2002/ALFA comparisonl

[RussTii]

Hemmings Sports&Exotic Car has a comparison in it's Feb Issue of a 76 2002 and a 79 Alfa Sprint Veloce. Both are 1 owner cars and kinda sorta matchup. The Alfa is more expensive, heavier, more rust prone, harder to find parts, less reliable, etc. And yet the conclusion is the writers seemed to like the Alfa ??? Apparently the market then as now didn't exactly agree with the esteeemed writers conclusions as Alfa abandoned the US market in what, 1980 ? According to the article this 1 owner car has been in San Diego it's entire life and still had the shock towers rust out due to "lousy Russian steel" .

[BobBreed]

Our shop works on both Alfa's and BMW's. Our race support team supports both at vintage races (usually 4 Alfa's and 2 BMW's). I find getting parts for either marque is about the same. Some parts might be a little more expensive depending on what you are looking for. Having raced both, each has it's own strenghts. An alfa bottom end lasts forever; however after 40k miles, you need new syncros in the tranny. For a street car, I happen to prefer the Alfa GTV. For a track car, I love my 2002!!

Bob

[02for2]

I'm a Charter subscriber to Hemmings S&EC and read the article.

It left me with the same impression as the OP.

But, while I get the magazine, and have contributed to it in the past, I think you need to consider the source to some extent.

Hemmings entire culture and their bread & butter has mostly been Detroit Iron. Their take on imported stuff is seen through those eyes.

Then, every country of origin has it's own culture too. It's generally agreed that Italian marques posess greater Panache than German ones. German cars are known for other things.

I've own sports cars from Italy, Japan, Britain, Germany and the US, and each has a distinct flavor. Not better or worse, different.

I've driven many Alphas going back to the '70's and in general, they're very nice cars. To me, they always seemed a little fragile and over-engineered. Back in the '70's, I dated a beautiful girl who owned a Giulia. I was constantly fixing it, especially trying to get the Webers to stay dialed-in. She sold the car and dumped me a week later

I think the author took a very subjective point of view, giving the Alpha points for things which are mostly insignificant.

Frankly, I'd love to own them both. I can't. But if it was a choice between the two, I'd go with the 2002 without question.

Cheers!

[Emyers]

Alfa departed these shores in 1994.

Earl

aka Snakedriver

74 02Lux

02 M Roadster

72 Volvo 1800ES

[jrhone]

Alfas are very cool. Not asbulletproof as a 2002 or nearly anything German made but they are drivers cars with lots of cool engine technology. Twin cam cars were introduced what in the 70s? I wouldntmind one as my 4 th car. Lol.

[gastephens]

I have owned American, Japanese, British, French!!, and German.

I love Italian cars but have never owned one. I think my next car might be a GTV or a Duetto. I love my '02 but the GTV is just hot.

[Modifier]

I have both and while I am a true BMW-NUT, I couldn't pass up the red Alfa staring at me from a car lot that bright sunny afternoon. It is so much fun to be regularly mistaken for driving a Ferrari!

As for driving pleasure, I would call them equal in their own right. A a long drive in the country on a nice breezy day = Alfa. A tight twisty road up in the mountains = 2002.

As for maintenance, they are both relatively easy to get parts for. There is a lot of info out there to assist repairs and great forums with knowledgeable members. As for ease of getting to parts - well we all know how easy the 02 is to work on. Not always the case with an Alfa (Spider at least). Those sexy front fenders pull that engine in nice and tight and yes you will bust a knuckle or two ocassionally!

As for transmissions, BMW wins this hands down. If your Alfa doesn't grind 2nd gear you either are skipping it for 3rd or it has been rebuilt LOL. That said, you can rev the daylights out of an Alfa making them very fun to drive.

[jrhone]

It is so much fun to be regularly mistaken for driving a Ferrari!

Not alot of sports cars in TN huh? lol

[Modifier]

Ha! Well, none that are driven on a regular basis that is for sure! Whenever there is a Cars & Coffee event at the local shop, it is always amazing to see what people have they never drive.

[rijco]

Kind of odd to be disparaging Alfa's on the basis of their departure from the U.S. market. I've owned, and currently own, both Alfas and BMWs. Back in the 70's, I owned an Alfa Giullietta Sprint that was a wonderful car and commuted daily in a Alfa Giullietta Spider - both cars were dead nuts reliable as I recall. I currently own an Alfa Spider Veloce in near perfect, trouble-free condition that's a pleasure to maintain. I've also owned a '76 2002 that made a great impression and led eventually to the purchase of my current 1602 euro-spec, which has been a money pit, but I love it nonetheless. I think these cars are to the automotive industry what Apollo and Dionysus were to Greek theater - two distinctly different polarities, as is to be expected given their countries of origin. They evoke different spirits when driven, and aren't actually comparable. Viva la Difference!

[TobyB]

That's an odd comparo. That generation Alfa's a real POS.

A GTV and a 2002 are siblings-

each has its strong points.

The Alfa has really nice lines- and a solid rear axle.

The BMW has a stout motor- and rocker arms.

The GTV kicked the 2002's ass in the day- yet more 2002s are

racing today- by a factor of 10.

I'd take whichever was in better shape!

t

[dubois]

That's an odd comparo. That generation Alfa's a real POS.

A GTV and a 2002 are siblings-

each has its strong points.

The Alfa has really nice lines- and a solid rear axle.

The BMW has a stout motor- and rocker arms.

The GTV kicked the 2002's ass in the day- yet more 2002s are

racing today- by a factor of 10.

I'd take whichever was in better shape!

t

agree that is a more fair comparison, to me, the trilogy of desire during my "yout" was: 2002, alfa gtv, 240z. never owned or drove an italian automobille, maybe a 500 is what I have to settle for. The article didn't make sense to me, like comparing apples to oranges, they must be running out of material...

[Delia]

The article didn't make sense to me, like comparing apples to oranges, they must be running out of material...

Apples and oranges, indeed!

[BMWonly]

The GTV kicked the 2002's ass in the day- yet more 2002s are

racing today- by a factor of 10.

t

You need to come to the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca in August. Way more Alfa GTV's racing there than 2002's.

Dieter

[InkaSteve]

You have to admit...they are very pretty cars.....Spent quite a few hours and miles with these guys on California backroads and their smiles were just as big as mine.