Prodrive S 3.2 Brera
Discussion
hmm maybe 'warned' was/is a bit strong, but it was clear your views would be welll qualified....
Either way things have progressed quickly....
I'm now the proud owner of a Prodrive S.
Took on board all that was said, which only helped clarify what I wanted...
Cannot WAIT to have it on my drive
Either way things have progressed quickly....
I'm now the proud owner of a Prodrive S.
Took on board all that was said, which only helped clarify what I wanted...
Cannot WAIT to have it on my drive
Quickmoose said:
hmm maybe 'warned' was/is a bit strong, but it was clear your views would be welll qualified....
Either way things have progressed quickly....
I'm now the proud owner of a Prodrive S.
Took on board all that was said, which only helped clarify what I wanted...
Cannot WAIT to have it on my drive
Nice one Either way things have progressed quickly....
I'm now the proud owner of a Prodrive S.
Took on board all that was said, which only helped clarify what I wanted...
Cannot WAIT to have it on my drive
Quickmoose - would appreciate your input here as I'm just about to embark on a search for a Brera S......Total Italiaphile having run loads of former Fiats, Alfas and Lancias. Am undecided if I want the 2.2 or 3.2 - thoughts? What made you go for the 3.2? Is the MPG that bad?
Noise? The GM units are nothing like the Busso V6 are they? TBH its probably the Road Tax that puts me off....
Ideally I'd like a Red 2.2 withe the leather dash option (not standard on the 2.2). Welcome any reviews of your new motor mate.
This is to replace my Fiat Coupe 20VT LE............
Noise? The GM units are nothing like the Busso V6 are they? TBH its probably the Road Tax that puts me off....
Ideally I'd like a Red 2.2 withe the leather dash option (not standard on the 2.2). Welcome any reviews of your new motor mate.
This is to replace my Fiat Coupe 20VT LE............
I'm totally in love with it.
Averaging 23mpg, but my annual mileage is low, so justifiable.
I've never heard a Busso, and the rev range seems to end all too quickly but the all alloy GM V6 still manages to raise the hairs on my neck and make me smile (but/and I've spent the last 2 years in a 5 cylinder T5 C30).
However I intend to upgrade the exhaust this year, the noise is too muted when cruising or pootling... I know it can be made to sound better.
The car feels very special to me, not very quick really, (Standard Q4 is quicker to 60 despite 100kg more) but I'm not party to traffic light GPs anymore.
I got the 3.2 because I could, I heard the 2.2 loves to rev, but eventhough I don't clip apexes on the way to work the performance stats for the 2.2 just made me feel sad.
The 3.2 does not feel nose heavy, it handles brilliantly, but it does depend on what you're used to. Ride is a bit firm/jiggly...thats British roads for you.
Road tax wise....Direct debit of £40 a month is ok and for me is offset by insurance of around £250 a year... it's a price worth paying IMO.
The only other niggle is the roof.... glass on the outside, solid headlining on the inside?! WTF?!..will be resolving that this year too.
I have an 11 year old and 8 year who both utterly dread being asked to sit in the back...
Buying this car felt like a one time only deal, I'm not convinced I'll have that amount of disposable to spend on a car again... I bought the best I could find. It's only done 13k miles and been loved. It's virtually new.
But again I hear as long as timing chains have been looked after well, the cars are quite bombproof.
It's the first car in well over a decade I have taken out just for the sake of a drive. More than anything, as you'll know, it feels good not to be driving the equivalent German offerings....just too common to be special IMO.
Averaging 23mpg, but my annual mileage is low, so justifiable.
I've never heard a Busso, and the rev range seems to end all too quickly but the all alloy GM V6 still manages to raise the hairs on my neck and make me smile (but/and I've spent the last 2 years in a 5 cylinder T5 C30).
However I intend to upgrade the exhaust this year, the noise is too muted when cruising or pootling... I know it can be made to sound better.
The car feels very special to me, not very quick really, (Standard Q4 is quicker to 60 despite 100kg more) but I'm not party to traffic light GPs anymore.
I got the 3.2 because I could, I heard the 2.2 loves to rev, but eventhough I don't clip apexes on the way to work the performance stats for the 2.2 just made me feel sad.
The 3.2 does not feel nose heavy, it handles brilliantly, but it does depend on what you're used to. Ride is a bit firm/jiggly...thats British roads for you.
Road tax wise....Direct debit of £40 a month is ok and for me is offset by insurance of around £250 a year... it's a price worth paying IMO.
The only other niggle is the roof.... glass on the outside, solid headlining on the inside?! WTF?!..will be resolving that this year too.
I have an 11 year old and 8 year who both utterly dread being asked to sit in the back...
Buying this car felt like a one time only deal, I'm not convinced I'll have that amount of disposable to spend on a car again... I bought the best I could find. It's only done 13k miles and been loved. It's virtually new.
But again I hear as long as timing chains have been looked after well, the cars are quite bombproof.
It's the first car in well over a decade I have taken out just for the sake of a drive. More than anything, as you'll know, it feels good not to be driving the equivalent German offerings....just too common to be special IMO.
Quickmoose said:
I'm totally in love with it.
Averaging 23mpg, but my annual mileage is low, so justifiable.
I've never heard a Busso, and the rev range seems to end all too quickly but the all alloy GM V6 still manages to raise the hairs on my neck and make me smile (but/and I've spent the last 2 years in a 5 cylinder T5 C30).
However I intend to upgrade the exhaust this year, the noise is too muted when cruising or pootling... I know it can be made to sound better.
The car feels very special to me, not very quick really, (Standard Q4 is quicker to 60 despite 100kg more) but I'm not party to traffic light GPs anymore.
I got the 3.2 because I could, I heard the 2.2 loves to rev, but eventhough I don't clip apexes on the way to work the performance stats for the 2.2 just made me feel sad.
The 3.2 does not feel nose heavy, it handles brilliantly, but it does depend on what you're used to. Ride is a bit firm/jiggly...thats British roads for you.
Road tax wise....Direct debit of £40 a month is ok and for me is offset by insurance of around £250 a year... it's a price worth paying IMO.
The only other niggle is the roof.... glass on the outside, solid headlining on the inside?! WTF?!..will be resolving that this year too.
I have an 11 year old and 8 year who both utterly dread being asked to sit in the back...
Buying this car felt like a one time only deal, I'm not convinced I'll have that amount of disposable to spend on a car again... I bought the best I could find. It's only done 13k miles and been loved. It's virtually new.
But again I hear as long as timing chains have been looked after well, the cars are quite bombproof.
It's the first car in well over a decade I have taken out just for the sake of a drive. More than anything, as you'll know, it feels good not to be driving the equivalent German offerings....just too common to be special IMO.
I would second all of the above. Having looked at four Brera S 2.2 examples and test driving two of them (the other two weren't even worth climbing into), I was left feeling a little disappointed and couldn't wait to get back in to my GT 1.9 JTDm. Then a 3.2 S became available within my budget, in my preferred colour and, being the SV6, had the leather dash etc. The test drove confirmed it - this was the Brera for me. I snapped it up and haven't looked back.Averaging 23mpg, but my annual mileage is low, so justifiable.
I've never heard a Busso, and the rev range seems to end all too quickly but the all alloy GM V6 still manages to raise the hairs on my neck and make me smile (but/and I've spent the last 2 years in a 5 cylinder T5 C30).
However I intend to upgrade the exhaust this year, the noise is too muted when cruising or pootling... I know it can be made to sound better.
The car feels very special to me, not very quick really, (Standard Q4 is quicker to 60 despite 100kg more) but I'm not party to traffic light GPs anymore.
I got the 3.2 because I could, I heard the 2.2 loves to rev, but eventhough I don't clip apexes on the way to work the performance stats for the 2.2 just made me feel sad.
The 3.2 does not feel nose heavy, it handles brilliantly, but it does depend on what you're used to. Ride is a bit firm/jiggly...thats British roads for you.
Road tax wise....Direct debit of £40 a month is ok and for me is offset by insurance of around £250 a year... it's a price worth paying IMO.
The only other niggle is the roof.... glass on the outside, solid headlining on the inside?! WTF?!..will be resolving that this year too.
I have an 11 year old and 8 year who both utterly dread being asked to sit in the back...
Buying this car felt like a one time only deal, I'm not convinced I'll have that amount of disposable to spend on a car again... I bought the best I could find. It's only done 13k miles and been loved. It's virtually new.
But again I hear as long as timing chains have been looked after well, the cars are quite bombproof.
It's the first car in well over a decade I have taken out just for the sake of a drive. More than anything, as you'll know, it feels good not to be driving the equivalent German offerings....just too common to be special IMO.
Insurance for me is £260, only a few pounds more than the diesel GT, I also pay tax by monthly direct debit and TBH, I don't find the fuel economy too bad, but then my work commute is a 14 mile round trip. That said, I use the car as regularly as possible because the pleasure of driving it is well worth the cost of the fuel. The 2.2 offers slightly better mpg but nowhere near the same driving pleasure IMO. Mine's got 69k on it, has been serviced every 12 months / 12k miles and hasn't suffered any major problems apart from needing a new airflow meter, and the oil temp sensor doesn't work. The biggest concern I have is knowing I'll have to sell my GT as it never gets used anymore!
flyingplum said:
I would second all of the above. Having looked at four Brera S 2.2 examples and test driving two of them (the other two weren't even worth climbing into), I was left feeling a little disappointed and couldn't wait to get back in to my GT 1.9 JTDm. Then a 3.2 S became available within my budget, in my preferred colour and, being the SV6, had the leather dash etc. The test drove confirmed it - this was the Brera for me. I snapped it up and haven't looked back.
Insurance for me is £260, only a few pounds more than the diesel GT, I also pay tax by monthly direct debit and TBH, I don't find the fuel economy too bad, but then my work commute is a 14 mile round trip. That said, I use the car as regularly as possible because the pleasure of driving it is well worth the cost of the fuel. The 2.2 offers slightly better mpg but nowhere near the same driving pleasure IMO. Mine's got 69k on it, has been serviced every 12 months / 12k miles and hasn't suffered any major problems apart from needing a new airflow meter, and the oil temp sensor doesn't work. The biggest concern I have is knowing I'll have to sell my GT as it never gets used anymore!
My round trip is similar mileage, what is the economy like for you and what type of roads/ traffic do you encounter? Thanks.Insurance for me is £260, only a few pounds more than the diesel GT, I also pay tax by monthly direct debit and TBH, I don't find the fuel economy too bad, but then my work commute is a 14 mile round trip. That said, I use the car as regularly as possible because the pleasure of driving it is well worth the cost of the fuel. The 2.2 offers slightly better mpg but nowhere near the same driving pleasure IMO. Mine's got 69k on it, has been serviced every 12 months / 12k miles and hasn't suffered any major problems apart from needing a new airflow meter, and the oil temp sensor doesn't work. The biggest concern I have is knowing I'll have to sell my GT as it never gets used anymore!
Thanks for the feedback gents.......
I only do about 4k a year in my Coupe so MPG should not be an issue. We have a family Chrysler (now Lancia'ed
) Delta for the trips out so its realy for my own guilty pleasure. The 3.2 sounds the go then..... How do you know when / if the chains have been looked after? Do they ever need changing and if so when/how often? I have heard the Engine Management Light coming on is the tell-tail......
I only do about 4k a year in my Coupe so MPG should not be an issue. We have a family Chrysler (now Lancia'ed
) Delta for the trips out so its realy for my own guilty pleasure. The 3.2 sounds the go then..... How do you know when / if the chains have been looked after? Do they ever need changing and if so when/how often? I have heard the Engine Management Light coming on is the tell-tail......Yardelli said:
How do you know when / if the chains have been looked after? Do they ever need changing and if so when/how often? I have heard the Engine Management Light coming on is the tell-tail......
Anything around 50k miles I'd expect to see it having been done in the service history.Search Pistonheads, AlfaOwner or google and they will tell you ALLLL you need to know on that score, and yes the engine management light does seem to be the precursor...
Benzo26 said:
My round trip is similar mileage, what is the economy like for you and what type of roads/ traffic do you encounter? Thanks.
The journey is a mix of town traffic and a four mile stretch of dual carriageway. I look at it from more of a cost per month perspective rather than MPG but I reckon I average around 22-23mpg for the work commute. It's better on dual carriageways but the town traffic kills it a bit. Also, I don't tend to drive like a Nun, if you know what I mean 
Yardelli said:
Thanks for the feedback gents.......
I only do about 4k a year in my Coupe so MPG should not be an issue. We have a family Chrysler (now Lancia'ed ) Delta for the trips out so its realy for my own guilty pleasure. The 3.2 sounds the go then..... How do you know when / if the chains have been looked after? Do they ever need changing and if so when/how often? I have heard the Engine Management Light coming on is the tell-tail......
Stretched timing chain problems don't appear to be anywhere near as common on 3.2 engines as on the 2.2, even on higher mileage cars. Regular oil and filter changes are the thing to look for (every 10-12k).I only do about 4k a year in my Coupe so MPG should not be an issue. We have a family Chrysler (now Lancia'ed
) Delta for the trips out so its realy for my own guilty pleasure. The 3.2 sounds the go then..... How do you know when / if the chains have been looked after? Do they ever need changing and if so when/how often? I have heard the Engine Management Light coming on is the tell-tail......Quickmoose said:
Anything around 50k miles I'd expect to see it having been done in the service history.
Search Pistonheads, AlfaOwner or google and they will tell you ALLLL you need to know on that score, and yes the engine management light does seem to be the precursor...
Sorry moose - You reckon they should be changed every 50k then? Only reason I'm asking is theres an S on Pistonheads currently with +100k. Looks the part and the chap reckons its all motorway miles but cannot see any reference to them being done.Search Pistonheads, AlfaOwner or google and they will tell you ALLLL you need to know on that score, and yes the engine management light does seem to be the precursor...
Thanks for the info mate. I'm on AlfaOwner too but I have probably read too much of the scary stuff (though only the negatives tend to be posted)....... Will let you now how the search goes but they are definately the car for me next.
I used to live just down the road from the prodrive track where they were developed
I used to live just down the road from the prodrive track where they were developed
flyingplum said:
The journey is a mix of town traffic and a four mile stretch of dual carriageway. I look at it from more of a cost per month perspective rather than MPG but I reckon I average around 22-23mpg for the work commute. It's better on dual carriageways but the town traffic kills it a bit. Also, I don't tend to drive like a Nun, if you know what I mean
Thanks for the reply, yeah I tend to look at how many miles do I get from a £50 fill. That's been my constant over my last four cars and makes budgets easier to calculate.Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff