RE: Alfa Romeo Brera V6
Discussion
actually it's not as bad as everyone thinks - drove one in the summer
It's a good looking car - different from the BMW etc boxes. It's not such a bad handling car - i drove it around sardinia's roads and enjoyed them. It looked good next to more exotic cars - OK it's probably not true Alfa fans wanted - but I quite liked it - wouldn't buy one - i just bought a Corvette instead for 4k less !
It's a good looking car - different from the BMW etc boxes. It's not such a bad handling car - i drove it around sardinia's roads and enjoyed them. It looked good next to more exotic cars - OK it's probably not true Alfa fans wanted - but I quite liked it - wouldn't buy one - i just bought a Corvette instead for 4k less !
The Brera is really the first Alfa in my memory (Arna excepted) that I have no desire to own.
They obviously fall flat on the fun side, and like the 159, these cars are supposedly sold on 'Alfa Spirit'. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any signs of Alfa Spirit in these cars.
They look good, and I daresay are quite well put together. However, I'll let BMW driver's have them- that's obviously the market Alfa are now aiming for.
I'll be keeping my 75, 155 & 156 for the forseable future.
They obviously fall flat on the fun side, and like the 159, these cars are supposedly sold on 'Alfa Spirit'. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any signs of Alfa Spirit in these cars.
They look good, and I daresay are quite well put together. However, I'll let BMW driver's have them- that's obviously the market Alfa are now aiming for.
I'll be keeping my 75, 155 & 156 for the forseable future.
Edited by Alfa Mad on Saturday 4th November 21:13
I am also from Barrow-in-Furness and once went out with a checkout chick from ASDA so understand the sentiment. I now live in West Australia the land of V8's in everything. The local lads here have windscreen stickers saying "Only orange juice and milk comes in 2 litres" referring to the average engine size being 5.7litre V8.
Have to confirm that corporatisation of companies like Alfa is definitely taking away their edge and appeal. Soon we will all be driving Hyundais badge engineered to be Alfas, Jags etc just like the dying days of British Leyland with Austin, Wolseley, Morris etc.
Have to confirm that corporatisation of companies like Alfa is definitely taking away their edge and appeal. Soon we will all be driving Hyundais badge engineered to be Alfas, Jags etc just like the dying days of British Leyland with Austin, Wolseley, Morris etc.
It's very sad the way things change, but after 10 years of owning Alfas that all had soul, i can confirm that this new Brera has none!
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
This car's biggest single problem is its weight. Alfa claim 1630kg which is unacceptable for a car of this type, but I believe Autocar independently weighed it at over 1800kg - just ludicrous. That's a good 200kg heavier than an already lardy 3 series, and 350kg heavier than a new TT V6. I love Alfas, but that alone would cross it off my shortlist.
ajrduff said:
I believe Autocar independently weighed it at over 1800kg - just ludicrous. That's a good 200kg heavier than an already lardy 3 series, and 350kg heavier than a new TT V6. I love Alfas, but that alone would cross it off my shortlist.
Autocar weighed it at 1765kg. They weighed the TT at 1458kg, so the Brera is 307kg heavier. Not sure there is a 4wd 3-series in the UK market, so it's hard to compare like-for-like.
There's no denying it's a heavier car than some of its competitors, and it's a shame that the weight alone is enough for you to cross it off your list. Did you like the way it drove?
edit to add - welcome to PH.
Edited by jamieboy on Monday 6th November 13:49
ajrduff said:
This car's biggest single problem is its weight. Alfa claim 1630kg which is unacceptable for a car of this type, but I believe Autocar independently weighed it at over 1800kg - just ludicrous. That's a good 200kg heavier than an already lardy 3 series, and 350kg heavier than a new TT V6. I love Alfas, but that alone would cross it off my shortlist.
I wish i had listened to the journos before i took the plunge, you're so right about the weight, it just ruins it. Alfa will never sell many, it's not just performance where it shows either, i still cant reach the dizzy heights of 18mpg as an average!
I really wish i had listened to people, the Brera will go down as my biggest ever motoring mistake
[quote]I wish i had listened to the journos before i took the plunge, you're so right about the weight, it just ruins it. Alfa will never sell many, it's not just performance where it shows either, i still cant reach the dizzy heights of 18mpg as an average!
I really wish i had listened to people, the Brera will go down as my biggest ever motoring mistake[/quote]
But apart from that, you like it?
I really wish i had listened to people, the Brera will go down as my biggest ever motoring mistake
[/quote] But apart from that, you like it?
or, if understood, left with a rather vivid imagination (either good or bad, depending on your predilection to said filly) 
True it's a shame Alfa has forgotten to stay true to their original spirit of earlier models and racing heritage (although the 8c seems to be heading in the right direction) but, unless you've owned an Alfa (like Jeremy Clarkson says - your not a true petrolhead until you've owned one!) you ignore the fact it costs more 'to run' and 'keep on the road' than lots of other cars of similar size and class. Maybe it's all us car buyers that have all the passion n' spirit we keep talking about - even more than most of today's production managers or car designers?
jwyatt said:
I'm still reasonably tempted by the thought of one of these to replace the GTA in a few years, with Autodelta engine goodies. The rear-biased 4WD is probably the biggest thing going for it over previous Alfas - I'd love the normallu aspriated 324bhp Autodelta upgrade for my Arese V6 but while the standard car handles well, that really would be a bit excessive for FWD, LSD or not!
Oh yes, are they still in business . . . GTV 2.5 Autodelta was yum. err, wasn't it a V8 IIRW?
You have to be a bit carefull with which 'Autodelta' you are thinking of. The one JW mentioned is a london company which, whilst I wouldn't want to take anything away from their achievements, is NOT the same Autodelta that was effectively Alfa's competition department back in the 60's and 70's.
I may be wrong but I suspect the GTV6 you mentioned was from that era and was probably from the original Autodelta.
I may be wrong but I suspect the GTV6 you mentioned was from that era and was probably from the original Autodelta.
scoobiewrx said:
When i were a lad i had a 3dr Alfasud Green Cloverleaf in White. Proper Alfa Romeo drivers car. Nowadays i think they've all gone a bit soft.
Scoobywxr what great taste in cars you have. I had a Sud 1.5Ti, it was road-rally prepared with a ruddy great webber downdraught carb and Bilsteins all round. Now that was a drivers car! Modern Alfa's seem to promise so much and I always go for a test drive when a new one comes out. And yet I always come away rather underwhelmed. Consequently my last four cars have been Subaru Wrx's, I guess it must be the flat-four engine. Like I say Scooby, you've great taste!
cirvy said:
windymiller said:
Bloody General Motors crap!
Wait till you drive it, believe me, it is as bad as it looks. The new V6 has nothing of the character of the 'proper' Alfa V6
The whole car is like that - rubbery controls, reminiscent of a Vectra.
I curtailed the test drive, since its B road behaviour is far, far worse than the tester suggests. And it exacerbates the cabin squeaks.
My 66,000 mile Prelude embarrasses it.
cirvy said:
It's very sad the way things change, but after 10 years of owning Alfas that all had soul, i can confirm that this new Brera has none!
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
I agree.
It really feels like they've tried to graft the traditional Alfa flaws (like the odd clutch weighting) onto a Vectra.
I was very frustrated, especially since the car is one of the few beautiful moderns.
I suppose if one wants a car that drives like a Sud Ti, one has to buy a Sud Ti.
cirvy said:
It's very sad the way things change, but after 10 years of owning Alfas that all had soul, i can confirm that this new Brera has none!
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
It's like a big Vauxhall saloon to drive, it feels remote & characterless. The engine does'nt sound or drive with any kind of jest, the driving experience is somehow numbed by the electronic gismos & "improvements" in build quality that have rounded all the edges to the extent that the car has no edge!!
Alfas have always been flawed diamonds, my new Brera is just flawed
Here we go again - had enough yet Cirvy? Just about any Brera thread will find you slagging it off. Just because you did not test drive it properly and now "demand" Alfa to give you all your menoey back because you don't like fuel consumption etc. Geesh!
Counter balance - great car for everyday driving (2.4 jtdm), fab for long journeys and very, very competent on B roads. I find the car exceptional to look at and, from the number of comments and stares each day, so do plenty of others, certainly more than any other car I have owned including other Alfas. Indeed, getting embarassing to park it in popular spots.
Wish I could afford to run a petrol version but I can't (25k per year private motering). And there is a whole new range of engines coming to the Brera next year including 250bhp diesel and 350bhp petrol.
black S2K said:
The whole car is like that - rubbery controls, reminiscent of a Vectra.
I curtailed the test drive, since its B road behaviour is far, far worse than the tester suggests. And it exacerbates the cabin squeaks.
My 66,000 mile Prelude embarrasses it.
I curtailed the test drive, since its B road behaviour is far, far worse than the tester suggests. And it exacerbates the cabin squeaks.
My 66,000 mile Prelude embarrasses it.
Really odd. B roads and my Brera are a hoot. It is sure footed, gives great feedback and never surprises with a bad habit.
Mine does have a loose door trim and will be seemto later this month. Aside from that, the cabin is far better screwed together than the CLK I handed back a month ago.
Oh well.
bunyarra said:
Here we go again - had enough yet Cirvy? Just about any Brera thread will find you slagging it off. Just because you did not test drive it properly and now "demand" Alfa to give you all your menoey back because you don't like fuel consumption etc. Geesh!
Counter balance - great car for everyday driving (2.4 jtdm), fab for long journeys and very, very competent on B roads. I find the car exceptional to look at and, from the number of comments and stares each day, so do plenty of others, certainly more than any other car I have owned including other Alfas. Indeed, getting embarassing to park it in popular spots.
Every Brera thread will find me giving my opinion of my Brera.
To clarify, i have never demanded Alfa to give me "all" my money back, merely to treat me fairly & assist me with my problems with the car. For the record, the current treatment from Alfa is no assistance with my problems, but an offer of £22,000 to take it off me. Not bad for a machine that cost me £31,000 3 months ago. I enjoyed better customer care last time i bought a washing machine
However, i do agree with you that the car looks great. Problem is, as countless roadtest journos appear to have confirmed, looks are easily its primary strength
Edited by cirvy on Sunday 12th November 18:07
Clarkson's view of the Brera, eventually after some environment stuff.
[url]http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/arti[/url]
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