1.6 JTDM Veloce

A car to both love, and hate.

Economical, fast, eye catching, fun, practical are all words I would use to describe our Mito....

...along with terrible build quality!!!

We added a few extras when we bought the car, including Alfa Red paint (extra cost) and heated seats.

Within 2 minutes of driving out the problems started. My backside was decididly warm, but it was my partners seat heater that was on. Yep, they had wired it up wrong at the factory.

The list of issues is as follows:
New gearbox at 18000 miles
Engine management light kept comming on, faulty sensor
2 resprays to bonnet and rear arches, and then an application of film to stop extreme chipping.
3 sets of wiper arms.
Another bonnet respray thanks to the wiper arms catching the edge of the bonnet and taking the paint off.
All suspension parts replaced, dampers replaced 3 times (in 37k)
Boot release fell off/off.
Engine sounds like a tractor, after servicing its a bit better but soon gets loud again.
Various other niggles that occur.
Currently making a loud whine from gearbox, but is being traded in next week so we won't worry about that!

To be fair, EVERYTHING has been done on warrenty with no questions asked, but as the nearest dealer is 90 miles away, it is a bit of a hassle to get the car to them. The fact they have NEVER given us a Alfa as a replacement car suggests even the dealer does not trust them!

The interiot plastics are hard and easily scratched and the carbon effect dash reflects badly in the sunlight. The sound system is very poor, with the voice command for the MP3 player sounding like she is in the toilet with a mouth full of tissue paper. It has never actually worked properly and will not select tracks as requested.

Having said all that, as a drivers car, even with the diesel engine, it is fantastic. The DNA is superb, with the Dynamicsetting bringing a massive smile to you face and All Weather mode seeing us through some bad winters.

Its extremely practical too with a large boot and folding rear seats, my partner has carried all sorts in the back, from manure to a weeks worth of firewood!

On the long drive to London from the North of Scotland, it behaved perfectly and was a pleasure to drive at motorway speeds. As a town car it excels.

So, we love the driving experience, but are not so keen on the owning experience. It was going to be traded in for a Guiletta so the experience did not sour our taste too much, but then the Toyota GT86 was launched, so bye bye Alfa....for now.

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