Alfa Montreal v. Porsche 911 S

Sir,

Having just purchased a 1974 Alfa-Romeo Montreal replacing a Porsche 911 S 2.4, I am surprised that this beautiful Italian car seems to lack recognition.

A very flexible four-cam fuel-injected 2,593 c.c. V8 giving 230 b.h.p. (SAE) provides very smooth and completely untemperamental performance with the same top speed as the Porsche at 138 m.p.h. However, the Alfa wins hands down on stability and excellent predictable handling. Having entered a tight corner admittedly too fast in the Porsche and ending with a very sudden, uncontrolled and lurid breakaway, I lost all Confidence in Porsche handling and decided to sell.

Interior accommodation in the Alfa apart from being slightly “plasticky” is very comfortable and the useful-sized boot (a poor point in the Porsche) has easy access through the hatchback rear window.

The two cars have similar performance but a comparable Porsche costs about £2,000 more than the Alfa-Romeo.

I know which I prefer.

Wandsworth J. R. W. LING