The name Alfa Romeo is often associated with exotic and wildly capable sports cars. Although the brand has seen better days, post-Ferrari ownership, Alfa has definitely started to regain its former glory. Though not as influential as it was, Alfa Romeo still demands the best of Italian finesse.
Top Gear played an important role in establishing Alfa’s popularity as a true driver’s car. However, it’s been a while since Alfa has brought anything worth mentioning until the Giulia. It was one of the cars that put Alfa back on the map and the more aggressive Giulia Quadrifoglio had many on their toes.
Certainly, Alfa is cashing in on the success of the Guilia with more focussed Quadrifoglio GTA and GTAm versions joining the lineup. However, the topic of our discussion today is obviously owning a used Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Since prices were around $75,000 for a new Giulia QV it was hard for many enthusiasts to own one. However, thanks to the miracle of depreciation, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is now cheaper than a mid-spec Ford F-150 with an average price of around $45,000.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio- A Brief
The Giulia Quadrifoglio was introduced in 2015 as a high-performance version of the standard Giulia sedan. It uses a Ferrari-sourced engine displacing 2.9-liters. The twin-turbo V6 churns 503 horsepower with 443 lb-ft of torque. The engine is essentially a California V8 with two cylinders lopped off. While Ferrari’s involvement in developing the engine was certainly disregarded by folks at Alfa Romeo, the resemblance is highly uncanny. Waffle aside, the engine is mated to a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic with the drive being supplied to the rear-wheels only. Though no manual was offered in the US, the Giulia QV proved to be an exceptional package as far as enthusiasts we concerned.
Further adding to the list of features is a torque-vectoring rear differential and active aerodynamic flaps up front. Together with all of its electronic gadgetry, the Giulia QV offered a sensational driving experience. Its closest competitors did offer a similar experience but the lack of Alfa’s magic was evident. The poise of the chassis mated to Ferrari’s electronic steering helped with quick directional changes with the slightest of hesitation.
Unlike Alfas of the past, the Giulia Quadrifoglio came with working electronics that are far better when it comes to reliability. Though it’s comical to talk of reliability in this day and age of improved production process and quality control, Alfa was at least in the past plagued with choppy reliability. You have all sorts of amenities expected from a car of this price point. However, earlier models were devoid of Apple Carplay and Andriod Auto. Not the end of the world but something to keep in mind.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: A Rundown Of Its Depreciation
In terms of depreciation, the Alfa Giulia QV is one of the worst. Yep, a brand new Giulia QV depreciates 25% after a year, which is not happy news for someone who saved up for one. However, second and third-year rates are fairly respectable at around $7,000 and $3,000 respectively. If you factor in depreciation per thousand miles driven it’s relatively high for newer model years with around $1,200 and around $350 for earlier models. The general consensus is that the prices for a used Giulia QV are almost plateauing but haven’t reached the bottom as of yet. Obviously, a lot of these factors depend on total mileage on the clock, and as with any generic car, having a fairly high mileage example won’t do you any good in terms of resale.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: Cheaper Than A Ford F-150
While this might seem good news for an enthusiast, there’s a catch. The Giulia QV unfortunately is not cheap as a base F-150, however, expect to pay around the same as what you would for a Lariat Super Crew. While that totals to around $45,000, you’re getting a serious bit of kit in the form of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Instead of a lumpy pickup truck, you get a far more capable sports sedan that’s much more entertaining than the F-150. Although, running costs are a different thing altogether. Being a sports sedan, expect relatively high maintenance costs. Obviously, it’s hard to overlook the fact that the Giulia QV is a proper thoroughbred and far betting looking shall we say.
Though owning an F-150 has its perks in terms of daily errands, the Giulia is a comfortable commuter. Slip it into comfort mode and you have yourself a docile hot hatch. Dial it up a notch and you get a 4-door Ferrari. As per Carfax, the lowest priced Giulia QV is listed for $43,000. That’s a genuine steal considering where prices are headed and the fact that you get to own a 503-horsepower Italian sports sedan with a modern Ferrari engine.
Sources: Fourwheel Trader, Carfax