German engineering and build quality versus Italian electrics, tough choice
I don't totally agree with that. The CLK I had wasn't one of the worst MB's but my brother had the 1st Gen CLK 320 conv. He sadly had to give it up due to rust. It is the worst car I have ever seen for grot. I had one rear wheel arch repaired on my CLK 240 when I bought it. 19 months later it was starting again.
I have had three Alfas and three Ferraris. Bodywork rot has never been an issue on any. However I had an Alfa 159 quite recently and it was quite corroded on the front subframe. This is a common issue with the 159, Brera and the Spider. Less so on the latter because they are now being looked after. I may well swap the Z3 for a 939 (Brera) Spider. next year or the year after
I had a 1997 Alfa Spider twin spark, bought in 2011 and sold last year. That was in very good condition underneath though I never checked under the plastic lower sills. The TS is one of the best sounding 4-pots I have ever driven.
Also had an Alfa GT. The only issue with that was EGR valve and suspension components. Alfas of recent (can't speak for the Giulia) do wear through suspension parts at an alarming rate.
I own a brand new CLA200 as my daily and I was considering a Giulia but they are a tad expensive compared with my MB. Love my CLA though.
I also looked at one 2 litre six Z3 before I bought my 1.9. That did sound nice but even though it was a trader selling it, it was undrivable. leaky roof, discs were covered in thick rust (would need all new brakes) and was a general shed. The wheel arch and sills were terribly rusty. It obviously had not been looked after.
My first Ferrari a 1983 Mondial QV 2004 - 2010 was 21 when I bought it. The fuse box was dreadful and badly designed and as such truly let the reliability down.
Also had a 1997 F355 2010 - 2015. Mixed feelings as it was one of my 'affordable' dream cars. Mostly it was OK but regularly failed on emissions. I spent a fair wedge getting it through emissions the last three out of five years I had it. Major cambelt services have the potential to be expensive and the one I had was an eye watering £3600. Purely on the grounds that when you remove the engine you disturb stuff and find things sooner and since the engine is out you pay for it
. The emissions problem was a faulty sensor (not related to emissions but shorting) on the same circuit. Other than that the electrics and body work were perfect. My 2001 360 put the 2004 CLK to shame for build quality and condition. Ferraris do however tend to be looked after and early noughties MB's were very poorly made.
I currently still have the 360 and have had since September 2015. That (touching wood) has been perfect. Just about to do the second belt service since I have owned it.
So my view on Italian cars is that they are as good as the next. Thinking our German cars a better is a little bit of a myth today. I say this generally as I believe there is not as much in it now as once was.
Last and not least, having owned an Audi A4 & B5.5 Passat (both petrol) they both leaked inside like no convertible I have ever owned (ex wife had a 1998 MX5 from new for 12 years) the 2002 VW was probably the most unreliable sheite I have had the misfortune to own and it came from a main dealer. It was just over three when I bought it. I swapped that for a 2003 216 Rover. The Rover was a far better car
As for the Abarth 124; I think it looks and more importantly sounds wonderful. Very Italian and I like that. I would struggle to choose between that and the MX5 though. I think the exhaust note might win me over on the 124.
