Giulia (Type 952) 2015 - Current

My love of Alfa Romeo's started around 18 Years ago. I apologise now as this is going to be a bit of  waffle about my car history.

I had loved cars ever since my first driving lesson which was with a local instructor who used a Series 1 Escort RS Turbo for lessons. My first ever time behind the wheel of a car saw me driving at 60mph down a country road and I was hooked.

After passing my test I went through a few mundane Ford models but always wanted to 'make them better' with a few modifications. This escalated over the next few Years as I moved through cars and started buying the likes of XR3i's and then then fitting the engine from an RS Turbo in a friends front garden. This continued with the likes of Capri V6 engines into base model Sierra's and RS Turbo engines (again!) into an Orion Ghia, which also had a one off body kit made using Sierra RS Cosworth parts.

Then I got to the point where I was able to actually afford the 'fast' models and went through Escort RS Turbo's, Sierra XR4x4's and Sapphire Cosworth's, but then I got bored with always owning Fords and wanted something different...so I bought a Peugeot 405 Sri. It was fine but nothing special, but I had plans for it!

Working with a company called Viper Motorsport, I sourced a lot of new parts and the car was moved into a friends large workshop, where it stayed for the next Year. In that time I joined the Peugeot Sport Club and became the Yorkshire Group Rep and joint National event organiser. This put me in close contact with many people within Peugeot Sport themselves (including the, then, BTCC drivers who I had the joy of being in the cars with around MIRA proving grounds on a couple of occasions), and enabled me to get a few parts for the 405 which was now replaced in the BTCC by the 406.

I turned the 405 into a throttle bodied MI16 engined nightmare! It was very fast, VERY loud (it had what was essentially a BTCC exhaust on it), very noticeable, with the actual carbon aero parts from the previous Years 405 BTCC car fitted, and very uncomfortable to be in. Whilst amazing on the track it was pretty much unusable on the road so I ended up selling it for a fraction of what it had cost me to build....only for it to be written off by the new owner a few weeks later.

This had the effect of putting me off modifying cars completely! I went through a few more Peugeots...a 309 GTI being one but mostly mundane diesel models, and then a Renault 19 16v...but I was in my early thirties by this point and was starting to look to cars that were a bit more luxurious.

Whilst driving to to the Leeds office of the company I worked in, I happened to go past the Alfa Romeo dealership and a car on the forecourt caught my eye. On the way home, I decided to pop in and have a look. It was a 156 Selespeed. Now, I knew about the Selespeed as I had read about the Ferrari derived sequential box in some publication previously and liked the idea. That, along with the colour of the car and the interior, had me sold.

I went in and negotiated a deal, which also included them fitting the side skirts and rear high level spoiler (which I saw on another 156 whilst there). I did want the front bumper extension but it was on back order and they could not guarantee I would get it. I test drove the car and that was it, I was hooked. There was something about it that, to this day, is still hard to explain but every Alfa driver just instinctively knows what I mean. It felt special, different, luxurious, sporty, emotional and so much more...this was the car I had to have!

A couple of weeks later and I was in my new 156. Over the space of the next Year I added some brushed chrome Momo mirror caps and swapped the wheels for Momo alloys as well (can't remember the model name?). The car was amazing and only ever let me down once (in a big way though, when the Selespeed box when into an indicated neutral in rush hour traffic at a set of lights in the middle of the city centre and would not go into gear. However, when trying to push the car, it was obviously still stuck in a gear. That was not a fun hour waiting for breakdown recovery and causing a tailback of about a mile!).

I still loved the car though until it was involved in an accident with a truck driving into the side of it. the repairs dragged on for a long time due to sub standard work from the insurance appointed company. Not long after the repairs were finally completed the car was broken into, causing damage to the drivers door and requiring more repairs. This caused me to fall out of love with the car and I decided to move on....but it had to be to another Alfa. 

That Alfa was the GT. I had loved it since first seeing it and knew I wanted one eventually so, when a very well looked after 1.9 GTD came up for sale locally I went for it.

The GT stayed completely standard and was a great car I would have kept for some Years had it not been for my two Son's growing up and getting taller each Year, requiring something a bit more practical. Over the next decade and a half I went through mundane cars such as an Audi A4, Mitsubishi Outlander (the WORST car I have ever owned!), VW CC and a BMW X5.

I hadn't owned my own car since 2020 when we decided to move to a single car for us to both use. That being the X5 at first and then, in 2022, a BMW iX3. However, in 2020, I saved a picture of a car on my phone with the note attached 'one day!'

That car was the Giulia Quadrifoglio! I knew that I wanted another Alfa Romeo as no other car had ever made me feel the way the Alfa's did but, because of ongoing health issues, I knew that whatever car I bought would most likely be my last so it may as well be a good one I could have some fun with. The main reason we had moved to SUV's was to help with me getting in and out so, going to back to a low slung saloon would be painful....so it had to be worth that pain!

Earlier this Year (2024) I decided that I would starting looking to buy a Quadrifoglio in 2025 and making suremy finances could handle it.

My health was slowly getting worse so, if I wanted my own car again, it had to happen this Soon. Then, one Saturday morning in January, we got a phone call from a friend to say that her Husband had got out of the shower that morning and had a heart attack. He had died pretty much instantly. He was six Years younger than me.

Maybe selfishly, this made me start to re-evaluate a few things in life, and one of them was how much I loved cars and how long I had been without one I loved! We went out for a drink that night just to come to terms with what had happened....and I started looking on AutoTrader. I also made a few calls whilst we were in the bar.

I test drove a Giulia Quad the next day. It wasn't the right one for me as it was Misano blue with yellow calipers and didn't have any factory options that I had decided I wanted, but I went away from that test drive grinning from ear to ear knowing that I HAD to own one....but it had to be the right one.

I spent the next eight Months endlessly looking at Auto Trader at every Quad listing until, in September, I saw one....the perfect one. It was 180 miles away but I could not pass this up so, a call was made.

I had created a spreadsheet when I started looking for a Giulia Quad. It included all the differences and options across the various model Years along with spaces where I could put notes in around bodywork, interior, tyres, brakes etc. on any cars that I went to view.

The spreadsheet was currently empty as, by September, I had only viewed one car and that was the first one I test drove that made me sure I wanted one. Ideally, I wanted an MY20 model as I preferred the rear lights and revised interior. I also wanted the quieter cabin from the thicker glass (I know, a strange thing to want in a Quad but I wasn't intending on driving it in Race everywhere and wanted a comfortable, quiet cruiser for longer journeys as well).

My wish list included carbon mirror covers, carbon scudetto, exposed carbon roof, the telephone dial alloys (in dark grey), Harman Kardon sound system, Sparco carbon shell seats, red stitching with red seat belts or green and white stitching with green seatbelts, black rear Giulia badge and the car had to be either Vesuvio Grey, Etna Red or Competizione Red....if grey, had to be red callipers, if red had to be yellow callipers.

.....so, as you can see, I was being VERY particular and narrowing my choices down significantly, which is why it was taking so long to find the right car.

However, in September, an add appeared for an MY20 Quadrifoglio, in Vesuvio grey, with red callipers, red stitching, red seatbelts, Sparco seats, HK sound, exposed carbon roof, mirrors, scudetto, black badge and the right wheels. The mileage was a bit high but it sounded like a very well looked after example. I had done my homework and knew what were the essentials when looking at any used Quad and this one seemed to have been cared for with all the big services done at the right time and the added advantage of just having new Brembo discs and pads all round along with new Goodyear Eagle F1's replacing the Pirellis. 

I spoke to the dealer, found out about the previous owner and his reason for selling the car and talked about finance options.

That weekend we were on our way down South from West Yorkshire on a 180 mile trip to view and test drive the car......a few hours later I was driving home in it. The car was perfect for me. It had everything I had wanted in a Quad along with as much assurance as possible that it would be a good car to own that had been well maintained. It was the right price and I just couldn't pass it up.

The drive home was an absolute joy. I got a couple of other drivers, one in an M5 and another in a 7 Series, pull up alongside and give me a thumbs up and it instantly made me realise what I had missed the most about being an Alfa Romeo driver. Other road users treat Alfa owners differently, with an unwritten air of respect and appreciation it seems? I think it's just seen as a marque that deserves that? It's not snobbyness or superiority, just that knowing nod from other motoring enthusiasts that it's something a bit different and a bit special compared to most other cars on the road?

I am now looking forward to getting to know the car, maybe making a few very small upgrades (nothing major though as I am more than happy with her as she is....famous last words as I usually succumb to the modding bug once I get to a few shows and events and see other owners cars) and getting along to as many AROC events as possible in 2025.

• Harman Kardon Sound Theatre with sub woofer
• Driver convenience pack (inc keyless entry, additional courtesy lights)
• 19” grey metallic cast five-hole alloy wheels 245/35 8.5J front, 285/30 10J rear
• Red Brembo aluminium brake callipers
• Exposed Carbon Fibre Roof
• MOPAR Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps
• Sparco Carbon Fibre Sports Seats
• Nero Rear Model Badge
• Reversing Camera
• Front/Rear Parking Sensors
• ADAS Lvl 2 Assisted Driving Pack
• Red Stitching on Dash, Steering Wheel and Gear Selector
• Red Seatbelts

I am now a couple of Months into the ownership of the Quad and, whilst she has certainly not got the use she deservers, I am loving every single drive in her.

A couple of weeks after buying the car I happened to come across a picture on the AlfaOwner forum of her from the previous owner. I managed to get in touch and he just helped to confirm I have got a really good example. He was also extremely kind and offered to give me a few things he still had for the car...including an almost brand new set of Michelin Alpin 4S winter tyres in full protective bags. A quick drive down (120miles) in the middle of storm Bert and an, unfortunately, very short stop and chat with the previous owner was just wonderful. Finding out about the car whilst he had it and what he had done to it.

He had fitted the Squadra Tuning exhaust valve controller and, with this being a 2020 model, the SGW bypass as well. He had, unfortunately, sold the exhaust controller separately but the bypass was still fitted and he gave me the adaptor cable, as well as wireless Carplay adaptor.

One thing I have found surprising is just how comfortable the Sparco carbon shell seats are. They were a make or break decision when buying the car as I told the dealer that, although I wanted them, I had never actually sat in any so wouldn't know if I would want the car until I tried them out.

I think I actually prefer them to the heated and infinitely adjustable 'sofas' in our iX3 as the position and posture they create seems more comfortable on longer journeys. I do miss the heated seats (and steering wheel) on colder mornings but it doesn't take long for the car to warm up inside.

I am now looking at buy the Squadra Tuning Performance Logger to get the exhaust controller along with the extras it adds. The only other modification I am tempted with is to replace the rear spoiler with the Racing Edition one. I don't want to go as drastic as the GTAm or even the GTA, but think the Racing Edition spoiler just gives it that little bit of extra something at the rear.

So, after my last update above, there have been a few subtle changes to the car....and one not so subtle. 

Contrary to my original plan to exchange the standard rear spoiler with a Racing Edition replica, I started to go back and forth with the idea of the GTA looking better. In the end, I ordered replicas of both and, when they arrived, spent a day removing the old spoiler and trying up the new ones to decide which I liked best. I ended up going with the GTA style one which has proved quite to be a choice most other Giula Quad owners don't agree with, but I really like it.

I will be the first to admit that, unlike the Racing Edition spoiler, it doesn't look good from every angle and even has a bit of the 'Mickey Mouse Ears' about it from the back, but I like the more aggresive look and think, because my car is grey, it gets away with it more as all the carbon elements blend into the bodywork a little.

Other than that, the car went through it's first MOT and service in my ownership. She flew through the MOT without any issues or adviseries and the service was, luckily, a small one for just oil and filters. I took the chance to fit a BMC panel filter at the same time.

I also had an RPM resonator delete (straight pipe) fitted just before the service and it's one of the best decisions I have made with the car. Couple with the Squadra exhaust valve controller, the car now sounds as it should have from the factory with the added benefit that you don't have to risk killing yourself in Race mode to be able to hear it. With the valves closed it still sounds nice quiet and not obnoxious at all, but when open, it makes a glorious noice with lots of rasps and crackles on up and downshifts.

I had planned to fit a smaller front number plate as well so bought that. However, when I removed the plinth on the front bumper I found thirteen screw holes in various places behind! There are too many for the small plater to cover so looks like I will be sticking with the large plate until next Year when I can get the holes filled and bumper resprayed.

We were blessed with wonderful weather this Year for both Spring and Northern Alfa Day. My Fiance and I went to Spring Alfa Day and enjoyed it very much as there were so many beautiful cars that attended. The venue was also very nice and lovely to walk around.

For Northern Alfa Day I took my 11 Year old Son who is turning into a real petrolhead (he insists I need to keep the Quadrifoglio until he is 17 then I can give it to him as his first car!!!) and he loved looking at all the different models and seeing the history of the brand in the rows of cars on display...he especially liked the Alfa ambulance.

He has now started to be a bit of an Alfa spotter and he shows me photos he has taken on his phone of any he see's.

He is really looking forward to going to more events with me next Year.

My first National Alfa Day this year and I was lucky enough to be asked to have my car on one of the trade displays (939 Corse Prints, who produce fantastic blueprints of Alfa Romeos in large scale for display).

I also got a chance to go out on the display lap which I really enjoyed and my Wife managed to get some footage of that.

One of the big 'selling points' of me persauding my, then, Fiance that buying the Quadrifoglio in 2024 was a good idea was that our wedding was planned for August 2025 and I had originally said I would like to hire a nice car for me to arrive in.

My argument was that, if I bought the Quad, it would be much better, as far as I was concerned, to turn up in that. And it worked!

So, in August, our Wedding Day came and the Quadrifoglio looked stunning (she should have, I spent the two days before the wedding day thouroughly detailing her!). She got a lot of comments from the staff at the venue and a few of the men in the wedding group wanted photos taking with her by the official photographer.....so, I think my reasoning was sound and it was worth buying her last Year so she could be used for the wedding.

I was lucky enough to have my car featured in the July edition of the club eNewsletter, Notizario.

I really didn't think my short write up about the car and my Alfa ownership would make it in but was very grateful and honoured that it did.

The July edition can be read using the following link https://aroc-uk.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c9d10d82f17cbdd1f0ae8fb8&id=74be9cf1f6&e=5c66f7651e

When I bought my Quadrifoglio, I thought I would leave it standard as it was already very highly specified in the options department. However, the bug to make the car more personal to me soon took over. 

In the 17 Months of owning the car I have added the following to it. There are still a few more things I would like to do, including maybe changing the colour of the wheels and replacing the factory exhaust tailpipes with some very slightly larger and less prone to the corrossion and pitting that plague the standard ones.

• SGW Bypass
• Start/Stop bypass
• Squadra Tuning Exhaust Valve Controller V2
• RPM Straight Pipe Resonator Delete
• BMC Sports Air Filter Panel
• Koshi Carbon Fibre door sill covers
• Koshi Carbon Fibre aggressive bonnet vents
• Koshi Carbon Fibre aggressive front bumper vent flares
• Carbon Fibre Scudetto
• BAF Motorsport rear K brace
• Carbon Fibre Interior Air Vent Surrounds Front and Rear
• Carbon Fibre gear selector surround
• Carbon Fibre Air Con controls frame surround
• Front Door LED Quadrifoglio Projector puddle lights
• Apple CarPLay Wireless Adaptor
• Carbon fibre front and rear badge surrounds
• GTA Style Carbon Fibre Rear Spoiler
• Alaf Romeo 110th Anniversary decals 
• Gale Motorsport Custom RHD Sparco seat specific floor mats
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Tyres - Summer
• Michelin Alpin 4S Tyres - Winter

I am sure like many of us who enjoy nothing more than spending the dat making our cars looking shiny again, 2026 has so far been extremely infuriating due to the endless rain we seem to be having!

The dirty roads, full of road salt, don't help the situation so, when one Saturday the clouds cleared for a few hours, I took the opportunity to get the Quad looking good again. She really does look fantastic when all cleaned up inside and out.

Unfortunatly, a trip up to the North Yorkshire Moors a few days later (to organise a very specila AROC event taking place in April) meant she looked like the cleaning had never even happened.

After 17 Months of ownership, the car developed it's first fault recently...and, luckily, it was a very minor one.

I got into the car after work recently, started it, and something wasn't right. I checked the Squadra valve controller and it definitly said the exhaust valves were open but, switching between open and closed, nothing changed, and the car sounded very quiet.

On the drive home, under some hard acceleration, the valves did seem to open...but not fully. After testing at home over the next few days it seemed that one or both of the exhaust valve accuators were sticking closed or, at least, partially closed.

A quick trip to BAF Motorsport, a local custom exhaust specialist in West Yorkshire,and they got the actuators all loosened up and working again. They also fixed a broken undertray fixing that had sheared off as well (which explained the slightly metallic knocking I had been hearing from underneath the driver seat area occasionally.)