I just got a Brera
Discussion
well, for 9 days anyway. Turned up at Hertz Heathrow and they had a choice of an Alfa GT or an Alfa Brera as upgrades from the 1.6 Focus I'd booked. They got me a decent enough rate that it worked out at £100 more for the week.
As a previous GTV owner I hadn't really been impressed by the Brera on launch, so I figured that it would be good to give it a chance.
Initial impressions of the 3.2 V6: it's not a quick car and the steering is a little rubbery, but it's reasonably pleasant to drive. Big blind spots and not the sportiest suspension setup. Compared to the GTV the boot is huge!
Should be interesting to see if it can win me over...
As a previous GTV owner I hadn't really been impressed by the Brera on launch, so I figured that it would be good to give it a chance.
Initial impressions of the 3.2 V6: it's not a quick car and the steering is a little rubbery, but it's reasonably pleasant to drive. Big blind spots and not the sportiest suspension setup. Compared to the GTV the boot is huge!
Should be interesting to see if it can win me over...
Seems well screwed together and the interior is a nice place to be, although with the panoramic roof and me being 6'5 the head room leaves a little to be desired.
Nice touches include the Italian labels on the dials as well as a pretty decent gearchange.
Still looks too much like a hatchback to me though, albeit a pretty one.
Nice touches include the Italian labels on the dials as well as a pretty decent gearchange.
Still looks too much like a hatchback to me though, albeit a pretty one.
Had a long trip up to Beccles today from London...
It's pretty competent as a motorway cruiser, not too thirsty really considering the engine, but there is a lot of tyre noise.
Had the chance to take to some of the country roads up there and the handling is pretty decent, although I was keeping the speeds within reason to avoid tree-Brera interaction
Speed-wise it's a bit puzzling. It has enough to be entertaining and certainly overtakes weren't too stressful, but then you find that it's not really happy running at much more than about 80ish. When a 599GTB joined the A12 in front of me an RX8 jumped in between me and the Ferrari - naturally I wanted a closer look at the F-car, so I put the boot in, but it just wasn't up to the task of keeping up with the RX8 let alone the 599GTB (which incidentally does fast way too easily!)
Engine sounds gorgeous though and from some angles it even looks coupe-ish.
If they sold them in the US I might be tempted, if only because it's so far removed from the humdrum Audi/BMW/Merc choice that anyone in the US with an ounce of taste is reduced to. The Brera's a nice design (just block the word 'coupe' from your conciousness) and has sufficient performance for day to day and for you to have fun without getting into too much trouble. The interior's also a nice place to be.
It's pretty competent as a motorway cruiser, not too thirsty really considering the engine, but there is a lot of tyre noise.
Had the chance to take to some of the country roads up there and the handling is pretty decent, although I was keeping the speeds within reason to avoid tree-Brera interaction
Speed-wise it's a bit puzzling. It has enough to be entertaining and certainly overtakes weren't too stressful, but then you find that it's not really happy running at much more than about 80ish. When a 599GTB joined the A12 in front of me an RX8 jumped in between me and the Ferrari - naturally I wanted a closer look at the F-car, so I put the boot in, but it just wasn't up to the task of keeping up with the RX8 let alone the 599GTB (which incidentally does fast way too easily!)
Engine sounds gorgeous though and from some angles it even looks coupe-ish.
If they sold them in the US I might be tempted, if only because it's so far removed from the humdrum Audi/BMW/Merc choice that anyone in the US with an ounce of taste is reduced to. The Brera's a nice design (just block the word 'coupe' from your conciousness) and has sufficient performance for day to day and for you to have fun without getting into too much trouble. The interior's also a nice place to be.
That's because you should have tried the JTDm.
I know I keep going on about it, but it's by far and away the best resolved setup in the current Brera/159 line up. OK it hasn't got the ultimate traction of the 4wd chassis but in "normal" use, it's lighter, has a huge 25% more torque, and much less drive train power loss.
It certainly hurtles past 80 with ease...
I know I keep going on about it, but it's by far and away the best resolved setup in the current Brera/159 line up. OK it hasn't got the ultimate traction of the 4wd chassis but in "normal" use, it's lighter, has a huge 25% more torque, and much less drive train power loss.
It certainly hurtles past 80 with ease...
I've tried a couple of the Fiat multijet diesels and wasn't bowled over, are the JTD's better? Maybe the legends of bountiful torque that accompany a diesel engine don't apply to the Fiat engines, but tackling the hills of Tuscany in a Grande Punto Multijet diesel it didn't strike me as any more torquey than a petrol engine.
It also occurred to me last night that the Brera has more in common with the GTV6 than the previous GTV in terms of its styling. Perhaps the recently replaced GTV was actually the odd one out?
It also occurred to me last night that the Brera has more in common with the GTV6 than the previous GTV in terms of its styling. Perhaps the recently replaced GTV was actually the odd one out?
The 2.4 JTD is a differant animal to the smaller ones, but generally they are tuned to give a more even spread of torque than the switch like power delivery of some of the VAG diesels.
The Grande Punto is big old car too, I know the Brera is too, but it does have substantially more grunt as well.
The Grande Punto is big old car too, I know the Brera is too, but it does have substantially more grunt as well.
Well, it's been nearly a week now and I have to say I could see myself owning one of these!
Plus points: great engine and exhaust note, handling, luggage space, build quality, image, looks, equipment level is pretty good on the one I have too.
Minus points: power to weight, rear seats are pointless (although better than the GTV), parking is tricky, performance > 80mph
As a package it really does work, it delivers that Italian flare in a car that doesn't feel like it will fall apart or let you down everytime you sit in it. It looks good from the outside and most of the time the driving experience doesn't disappoint. Sure it's not the fastest, biggest or most practical, but I think I'm now a Brera convert!
If only they imported them to the states!!
Plus points: great engine and exhaust note, handling, luggage space, build quality, image, looks, equipment level is pretty good on the one I have too.
Minus points: power to weight, rear seats are pointless (although better than the GTV), parking is tricky, performance > 80mph
As a package it really does work, it delivers that Italian flare in a car that doesn't feel like it will fall apart or let you down everytime you sit in it. It looks good from the outside and most of the time the driving experience doesn't disappoint. Sure it's not the fastest, biggest or most practical, but I think I'm now a Brera convert!
If only they imported them to the states!!
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