Alfa Romeo Brera
Discussion
It's beautiful but not very good to be completely honest. Better off getting one on the later model 1750TBIs because the V6 is a soulless GM lump and when fitted with Q4 weighs a gazillion tonnes...and is not very quick as a result. The FWD V6 Prodrive models are a better but rarer. Probably one of the most disappointing Alfas ever and probably their low point. Still a very good looking car though.
I had a 2.2 Prodrive version and it was a big disappointment. It's a flawed, underdeveloped car but looks absolutely gorgeous. The engine is underpowered and very thirsty for all the power it produces although I'd say the weight of the car doesn't help. The seating position isn't great either. Could have been an epic car but alas, it wasn't. Good luck and go into it knowing it's very much a heart over head purchase. I don't think 4K will get you anything too fantastic if I'm honest although I haven't looked at the market in a while.
I bought the Spider version of the Brera, and am more positive about it than the previous posters. I find it quicker than I expected (I have the 2.2, so had low expectations but find it more than adequate). It's definitely stylish and I really like it - I have enjoyed owning it far more than I expected (only bought it in March).
I considered a Brera but decided I needed something a bit different from a hatchback because I was trying to buy something interesting that would be my mostly daily car. It's worked for me - but at least in March it looked like a very good Brera was ~£5k so I think £4k will get you something pretty decent. It also looked like they didn't sell very quickly so you may be able to push for a bargain.
I guess your impression of one will depend on what you're expecting from it. I have more expensive / faster cars, and therefore wasn't expecting my Spider to be "special" - but for what I bought it for, it excels. FWD is absolutely rubbish but I can live with it. Personally, I think a Brera is a great idea - a good looking semi practical car.
I considered a Brera but decided I needed something a bit different from a hatchback because I was trying to buy something interesting that would be my mostly daily car. It's worked for me - but at least in March it looked like a very good Brera was ~£5k so I think £4k will get you something pretty decent. It also looked like they didn't sell very quickly so you may be able to push for a bargain.
I guess your impression of one will depend on what you're expecting from it. I have more expensive / faster cars, and therefore wasn't expecting my Spider to be "special" - but for what I bought it for, it excels. FWD is absolutely rubbish but I can live with it. Personally, I think a Brera is a great idea - a good looking semi practical car.
SheikhMidas said:
I'm looking to buy an Alfa Romeo Brera!
I'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
What advice do you guys have for me on picking up a second hand Brera? Anything particular I should look out for? Which model is best? Looking to spend no more than £4k really.
Hi there, I have a brera for sale around your price range if you want to message me. 2.2 jts in black, full black leather with silver trim. 68.5k on the clockI'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
What advice do you guys have for me on picking up a second hand Brera? Anything particular I should look out for? Which model is best? Looking to spend no more than £4k really.
Thanks
SheikhMidas said:
I'm looking to buy an Alfa Romeo Brera!
I'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
From what's said above, if your driving expecations are tempered accordingly then go for it, if the aesthetics is the main appeal above everything else.I'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
I've bought a 159 on the same basis; it's a 3.2 Q4 Qtronic so it's heavy and thirsty but in black and in Ti spec it looks the business. I'm not thinking about the kerb weight and mpg when I'm enjoying simply looking at it.
Edited by DrSteveBrule on Friday 14th July 15:42
DrSteveBrule said:
SheikhMidas said:
I'm looking to buy an Alfa Romeo Brera!
I'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
From what's said above, if you'e driving expecations are tempered accordingly then go for it, if the aesthetics is the main appeal above everything else.I'm absolutely in love with the look of the car.
I've bought a 159 on the same basis; it's a 3.2 Q4 Qtronic so it's heavy and thirsty but in black and in Ti spec it looks the business. I'm not thinking about the kerb weight and mpg when I'm enjoying simply looking at it.
I've also got increasingly frustrated with stupid little Alfa niggles, couple of examples - for some reason it won't let me fill the tank more than half way, whichever petrol station i use the nozzle clicks after half way!!! The stupid electronic oil meter constantly telling me the engine oil is empty when its not!
OP. 4K is not enough - it will be a money pit. I paid top Dollar from a well-known Alfa dealer and, apart from a bulb and a battery, it has been trouble free over 20 months. Mine is a Prodrive 2.2 and it is not quick but it corners on rails. Considered the V6 but tax is prohibitive, fuel shocking and noise not a patch on the Busso.
You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
lockhart flawse said:
OP. 4K is not enough - it will be a money pit. I paid top Dollar from a well-known Alfa dealer and, apart from a bulb and a battery, it has been trouble free over 20 months. Mine is a Prodrive 2.2 and it is not quick but it corners on rails. Considered the V6 but tax is prohibitive, fuel shocking and noise not a patch on the Busso.
You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
I'm not convinced on the Pro Drives being classics - or depreciation proof (watch me be totally wrong as im getting rid of mine :-) they're just not good enough at what they're meant to be, all fur coat and no knickers as they say! Which pains me to say as I wanted to love the Brera.You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
lockhart flawse said:
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
Well....at least you could get a Busso! That (Aussie built) GM lump in the Brera does not belong in an Alfa. And a GT would be at the bottom of its depreciation and I think anything in decent condition with that wonderful Busso V6 is going to appreciate in value in the future.chrispmartha said:
I've also got increasingly frustrated with stupid little Alfa niggles, couple of examples - for some reason it won't let me fill the tank more than half way, whichever petrol station i use the nozzle clicks after half way!!!
I thought it was just me!Other annoying/quirky features:
• It's all too easy to accidentally press the boot open button on the fob as it's bigger that the door buttons
• Indicator stalk clicks off too soon
• Blue & Me; the WORST in-car entertainment system ever. Sounds okay but using it is tortuous.
• View out the rear view mirror isn't great and judging how close you are to a kerb when parking is hard thanks to the flared arches.
• It's not a Busso
Edited by DrSteveBrule on Friday 14th July 11:31
DrSteveBrule said:
...
• Indicator stalk clicks off too soon
...
If you're turning right. • Indicator stalk clicks off too soon
...
If you're turning left, it will stay on for the next 5 miles unless you turn it off manually!
(But I'm still very happy I bought my Spider - even though I had to replace a window regulator and brake switch this week).
DrSteveBrule said:
chrispmartha said:
I've also got increasingly frustrated with stupid little Alfa niggles, couple of examples - for some reason it won't let me fill the tank more than half way, whichever petrol station i use the nozzle clicks after half way!!!
I thought it was just me!Other annoying/quirky features:
• It's all too easy to accidentally press the boot open button on the fob as it's bigger that the door buttons
• Indicator stalk clicks off too soon
• Blue & Me; the WORST in-car entertainment system ever. Sounds okay but using it is tortuous.
• View out the rear view mirror isn't great and judging how close you are to a kerb when parking is hard thanks to the flared arches.
• It's not a Busso
Edited by DrSteveBrule on Friday 14th July 11:31
Other things...
The seats squeak!
The front seat belt always ends up hanging out of the door when you get out of it nd you can sometimes shut the door on the metal part of the seat belt fastener!
The welcome Home lights that are supposed to stay on for 30 seconds when you turn the car off maybe works 1 out of 20 times if that.
As I say, the more I think about it the more I think the car is basically a very good looking but ultimately rubbish car.
chrispmartha said:
lockhart flawse said:
OP. 4K is not enough - it will be a money pit. I paid top Dollar from a well-known Alfa dealer and, apart from a bulb and a battery, it has been trouble free over 20 months. Mine is a Prodrive 2.2 and it is not quick but it corners on rails. Considered the V6 but tax is prohibitive, fuel shocking and noise not a patch on the Busso.
You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
I'm not convinced on the Pro Drives being classics - or depreciation proof (watch me be totally wrong as im getting rid of mine :-) they're just not good enough at what they're meant to be, all fur coat and no knickers as they say! Which pains me to say as I wanted to love the Brera.You buy one because it looks like nothing else, it has a nice interior, is very well built surprisingly and I personally think the Prodrives are nailed-on classics or at least depreciation proof.
With your budget I would be looking at a nice GT.
All "fur coat and no knickers" was/sounds bang on to me
In the pantheon of Alfa stuff, despite the non-Busso detail... the ProDrive holds its money REALLY well and stay that way... because, of the badge, the rarity and the looks.
I had a V6 PD - I bloody loved it.
But everything that has been said....is accurate. GM V6 - dull, running costs - expensive, handling/performance - dull. Attention grabbing beauty, look back at it in the car park - winner.
I also found build quality and reliability to be really good....
But you couldn't...or wouldn't want to drive it like you stole, it. The fuel gauge needle fell as you looked at it and simply didn't hold the road...
A 2.2 might be better with less weight over the front axle....but then the stats fall even shorter...
AT £4k, I too would go for a GT...unless of course you're wanting the design/image of the Brera over and above any performance/driving related quality.
+1 for the GT 3.2 V6.
Prices have hit rock bottom and will only go one way now. I've owned a GT jtdm previously and am thinking about buying a V6 as a second / project car.
It's the same V6 as fitted to the 146 GTA (and the later 156 GTA IIRC) so it's a Busso and an absolute peach of an engine - the last car that legendary engine was fitted to.
An Alfa's got to have soul.
Prices have hit rock bottom and will only go one way now. I've owned a GT jtdm previously and am thinking about buying a V6 as a second / project car.
It's the same V6 as fitted to the 146 GTA (and the later 156 GTA IIRC) so it's a Busso and an absolute peach of an engine - the last car that legendary engine was fitted to.
An Alfa's got to have soul.
I had a mildly tweaked 2.2 Brera and loved it, the handling was brilliant and it could carry a huge amount of speed through a corner, it was thirsty and not particularly quick but it is still one of my favourite cars.
The V6 is too nose heavy and is blunted by overly long gearing so a tweaked/supercharged 2.2 would be my choice.
The V6 is too nose heavy and is blunted by overly long gearing so a tweaked/supercharged 2.2 would be my choice.
I think the one to have was the last 1750TBI engined one. Lighter than all of the other models (still heavy but only mildly obese), and the 1750TBI, being a turbo, could be tuned up a bit without having to spend a fortune. Unfortunately it has a smaller turbo than the 1750 used in the Guilietta QV and 4C which limits it a bit.
I remember driving a V6 Q4 when they were first released. I was going to trade my 147GTA on one........until I drove one!!! Oh dear.
I remember driving a V6 Q4 when they were first released. I was going to trade my 147GTA on one........until I drove one!!! Oh dear.
I actually think some of the posts above are slightly harsh. Yes it's a little heavy but a prodrive V6 can be a lovely thing to own and drive. A friend of mine has one, a 4C and a Ferrari 360. He actually decided the Brera was the best car for a trip to Italy last summer. It scoots round corners and ok handling wise it's ok at best but if you're not breaking the sound barrier it's a lovely place to sit.
I have a GT 3.2 V6 and for your budget I'd be going for the Busso too though!
I have a GT 3.2 V6 and for your budget I'd be going for the Busso too though!
I actually think some of the posts above are slightly harsh. Yes it's a little heavy but a prodrive V6 can be a lovely thing to own and drive. A friend of mine has one, a 4C and a Ferrari 360. He actually decided the Brera was the best car for a trip to Italy last summer. It scoots round corners and ok handling wise it's ok at best but if you're not breaking the sound barrier it's a lovely place to sit.
I have a GT 3.2 V6 and for your budget I'd be going for the Busso too though!
I have a GT 3.2 V6 and for your budget I'd be going for the Busso too though!
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