He managed to buy an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio for less than the price of a Tonale SUV! "The best car I've ever owned!"

Buying a 500-plus hp sports sedan for the price of a new compact SUV? The idea may seem absurd, yet that's exactly what just happened in the United States. On the Cars & Bids platform, a 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio found a buyer for $35,500, less than the price of a new Alfa Romeo Tonale, which starts at $36,535 on the US market. A situation that perfectly illustrates the evolution of the used car market for Alfa Romeo in this country.

A Giulia Quadrifoglio at the price of a compact SUV

The example in question is a 2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio, with just over 42,400 miles on the clock, or around 68,000 km. A far-from-new car, to be sure, but one that retains the very essence of what made the Italian sedan so famous: a Ferrari-sourced 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, developing 510 hp and 600 Nm of torque, transmitted to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. At the time of its launch, this Giulia Quadrifoglio was positioned as a direct competitor to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63, with first-rate performance figures including a 0 to 100 km/h time of less than 4 seconds. Today, it's available at a lower price than a premium compact SUV with far less performance.

A desirable configuration despite a few shortcomings

This Giulia Quadrifoglio was offered in an elegant Vulcano Black Metallic color, combined with a black interior. The car has not been modified and has never been involved in an accident. The equipment is particularly comprehensive, with the Driver Assist Dynamic package, 19-inch Dark Tecnico wheels, Brembo brakes and numerous carbon-fiber elements: front splitter, hood, roof and rear spoiler. On board, you'll find electrically adjustable heated seats, leather and Alcantara upholstery and the Harman Kardon audio system. All is not perfect, however. The pre-purchase inspection mentions classic cosmetic defects for a car of this age and mileage: scratches, paint chips, marks under the front bumper, a small dent on a door and visible corrosion on some exhaust components. The interior also shows wear consistent with use.

This model benefits from a relatively complete service history. Brakes and tires have been replaced recently, oil changes carried out regularly, and several heavier interventions appear in the history, notably on the fuel system and turbos in the early years. The seller, who had owned the car since early 2023, explained that he had to part with it reluctantly for professional reasons, referring to it as "the best car he had ever owned". A statement often heard from Giulia owners, who praise its character as much as its driving feel.

All the more interesting in the current context.

At $35,500, this Giulia Quadrifoglio is not only less expensive than a new Tonale, but also well below the price of a new Giulia base model, which in the United States retails for almost $44,000. By comparison, a new BMW M3 starts today at over $78,000. The contrast is all the more striking given that Quadrifoglio versions are no longer sold on the American market, reinforcing the almost "collector" character of these models for enthusiasts. For around 67,000 km and a price equivalent to that of a family SUV, the buyer walked away with one of the most charismatic sports sedans of the last decade. At this price, in Europe, you can buy it on the spot!