Alfasud - Best Front-Wheel Car Drive Ever Built
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud is an amazing car. Ask anyone who has driven one. Or at least, sit in one and go out for a drive. Excellent handling and extremely stable with its low center of gravity. Listen to the rumble of the Boxer engine. It will be unlike any of the widely available Japanese cars found on the road right now.
The Alfasud has been named "Car of the 70s" and "best front-wheel drive car ever built". The Alfasud even has its own series of races called the Trafeo Alfasud.
The Alfasud has been named "Car of the 70s" and "best front-wheel drive car ever built". The Alfasud even has its own series of races called the Trafeo Alfasud.
Alfasud - Great Automotive Failure
But at the same time, the Alfasud has a poor reputation for severe rust problems. There were reports that the Alfasuds were rolling off the production plant with rust on them.
Here are some articles about it (some are as recent as 2013):
http://ranwhenparked.net/2009/03/25/great-automotive-failures-alfa-romeo-alfasud/
https://www.hagerty.com/classic-car-articles-resources/Features/More-Articles/Canada/All-Articles/2013/02/28/Alfa-dud
http://journaloffailure.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/the-wonderful-horrible-alfasud/
Here are some articles about it (some are as recent as 2013):
http://ranwhenparked.net/2009/03/25/great-automotive-failures-alfa-romeo-alfasud/
https://www.hagerty.com/classic-car-articles-resources/Features/More-Articles/Canada/All-Articles/2013/02/28/Alfa-dud
http://journaloffailure.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/the-wonderful-horrible-alfasud/
Owner's Perspective - Alfasud Rust Problem
For a person who is not familiar with the Alfasud, reading these stories and articles will impress only one thing upon them - that the Alfasud is a rust bucket. They will get the impression that the Alfasud will turn to dust after a few years. Anyone who has not seen the Alfasud or touched an Alfasud will steer clear of this car - in case it crumbles if they lay a finger on it. This is far from the truth.
If you continued and read the comments for some of these articles, many has defended the Alfasud. It was not a problem dedicated to the Alfasud alone as many cars had rust problems at that time. Alfa Romeo had taken steps to address the problem at that time and the Alfasuds that were manufactured later in the years were more "rust-proof".
I have owned an Alfasud for many years (myalfasud.weebly.com) in tropical Malaysia and although true, the car had rust but it wasn't as severe as the stories suggested. In fact, some of the Malaysian made cars in the 1990s and 2000s rusted far worse than the Alfasud.
More important is whether the car is well taken care of or not. If the rust problem is worrying, then sand-blasting and anti-rust before applying high-quality paints will add another 5-10 years of rust-free driving. Take care of any rust as soon as it appears with polishing as the bare minimum step. Don't leave any rust unattended for long. Check the car frequently. The Alfasud is fully capable of outlasting your lifetime.
Nothing like a good controversy to spice up a story. For me, this "controversy" only increases the value of the Alfasud. The Alfasud is getting extremely rare now. Alfasud owners, be proud of your car.
Feel free to comment. Thank you very much.
If you continued and read the comments for some of these articles, many has defended the Alfasud. It was not a problem dedicated to the Alfasud alone as many cars had rust problems at that time. Alfa Romeo had taken steps to address the problem at that time and the Alfasuds that were manufactured later in the years were more "rust-proof".
I have owned an Alfasud for many years (myalfasud.weebly.com) in tropical Malaysia and although true, the car had rust but it wasn't as severe as the stories suggested. In fact, some of the Malaysian made cars in the 1990s and 2000s rusted far worse than the Alfasud.
More important is whether the car is well taken care of or not. If the rust problem is worrying, then sand-blasting and anti-rust before applying high-quality paints will add another 5-10 years of rust-free driving. Take care of any rust as soon as it appears with polishing as the bare minimum step. Don't leave any rust unattended for long. Check the car frequently. The Alfasud is fully capable of outlasting your lifetime.
Nothing like a good controversy to spice up a story. For me, this "controversy" only increases the value of the Alfasud. The Alfasud is getting extremely rare now. Alfasud owners, be proud of your car.
Feel free to comment. Thank you very much.