RE: Alfa Romeo Brera JTDM: Spotted
Discussion
I had a red 2007 V6 4WD from 09 to 11......bought from Arnold Clark and turned out to be an ex-hire car (Hertz or Avis, can't recall which). Had the Pano roof and looked gorgeous from any angle but had to get the engine out for a warranty fix, the steering pump failed in a multistory, and the bonnet paintwork could peel by breathing on it (probably a crap tidy up by Arnold I think).
PX'd it for another one in red, this time a 59 plate 2.2 with most of the Prodrive bits (but not the official "S" model). 19" alloys this time and probably the best looking car I'll ever own. Had the weird pano roof that you couldn't see out of though. Kept for 3 years before I chopped it in for a new S3 and German predictability
Lousy photo of 2nd car here....
PX'd it for another one in red, this time a 59 plate 2.2 with most of the Prodrive bits (but not the official "S" model). 19" alloys this time and probably the best looking car I'll ever own. Had the weird pano roof that you couldn't see out of though. Kept for 3 years before I chopped it in for a new S3 and German predictability
Lousy photo of 2nd car here....
Edited by jsc15 on Thursday 22 December 21:43
V8 FOU said:
No, just no.
It's an Alfa, FFS. Needs to be the V6.
Yes x1,000 - a friend of mine gave me a lift to the pub earlier in his diesel Range Rover (he has a V8 Classic mk1 RR too so is not a lost cause :-) and I was grateful for the lift, but this type of engine has no place in an enthusiast car. Sadly, I'm not sure the Brera is an enthusiast car, but rather an alternative choice. Like the 986 Boxster, what would otherwise have been considered a good looking car was doomed by an over-promising concept car. At least the Boxster had a flat 6 like the concept did (or pretended to as it wasn't a runner) whereas the poor Brera went from a Maserati V8 in the concept to at best, a GM V6 in the production car, or, at worst,this engine. It's an Alfa, FFS. Needs to be the V6.
I honestly don't get why everyone is calling this a heavy car.
the 2.4 JTD has a curb weight of 1470kg.
A bmw E92 325d coupé has a curb weight of 1590kg
A audi a5 2.7tdi has a curb weight of 1550kg.
A bmw 123d E82 has a curb weight of 1495kg
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
the 2.4 JTD has a curb weight of 1470kg.
A bmw E92 325d coupé has a curb weight of 1590kg
A audi a5 2.7tdi has a curb weight of 1550kg.
A bmw 123d E82 has a curb weight of 1495kg
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
JRzwevegem said:
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
It may well be lighter than those cars (although I wouldn't really call any of them competitors - I'd say the obvious competition are small coupes like the TT, Scirocco and Celica rather than larger saloon-based cars with four proper seats) but it feels heavier than any of them. And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
kambites said:
JRzwevegem said:
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
It may well be lighter than those cars (although I wouldn't really call any of them competitors - I'd say the obvious competition are small coupes like the TT, Scirocco and Celica rather than larger saloon-based cars with four proper seats) but it feels heavier than any of them. And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
My 2.2S did not feel heavy and probably had the least understeer of any car I have ever owned. It all depends which Brera you are talking about, an early V6 4wd is a totally different car to drive compared to a later S with, Bilstien Shocks, Eibach springs, lower ride height , different geometry, hollow anti roll bars, aluminium uprights, thinner high strength steel panels, different seats etc etc. Just because the early V6 was rubbish does not mean that all Breras are rubbish. I did abot 75k miles in mine and it was superb.
Kitchski said:
See, I think that looks better than the Brera!
They actually do! (IMO, of course).I looked at lots of Brera's, and I went to Second City in Brum (now called Love Alfa, or something) as they had a rew in there - however I've gotta be honest, side-by-side I found the 159Ti to be a much more attractive car than the Brera S that was next to it. The Brera is more striking, but the proportions of the 159 are just 'right'.
As it is, I didn't buy a Brera; the 2.2 is too slow and too thirsty for what it is, and the V6 is £550/year to tax, not much quicker and even worse on MPG (more than my V8 AMG was!). Chain replacements are engine out jobs if it ever needs doing. I did look around for the rare 1.8 TBi Breras, but they were fetching silly money. As I don't do diesels, those were out too.
Shame they never did a 159 GTA, that could have been something special.
Jacobyte said:
PH Article said:
After the abject disappointment of the Alfa Romeo 4C
Eh?The only negative comments I've seen or heard about the 4C is from journalists, and even then they are the punctuations around generally positive reviews. Everyone else I know that has driven one, or owns one, absolutely loves them. And even more so with a few tweaks to the suspension to suit British roads.
Chris71 said:
Each to their own, but I thought it was the most disappointing car I'd ever driven. Overly boosty, industrial-sounding engine, very inconsistent steering weight... You'd have to be a massive Alfa fan to turn down an Exige V6 (or a nice sensible Cayman) for a 4C IMHO.
I have driven both the 4C coupe and Spider and enjoyed them both, I would buy one. This reviewer seems to like the Alfa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irPZ5_WdCas
Chris71 said:
Each to their own, but I thought it was the most disappointing car I'd ever driven. Overly boosty, industrial-sounding engine, very inconsistent steering weight... You'd have to be a massive Alfa fan to turn down an Exige V6 (or a nice sensible Cayman) for a 4C IMHO.
There's always one. 
Not for me - I learnt the Italian avoidance lesson with 1970s Fiats. 
Wondrous 5 cylinder 2.4 litre Diesel with "up to" 210 bhp - b
s!
I had a 57 plate 123d with 200 bhp and it didn't handle like a barge as it was a proper RWD car (unlike any Alfa for about 40 years)!
A Brera may be pretty, but it's a bit fur coat and no knickers! (Desperate springs to mind)!
Wondrous 5 cylinder 2.4 litre Diesel with "up to" 210 bhp - b
s!I had a 57 plate 123d with 200 bhp and it didn't handle like a barge as it was a proper RWD car (unlike any Alfa for about 40 years)!
A Brera may be pretty, but it's a bit fur coat and no knickers! (Desperate springs to mind)!
GJR68 said:
JRzwevegem said:
I honestly don't get why everyone is calling this a heavy car.
the 2.4 JTD has a curb weight of 1470kg.
A bmw E92 325d coupé has a curb weight of 1590kg
A audi a5 2.7tdi has a curb weight of 1550kg.
A bmw 123d E82 has a curb weight of 1495kg
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
Heavy compared to their power output. My GTV is 120kg lighter with the same power as the Brera. Same with the 156 to 159. Both the Brera and 159 looked great but performance wise were miles behind the competition and their predecessors.......... which for a brand claiming a sporting biased pedigree was a big fail.the 2.4 JTD has a curb weight of 1470kg.
A bmw E92 325d coupé has a curb weight of 1590kg
A audi a5 2.7tdi has a curb weight of 1550kg.
A bmw 123d E82 has a curb weight of 1495kg
So the Alfa is even lighter than the main competition.
And still everyone is calling it the heavy one.
Car type Coupe
Curb weight 1433 kg (3159 lbs)
Power / weight154 ps (152 bhp) / t
Torque / weight188 Nm (139 lb-ft) / t
Assuming your car is a V6 it is almost exactly the same weight as a 2.2S. I have had both, I loved the GTV but the Brera was better in every respect apart from the engine and the GTV would not see which way the Brera S went down a twisty road, the handling and grip are in a whole different class because Prodrive did a brilliant job with the suspension on the 2.2S.
GJR68 said:
The Brera was a shocker in all but looks. Even with it's Prodrive upgrades it was nothing better than average. It's also common knowledge the JTS was possibly the worst engine Alfa ever built. Never made close to its claimed power and saddled with a whole host of issues.
What personal experience do you have of the Brera to have come to this conclusion? Pooh said:
What personal experience do you have of the Brera to have come to this conclusion?
Indeed Pooh, clearly someone that has not been paying attention in class.The JTS you are referring to is a previous generation in the GT/156 that was in early versions making less power, was a little troublesome in the 2002/2003 flavours and did coke up a bit. However the 2.2 JTS in this was dependable if a little dull, but no worse than it's german competition.
The Brera/159 are typically very reliable cars that have a few foibles but nothing worse than it's german competition.
In terms of the Prodrive version, it got pretty great reviews from memory http://www.evo.co.uk/alfa-romeo/brera/14258/alfa-r...
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