To me, i think that it does, and quite simply, my favourite quote summs up why to be a true enthusiast;
"Alfa Romeo is something special. It occupies a place apart. It is a kind of diease, this passion for a means of transport. It is a way of life, a very special way of thinking about a powered vehicle. It's hard to define. It is one of those irrational human traits that defy logical definintion.
It's to do with feelings and passions, things that have more to do with the heart than the brain. It's a way of thinking that derives from racing, where excellence is indispensible and pressure to perform is constant... We have always believed that these concepts find thier true expression in the cars we sell - thier drivability, the way the driver 'feels' the car in his hands."
Orazio Satta, technical director for Alfa Romeo from 1962
this is my faveorite quote, and i truely believe that to own an Alfa Romeo is what makes people a car enthusiast. It's attention to detail like for example, ebossed logo's on the seats, make it stand out from any other car in it's class; like for the same money you can buy an Alfa 147 rather than a Diesel Focus. Another is thier design, which is simply what i think the pinnacle of what an everyday car should be. Another reason is driving an Alfa Romeo is not just about how fast it can get from 0 to 60, but it is the expierience that separates this particular make from any other in the world. If your going to buy an Alfa like the GTV6 for example, which has one of the best engine noises, it is this passion from the car that makes people loyal to Alfa's like the GTV6, because of the expieriences of passion one would endure owning an Alfa.
This is what i think driving should be all about, it should be about the expieriences you have wth the car, and how the true driving expierience should be what makes an enthusiast. I feel that Alfa Romeo explores these endeavours in every car they make.
I'd say it depends what alfa you are talking about. If its a 147, no. If its a 1750 GT or an SZ I'd say so.
how so exactly?? you can't say a 147 is the same as a Ford Focus.......it just isn't. It embosses the Alfa tradition of a statement of indiviuality compared to mainstream Hatchbacks......it is the predecessor of the Alfasud, one of the best selling and one of the most legendary Alfas of all time and it still embosses it's legacy. A 147 is not like any other car in its class, it may function the same yes, but it is a completely different ballpark when you compare it to say an Astra or a Focus......if i had a choice, i'd know what i would be buying
Well, quite.
I do urge you to try, or even just have a ride in some modern Alfas though. They still feel a bit special, whether it's the result of a quirky driving position, the interior smell which you only seem to get in Italian cars (Alfas smell Italian, it's hard to describe - the 146 I've driven brought back memories of the old Fiat Unos we used to have) and of course the rasp to the exahust note that all Alfas seem to have whether they're a poverty spec model or a GTA.
i agree completely, like the Alfa MiTo is a Brilliant car, it reminds me of the Alfa Sprint's (awesome cars), and it still has that Alfa Legacy of the driving expierience.....i'd much rather the MiTo over a mainsream hatch like a Fiesta or something.
As the 147 was designed as a sporty hatch to replace the 145/146 and compete with the BMW Compact, it was clearly designed with a more sporting intent.
I have a BMW Compact, it's a great car, love it to death. i would have to say the 145/146 and 147 are pretty much on par with the Compact. I was looking at buying a 147 when i was looking for my car, but i got the Bimmer. It kind of reminds me of the Alfa Sprint's from the 80's (awesome) which is what i like about it so much
.) Could an Alfa be this? Sure, no doubt in my mind. Does it have to be the Alfa? No. 
