u/WrapperMiss

I found a few replacement head units that are compatible with the 2023 Stelvio, which also have hardware for 360 camera capabilities.

I contacted a shop in the area and they're pretty confident they can install it since they've retrofitted other cars with 360 cams + new head units in the past, though they want to check out the car first (wiring, firewall, etc.) to ensure they can install it.

Anyone ever done this before?

I love this car, but having used 360 cameras in other vehicles, it's the only thing missing in the alfa IMO. Especially since I live in a metro area where parking spots can get tight.

I called around multiple shops in the area.

A few quoted $180.

Some even up to $300 and $400.

The Alfa dealer?

They take the cake...

They quoted .... drumroll... $500.

For a 2.0L.

Oil and the filter are only like, what, $60-80?

So they're essentially charging ~$400 for ~30 minutes of labor, or the equivalent of $800/hour of labor.

It takes 2 minutes to jack your car up, 2 minutes to unscrew the panel, 5 minutes to remove and add oil, and 5 minutes to reset the code via OBD.

A reminder for why you only use the Alfa dealer for warranty work. Find someone else, a Euro shop or Alfa technician on the side to do service for you, or do it yourself.

If i turn my 2023 Stelvio on (but leave engine off...) it makes this sound for 5+ minutes and it doesn't turn off: https://www.reddit.com/r/AlfaRomeo/comments/16ouuvq/i_literally_just_got_my_stelvio_today_what_is/

Other people in that thread say it turns off after a minute... but mine doesn't.

Apparently it's the coolant pump for the turbo.. but it just keeps whining until i turn the car off.

This will happen even if I haven't driven the car for the past 24 hours.

Any idea what could be the cause?

Just bought the car too and it has <25k miles

With all this talk of Alfas 2020+ being reliable... it seems true, I haven't seen too many issues about engine or transmission failures. Maybe oil/turbo leak or something with the radiator at most.

Also having checked many carfax reports, I haven't any major issues having to be repaired.

It seems like everyone here recommends getting the extended warranty.. but is there anyone here who doesn't have one? And ended up regreting it because of unforeseen repairs?

EDIT: thanks all, gonna skip the warranty and save $4.5k

i don't need a ton of privacy, just don't want to look completely exposed/transparent to the outside world when i'm driving

is 50% on front windows sufficient to provide a shade of tint or obfuscation? anyone have any pictures?

Torn between 35% and 50% for the front windows.

I have a black Stelvio, so I'm leaning towards 50% so it's not too blacked out.

Thoughts?

EDIT: For clarity, i'm not tinting the windshield. Leaving that at 100%

Carfax clean, one owner, regular oil changes every 5k miles

But high mileage in 4 years

Worth buying if i get a successful PPI?

Aren’t there some items that can’t be checked by a mechanic? Like internal engine wear, turbocharger and transmission internals, etc?

Found a good deal on a used Alfa.

Around 35k miles

Carfax looks clean, and it had regular checkups at an Alfa dealer

However, the dealer won’t let me take the car offsite for a PPI

But… they did say i could bring a mechanic onsite and even use their lift

I want to bring a mechanic to inspect it, but when i’ve asked the mechanics if they would come and use the dealer’s lift to remove the undercarriage as part of their PPI, they went cold (probably because it’s not what they typically do during inspections? Or because they’re not alfa technicians so they’re not comfortable with it, Idk).

Is it sufficient to have a mechanic inspect an alfa without removing the undercarriage?

Thoughts?

Torn between these two choices

Black looks aggressive and badass

White looks stunning

What do you think?

Pros:
- LOVE the exterior look. Looks better than the hatchback IMO (even though the hatchback is beautiful in its own right, it’s easy to overlook because of how short it is)
- beautiful interior, quality dashboard/buttons, and comfortable leather seats
- soft ride, the suspension is quality
- sound is decent, like a 7.5-8 out of 10; but i may upgrade the speaker in the spare tire to JBL bass pro
- turbo goes zoom zoom. Always fun to press on the gas and easily take off
- 360 camera comes in clutch in tight situations
- tall ride
- probably the most fun SUV in its budget class (excluding german/italian makes)
- brakes are pretty decent, nothing to write home about though
- enough space in the trunk and back seats for storage
- heated steering wheel and ventilated seats are nice.

Cons:
- lane centering sucks. It’s more of a liability to use it.
- visibility is so so, but you get used to it fast.
- interior is a bit cramped, but again i get used to this pretty fast.
- to me, the car FEELS big, like a mini tank, and if im near objects or other cars i always am extra cautious to give them extra space so i don’t swipe them. In contrast, I’ve driven the forrester and it feels way more nimble and lean. This is my BIGGEST annoyance with the car.
… even the bmw x5 felt less like a tank; i’m not sure if it was the visibility or what that contributed to that feeling
- it doesn’t handle corners very well, it feels kind of slow and disconnected. Again, the forrester does this much better. (EDIT: I meant to say it doesn't do well in making sharp turns. other cars do this better. but the overall handling experience is fine).

That’s about it. I don’t drive down windy canyon roads and it’s not often that i’m in cramped spaces, so the “tank” feeling and handling drawbacks aren’t too bad

I considered the Mazda3 hatchback, but after watching POV videos, i hate how low it is to the ground and also how you can hear every bump in the road. Feels more like a car that’s akin to a fun go-cart for the weekend but i’d probably not look forward to riding such a rough ride every time

If i get a second car, it will likely be an Alfa Romeo Stelvio so i can experience better handling, better visibility, and less of the “driving a tank” feeling, though given Alfa’s reliability, you gotta save up for maintenance.

I love the CX-5. It’s the perfect entry level car. The CRV, rav4, and forrester don’t hold a candle to the cx-5’s ride quality.

A) SPCE = $4.

We dump down to $4 because everyone plans on selling tomorrow. We all go 'no shit that would happen,' and we go back to work at Wendy's on Saturday morning for our 6 AM shifts.

Or SPCE management does some more ATM / dilution bullshit.

B) SPCE = $10.

$SPCX gaps up due to being the largest most hyped IPO in history, with additional catalysts being that the entire market, including the space sector, bled down / consolidated throughout the week - this loads the spring.

When SPCX rallies, traders look to invest in space-adjacent stocks. ASTS and RKLB look heavily discounted. Money flows into those tickers, in addition to SPCE.

Shorts are sweating in their mothers' basements. Short covering begins.

Heavy call buying takes place. MMs/funds buy SPCE shares to cover the calls.

But wait, there's your average low IQ retail investor who looks just like us. They believe they can buy SPCX for 20x cheaper! They pile into SPCE.

In addition, the w s b regards who paperhanded their shares last week, who want to recouperate their gains, buy back into SPCE after sitting on the sidelines and witnessing the upward spiral. This is all looking like OPEN's second rally after a week of bleeding and suffering.

We gap up to 60% to $10. Your calls are worth $100k. You can finally quit your behind-the-dumpster job at Wendy's. With your new social status, recruiters begin hunting you down, offering you positions at Carl's Jr and Burger King to work the fries counter. You've made your family - and your wife's bf - proud. Guh.