Should I buy a V6 Brera S?
Discussion
Hello all,
Be gentle, first post in the Alfa forum.
Pondering on buying a new car and love the looks of the Brera S, i dont mean to go over old ground but have Alfa managed to shake of the unreliable tag! with the Brera? and i own a TVR Tuscan S so i know how it feels(had no problems with mine, by the way)
any thoughts!
Cheers
P
Be gentle, first post in the Alfa forum.
Pondering on buying a new car and love the looks of the Brera S, i dont mean to go over old ground but have Alfa managed to shake of the unreliable tag! with the Brera? and i own a TVR Tuscan S so i know how it feels(had no problems with mine, by the way)
any thoughts!
Cheers
P
Thanks for the reply,
I know i will be taking a big hit performance wise, which i'm ok about, but is the fuel economy really that bad, i could go for the 2.2 S version but from what i've read its a bit gutless and the v6 prodrive is the one to have, do you know the mpg figures for the 2.2 the v6 and your JTDM, also what extra do you get by having the S over the standard model.
Thanks
P
I know i will be taking a big hit performance wise, which i'm ok about, but is the fuel economy really that bad, i could go for the 2.2 S version but from what i've read its a bit gutless and the v6 prodrive is the one to have, do you know the mpg figures for the 2.2 the v6 and your JTDM, also what extra do you get by having the S over the standard model.
Thanks
P
You actually get less 'stuff' with the S than the standard Brera, the big thing in its favour is the suspension, which is tuned for sporty whereas the standard car is tuned for comfy.
Avoid the 2.2 engine, whether S or standard - it's a bit of a pup, hence Alfa dropping it in favour of the 1750 turbo.
Avoid the 2.2 engine, whether S or standard - it's a bit of a pup, hence Alfa dropping it in favour of the 1750 turbo.
Don't get the 2.2 over the V6 for the fuel economy - there is hardly any difference and both are rubbish to be honest. If mpg is the issue, go for a standard Brera Diesel. As mentioned above the S is all about the handling, as there is noticeable difference between a S and a normal one. Also they look much better because they sit an inch lower, and have the lovely 8C 19in wheels.
I drove a normal one and a S back to back to make the choice.......and about 5min into the test drive decided I had to be the owner of an S
Mine is the 2.2 rather than V6, but other than the mpg its hard to fault.
Also you can add to the numbers of ex-TVR owners who have an S. Quite a few I think on here who have them, me included, used to have a Tiv.
I drove a normal one and a S back to back to make the choice.......and about 5min into the test drive decided I had to be the owner of an S
Mine is the 2.2 rather than V6, but other than the mpg its hard to fault.Also you can add to the numbers of ex-TVR owners who have an S. Quite a few I think on here who have them, me included, used to have a Tiv.
Parkie said:
Thanks for the reply,
is the fuel economy really that bad, i could go for the 2.2 S version but from what i've read its a bit gutless and the v6 prodrive is the one to have, do you know the mpg figures for the 2.2 the v6 and your JTDM, also what extra do you get by having the S over the standard model.
Thanks
P
Register on here http://www.alfaowner.com/aohome.php all your questions answered and some more is the fuel economy really that bad, i could go for the 2.2 S version but from what i've read its a bit gutless and the v6 prodrive is the one to have, do you know the mpg figures for the 2.2 the v6 and your JTDM, also what extra do you get by having the S over the standard model.
Thanks
P
Still very low mileage on mile (<2k) but it's returning about 35 mpg combined.
My Mrs has a Brera SV6 and absolutely loves it. For her its all about the looks and the cockpit design. Fair play it is a peice of art work, but thats what you expect with an Alfa. I'd go so far as to say it might be one of the best looking Alfa's ever made.
Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
The good thing s that the service intevals are really far apart, circa 3 years or 30k if i remember correctly. Not sure on cost because currently it doesnt really match to what it'll be i 3 years. I'd still recommend a yearly oil change though, especially if you dont do good fast road miles.
ecain63 said:
My Mrs has a Brera SV6 and absolutely loves it. For her its all about the looks and the cockpit design. Fair play it is a peice of art work, but thats what you expect with an Alfa. I'd go so far as to say it might be one of the best looking Alfa's ever made.
Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
Probably the best report on a car I've heard on here! Well Played Fella!Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
herbialfa said:
ecain63 said:
My Mrs has a Brera SV6 and absolutely loves it. For her its all about the looks and the cockpit design. Fair play it is a peice of art work, but thats what you expect with an Alfa. I'd go so far as to say it might be one of the best looking Alfa's ever made.
Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
Probably the best report on a car I've heard on here! Well Played Fella!Down sides: Trim durabillity may be an issue. Some of the plastic bits feel like they are less than permenant and the seats dont feel 100% secure at the hinges, but im used to German build quality. On the plus side, the leather is fantastic and feels very secure and durable. Externally, the paint is quite thin / soft in my opinion and after only 1.5k miles on the clock there are signs that even small stones are more than a match for the soft coat of paint on the bumper and bonnet - i'd recommend a paint protector if you can find a good fitter. The lights are a nice design but again they feel a bit flimsy and when you wash it the door seals leak a little bit around the windows as it has no door pillars. I always catch my bloody finger nails when i do the front lower grill too, there are some seriously sharp edges down there.
Ive driven it afew times now and to be honest it didnt meet the mark as far as performace goes. It is quick dont get me wrong, but not that quick. The handling is excellent to be fair, as you would expect from Prodrive and the driver position and brake feel are pretty spot on. The gorgeous, lightweight Prodrive alloys help, as does the custom geometry. One point to note, there is a dead zone on the first cm or so of the accelerator pedal so dont be suprised if you stall it the first time you drive it (i did), just press it a little further than you would normally. I dont think you could easily put it out its comfort zone, but this might be due to the fact that its too progressive on the power.
On the road the car goes well once at good revs, you can really feel it coming 'on cam'. But its not the 3.2 V6 grunt you would expect, and i think thats down to the weight of the car. All that leather and the fat arse have to take some toll. Its good over the bumps and rough surfaces, and that was suprising given that its on Bilstein suspension. The exhaust note is very quiet in the cabin, but open the windows or have someone drive past in it and you'll see / hear that its so much better outside. Prodrive also customised the exhaust on these cars.
As mentioned earlier in the topic the fuel consumption is unbeleivably poor. The Mrs averages about 15mpg to and from work, and its not like she thrashes it anywhere. She's a very sedate driver. My RS6 gets 22 - 28mpg on average in comparison, under the same driving conditions and style.
In a nutshell: If you want a car that is exclusive (which it really is), sexy and great for cruising round town then this is the car for you. Its very easy to drive, comfortable on the road and in town it will get more looks than Lucy Pinders naked chest. If its to fill the gap that is the excitement of a TVR then you will definately be at a loss. You dont have to think in the same 100% focussed way, the sheer thrill isnt there and it doesnt chase the horizon in the same way. Yes the build and reliabilty might be better on the Alfa, but is it enough?
Your choice. If it were me then i'd say stay with the TVR. Its got all the looks of the Alfa and more of the thrill....... and probably better economy.
Someone will likely be along with a dealer price soon, meantime have a look at the Alfa Workshop - they're generally nearer the top end of indie prices, I'd expect a dealer to be 1.5x or 2x dearer.
I'd really try the 1750 before deciding. The V6 is no longer the glorious Alfa lump of old, but a rehashed GM engine whereas the 1750 is a latest generation engine and a gem to boot. It revs well, has absolutely no lag, loads of torque and is very reasonable on fuel. On top of that, there's less weight over the front axle which helps immensely on the Brera and you'll have better fuel economy, residuals and cheaper tax.
I think the S only comes in the 2.2 and the 3.2. They only made 500 total so any new engines wont come into the S range. Just so you know, my Mrs car is starting to loosen up a bit now and the fuel economy has improved over the last 500 miles. Its still low on mpg but its getting better. Feels lighter on the road too.
If you go for one then i dont think you'll have too many complaints. Just dont curb the alloys as they aint cheap to replace (Prodrive Magnesiums), maybe think about fitting wider tyres to give added protection.
If you go for one then i dont think you'll have too many complaints. Just dont curb the alloys as they aint cheap to replace (Prodrive Magnesiums), maybe think about fitting wider tyres to give added protection.
I moved to a 2.2 S from a 2.0 20VT Fiat Coupé.
Why the S? It all comes down to the handling (as opposed to flat-out speed).
On the test drive I was blown away by how assured it was in the corners - the lighter weight (over the standard Brera) and improved suspension make a massive difference.
It also helps that the car looks lovely!
Fuel consumption is usually about 31mpg (pretty close to the quoted figure) and better than the 25mpg quoted for the 3.2 V6.
The S in any guise is a great purchase.
P.S. Would now be a good time to mention I'm selling mine?!
Why the S? It all comes down to the handling (as opposed to flat-out speed).
On the test drive I was blown away by how assured it was in the corners - the lighter weight (over the standard Brera) and improved suspension make a massive difference.
It also helps that the car looks lovely!
Fuel consumption is usually about 31mpg (pretty close to the quoted figure) and better than the 25mpg quoted for the 3.2 V6.
The S in any guise is a great purchase.
P.S. Would now be a good time to mention I'm selling mine?!
Weon said:
On the test drive I was blown away by how assured it was in the corners - the lighter weight (over the standard Brera) and improved suspension make a massive difference.
Same weight as the other Breras, aren't they? All the weight-saving figures that were quoted when they launched it were comparing the S (based on the lighter "facelift" '08 cars) to the original, heavier, launch cars, I think...
Good to hear that you enjoyed yours, though.
Well,
I've decided its got to be an S, now do i go 2.2 or 3.2? It seems there's no 'significant' gain in mpg for having the 2.2 S over the 3.2 S (maybe 6-7mpg), so i suppose its the 3.2 then, that was easy enough. Before i take the plunge and go searching, does anyone out there have any argument for going for the 2.2 over the 3.2?
Thanks again for all your replies.
P
I've decided its got to be an S, now do i go 2.2 or 3.2? It seems there's no 'significant' gain in mpg for having the 2.2 S over the 3.2 S (maybe 6-7mpg), so i suppose its the 3.2 then, that was easy enough. Before i take the plunge and go searching, does anyone out there have any argument for going for the 2.2 over the 3.2?
Thanks again for all your replies.
P
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