[Bumpinjeep]

Looks like this comparison game out today by Motor Trend.

Second Place: 2021 BMW M3 Competition

Pros:

Spectacular engine with brutal power
Reasonably comfortable when not in most aggressive setting
Extraordinarily easy to drive extremely quickly
One of the most capable sedans you can buy

Cons:

Ultra-light steering
Mushy brakes at times
Comes off as a bit joyless
Look at it

First Place: 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Pros:

Delectable steering
Excellent chassis
Delightful day-to-day ride comfort
Dazzling brakes

Cons:

Silly suspension settings
Rudimentary drive modes
Brake-by-wire system too aggressive for daily use
Engine sound could be more exciting
Silly suspension settings
Rudimentary drive modes
Brake-by-wire system too aggressive for daily use
Engine sound could be more exciting




I can't imagine why anyone would pick the QV over the G80 but that's just me. Take the cheater tires off of the Alfa and performance wise, it won't be anywhere near the G80 levels. Plus the interior of the Alfa makes a Mazda 6 look like a Bentley.

[Patton250]

Perhaps he was doing drugs at the time? That would explain him preferring the inferior car. In fact I wouldn’t even call the AR oh and the top five of that class a vehicle. I test drove them all. Anyway to each his own.

[02M3ForMe]

”If you covet outright capability, stop reading here and mark down the M3 as the winner.”

Done.

[SpeedyJ]

Interesting, I don't think the g80 steering is light at all, perhaps this is due to my other cars being 911s.. known for light front ends.. I just really think MT never like m3s… they also kept harping on about the front end when the Alfa front looks far more disjointed.

[Ginster6]

I trade in my QV, not because M3 is better. But because it has a 6MT.

[wj100]

I think his assessment is spot on. As a current Alfa Quad owner (and previous E90 and F82 owner), and having driven the G80, the Alfa has way more soul than the G80.

No argument on the BMW having the far superior interior, but the nominal gains in performance (really no gains in real world performance) quickly become irrelevant by how much more alive and light on its feet the Alfa feels compared to the G80. Just my opinion...and the journalist's I guess.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by weinerj100

I think his assessment is spot on. As a current Alfa Quad owner (and previous E90 and F82 owner), and having driven the G80, the Alfa has way more soul than the G80.

No argument on the BMW having the far superior interior, but the nominal gains in performance (really no gains in real world performance) quickly become irrelevant by how much more alive and light on its feet the Alfa feels compared to the G80. Just my opinion...and the journalist's I guess.

Apparently you and I drove two completely different cars. Because I don’t think the two are even close. In fact I don’t think it’s even fair to compare the AR to the G80. Even the C63 is better. Like the G80 it’s faster, has better cornering and leagues better technology in the inside of it than the AR. I don’t understand any of this. It makes zero sense to me that this argument is even being made.

[My3rdM3]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Apparently you and I drove two completely different cars. Because I don’t think the two are even close. In fact I don’t think it’s even fair to compare the AR to the G80. Even the C63 is better. Like the G80 it’s faster, has better cornering and leagues better technology in the inside of it than the AR. I don’t understand any of this. It makes zero sense to me that this argument is even being made.

You owned a QV or test drove one?

[Gizmo 335i]

I do wish BMW could nail the drive comfort/performance balance like Alfa. BMWs lean unnecessarily harsh without the handling payoff.

[bri1042]

I continue to be surprised by people who spend all day driving cars being confused by the setup options on many modern cars. I just don't get how you could be confused by the Setup menu on the G80 without also being a Grandma finally trading in her '89 Buick. So weird.

[NickyC]

I think the Alfa is beautiful but can’t live with a car like that where reliability is always in question. BMWs have always been wonderful/rock solid for me in regards to reliability so even with the looks of the new car I stayed with the brand.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Gizmo 335i

I do wish BMW could nail the drive comfort/performance balance like Alfa. BMWs lean unnecessarily harsh without the handling payoff.

The G8x has been lauded for it's comfort as a daily driver. Interesting how their Alpha weighed over 50lbs more than the M3. No need to get butthurt about his conclusion as the QV is a great car and it's just one man's opinion and one that clearly has a bone to pick when it comes to the BMW front grille. Also given how much he trashed the F8x (I must admit I chuckled at; the S55 3.0-liter engine that sounded like a brass can of rich, schnitzel-fed farts) it's reasonable to conclude that he's no BMW fan in general and the G80 was up against the wall regardless of how good it is. The M3 has the better engine, better transmission programming, better performance, better interior and really the Alpha can only win in a competition that highly favors subjective points.

The only real complaint I have is that the styling of both cars is polarizing as lots of people aren't fans of the QV front end so putting them side by side and calling one ugly and one beautiful is somewhat hypocritical. I personally think they both look great and would feel hypocritical calling one beautiful and the other ugly based on the fact that they are both have very unique grilles that aren't for everyone.

[forza1976]

BMW all the way. Honestly, the only reason why people still say Alfa, Alfa, Alfa is they watched Top Gear and heard those halfwits praise Alfa, and say you must own one!

I'm not "surprised" by this outcome either, it was very subjective. Frankly, near all the stats (acceleration, lateral, weight, etc.) were better in the BMW. Mind you the braking which the Alfa did 3' better than the BMW.

Hard Pass on the Alfa IMO.

[///AVM]

I really like my G80C . . . never drove a QV

Until recently, never really thought about QV . . . tons of discussion on this forum has brought it to my attention

Overall, seems those who own/have owned a QV speak quite favorably about them

As an outsider looking in, it APPEARS there is a certain ‘rawness’ about the QV that enthusiasts tend to enjoy . . . even as we tend to constantly ask for 'more'

Moving from the F87C to the G80C I understand this notion of ‘raw’ versus ‘refined’ . . . the G80C is definitely next-level engineering performance, but it does come a bit shrouded in refinement (compared to the F87C)

Even the 2021 QV seems to have been ‘upgraded’ to make it a bit more refined compared to prior year models . . . with mixed opinion among enthusiasts (video below).

Not to throw this thread off-topic, but I am curious if the G87 will retain that ‘rawness’ of the F87?

At any rate, discussions on this BMW forum have me intrigued and interested in driving a QV to see what it is all about.

///AVM

[Gizmo 335i]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

The G8x has been lauded for it's comfort as a daily driver. Interesting how their Alpha weighed over 50lbs more than the M3. No need to get butthurt about his conclusion as the QV is a great car and it's just one man's opinion and one that clearly has a bone to pick when it comes to the BMW front grille. Also given how much he trashed the F8x (I must admit I chuckled at; the S55 3.0-liter engine that sounded like a brass can of rich, schnitzel-fed farts) it's reasonable to conclude that he's no BMW fan in general and the G80 was up against the wall regardless of how good it is. The M3 has the better engine, better transmission programming, better performance, better interior and really the Alpha can only win in a competition that highly favors subjective points.

The only real complaint I have is that the styling of both cars is polarizing as lots of people aren't fans of the QV front end so putting them side by side and calling one ugly and one beautiful is somewhat hypocritical. I personally think they both look great and would feel hypocritical calling one beautiful and the other ugly based on the fact that they are both have very unique grilles that aren't for everyone.

Agreed...reports of better comfort are out there for the G8x. I will be in a BSM 6MT G82 in about 2.5 years when my M2C is paid off

[2011ninja]

It's a novelty car.

If you're a non car person Alpha is cool

[dialogical]

Yeah I mean this is tough, because it's just so subjective.

[LSM]

All and all good review. Big drawback is the subjectivity. Going by the numbers BMW wins but there is something to how a car feels.

The looks weren't helped by that paint on the M3. It's def not a pretty car but some colors def look better than others - IE dark colors to hide the front

[2045]

I’m not surprised by the outcome to be honest. Especially given the fact that the Alfa is quite old by now comparing to the new M3.

I have been a daily BMW guy for the past 20 years. Have plenty of them that I can’t even count, M cars included, majority of them actually. I recently needed another daily so I briefly considered the G20. All I care is the lease terms (duration & cost) since my plan is to get in & out every so often when there’s something new that I like. I couldn’t find anything that fits my budget so a friend suggested to look into Alfa. After a lengthy test drive I was convinced. I just love the simplicity of it. Yes let’s face it, there are definitely cons such as potential reliability (I can careless since it’s a 24mo term. Yes, I will not own a Italian daily driver), somewhat dated interior styling, dated infotainment system, cheaper interior material etc., but if down to the basic driving dynamic, I much prefer the Giulia. Honestly I just think the modern BMW is trying too hard. The design language no longer works for me. Or maybe I’m just getting older that wants a overall simpler car. That’s what driving is all about.

I know design is very subjective. The M3 is just such a default car to get for myself at some point. It’s a car that I never questioned about styling because it would eventually “grow” on me. Unfortunately I’m going to sit out for this one. It’s just not working for me anymore.

[SteveinArizona]

I suspect that with a better exterior design, the M3 would have won.

[evilalien]

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1837948

[2045]

Originally Posted by LSM

All and all good review. Big drawback is the subjectivity. Going by the numbers BMW wins but there is something to how a car feels.

The looks weren't helped by that paint on the M3. It's def not a pretty car but some colors def look better than others - IE dark colors to hide the front

Exactly.

It would be difficult to understand the “feeling” part unless you be totally honest to yourself what you want the most from a car. M3 wins on paper but I can understand why they gave it to the Alfa because I own one. Fair to say if I were given the opportunity to choose between the Quadrifoglio & the M3 tomorrow after my few months ownership of my current Giulia, I will take the Alfa still.