It seems I need to learn Italian now.

[Jeff V.]

So...yeah. I kind of hinted at this in shout earlier.

How do you say "I too like to live dangerously" in Italian?



Not mine, not Vira's, but Vira's sister. However, I'm the one who originally showed it to her. So it's my fault. OMG, it's all my fault.

Once the warranty is up, I will be the warranty.

https://www.edmunds.com/alfa-romeo/stel ... 1M7D09482/

Here's the highlights for when the Edmunds link expires. I'll post better pictures when I have some.

2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Sprint AWD
Alfa Rosso (bright red) with Nero Edizione (all the silver trim is replaced with black)
Black with chocolate interior
Panoramic roof
10 speaker stereo
Cold weather package
Active Assist package 1 (lane keeping, adaptive cruise, etc)
19" wheels
Android Auto + CarPlay + wireless charging
24,000 miles
~18 months of factory warranty remaining
$25,000

She's wanted a bright red Porsche Cayenne for-fucking-ever. She especially wanted one with an interesting colored interior. I found her a red Titanium Edition Cayenne a few years back, but it was kinda rough. It seems like everything in her price range is at least one flight away. Not really an option for her.

Just for laughs I was browsing the ads (as one does) about 3 weeks ago, and I found this. I showed it to her just for fun.

German turned into Italian faster than any of us expected.

We're very happy for her. She's coming out of a 175k mile 2009 Mazda CX9. Adequate car, but utterly unremarkable. She's dealt with a lot of shit and deserves to finally have something nice.

I've only driven it briefly, but it impressed me. It's more like a tall sports car than an SUV. I'm looking forward to a longer drive in it.

I really wonder what the 505 hp Quadrifoglio version is like.

[Duck Vader]

How hard are they to work on?

[Jeff V.]

I looked at the cost for basic maintenance parts. It's all pretty reasonable. It doesn't need much in the way of periodic maintenance. I haven't looked into clones of the current FCA/Stellantis scan tool yet. Hopefully I won't need it. The engine bay was built to fit a TT V6, and hers is a 4 cylinder, so there's plenty of room in there.

[Chris GTO TT]

I hear those are an absolute riot to drive. The 500 hp one seems excessive lol

[aaronatstate]

I do like the looks of them, and the Giulia. The V6 they put in the top models is essentially the engine from the Ferrari 488 with 2 less cylinders.

[Jeff V.]

I hope the brake pads aren't as dusty as the ones on our Audi. I'm so over that. I really need to change them out soon.

[alienviking]

Love the Giulia and this doesn't look bad at all for a SUV. Good for her!

...my eye also was drawn to the Jeep in the background haha..

[Chris GTO TT]

...my eye also was drawn to the Jeep in the background haha..

It's probably broken down

[Jeff V.]

She got it from a Chrysler/Dodge/RAM/Jeep dealer not far from where we work. It's also right across from the Carmax where Vira and I have gotten our cars.

There are two Alfa dealers in town. One 5 minutes away from where she bought this, and another one further up north near where she lives. If she needs to use the warranty, it should be pretty convenient. One close to home, and one close to work.

[DCIV]

Always loved the look of those. Always scared to own one.


Coop

[aaronatstate]

I hope the brake pads aren't as dusty as the ones on our Audi. I'm so over that. I really need to change them out soon.

They probably won't be as dusty as the top model. The brake pads are the same for the Giulia and Stelvio. I can't find dimensions for the 4 piston calipers, but it looks like they are similar to the 1001 brake pad shape, just with a wear sensor on them. Looks like there are a fair amount of aftermarket options, so should be able to get low dust, decent pads when the OE one wear out.

[ChargerX3]

Nice looking Alpha. Ive always liked their designs. This is the same car as the Dodge Hornet right?

[Jeff V.]

Hornet is based on the smaller Alfa Tonale.

[ChargerX3]

Ok, gotcha.

[Jeff V.]

Had to stop by and talk to the inlaws. Eileen was there. At least I got a nice photo out of it.

[ChargerX3]

Looks nice. They still like it.

[Jeff V.]

Still have not learned Italian. The car hates me. This feeling is becoming mutual.

Eileen brought it to me for a brake job and an oil change. The rear brake pads were shot. The pad wear wires had worn clean off. It's only got 45,600 miles. WTF. Fronts were still servicable, but I decided to change everything just to get it done.

The work wasn't too bad. There was some weirdness related to the hard lines on the front calipers, but I figured out a trick to deal with it.

The problem came when I started it back up. Seemingly EVERY chassis system in the fucking car had a fault. The only things I unhooked were the parking brake motors and the pad wear sensors. Two of the pad wear sensors were already shot, so that doesn't make any sense.



Stability control
Hill hold control
Electronic parking brake
Regular brakes
Collision mitigation
Auto cruise control
Whatever the fuck AST is
AUTO HIGH BEAMS NOT AVAILABLE. WTF
And a few others I can't remember.

I unhooked the battery while I did the oil change. That only seemed to make it worse. It drives fine, but it's freaking the fuck out. And I still haven't figured out the truck to make the damn oil change indicator go away. Why can't it just be a menu item like GM and Ford have?

It was getting late, so we ended up sending her home with Vira's Audi.

I am quite cross.

[Jeff V.]

To add injury to insult, my lower back decided to throw a couple of codes early in the job. So I'm in a peachy mood tonight.

[Chris GTO TT]

[DCIV]

I wonder if you got a wrong sensor, so while the others were shot this one is sending the wrong signal and messing with everything. Prob not, you prob have factory stuff.


Coop