He buys the cheapest Alfa Romeo Giulia V6 with 510 HP and 120,000 miles on the odometer… and gives his review 3 months later

Last July, we told you the story of this British man who had dared to buy a Alfa Romeo Giulia A 510 ch Quadrifoglio for just £21,000, or about €25,000. A particularly attractive price for this sporty sedan, but it comes with a catch: nearly 200,000 km on the odometer and a few suspension issues. Three months after buying it, the owner has just posted a new video to take stock of the financial costs of this adventure. And suffice it to say, there were plenty of unpleasant surprises!

Three breakdowns in just two months!

It had all started out so well, though. Despite its impressive mileage, this 2018 Giulia Quadrifoglio was in remarkably good condition. Better yet, its owner was able to obtain official confirmation of its service history from’Alfa Romeo. He then discovers that £13,000 (approximately €15,000) was spent on maintenance during its first six years.

That should have put his mind at ease about his purchase. But a few days after his first video, the check engine light came on and the car eventually stalled. After adding 15 liters of gas, it started up again normally. The owner then assumed the problem was related to a low fuel level. Two weeks later, another breakdown occurred, with the same symptoms—but this time with the tank half full! The diagnosis was clear: the fuel pump was defective.

An initial invoice for €1,700

I headed to an Alfa Romeo specialist to have the pump and its electronic module replaced. The mechanic also discovered that the car had never received certain electronic updates, particularly the one related to the fuel gauge, which could display a level that was too high. In total, Ten updates are performed, along with a general audit. First invoice: £1,428, or about €1,700.

But the problems continue. No sooner had it been repaired than the Giulia refused to fill up properly, before breaking down a third time—this time with a fuel leak! This time, an installation issue with the new fuel pump was identified. The specialist took charge of the situation.

The rear suspension drives up the bill

There’s still the famous rattling noise in the rear, which was already mentioned at the time of purchase. The inspection reveals several worn parts: the upper control arms, the ball joints integrated into the hub carriers, and other suspension arms. The problem is that Alfa Romeo does not sell the ball joints separately. The entire assemblies must be replaced, at a cost of 500 € each, excluding tax, not counting labor. The owner took the opportunity to remove the short springs and restore the car to its original ride height. Several parts were replaced, including a rear shock absorber, which the specialist provided free of charge.

Despite these repairs, a very slight rattling sound remains. Rather than continuing to replace parts unnecessarily, the mechanic recommends monitoring the situation. This second round of repairs is nearing the £2,000 (about €2,400).

Nearly £4,000 in repairs… Does he regret his purchase?

The results are now in: nearly £4,000, or about €4,700, spent in just two months of use. When you add the £21,000 purchase price, this Giulia Quadrifoglio already costs him about £25,000, or nearly €30,000, excluding fuel and insurance.

And yet, its owner has absolutely no regrets! He even admits that the car looked better and handled slightly more precisely with its short springs. But returning to the original suspension now allows him to drive without worrying about damaging the expensive front splitter on every speed bump. Above all, despite its nearly 200,000 km, the 510 ch twin-turbo V6 continues to impress him. For him, this Giulia remains an exceptional car to drive.

In the end, this bargain-priced Quadrifoglio wasn't as fuel-efficient as hoped. But even after several thousand euros in repairs, its owner still seems convinced he got a good deal. It remains to be seen whether the coming months will prove him right!