Buying an Alfa - A Lesson in Compromise?

Filling up my car today at a local Chevron gas station I noticed, on the other side of the gas bar, an Alfa Romeo 164.  I tend to notice those as my father had one.  When the owner of the car came out of the Chevron Town Pantry I struck up a conversation with him about the 164.  It was a '92 that he bought, used, in '94.  This was his fourth Alfa.  He had owned a Spider, a GTO (he didn't specify which one) and one of their saloons as well (again, no mention of the model).  Anyhow this guy clearly likes Alfas.  Not surprisingly he did mention that he has had some issues mechanically with the cars.  The front and back shocks, the transmission, the wheel bearings of the 164 all gave out at some point.  He chastised Alfa for not doing much to support the owners of Alfa's in North America.  Since they no longer sell cars here apparently parts are very hard to come by.  But who cares?!  It is an Alfa - since no other car drives as well as an Alfa, he was OK with having to deal with these issues.  It is this lack of concern that struck me.  That he was happy to compromise general quality for the quality drive of the car.

I did this as well back in 1999 when I bought Volkswagen Jetta GLS.  I knew when given the keys that I was going to have problems...and I did.  Rusting rear window guides, premature brake wear, washer fluid line leaks, noisy alternator, defective electric side mirrors, oxygen sensor replacement...there were other issues.  But geez it drove well.  VWs just feel good on the road.  So I compromised.

If people have a deep attraction to an object they will overlook some of its faults.  We will pay more money, not care about service issues, overlook quality.  We will consider these faults to actually be part of the cachet of the brand - a cute quirk.  Clearly attraction and the ability to compromise are closely tied together.

Now if I only could find something attractive about our politicians.....

By the way, I drive a Honda today...my fourth.

Comments

Sleepwalker said…
Strange you would mention that. I recently had a conversation with a friend who had noticed that 5 people she knew had replaced their car this year with the same make. I didn't make anything of it but clearly there is a pattern of loyalty brand as soon as you find "the one". BTW, this is my 2nd Volvo (it would still be my first if I hadn't been in an accident) and I don't intend to buy anything but Volvos from here on...
September 14, 2008
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