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Romancing the Alfa Romeo

ERIC REGULY AND GREG KEENAN

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:53 AM EDT 27/04/08

It hasn't been available here since 1995, but parent Fiat is said to be looking to Ontario as it readies a North American relaunch ...Read the full article

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  1. Svenska Jeff from Malmo, Sweden writes: Having recently moved to Sweden with work, I chose an Alfa 159 Sportwagon 2.2 JTS for my company car, a brand I never gave a moment's thought to until moving here. While maybe a little less practical than its competitors it is by far the most fun to drive. It really wants to go fast! And in the land of Volvos, Saabs, and countless Audis and Bimmers, the Afla really stands out, it's a real head-turner. I'm a starting to see more Alfas here...and knock-on-wood no service issues at all to speak of.

    Good for Alfa to have waited until getting their act together before coming back to NA. I think the brand will be a huge hit.
  2. guy tozer from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Already in India and China. Why even consider a Canadian plant? Mexico would seem more appropriate for another overpriced auto, to keep the shareholders happy!
  3. John Stanton from Canada writes: nice timing to come here during a recession! Why people pay money for a depreciating liability I will never know.
  4. Chris Lalonde from Singapore writes: Would be welcome news. Go Ontario!
  5. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes:
    Why would an otherwise sane automaker hook up with Chrysler and subject itself to the hysterical Buzz Hargrove when McGuinty will build it a brand new plant somewhere the CAW don't roam?
  6. Marc Burroni from Toronto, Canada writes: Finally car enthusiasts in Canada will have the opportunity to be a part the Alfa legend. Not to mention, being able to lust after something affordable and Italian.
  7. Tim Cares from Canada writes: NAFTA should be amended to forbid governments from bribing companies to open plants in their jurisdiction. This includes special tax breaks and help with building costs.
    Globalization is just a tool to increase corporate welfare.
  8. Dr. Winston O'Boogie from London, United Kingdom writes: Let’s see if Jimbo Flaherty tries to discourage Fiat from investing in Ontario...
  9. Dr. Winston O'Boogie from London, United Kingdom writes: Regardless of Dimbo-Jimbo, what’s the point of having an Alfa (or any other sporty car) in Ontario when your vehicle gets impounded, and you get a $10K fine for a stinking, measly, 30mph over the speed limit??
  10. David B from Canada writes: Wow, so many negative and uninformed comments!
    This is great news for Ontario especially with the decline in skilled manufacturing jobs. We could use a few more plants from multiple industries. We are an excellent option for manufacturers wanting to export to the US. We have a highly educated workforce, solid infrastructure, low crime, stable government and lower overall costs. Mexico is a hell-hole of corruption and crime and may be lower cost but the risks are far higher.
    As far as the government making things financially attractive, it is exactly the right thing to do. We have seen in Oshawa, Cambridge and now Woodstock the overwhelming positive economic impact of having large automotive manufacturing plants in Ontario. These facilities employ thousands of high paid workers and due to JIT requirements have their suppliers located close by so there are additional jobs created there too. The net positive impact from just a facility like Toyota in Cambridge is $4 billion dollars in salaries alone, not to mention the local contractors for transportation services, catering, waste removal etc.
    In a time when we are lambasting the government for the current economic conditions and lost jobs, the last thing we should be doing is attacking their efforts to bring quality work to the citizens of Ontario.
  11. J Kooman from Canada writes:
    David B from Canada writes: Wow, so many negative and uninformed comments!
    ... in Ontario. These facilities employ thousands of high paid workers ...

    ==============================================

    Don't tell the Italians our problems before they build their factories in Ontario.

    That "high paid workers" will be tipping point sinking the project.

    ...
  12. Older'n Dirt from Canada writes: Don't line up for those CAW big contract jobs too quickly cause it won't be happening. The winds of socialist change blow too strong in SW Ontario. Let's face it, Jack Layton and big labour support the elimination of NAFTA ( the only reason our auto industry has weathered the cut backs as well as it has) and the tin hatted left wingers are out in force pushing for a big win by Hillary or Obama, each of which who say they will renogtiate the NAFTA agreement to favour American jobs. Assuming a successful run by either Democrat and support from Layton and big labour, NAFTA will likely disappear.
    Without NAFTA, there won't be a North American market for those new competing autos, let alone the current levelsof export. Why would any sane person open a plant here under these threats to their success. Build it in a new protectionist US and get 350 million pop to sell to. Build it in Canada and get a marketplace of 35 million. Not hard to figure out the outcome. BTW, seems like the same people that chuck poop at Flaherty for stating the obvious are the same ones that want Democrats in office and an end to free trade, while expecting dumb investors to build a new factory here. Is that like sucking and blowing at the same time?
  13. No Name Economist With Different Ideas from Hey Tony, Canada writes: Had an Alpha and Fiat 124 Spyder back in the day. Rust after the first sign of salt. Electrical problems but got the heads turning when you drove them around.
    FIAT = Fix It Again Tony!
  14. R.E. Signed from Canada writes: Ontarios prospects continue to look not too bad!

    Unfortunately, if we're depending on Detroit, we can expect problems.

    But this article means that outside of Detroit there is still life in the auto industry... and they think Ontario is an option they should excercise.

    This is good.
  15. c f from Canada writes: There are many misconceptions about modern Alfa Romeo - most of their cars are quite small, often diesels these days. Hopefully they don't make the mistake of bringing only their top-line V6 powered sedans to market here. Many of their models would do well here unchanged from the Euro market. Good news for Ontario anyways...
  16. Dan Bleichman from Ottawa, Canada writes: Don't care if they will build it here or on the moon as long as Alfas will become available here. I still remember the sound of my friend's 1973 GTV 2000, and the fun I had racing the Alfa Sud 1.2 in rally cross, aside of Ferrari and Porsche 911, Alfas are the most desirable cars for real enthusiasts. The Alfa brand had it's ups and downs over the years under Fiat's management but at present makes great sports cars that handle very well and still have that Alfa soul in them. And you don't even have to tune those FOUR carburators anymore.
  17. Kristian Klima from Ottawa, Canada writes: While every investment and job creating opportunity in Ontario is certainly welcomed, there's another side of the Alfa Romeo story.

    The cars' looks are surelly exciting but they are very very unreliable.

    According to the 2008 TUV reliability report, the most reliable Alfa Romeo (model 156) ended up on 102nd place.....

    TUV is Germany based industrial quality audit body - it's the largest institution of its kind in the world. One part of the report (the one in the first link) is based on the percentage of serious faults of cars that are 2-3 years old. Data are gathered from more than 7 million cars and the minimum treshold for a particular model is 10,000 cars. That's very meticulous statistics.

    http://news.auto.cz/aktuality/auto-bild-tuev-report-2008-vozy-stari-2-3-roky-lidove-mazdy-momentalne-vladnou.html
    http://www.autobild.de/artikel/auto-bild-tuev-report-2008_522911.html

    Unfortunatelly, it's not about how the cars are assemled, it's that they are badly engineered. To paraphrase BBC Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson speaking about on of the Alfas - Sure, it will break down, but look how beautiful it is....
  18. Cowtown boy from Canada writes: "And you don't even have to tune those FOUR carburators anymore. "

    The Spyders never had 4 carbs even in your wildest dreams. Lets hope the yare better than they were as there was a reason that they haven't been sold here for some time.
  19. Logo Pogo from United States writes: "Dr. Winston O'Boogie from London, United Kingdom writes: Regardless of Dimbo-Jimbo, what’s the point of having an Alfa (or any other sporty car) in Ontario when your vehicle gets impounded, and you get a $10K fine for a stinking, measly, 30mph over the speed limit?? "

    Hah.... forget about 50 km/h over speed limit and breaking of your charter rights in Ontario. The new laws in Ontario give police the power to confisicate any driven vehicle, if they feel they have reasonable or probable grounds that you might have done anything improper in the past as well. Meaning police don't actually have to catch you in the act anymore.

    Another model or assembly plant would be of great benefit to Ontario. I can't believe that so many manufacturers are still flocking to the south east US. Haven't enough of manufacturers been burned by the low skill and competency level of the workers in that area?

    I think it was said that 25% of Nissan or Honda's workforce in the south east were functionally illiterate and had to be trained by using pictorials. By odd conicidence the cars from those factories were some of the worst built in North America. VW, good luck with your new factory!!
  20. Koolest Cat from Canada writes: " c f from Canada writes: There are many misconceptions about modern Alfa Romeo - most of their cars are quite small, often diesels these days. Hopefully they don't make the mistake of bringing only their top-line V6 powered sedans to market here. Many of their models would do well here unchanged from the Euro market. Good news for Ontario anyways..."

    Agreed. They would have to look at BMW, MB and Audi and focus on them. Focus should be BMW Series 1, 3 and 5 and they should carve their home there. Slugging it out with the Toyotas and Hondas is like slitting their throats.

    As well they would have to have a good network of dealers.
  21. Supply-Side Jesus from Canada writes: Nice, hopefully I'll be able to get the GD steering column for my 81 Zagato finally. heh
  22. David Simon from Canada writes: More Ontario taxpayers money for more low sales gas guzzlers. And it will give Dalton more reasons to raise taxes.
  23. Don Quixote from the cooling Pollution Belt, Ont., Canada writes:
    With the coming shortage of vehicle fuel looming, it would be better to bring in FIAT's new small car series, they are really all work commuters need in competition with Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micro, and perhaps Mazda 2, available in Australia but not here where we still live in the plenty off all past time.....

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