Is the $80K starting price of 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio reasonable?

On paper it is a bargain, just like the Corvette. 505hp for $82k USD. And it can handle as seen with its steller Ring time. However, it is a small SUV, not mid or full size. So in my view, it is a great value at that price, sizing putting a ceiling on what you can charge. Buy it with the extended warranty or lease it on 36 months if you can write it off.

@MD That is why I mentioned "on paper" and that leasing is a good option for some. You are much closer to the real world issues on this and other cars than I am. Reviews are mostly rosy and it is a very quick SUV but there is no long-term testing on this or the sedan as they are both new to the market.

On paper it's even less of a bargain.

Well @MD I guess you will never lease one, but if I was in the market for a go-fast small SUV (maybe I have a lap dog in my next life vs a Chessie) I would certainly do a 24 or 36-month lease and find out what the fuss was all about. It is likely a hoot to drive. And unlike the Benz, Audi or BMW products, you won't see another one 10 times a day.

This is NOT a bargain. Not even close. While it doesn't have as many egregious quality glitches as the Giulia had, any Alfa Romeo dealer will tell you the brand is still is not up to par. An $80K Mercedes will simply be worlds better. Yes the Quadrapleggio engine is a great engine, but it still loves going into the limp mode from time to time. Couple that with FCA's aversion to durability testing and you'd better lease. If you want a Quadraformaggio that will perform properly get a Macan. The sales pace of the Stelvio so far indicate that in no way will it challenge the segment for dominance, just like the Giulia has failed to score big.

When is it going to sink in, the goal of both Alfa and Maserati was never to “Dominate” a segment. It always was to offer a credible alternative to MB, BMW, Audi somewhat similar to what Jaguar is attempting.

Mercedes and BMW each sell over 2 million cars per year, Audi is at about 1.8, Jaguar Land Rover at just under 700,000. Maserati which is profitable is at just over 50,000 per year with a goal of 70-75,000 per year. Alfa is at 120k per with really only 6 months of the Stelvio on the market. Alfa’s goal is 400,000 per year, it has 6 more models coming to market in the next 4 years at least 2 of which are SUVs. Suffice to say that Alfa will hit its target numbers. In that same timeframe Maserati will have a complete turnover of its models while adding 2 additional models.

The two biggest issues facing Maserati/Alfa are things tend to run on Italian time and the positioning of Chrysler personnel within the structure of the company.

BTW at the level Alfa sells at it should be at least 60% lease , Maserati 80%

When is it going to sink in that in order to be viable brands, Alfa Romeo and Maserati have to have volume? 400K in volume for Alfa is ridiculous.

Is Porsche a viable brand? It’s total worldwide sales for 2017 was 246,000 a record.

Wishful thinking.

This would not be a rational purchase based on reason, this would be an emotional one. Totally worth it!

@vidv - Agreed. It would put a smile on my face every morning to open the garage walk along the side of the car and see that clover on the fender! :). It would need to be red.

I still think most of the quality issues are being or have been sorted. Most of the later reviews are not encountering the issues that plagued the earlier ones which seemed mostly engines going into limp mode but no actual mechanical issues. Cars today are largely parts bin from large parts/component manufacturers which should help a lot when it comes to quality. Transmissions, instrument clusters, shocks, brakes and on and on are the same or similar to what the Germans use. I sure hope they sort out the last details as it would be only a good thing to have more choices. Agree on the lease for now though :). I recently drove a Giulia TI AWD and it was fantastic. Great handling, steering, chassis, transmission and even the engine was much more lag free than the M240i we drove later. I would recommend it, on a lease.

The quality issues are not "all gone" not even. Cars still arrive with indifferent assembly that dealers have to fix. Some cars require partial resprays. If you must have an Alfa Romeo, definitely do a short lease. They are still not a good risk to own.

FCA will never do it, but a Giulia with a Hemi under the hood instead of the wannabe Ferrari mongrel engine would that makes it and the Stelvio ridiculously high priced in Quadriclusterfluccio trim probably work wonders for the perception of the car.

There are two ways to look at this.
1- A car is a transportation appliance to get from one place to another within the confines of the law. In this case- you cannot justify most cars - and a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic will probably be overkill with their standard engine.

2 - A car is a device of pleasure and prestige as well - both in Luxury and Performance.
Once you admit this is correct - then the word REASONABLE does not enter the equation. Once you have driven a Mercedes Maybach - it becomes really really hard to justify more money for a Rolls Royce - except in Prestige. How much is SOMEONE will to pay for more prestige is up to them - and as a result we cannot really decide that for anyone but OURSELVES. People who have unlimited amounts of money - spend for things that no one in this group could afford or justify.

This is the issue that happens when a car manufacturer or dealer that is successful selling mass market cars tries to go upscale. Many fail to realize that no one “Needs” that upscale product, they want it. Big Difference. Even upscale brands fail when they try to push to far beyond their niche. Mercedes failed miserably with the Maybach, Porsche likewise with their Carrera GT. When BMW tried to sell cars priced well North of 100k like the Z8, they crashed and burned. The only car company that has been able to successfully continue to push the envelope higher is Ferrari.

If you really think about it the only truly successful mass market company that was able to go somewhat upscale is Toyota with Lexus.

Someone in my neighborhood has one.. It looks old already... She looks good though.. lol

divorced yoga queens will fall for this

I wouldn't step foot in a dealership for any Alfa at this time, unless, of course, I won one. Then I'd get it and sell it immediately. Until they can sort out their issues and until I see where resale values fall, I'm keeping my distance. That's all I'll add to this discussion.

wise man