Comments on: Alfa Romeo MiTo released in Australia

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Nice and I hope it does well against the Mini, although exterior design is a bit odd, not like the classic GTV’s… However I will wait for the VW Scirocco which should be better all around and less expensive.

By: GraemeS

GraemeS — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:01:56 +0000

The MiTo shares the same engine as used by Fiat in the Punto Sport and Ritmo Sport with just a bit more power.

Couldn’t have the Alfa putting out more power than a Fiat!

The build quality is excellent as one would expect from a modern European maker. We just have to convince the motoring public that today’s Alfa/Fiat of this fact and not to harp back to the models of the 70s and 80s when Russian steel was used in their manufacture.

By: Bavarian Missile®™

Bavarian Missile®™ — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:43:56 +0000

Fillipo – pronunciation only relates to the spoken word that is the way you say something.. Sure the way you say something depends on how a word is spelt etc
However; I’m not sure how you can get annoyed at the way people are “pronouncing” the word Mi-To given that they are writing it [in a sentence] NOT saying it.. I mean everyone is spelling it the same way aren’t they?

By: SteveC

SteveC — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:45:56 +0000

Hmm, I thought it shared the platform with a Punto.

I was going to just change the badges on mine when I got the chance. :p

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:42:51 +0000

Will seriously consider looking at this once the Dual Clutch Auto arrives in Mid 2010… hers hoping the supply issues have cleared up by then too…

According to Carsales, the auto is due her in mid 2010, and its a double clutch gearbox… shouldnt be too bad…

By: filippo

filippo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:20:53 +0000

What really gets on my nerves is how people are already trying to mispronounce the MiTo name. Jez Spinks on Drive is encouraging people to pronounce it like “me too” which is totally wrong (in Italian this pronounciation would be spelt “mitu”).

FYI, it is pronounced like “me-toe” but with the emphasis more on the “i” and a short “o”.

By: adam smith

adam smith — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:08:25 +0000

frugalone,

i feel sorry for you.

By: phillip

phillip — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:45:53 +0000

FrugalOne: I think that if you walked into an Alfa dealership, the salesman would refuse to sell you one just out of principle.

By: FrugalOne

FrugalOne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:06:53 +0000

!Frontman^^^

NFI, they most likely did it as you claim on purpose to make themselves feel all warm-n-fuzzy?

Where is the MultiAir system?

Where is the auto?

Where is the GTA powerhouse?

Great and class leading vehicle for Yuppi/DINK’s set, but not suitable for my lifestyle.

Cheers

F-0

By: SOF

SOF — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:06:39 +0000

I have an Alfa 156, my bro has a Mini. His car had so much problem its not funny. The Alfa in comparison has given no trouble. Modern Alfas are not any less reliable than other Euro brands. Like everyone else, was very hesitant about buying an Alfa, but what I found is… most people commenting on how bad Alfa reliability have never owned a modern one. You can’t expect it to be bullet proof like a Japanese car, you need to make sure it is serviced regularly like all euro cars.

By: adam smith

adam smith — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:48:31 +0000

half of you are living in la la land to seriously believe that alfa romeo is not reliable???
now have 73,000km on my 159 and that bella has been 100% rock solid.
as for my wifes 23,000km mini? that piece of junk has cost us over $9000 in repair bills.
we are now trading the mini for the mito as it is way more fun to drive and way cheaper than a mini.
as for alfa depreciation? do your bloody homework? to purchase say, an audi a3 or bmw 3 series the same spec as the 159? you need to find an extra $18,000/$20,000

Alfa Romeo. Looking gorgeous, unashamedly Italian, off-skewered off-set number plate, brazen looks and couldn’t give two hoots for Nuremburg lap time conquests. While journalists are out there measuring which car’s got the biggest willy, Alfa’s around the back, dragging on a ciggie and enticing everyone with its charm, looks and good manners.

follow the crowd consumer = showing everyone you have the right school uniform

Alfa = not giving a shi5 about the ‘right’ uniform; but having the right heart.

By: Dick Justice

Dick Justice — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:47:23 +0000

anti-spam word ‘way’ as in this car is way overpriced.. nice one caradvice

By: Absi

Absi — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:50:56 +0000

for all this talk – i hope this is more reliable than the rest of the afla range …. choice between this and mini and the answer is mini … at least it will run when i want it to!

By: jcos

jcos — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:47:37 +0000

I test drove the ’sport’ on Monday. I enquired about the fully loaded model with sunroof, leather and chrome pack on the headlights and tail-lights – and um they had not sold one at the Melbourne Dealership that i tested it at… Anyway it is a beast to drive, much more fun than the Mini, feels more alive. Can i say i agree it looks odd in pics, but in the flesh it looks MUCH MUCH better. My only concern is that of re-sale at the end of a lease, and are Alfas really that problematic? Everyone i speak to tells me to stay away because of reliability… Travelling to Europe frequently i see them everywhere, yet here in Aus they seem to have a terrible rep for reliability. Does anyone know if this is really the case with the new models. I am keen to buy one, but will go the mini option on reliability. Had a Golf GTi – so these are the two cars im keen on. Can anyone advise? Cheers :)

By: jimmy james

jimmy james — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:28:37 +0000

The fact this car is a sellout goes to prove there are a lot of gullible people out there who dont mind being separated from their hard earned.

The only car on sale in Australia more ridiculously overpriced than this is the Honda Civic Si Hatch.

The mini is overpriced too but it has outstanding dynamics which in part makes up for some of the financial burden of buying one. Not to mention the Mini’s excellent resale, which is something Alfa can only dream of.

From all reports the Mito has ‘average’ steering with little or no feel, and is no more than a competent handler.

Then again, I suspect those qualities matter little to the Latte set.

So, what’s my point?

Dont have one! Except to say this thing is about $5k over priced, in my view.

However, if you’ve bought one, I hope you get a lot of joy from it.

Oh and I should say I really want to love Alfa..I really do. The 159 Ti is the best looking sedan in the world in my opinion. But for God’s sake, The 159 needs some grunt (at least 150kw 4cyl and 200kw 6cyl), a fruity exhaust note and some German-worrying dynamics. If it had those i’d be tempted to forget about the depreciation and just yell VIVA ITALIA!

Cheers
JJ

By: Frontman

Frontman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:20:29 +0000

^^^^^^^^FrugalOne Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am

First shipment is totally sold out, next shipment just about to, earliest you can get your hands on one is Dec/Jan.2010
Okay hey that’s great…. and HOW MANY cars are inthose shipments????
It all well and good to make those claims but when you are only getting around 100 per month it doesn’t say much. Remember when XR5 was released and within 2 weeks it had order banks blowing out 8 months??? SOunded fantastic but in reality Aust only got 40 cars amonth. Todays public WILL NOT wait 3>4 months for a vehicle like this when there are so many other cars onthe market that offer similar Pananche. Lets see Polo, C2/3/4, Clio, Punto, 207and dare I say it (because you will laugh but the Europeans aren’t they put them in the same class) but even the New Fiesta (in ZETEC Guise) is a competitor for the same market place.

As for the car I like it it is quirky and looks different to the crowd. But then (apart from Polo so do all the others in that list)

By: Marcoz

Marcoz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:15:45 +0000

I like it alot, its different, but to be honest i would buy the fiat 500 for some unknown reason…just like it that little bit better i guess. Would be better as a rear wheel though….

By: Yanzo

Yanzo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:15:38 +0000

the only itiliant car i’d buy is ferrari, zonda and maybe masarati

By: Wheelnut®™

Wheelnut®™ — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:10:58 +0000

Or an Alfa Romeo Brera V6

By: Wheelnut®™

Wheelnut®™ — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:10:08 +0000

Frugal One – you say that the Alfa Romeo Mito has S-e-x Appeal…. so how many beers did you have to have before it started to look attractive? I mean from the front it looks like a stoned Parrot…. I’d rather have a Mini Cooper S