begin with, means that they can’t charge the same prices they would if they had a reputation for reliability and durability.
So, why are Alfa Romeos so cheap? Part of it is because the company has to convince you that the vehicle is worth buying, even if it doesn’t work as well as you would hope.
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Did They Earn Their Reputation For Unreliability?
When it comes to vehicle brands with reputation problems, it’s worth asking if the brand actually deserves the reputation or not. Really, even vehicle manufacturers with good reputations should be examined to see if they deserve the reputation they have.
When it comes to Alfa Romeo there’s no cut and dry answer. Alfa Romeo drivers largely say that the vehicles are more reliable than the brand’s reputation would have you believe. But, at the same time, most of them would admit that Alfa Romeo and reliability shouldn’t be synonymous.
Plenty of Alfa Romeo vehicles do have real reliability problems, but most are going to work just fine at least a good percentage of the time.
So, a mixed bag. Their reputation is worse than it probably should be, but you should be prepared for a vehicle that’s going to need a little more TLC than average if you want to keep it in good working condition.
What Are The Real Problems With Alfa Romeos?
Looking at the brand as a whole, there are a few consistent problems with Alfa Romeos that are a big part of why Alfa Romeos are so cheap, beyond just the reputation behind the brand pushing prices down.
These reasons are both legitimate, but individual vehicles may not be affected. That’s one of the big issues with Alfa Romeo, individual cars seem to have much more variation than is typical of mass manufacturing, at least in terms of how the vehicle functions.
Electrical Issues
Almost all Alfa Romeo models are known to have some kind of electrical problem. These range from minor problems and mildly inconvenient electrical issues, to massive problems that cause significant functional issues with the vehicles.
Two of the most common variations on Alfa Romeo electrical issues are problems that make the warning lights on your dash come on – with no real reason for the warning, or climate control problems.
When it comes to climate control, issues like the vehicle being cross-wired so that it produces cold when you want heat or heat when you want cold are relatively common.
Both of these electrical problems can be resolved but depending on the model and the reasons for the problem, it can be an expensive fix. Other electrical issues can be even harder to take care of, and problems with the electrical system can cause problems on the road, even though they’re most likely to impact internal cabin features.
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Maintenance Needs To Happen ASAP
Especially when it comes to the timing belt and other occasional but important maintenance, it’s important to get maintenance done as soon as possible.
This is a big problem with Alfa Romeos because it means there is no room to fudge when the maintenance gets done, and it also means that you’re a lot more likely to have significant maintenance bills if you don’t get things done right away.
Alfa Romeo owners should know their owner’s manual, especially the recommended maintenance markers, incredibly well if they want to keep the vehicle in good working order.
It’s also important to know that Alfa Romeo uses a non-standard timing belt replacement schedule, and it’s common both to have to replace at lower mileage points than other vehicles and significantly more often regardless of mileage.
If you aren’t willing to replace your Alfa Romeo’s timing belt every 3-5 years, you probably want a different brand. Timing belt issues are just one of the maintenance reasons why Also Romeos are so cheap.
Needing Minor Repairs Right Away
The other big reason for the reputation, and the low price, is that Alfa Romeos often need repairs even when they’re brand new, and generally always have something small going wrong with them.
These issues are almost always small and generally inconsequential, but they’re constant. The Alfa Romeo is a car brand that’s likely to nickel and dime you in terms of both time and money if you want to address all the small problems with the vehicles.
Many owners accept the small issues as quirks and don’t try to fix problems that don’t impact driving performance or safety from their Alfa Romeo, but that isn’t a good solution for all owners.
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Are Alfa Romeos Worth The Price?
At the end of the day, no matter how cheap a luxury vehicle is, consumers still wind up asking themselves if they’re worth the price of ownership. When it comes to an Alfa Romeo, it’s important to consider both the cost of getting the vehicle and the cost of maintaining and repairing it once you have it.
That said, we can’t say that Alfa Romeo is worth it as a brand, at least, not for all consumers. There are going to be some people who absolutely love them and don’t mind their quirks and problems, and other people will probably feel like Alfa Romeo ownership is more trouble than it’s worth.
If you’re not sure whether you’re the kind of driver that will like an Alfa Romeo, then consider talking to people in the local community to learn more about what Alfa Romeo ownership is like.
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