When is an Alfa Romeo not an Alfa Romeo?

[oz3litre]

Duk, I really don't know why you knock anyone who enjoys modern Alfas as if they somehow don't understand the truth. As I said before, I, and others here, have owned Alfas that you would deem "real" Alfas, as well as modern ones and we like them all. I think we are reasonably well placed to judge. Your first point is possibly invalid, because almost all Alfa bodies have been designed by someone other than Alfa. As far as chassis go I would like to see just how much of a 156 or GT for example is exactly the same as a Fiat of some sort. Some people, for example, like to argue that the 164 was a shared platform with Fiat and SAAB, when in fact the only bit it shared was the centre section and none of the rest. I have owned a SAAB 9000 and two 164s and they are nothing like each other.  I still say that, in any case, it is the sum of the parts that really counts. There is most definitely the Alfa soul in my GT and the 159 as far as I am concerned and I am glad that I haven't allowed a purist attitude to deprive me of owning and enjoying two outstanding cars.

Well said Poohbah, I'm with you!

[Nikola78]

+1

[Duk]

So a Zagato bodied Dodge Viper is an Alfa then?

[Evan Bottcher]

I don't like the TZ3. It's not very Alfa on the surface nor beneath the skin. At best it's a design study, but IMO not a very successful one.

Otherwise I don't agree with Duk. Even the dullest of front wheel drive modern Alfas have enough unique character and styling to turn my head and note them as different.  The Mazda collaboration is risky, but I think the styling and powertrain alone will be distinct enough to call it an Alfa.

The TZ3 could do with a zagato badge, not an Alfa one.

[Vanalfaalfetta]

there not alfas anymore their fiats, anything before 1987 is an alfa

[oz3litre]

there not alfas anymore their fiats, anything before 1987 is an alfa

That simply is not true. The 164 was totally Alfa designed and shares very little with any Fiat. It was built from 1987 to 1995.

[poohbah]

I'm not getting back on this merry go round again. Van, you're entitled to your opinion, as are we. I drive an Alfa. It says so on the front, same as yours.