Oh Alfa!

Sir,
I learn with horror that Alfa are to fit automatic transmission.

This is sacrilege and almost unbelievable.

Aston Martin and Jaguar have had to resort to such devices to woo wealthy tycoons to accept their cars and drive them with little effort and thought.

Mercedes sales in the UK is mainly automatic to suit the preponderance of elderly customers—it takes years to amass the cash for such a car.

But surely Alfa appeal to a different kind of person who delights in being physically in control of the whole vehicle without reliance on power steering, electric windows and slush-pump transmission?

Is it progress that such an illustrious company on the threshold of vastly increased sales must lower their ideals so much to suit the mass market they intend to enter?

On reflection I suppose we are being steered into mediocrity through Naderism, congestion, increasing accident rate until any individuality will be classed as unsociable.

Long live Citroën, completely alone up to now and Morgan, of course.

B. Lowe.
Bridgwater.