Went to the Chicago Auto Show yesterday, it was a great experience. I've been before and normally it is unbelievably busy, so busy where you sometimes don't even get into a car you're interested in unless you're willing to wait 15 minutes while simultaneously pushing your way through a mob of people. Yesterday was the complete opposite, I think due to the snow we had it kept some people off the roads, consequently we could basically just walk up to the car we were interested in and take a seat.
I know (I think) that I'll be replacing the Monte within the next 12-24 months and I've been able to bring myself down to two replacements. Either an SRT Charger or the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport. For some reason I've been tossing around the idea of a hot hatch but I can't just bring myself to do it, though the new Civic Type R is enticing in an obnoxiously awesome kind of way.
I had an '07 Charger and absolutely loved it, ever since I got rid of it I've been dying to get back into one. However, I promised myself it would be an SRT. I've seen a few pop up around me that definitely get me excited, but there's been this little voice inside me that just goes "ehh". So at the show yesterday, I sat in a gorgeous SRT Daytona. Thinking I'd be hit with nostalgia, I was wrong. I sat in the cab and didn't "feel" anything. I had been here before, wasn't new or exciting, there was no emotion to it. I respect the SRT for what it is and do truly like the car a lot, but I just wasn't grabbed by it.
This would be my first experience with a Giulia, but not Alfa. I grew up in Italy so I've definitely been around my fair share. Since their return to the U.S. was announced, I've been anticipating getting to feel one out. My wife and I sat in the car and both were taken aback. The attention to detail is very evident. I instantly felt attached to the car, it's a little hard to describe but the seats wrap around you in a way where it's not restrictive but you feel as though you've been welded to the vehicle. The cabin just makes sense, everything is within arms reach and beautifully appointed. Even little things like a glove box were designed with Italian fashion in mind, it's lined in Velvet! Now, I didn't get to drive it so I can't report on that aspect, but from an initial touch and feel session. I fell in love.
This super long introduction isn't needed but I had to share; the main point is the following. I pulled up the manual today to do some additional research, talk about deviating from the norm! They're using an OLM that uses 10,000 miles or 1 year as a maximum interval for their OCI (0w30 meeting FIAT 9.55535.GS1), for everything else though, there is a strict mileage or time interval.
- Air Filter - 3 Years or 30k miles
- Fuel Filter (secondary) - 1 year or 10k miles
- Brake Fluid - 2 Years, regardless of mileage
- Cabin Filter - 2 Years or 20k miles
- Spark Plugs - 3 Years or 30k miles
- Coolant - 15 Years or 150k miles
- Serpentine Belt - 4 Years or 36k miles
Was Kia Stinger at the show, too? Have you sat in it? If so, what did you think?
