Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Alfa-Romeo in North America

[jashburne (jashburne]

Maserati came back from a horrendous image with its disasterous biturbo in the 
80's so Alfa has a shot. The 8c looks great but for $300k I would take my pick 
of the Ferrari lineup.

The keys to success  will be competitve value, good dealer network and service  
support, an effective marketing plan and realistic sales goals in a weak 
economy with lots of overcapacity in its market segments.

I would like to see them back in the US, I owned 3 of them back in the 70's and 
they were great cars.  More recently I rented a turbodiesel sedan for 3 weeks 
in France a few years ago and loved it.

John
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: Britt2Asa [at] aol.com

Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:17:06 
To: <jashburne [at] aol.com>
Cc: <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Alfa-Romeo in North America


 
 
Yeah Larry, "Europe" has heard of the Camry and the Accord and for the most 
 part has rejected them. The Camry is an old's man car in every way and 
wouldn't  sell here. The "European" Accord is not to bad but not better than 
the 3 series  or the A4. Expensive parts, indifferent dealers and a minimal 
price difference  means you aren't going to go gaga over a Jap Rep mobile. My 
neighbour has an  Accord. its "ok" but he is going German next time. I 
looked at one but just  ordered a new BMW. The RV on the Germans means they are 
cheaper to own and the  cleaner engines on the Germans (CO 2) means they are 
cheaper to run and  tax.
 
In general you guys have a twisted view of Alfas. New Alfas are not the  
same as the older cars but seriously I can't be bothered to explain.....  :)
 
When I met up with Clyde and a fellow Pilot friend and assorted girlfriends 
 at the British GP they were in two little rented Fiats. Both of them had 
nothing  bad to say about those little cars and really enjoyed them. Clyde 
understands  how good little Italian cars are! I don't think any American who 
hasn't been out  of the US and driven these cars (Fiat or Alfa) can really 
comment or understand  how good and fun they are. Then again driving in the 
states is more about how  many cup holders you can cram in and driving in a 
straight line slowly then  understanding driving feel and corners so that 
explains the dull fat assed Camry  sales perfectly!
 
(Before you start some jumping up and down to hard remember I AM American  
and having lived and worked in the auto industry on both sides of the 
Atlantic  for the past 20 years.)
 
I think you will see Alfas sold in the states in the next two years.  
Whether they sell is more a reflection about what Americans want and HOW they  
drive then a function of the car. I like the modern Alfas, the 159 would be a  
top choice but it was to pricey for me this round compared to the BMW. I 
was in  an 8C Spider last week and I tell you that thing is beautiful inside 
and  out!
 
Britt

Thx for  the info about my Alfa question.  Doesn't look like we'll see Alfa 
 
dealerships on every corner for a very long time.   I used to  hear about 
their rust problems - that were said to start on the assembly  line! - 
someone mentioned an issue with reliability also.   Yet  they keep selling 
well enough in Europe to stay in business.    Hasn't Europe heard about 
Accords and Camrys?

Of course, a Alfa  would be preferable to an Accord for someone wanting a 
little personality  in their ride -

Have a nice Thursday  -
LarryT





BR in the  UK
1986 328GTS (LHD 89,940km) Died August 19, 2006 Shrewsbury UK
1980 400i  (RHD 74,000 miles)
Searching for the right 512TR
2003 BMW 530d
1991  Alfa Spider S4 LHD
1993 Alfa Spider S4 LHD
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