Alfa Romeo Mito WARNING - avoid red

mandragora_2

We bought a new Mito just after Christmas - absolutely love it BUT (and its a big BUT) after around 3,000 miles the paintwork around the wheel arches is beginning to shred. I've googled the problem and found this link:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/207347-paintwork-in-tatters.html

looks like its particularly bad in red vehicles - and I wish I'd known about it before I'd spent a lot of hard-saved cash on it, bacause I wouldn't have touched it, but gone for another vehicle instead. Oh well, too late for me, bit I hope I can save someone else the hassle.

missile

That is a shame, I thought Alfa had improved their quality control.

mandragora_2

Me too. Oh well, you live and learn.

oscardog

Forgive me for stating the obvious but - paintwork warranty?

marleyboy

I used to work with Alfa, about 6 years ago, watch the paintwork for black and red, the darker the red the worse the "weather effect" fading would seem.

the Bluer shades were generally better at lasting over the years, pearly shades always seemed the best, but unfortunately its also the most expensive bodywork, should it need a repair. Part an Parcel syndrome I guess

trumpton

We had a red car and it faded badly in the sun. You can restore it to some extent with specialist products.

If you haven't clicked the link, what Mandragora is talking about, I think, is that the paint on Alfa's is very prone to chipping and flaking, in some cases down to the primer. I have read a few times that modern paints are much softer than previous paints. Recent car paints are water based and fade and chip more easily, especially black and red.

If you bought it new at Christmas, it should be covered by the warranty, though I guess they may argue. Certainly worth getting on to the dealer about it.

mandragora_2

Thanks for this - I've been in touch with the local dealers - first response hasn't been overwhelmingly encouraging:
Them: 'If you bought it at another dealership, it needs to go back to them'
Me: 'No, it doesn't. It's covered under Alfa warranty, I can take it to any dealership. That's what it says in this paperwork I have in my hand.'
Them: 'Oh. Ok. But the warranty won't cover stone chips.'
Me: 'I bought it after Christmas. It's done 3,000 miles, all on main roads. It's not been driven across fields. It had better cover this.'
Them: 'Oh. Well. Bring it in on Friday and we'll take some photos. But I don't think we cover it'



Very fed up. I hope others take heed. I don't really want to spend £12k and then have a scrap like this on my hands. I can seriously do without it.

trumpton

It's not good enough to fob you off. If you don't get a result, I would go to Trading Standards - you have nothing to lose.