GT or Brera? Opinions needed please.
Discussion
So, after many years of being a Saab driver, I’ve decided to indulge in an Alfa. It will be my first Alfa, but not my first Italian. I’ve had many Fiats (actually started my motor trade career with a Fiat back in 1992) including a classic 500, an Abarth, and even a Maserati. Driven a lot of Alfa’s, but now I’m looking to buy for myself.
So, the criteria is a car that does a very short local school run twice a day, and the occasional long trip to Scotland or South Coast from Surrey where I live. It’s a 5k mile a year car. Budget is around £2k. The only mandatory thing is that I can get my daughter’s child seat behind the front passenger seat in its ISOFIX fittings.
Tried her seat in a 2.0JTS GT yesterday and all was well, and drove it. Felt a little underwhelmed by the car if I’m honest, but it is such a pretty car, and I like the interior space.
The other option is a Brera 2.4 JTD but I’m concerned about the rear space. My daughter is 5 so it’s a forward facing Britax full size seat. 90% of the time it will just be her and I, but my wife is quite tall and has long legs, so may want to use my car for the 3 of us occasionally. Her car is a Volvo XC60 so that is the proper family car for holidays and long trips away.
So, GT petrol or Brera diesel? Not a massive fan of diesel, but I know the 2.4 unit is well liked and has good power. The downside is the short runs, but the upside is the more modern car of the two. The GT has the room, and the looks, but just felt a bit “wanting” in the drive department.
Thoughts from owners?
So, the criteria is a car that does a very short local school run twice a day, and the occasional long trip to Scotland or South Coast from Surrey where I live. It’s a 5k mile a year car. Budget is around £2k. The only mandatory thing is that I can get my daughter’s child seat behind the front passenger seat in its ISOFIX fittings.
Tried her seat in a 2.0JTS GT yesterday and all was well, and drove it. Felt a little underwhelmed by the car if I’m honest, but it is such a pretty car, and I like the interior space.
The other option is a Brera 2.4 JTD but I’m concerned about the rear space. My daughter is 5 so it’s a forward facing Britax full size seat. 90% of the time it will just be her and I, but my wife is quite tall and has long legs, so may want to use my car for the 3 of us occasionally. Her car is a Volvo XC60 so that is the proper family car for holidays and long trips away.
So, GT petrol or Brera diesel? Not a massive fan of diesel, but I know the 2.4 unit is well liked and has good power. The downside is the short runs, but the upside is the more modern car of the two. The GT has the room, and the looks, but just felt a bit “wanting” in the drive department.
Thoughts from owners?
I've had my Brera (3.2) for the last 11 years. It's only done 36K miles in that time.
It's a heavy car, and even with the 3.2 it's not as quick as it should be, so don't think you'll see a massive driving experience difference between the 2 models you are looking at..
In terms of rear room, its poor. With a growing kid you are certainly not future proofed. But, you'll always make it work if you have to though.
Read a good buyer's guide to check known weakness.
It's a heavy car, and even with the 3.2 it's not as quick as it should be, so don't think you'll see a massive driving experience difference between the 2 models you are looking at..
In terms of rear room, its poor. With a growing kid you are certainly not future proofed. But, you'll always make it work if you have to though.
Read a good buyer's guide to check known weakness.
What were you underwhelmed with re: the GT?
I have had GT's and a Brera.
GT - 147/156 based car with the interior from a 147, I always found them pointy (sharp steering, and an older car thus lighter), practical (big boot with fold down rear seats) and just generally a good reliable car. I always enjoyed driving it, but the 2.0 JTS is a love or hate unit and doesn't have the character of the old TS units and nowhere near a V6.
Brera - I had a petrol, not a diesel. Loved the styling, everything feels more solid. However it drives a bit like an Audi and the 2.2 I had was a bit tardy until you got to 4k RPM. However it is VERY pretty.
I have had GT's and a Brera.
GT - 147/156 based car with the interior from a 147, I always found them pointy (sharp steering, and an older car thus lighter), practical (big boot with fold down rear seats) and just generally a good reliable car. I always enjoyed driving it, but the 2.0 JTS is a love or hate unit and doesn't have the character of the old TS units and nowhere near a V6.
Brera - I had a petrol, not a diesel. Loved the styling, everything feels more solid. However it drives a bit like an Audi and the 2.2 I had was a bit tardy until you got to 4k RPM. However it is VERY pretty.
Update: after nearly pushing the button on my 6th Saab, the offer I had put in in the GT was accepted this morning, and so I collected it this afternoon and spent an hour and a bit driving home with it. Have I fallen in love? No, not yet. But......
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
Update: after nearly pushing the button on my 6th Saab, the offer I had put in in the GT was accepted this morning, and so I collected it this afternoon and spent an hour and a bit driving home with it. Have I fallen in love? No, not yet. But......
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
The GT is a lighter and more balanced car and is less complicated. However having said that the JTS is the most complicated GT with it's array of sensors fighting to clean up the emissions. ( Why didn't they just cheat like VAG ?)
Knocking on the front comes from a few sources - worn or just cheap top mounts - Do not but the ebay rubbish as they'll be knocking within weeks get the genuine stuff. The drop links which are easy and cheap to replace or the anti-roll bar bushes wear so that the bar moves side to side. It's a more involved job but I'd fit poly bushes.
Try not to mess with suspension Alfa got that right. It's a GT so it should be taut but comfortable. Good ones are excellent but there are hundred of neglected ones.
Knocking on the front comes from a few sources - worn or just cheap top mounts - Do not but the ebay rubbish as they'll be knocking within weeks get the genuine stuff. The drop links which are easy and cheap to replace or the anti-roll bar bushes wear so that the bar moves side to side. It's a more involved job but I'd fit poly bushes.
Try not to mess with suspension Alfa got that right. It's a GT so it should be taut but comfortable. Good ones are excellent but there are hundred of neglected ones.
GTVOX said:
The GT is a lighter and more balanced car and is less complicated. However having said that the JTS is the most complicated GT with it's array of sensors fighting to clean up the emissions. ( Why didn't they just cheat like VAG ?)
Knocking on the front comes from a few sources - worn or just cheap top mounts - Do not but the ebay rubbish as they'll be knocking within weeks get the genuine stuff. The drop links which are easy and cheap to replace or the anti-roll bar bushes wear so that the bar moves side to side. It's a more involved job but I'd fit poly bushes.
Try not to mess with suspension Alfa got that right. It's a GT so it should be taut but comfortable. Good ones are excellent but there are hundred of neglected ones.
Thanks for the heads-up. No, i wont be changing the suspension (I'm not an engineer, so why change what Alfa designed it to be? I wont know any better!), just replacing worn bits. I had a feeling it might be the drop links (Saab 93 is similar and they go at higher miles) and I'll be changing any bushes for poly ones. Knocking on the front comes from a few sources - worn or just cheap top mounts - Do not but the ebay rubbish as they'll be knocking within weeks get the genuine stuff. The drop links which are easy and cheap to replace or the anti-roll bar bushes wear so that the bar moves side to side. It's a more involved job but I'd fit poly bushes.
Try not to mess with suspension Alfa got that right. It's a GT so it should be taut but comfortable. Good ones are excellent but there are hundred of neglected ones.
I Had a Brera 3.2 Prodrive, it looked absolutely stunning and the interior was lovely - but after the honeymoon period it turns out they're just not very good, too slow for a 3.2, too heavy, crap to drive, ridiculously bad on fuel - that's when it would let me fill up the tank more than 1/2 way which was rare (strange fault that one!) and I was constantly worried about the engine imploding in on itself.
MrB. said:
Update: after nearly pushing the button on my 6th Saab, the offer I had put in in the GT was accepted this morning, and so I collected it this afternoon and spent an hour and a bit driving home with it. Have I fallen in love? No, not yet. But......
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
Good stuff, a normal GT will run rings around a 9-5 Aero (in terms of steering feel/fun) if my experience of driving a 9-3 Aero is anything to compare against !It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
Get the suspension bits sorted, TRW are the OEM manufacturers, do not under any circumstance replace with any other brandas they will fail and quickly.
chrispmartha said:
I Had a Brera 3.2 Prodrive, it looked absolutely stunning and the interior was lovely - but after the honeymoon period it turns out they're just not very good, too slow for a 3.2, too heavy, crap to drive, ridiculously bad on fuel - that's when it would let me fill up the tank more than 1/2 way which was rare (strange fault that one!) and I was constantly worried about the engine imploding in on itself.
I had a 2.2 Brera S and loved it, they are much lighter than the V6 which makes them far better to drive, it really was a joy to drive down a twisty road. I did 105k miles in it, it was very solidly built with no squeaks or rattles and I had very few reliability issues. My ideal Brera would be a supercharged 2.2 S in black with the leather dash.
V6Alfisti said:
MrB. said:
Update: after nearly pushing the button on my 6th Saab, the offer I had put in in the GT was accepted this morning, and so I collected it this afternoon and spent an hour and a bit driving home with it. Have I fallen in love? No, not yet. But......
It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
Good stuff, a normal GT will run rings around a 9-5 Aero (in terms of steering feel/fun) if my experience of driving a 9-3 Aero is anything to compare against !It’s a 2.0 JTS Cloverleaf, and it has had a huge amount of money spent on it, but you can feel it needs more. Suspension at the front feels clunky and noisy, and there is a very odd whistle under throttle, but I know the front flexi pipe is blowing, so will attribute it to that for now. Needs the wheels aligned and a/c regassed too, so that clouded the judgement too. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming from a very well sorted, 300bhp, modded Saab 95 Aero, I knew the Alfa would be a very different beast, and by the end of my drive, I quite liked using the revs and gears to coax it along. I find the seats surprisingly good having been spoilt by the previous cars too which was nice. The interior is a lot more solid than I had given it credit for too. Ultimately I chose the GT over the Brera for interior space, but thought I’d be taking a backward step in quality of materials. Not at all, very impressed. I need to add Bluetooth and some form of music streaming, but reluctant to change the originality of the dash, so will look into different options. The Brera also concerned me being a diesel due to my short journeys, so maybe a bullet dodged?
But the styling, yes, the styling, is the winner for me. Such a pretty car, especially in Alfa red. If only they’d done the Cloverleaf with Tan leather......
So, regrets? Not yet. I bought it so cheap that even if it turns out to be a money pit, I reckon I’d get my money back, but I have a feeling it won’t be. I think it just needs the funds directed in the right place.
And yes, I did look back after I walked away from it!
Get the suspension bits sorted, TRW are the OEM manufacturers, do not under any circumstance replace with any other brandas they will fail and quickly.
One thing for sure is my daughter loves it! She stayed up late to see me bring it home last night and helped me vacuum it out today!
MrB. said:
I’ve been looking at parts via Autolusso. Will these be TRW do you know? I need the rear control arms done as one has a lovely big dents it, so will replace both. Then I reckon it’s front drop links for sure is causing the clunking at the front.
One thing for sure is my daughter loves it! She stayed up late to see me bring it home last night and helped me vacuum it out today!
I am not sure but Autolusso are reputable and I would be surprised if they weren't.One thing for sure is my daughter loves it! She stayed up late to see me bring it home last night and helped me vacuum it out today!
However they aren't competitive seemingly on these...£40 from Mister Auto which is where I got mine when I had a GT.
https://www.mister-auto.co.uk/suspension-arm-track...
Autodoc are cheaper again if you are buying a few things which it looks like you are https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2202571 , the rears arms are there as well.
If you have a knock when turning at low speed, likely your inner tie rods. I have a pair of brand new Febi's that I didn't install on mine if you need some at a good price !
Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 14th August 13:25
V6Alfisti said:
MrB. said:
I’ve been looking at parts via Autolusso. Will these be TRW do you know? I need the rear control arms done as one has a lovely big dents it, so will replace both. Then I reckon it’s front drop links for sure is causing the clunking at the front.
One thing for sure is my daughter loves it! She stayed up late to see me bring it home last night and helped me vacuum it out today!
I am not sure but Autolusso are reputable and I would be surprised if they weren't.One thing for sure is my daughter loves it! She stayed up late to see me bring it home last night and helped me vacuum it out today!
However they aren't competitive seemingly on these...£40 from Mister Auto which is where I got mine when I had a GT.
https://www.mister-auto.co.uk/suspension-arm-track...
Autodoc are cheaper again if you are buying a few things which it looks like you are https://www.autodoc.co.uk/trw/2202571 , the rears arms are there as well.
If you have a knock when turning at low speed, likely your inner tie rods. I have a pair of brand new Febi's that I didn't install on mine if you need some at a good price !
Edited by V6Alfisti on Wednesday 14th August 13:25
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff