Thursday 22nd December 2016

Alfa Romeo Brera JTDM: Spotted

A sexy coupe with five cylinders for less than five grand: be still, our cuore sportivos

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After the abject disappointment of the Alfa Romeo 4C, things are getting exciting for the brand again, with the arrival of the Giulia. In particular, the 510hp Giulia QV - the 'one with the Ferrari engine' (yes, we know it's not really, but owners are unlikely to sweat over such trifling details).

Oh my.

As you'll have noted, we're disappointed to not yet have driven it in anger on British roads. God forbid if it's another 4C-style flop in the UK. Unlikely, given what Mike Duff reported from Balocco, but you never know.

So while we wait, let's whet our appetites with another beautiful and oh-so promising Alfa that was ultimately a bit of a disappointment when new, but which now has newfound appeal thanks to the ravages of depreciation: the Brera coupe.

Me, I love them. Yes, I know it's much too heavy, as a consequence of that aborted joint venture that would have seen this platform also used beneath Saabs. I well remember from contemporary test cars the rather flawed driving position, the over-long nose, the fact it basically never felt quite as lithe and agile as an Alfa ought.

Doesn't stop me hankering though. Particularly over the charismatic five-pot 2.4-litre JTDM turbodiesel, as fitted to this pristine black 2006 car. I'm looking at those squat shoulders, perfect rear and charismatic nose afresh, and almost succeeding in overlooking the front overhang. Similarly inside, with its Alfa leather, auxiliary dials (including oil temp) and that fine steering wheel. I'm looking, and hankering.

See above caption

This car is SV-spec. That stands for 'sky view' and means the standard glass roof got a retractable blind. Yes, bizarrely, all Breras (except really early cars) had a glass roof, but only some of them came with an electric blind to let you see out of it. So Alfa.

It's not particularly powerful. This one has 200hp, only upped slightly to 210hp with 2008 model year cars. It's not all that economical either. And I well recall the combination of slightly soft suspension and somewhat heavy engine. Only the Prodrive suspension pack made the Brera a great drive.

But if you're after a good-looking everyday motorway-muncher that's different to the norm and well placed to hook into the current enthusiasm for all things Alfa Romeo, you could do a lot worse. A car as smart as this could be a lovely possession to own, and surely prime modern classic fodder in years to come. At this price, how could it disappoint?

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ALFA ROMEO BRERA 2.4 JTDM
Engine: 2,387cc, 5-cyl diesel
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 200@4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@2,000rpm
MPG: 41.5
CO2: 179g/km
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 90,000
Price new: £26,350
Yours for: £4,950

See the original advert here.

[V8 FOU]

No, just no.
It's an Alfa, FFS. Needs to be the V6.

[Adz The Rat]

Good looking car, just a shame they are a bit st.

[James Junior]

I was looking for a leftfield car that I could use for business duties a few years ago and ended up buying a 2.4 diesel Spider, the one based on the same platform as the Brera.

On the face of it the recipe looks unpalatable. A drop-top Alfa with a diesel engine - oh the humanity! A heavy car, with a poor driving position and poor fuel economy. Comical body roll and an aluminium faschia that scratches easily and reflects the sun right into your eyes when driving with the hood down.

But then I had it remapped and fitted a set of Eibach springs, an ARB and some spacers and it was transformed. Loads of torque, a lovely meaty thrum to the engine and handled surprisingly well for a big car. Only trouble is that the remap made it eat its clutch and DMF. Replaced them with uprated items but seem to recall the chap that had it after me encountered problems with them again too.

I replaced it with a Z4 Coupe 3.0 which was a better car in every measurable way and wasn't even that much thirstier, but it couldn't match the Alfa for charisma and feel good factor.

[Jacobyte]

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.

As for the Brera, I fell in love with the concept, but upon attending the launch and seeing how much of the stunning design had been lost in the bloated production version, I was severely disappointed.

[adamcot]

I used to own one of these. Mine was a 2007 210hp variant. Simply the best car I've ever owned. It wasn't particularly cheap to run, but the feel good factor was strong. It made you feel great. The car was a massive talking point - I'm pretty sure it even got me a job. I sold mine last year with 134,000 miles on it, still with many years of life left in it. I would have another in a heart beat, this time with a V6.

[Quickmoose]

I had the Prodrive V6
It was not a great drive, not a great car
I miss it a lot though
It was heavy
the V6 was a GM unit not a Busso
It didn't handle or stop or even go that well
The driving position was too high
Any angle that highlighted the ratio between both overhangs and wheelbase was regrettable (straight side on really)
It had a solid roof lining with a glass panel above it?!
It drank like a fish
keeping the alloys clean kept me busy

but
I cut the roof lining and it transformed the interior
It was extremely reliable
The V6 still sounded like a V6
It felt and drove 'solid' a really strong feeling
It was..to me...utterly gorgeous from all the other very many angles it could be looked at.
This is her...


I really shouldn't've dug out a photo of her...SUCH a good looking thing...want it back now...

Edited by Quickmoose on Thursday 22 December 10:48

[Ray_Aber]

I've got one - and have had it for 9 years, longer than any other car I have had. Misano Blue 2007 2.4 JTDM 210

Yes, the handling is a bit barge like. The economy, acceptable in the mid 2000s, is now lagging (35-38mpg). The onboard electronics are in the valve era compared to the competition's modern tech.

And yet, I love it. It remains stunning looking to my eyes, feels special inside (even though my - ex demo - car is in turgid boring grey & black), and has proved to be pretty reliable. That should be a given from my tenure; you don't hold onto a car for 9 years if it's a dog. This thing does not rattle. It feels hewn from solid, especially when you try to open the door on a side gradient....

I have struggled to find an acceptable replacement, as no other car I know has the combination of looks and practicality (I can hold two bikes and weekend luggage inside - or, on one memorable occasion, 2 people, weekend luggage, and 152 bottles of champagne - for personal consumption, officer). The engine gives good mid range, kids love the voice activated controls, and it's a brilliant grand tourer. I have never had a car which has attracted so many compliments at petrol stations etc.

I'll probably sell it next year. Its depreciation has been glacial (less than £2k/yr, as I got a good deal when I acquired it). I'll miss it badly when it goes.

Edited by Ray_Aber on Thursday 22 December 10:42

[SmudgeQ4]

James Junior said:

I was looking for a leftfield car that I could use for business duties a few years ago and ended up buying a 2.4 diesel Spider, the one based on the same platform as the Brera.

On the face of it the recipe looks unpalatable. A drop-top Alfa with a diesel engine - oh the humanity! A heavy car, with a poor driving position and poor fuel economy. Comical body roll and an aluminium faschia that scratches easily and reflects the sun right into your eyes when driving with the hood down.

But then I had it remapped and fitted a set of Eibach springs, an ARB and some spacers and it was transformed. Loads of torque, a lovely meaty thrum to the engine and handled surprisingly well for a big car. Only trouble is that the remap made it eat its clutch and DMF. Replaced them with uprated items but seem to recall the chap that had it after me encountered problems with them again too.

I replaced it with a Z4 Coupe 3.0 which was a better car in every measurable way and wasn't even that much thirstier, but it couldn't match the Alfa for charisma and feel good factor.

Glad you enjoyed yours.

Funny enough my clutch/dmf has gone on my 2.4 159 Q4, a bit painfully money wise i think the map accelerated this. I've heard the standard items are quite strong though, theirs a few standard ones on the owners clubs running 300+ hybrid turbos with no issues!

Still love mine though. Some fair comments here, heavy cars but mine handles quite well with the lowered stiffened ti spec and 4wd.

[sjabrown]

Breras must be soem of the most depreciation-proof Alfas out there! Always thought these look better in the flesh than they do in photos.

[anonymous-user]

sjabrown said:

Breras must be soem of the most depreciation-proof Alfas out there! Always thought these look better in the flesh than they do in photos.

I noticed this too. I guess it was because they were sought after and there were never that many on the used market relatively speaking. They're only now reaching the low levels of proper affordability but then they're older and higher miles.

I nearly bought one so many times over but the engines really put me off - mainly the GM connection and the dreaded chain - I didn't really fancy the 2.4 diesel and the 1750 tbi were too expensive. They look very nice and have a special feeling to them you just don't get with similarly priced cars.

[TNH]

adamcot said:

I used to own one of these. Mine was a 2007 210hp variant. Simply the best car I've ever owned. It wasn't particularly cheap to run, but the feel good factor was strong. It made you feel great. The car was a massive talking point - I'm pretty sure it even got me a job. I sold mine last year with 134,000 miles on it, still with many years of life left in it. I would have another in a heart beat, this time with a V6.

Didn't yours break down all the time?

[underphil]

Not getting many people's obsessive objection to large overhangs!!

- I'm pretty sure that the majority of design classics throughout automotive history have large overhangs

(..& I'm not suggesting that the Brera should be counted a design classic..)

[Quickmoose]

underphil said:

Not getting many people's obsessive objection to large overhangs!!

- I'm pretty sure that the majority of design classics throughout automotive history have large overhangs

(..& I'm not suggesting that the Brera should be counted a design classic..)

I would DEFINITELY count it as a design classic.

however
overhangs taken on their own I have no issue with.
It's about proportion.
When the overhangs are equal and get close to equalling the wheelbase... it starts to look really bad IMO
compare the concept with the reality and you might see it.

anyway, the Brera dances with this but gets away with it...just

[Motormatt]

My wife had one from new, Black with red interior.
My experience of it mirrors what others have said. The ergonomics were awkward and visibility poor, mainly because the seat was too high so I could never quite get comfortable. It was heavy with plenty of body roll, so not a B road blaster, but for everyday motoring on A roads and M ways, it was very well suited.
The 5 cylinder diesel even made a pleasing sound (for a diesel) when pressing on. It always felt quick enough with lots of torque to pull it along. It was also completely reliable, doing 60k in 3 years without missing a beat.
By far the best thing about it was the way it looked, and whilst there will always be those that complain it didn't quite live up to the promise of the original concept, at least it was different. When we had it, they were still very new and a rare sight, I have never driven anything else that received so much attention from other road users.

[kambites]

I've never got the love for the Brera - it's heavy, the controls are crap, the handling is (at least on non-prodrive cars) utterly numb and unspiring, it's impractical, it doesn't sound particularly good, and perhaps worst of all to my eyes it's ugly as sin.

And to top it all off, this one's a diesel!

[FN2TypeR]

A lad at work has a V6 one in black with the tan/tobacco coloured seats and it looks magnificent,

Apparently a bit meh to drive though, I am lead to believe that they weigh six million tons.


Still, what a lovely looking thing.

[Mr Adds]

I had a 2.2 SV, for the feelgood factor I sorely miss the car, it wasn't fast with an alleged 185bhp, was nose heavy and thirsty, but its the only car I actually really miss. It stretched its timing chain twice in the 18 months I had it, but covered under warranty.

[richardaucock]

Ray_Aber said:

I've got one - and have had it for 9 years, longer than any other car I have had. Misano Blue 2007 2.4 JTDM 210

Yes, the handling is a bit barge like. The economy, acceptable in the mid 2000s, is now lagging (35-38mpg). The onboard electronics are in the valve era compared to the competition's modern tech.

And yet, I love it. It remains stunning looking to my eyes, feels special inside (even though my - ex demo - car is in turgid boring grey & black), and has proved to be pretty reliable. That should be a given from my tenure; you don't hold onto a car for 9 years if it's a dog. This thing does not rattle. It feels hewn from solid, especially when you try to open the door on a side gradient....

I have struggled to find an acceptable replacement, as no other car I know has the combination of looks and practicality (I can hold two bikes and weekend luggage inside - or, on one memorable occasion, 2 people, weekend luggage, and 152 bottles of champagne - for personal consumption, officer). The engine gives good mid range, kids love the voice activated controls, and it's a brilliant grand tourer. I have never had a car which has attracted so many compliments at petrol stations etc.

I'll probably sell it next year. Its depreciation has been glacial (less than £2k/yr, as I got a good deal when I acquired it). I'll miss it badly when it goes.

Keep me posted when you do, Ray!

[Vitorio]

V8 FOU said:

No, just no.
It's an Alfa, FFS. Needs to be the V6.

Not that particular V6 *cough*GM*cough*

The 5 pot JTDM is at least a true alfa engine (even if it might have found its way into some larger Fiats).

Im not a huge fan of the Brera, but for less then 5K this is an interesting buy, much more a cruiser then a sportscar, and one of the better engines it came with (the 1750TBi might stand above it)

[James Junior]

SmudgeQ4 said:

Glad you enjoyed yours.

Funny enough my clutch/dmf has gone on my 2.4 159 Q4, a bit painfully money wise i think the map accelerated this. I've heard the standard items are quite strong though, theirs a few standard ones on the owners clubs running 300+ hybrid turbos with no issues!

Still love mine though. Some fair comments here, heavy cars but mine handles quite well with the lowered stiffened ti spec and 4wd.

I messed around with tuning boxes on my first two diesel Alfas. The Alfisti got up on their soapboxes about this on the forum and made bold claims about a good remap being much kinder on the clutch and a far better option. I had the Spider remapped as a result. In practice there was no noticeable difference. My GT spat its clutch and DMF out and began popping out of sixth gear. My 159 Ti gearbox started feeling dodgy and there was some juddering going on, whilst the Spider was as mentioned above.

Despite all the rhetoric on the forums the truth is that the Alfa internals are simply not up to the task of coping with the increased torque of a remap/ tuning box in my experience.

The 159 Ti is a lovely car and I test drove a late plate 2.4 and loved it. A really nice commuter car, albeit thirsty.