Eager buyer ready to purchase used Alfa Romeo. Then the delays and secret repairs started

According to a potential Alfa Romeo Giulia buyer, what began as an exciting prospect quickly devolved into weeks of delays, shifting explanations for secret repairs, and a hard-fought effort to recover a deposit.

According to a Reddit post, the buyer located the used Giulia advertised at a nearby dealership and “called to make sure it was still there and made an appointment to go see it.” Upon arrival, however, the dealership said the car was unavailable because it was “getting repairs done,” and the salesperson admitted he didn’t actually know what work was being performed, which the buyer found troubling.

Despite the uncertainty, negotiations proceeded. The buyer said he and the salesman “eventually came to a number I liked, and we made a deal pending a test drive.” That’s when the first major issue arose: the dealership requested $2,500 as a down payment before the buyer had even seen the vehicle. Concerned, he countered with a $500 down payment, and the dealer accepted. The buyer said, “This put a bad taste in my mouth,” but he was interested in the car, so he decided to proceed.

One delay after another

But then, the delays began almost immediately. The buyer was first told repairs would finish “by the end of the week,” then informed via text that completion would likely slip to the middle of the following week. Accommodating that timeline, he booked a pre-inspection appointment, only to have the finish date extended again to the end of the week.

With uncertainty mounting, he told the salesman he needed clarity by that Friday. But when that day arrived, the dealership still could not provide a definite answer, forcing the buyer to cancel the inspection.

After more than two weeks — far longer than the “few days” initially promised — the Giulia was finally ready. The buyer conducted a test drive and planned to have his own mechanic inspect the vehicle. At that point, the dealership made another surprising request: $3,000 to hold the car until the independent inspection could be completed.

Faced with that condition and concerns about the car’s condition — including reportedly poor brakes — he decided to walk away from the deal.

Efforts to recover his $500 deposit became yet another hurdle. The sales representative promised the refund “the next morning,” but the payment didn’t arrive. Follow-ups yielded repeated assurances that the funds would be processed “by the end of the day,” yet the deposit never appeared.

When the buyer visited the dealership in person, staff claimed the accounting department had already left and that “there was no cash in the building.” Even the owner reportedly brushed off the ordeal as simply “things take time,” according to the Reddit post.

Giulia’s get mixed reviews

The saga has resonated with other Alfa Romeo owners and shoppers online, many of whom cite reliability and dealership support as key concerns when considering the Giulia. Independent sources note that the Giulia has had a mixed reliability record, with issues ranging from electrical glitches to extended repair times at dealers, contributing to slower-than-average sales among Alfa Romeo dealerships in the U.S. market.

Automotive surveys place the Giulia in the lower half of its class for used-car dependability, and owners have reported delays in part availability, all factors that may compound buyers’ frustrations when inspections or repairs take longer than expected.

In closing his post, the buyer lamented what could have happened if he had sold his current vehicle in anticipation of this purchase or had agreed to the larger down payment early on. Ultimately, he concluded he’ll “keep my current car until the end of time” to avoid similar issues in the future.