Hemmings had a post on Facebook overnight that drew some amusing comments.
And here are a few of the comments:
- One good reason (Of Many) not to watch “Top Gear”.
- That’s why I don’t watch their show. SNOBS!
- Overrated, just like that idiot.
- You’re not a real gear head unless you’ve built a classic big block Chevy for a 1968 Camaro
- Sorry. Just more English nonsense.
- Obviously they are on the Payroll at Alfa Romeo..
- They haven’t sold them in the US for quite some time…Guess the most car-crazy country on earth isn’t full of gearheads.
- An , Alfa? Ha , ha , drive Mopar! Morons…. Your , English , humor amuses us….
- Hell no I don’t agree. I consider myself a gearhead and I’m never own anything but American cars an American motorcycles.
- Ridiculous. I can see that coming from England, those folks have a long history of thinking that tinkering and repairing for 4 hours to drive 1 hour is normal.
- Owning an Alpha makes you either gullible, naive or a masochist whatever to own one of these losers is not something to be proud of.
- What a stupid statement. …I think my 32 Ford Roadster qualifies me…
- Seems a little snobbish to me.
- Top Gear staff snobbish? I think if you look in the dictionary, their picture illustrates the definition.
- I had one. Didn’t make me a gear head, made me hate AR. Overrated POS.
Right: Top Gear executing their marketing duties as per their employment agreement with Alfa 🙂
—
The comment that comes closest to understanding the meaning of the Top Gear statement is this one:
- 76 Alfetta 2000. Spent fortunes on the damn driveshaft knuckles more than once. Great driver when it wasn’t broken.
Yep. I think he gets it.
——
OK.
So let me break it down for you.
The first thing to remember before you get all emotional, bull-headed or defensive is that it’s just a saying made up by Jeremy Clarkson. Nothing more, nothing less. Like most of the things Clarkson says, it’s quotable, provocative and it’s good theatre. You’re not less of a gearhead if you’ve never owned an Alfa.
Having said that, however, there IS an element of truth to it. It’s not definitive, but it’s a very good illustration.
Why?
The essence of the theory is that there are few brands in the world that can deliver such extreme pleasure and such dire frustration, often on the same day. Alfa’s not the only brand that offers the basics of this experience, of course. But it’s probably the most storied brand to do so, with the best looking cars and the most romantic automotive history.
Classic Alfa Romeos come as close as any car can to having an automotive soul. It’s so easy to fall in love with an Alfa. And yet like any human that you’re in love with, an Alfa can infuriate you with its flaws.
Of course, every car has it’s highs and lows. It’s just that an Alfa Romeo’s highs are SO high that it makes the lows feel absolutely cavernous.
The charm of an Alfa is all the more alluring because up until recently, they’ve all been quite accessible. Any car nut can afford an Alfa experience at some level. Sure, a few select models have risen in value at an almost silly pace in recent times, but most of them are still quite accessible, with a potential reward factor only found with stupidly priced supercars.
But you have to EARN the rewards, which is the point of Clarkson’s statement. You earn them with cash, sweat, tears, love, patience, time and loyalty. And it’s going through the fire of Alfa ownership – experiencing the highs and the hard work that goes with them – that Clarkson says makes you a true car enthusiast.
Most former and/or current Alfa owners will agree, but then of course we would. It makes us look a little holier than thou. The sensible ones will also see that it’s a thought that can apply to plenty of other brands, too.