Jeremy Clarkson turns against the modern automotive industry and recommends purchasing older Alfa Romeo models
The world’s most famous automotive journalist has had enough. According to Jeremy Clarkson, suffocating regulations from Brussels mean that there are no longer any new cars worth buying. For those who want to enjoy themselves one last time before we all end up driving soulless Chinese vehicles, he has some specific but urgent advice.
When Jeremy Clarkson speaks, the automotive world listens. In his latest columnfor The Times, the British presenter tears the current state of the automotive industry to shreds. His conclusion is as harsh as it is clear: he would not buy a single new car at this moment. The reason for this is not that the engines are bad or the design disappointing, but the meddling of the government.
Since the summer of 2022, all new cars in the European Union (and the United Kingdom is following suit) must be equipped with a range of active safety systems, better known as ADAS.
According to Clarkson, these systems have effectively ruined the driving experience. Whether you’re in a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, or a Maserati, the experience is constantly disrupted by beeps, warnings, and interventions at the wheel. The car has changed from a machine you operate into a digital nanny that constantly tells you what to do.
The love for the Giulia
To improve his mood, Clarkson decided to fall back on an old love: the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. When it was introduced in 2016, he was lyrical about this Italian sports sedan.
At the time, he called it a car that was better than the BMW M3, a rare compliment from someone who is usually critical of Italian build quality. The 510 hp V6, perfect balance, and comfortable chassis made it a masterpiece.
But seeing a brand-new 2024 model again turned out to be a disappointment. The Giulia has also had to bow to modern demands. The drive became a series of irritations caused by the electronic watchdogs.
Worse still, Clarkson noted that the suspension of the new version has changed dramatically. Whereas the original was known for its velvety damping that absorbed bumps, the new version felt rock hard. He described the experience on the A40 near Oxford as less comfortable than falling down a flight of stairs.
The last resort
Yet the conclusion of his story is not entirely negative. Rather, it is a call to action for true car enthusiasts. Clarkson argues that we are at a crossroads. The future seems to consist of what he describes as Chinese boxes: interchangeable, soulless electric vehicles that take you from A to B without any emotion.
According to him, those who want to resist the dimming of the lights have one option left. Don’t buy a new Giulia, but look for a used one from before 2022. Those cars still have the magic, the flexibility, and, above all, the lack of patronizing software.
It’s a chance to enjoy one last time a brilliant, rear-wheel-drive sedan with a Ferrari engine under the hood, before regulations and electrification consign this type of car to the history books for good. It’s advice that probably won’t do the prices on the used car market any good, but for enthusiasts, it’s worth its weight in gold.
