Finally Joined The Alfa Family - Newbie Advice

[Muz_Wez]

I've finally had to admit to the Alfa itch and have bought this little beauty.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3165025.htm

Any advice for a newbie Alfa owner?

[crostonian]

Would like to know what other cars you discounted and why you went for the Brera. Serious question, I'm in the trade and love Alfas but I don't get the Brera especially at £15K, would love to know why someone would buy one at this price level and what other cars were considered.

[Pooh]

Very nice, black is definitely the best colour for a Brera.
I have been very happy with mine but the service from the dealer has been a bit variable so I use a good specialist instead, if there is a good one near you you might do well to use them.
Have a look at Alfa owner, it is a very good source of information for all things Alfa and you will be able to get lots of advice about servicing, tuning etc.

[Muz_Wez]

crostonian said:

Would like to know what other cars you discounted and why you went for the Brera. Serious question, I'm in the trade and love Alfas but I don't get the Brera especially at £15K, would love to know why someone would buy one at this price level and what other cars were considered.

Went for the Brera for looks, charm, that Italian passion, the well laid out interior where the driver feels the car's built around him. Yes it's a little thirsty, not the sportiest 2+2, but it's different and looks stunning. That's why I discounted the Scirocco. It was advertised at 15k, but after a haggle it wasn't much above Cap or Glasses 'clean' i.e. Auction price, so I'm happy as it is a VERY well looked after car from a genuine seller.

I've taken the cash for car option at work so back goes the company car and I'll run this instead with work paying for it

Pooh said:

Very nice, black is definitely the best colour for a Brera.
I have been very happy with mine but the service from the dealer has been a bit variable so I use a good specialist instead, if there is a good one near you you might do well to use them.
Have a look at Alfa owner, it is a very good source of information for all things Alfa and you will be able to get lots of advice about servicing, tuning etc.

Cheers Pooh, there's no longer a main dealer near me, the nearest is 1hr away in Nottingham, but I've got BLS Automotive as the local independent and know the owner well through motorsport and the gym so should be well looked after. I've dropped into Alfa Owner already, but thanks for the heads up.

Can't wait to pick her up on Tuesday.

[ecain63]

Christ. Thats a lot of money for that Brera. You could have been driving my 2009 SV6 Prodrive with 12k on the clock for not much more than that. Ooooof!

[crostonian]

That's what I was hinting at....

[OldEngineer]

crostonian said:

Would like to know what other cars you discounted and why you went for the Brera. Serious question, I'm in the trade and love Alfas but I don't get the Brera especially at £15K, would love to know why someone would buy one at this price level and what other cars were considered.

Not a BMW salesman are you?

[crostonian]

Not at all, was an Alfa sales specialist for 8 years, father had an Alfa dealership in the 70s/80s.

[jimmyjam]

My advice would be to take out another credit card to pay the fuel bill, buy some superglue to re-attach the bits that fall off it every week, make sure you have RAC/AA cover, enjoy the gorgeous design at every opportunity because thats the main/only plus point.

[Pooh]

My 58 plate 2.2 Brera S is just coming up to 73k miles, it has been very reliable, never broken down, the interior still looks like new apart from a little wear on the drivers seat bolster, does not rattle/squeak and the paintwork is fine apart from some stone chips.
It is plenty fast enough, handles very well and is very enjoyable to drive for the up to 4 hrs a day I spend in it.
My only complaints are the poor fuel economy, price of the tyres and the slight engine hesitation which is a bit of a pain in town. It is my 6th Alfa and is probably the best all round car that I have ever had.
There were plenty of other coupes I could have bought for the money but I have never regretted my choice, every time I get into this interior, drive it down a twisty road, park it and look back it makes me smile.

[Chicharito]

ecain63 said:

Christ. Thats a lot of money for that Brera. You could have been driving my 2009 SV6 Prodrive with 12k on the clock for not much more than that. Ooooof!

Hmmm - the 3.2 litre petrol is hugely undesirable these days due to the horrific thirst.

2.4 diesels hold their value much better.

I looked at them a couple of years back - my car allowance wouldn't stretch to a 2 year old diesel, but there was an abundance of V6s in budget.

[ecain63]

Chicharito said:

ecain63 said:

Christ. Thats a lot of money for that Brera. You could have been driving my 2009 SV6 Prodrive with 12k on the clock for not much more than that. Ooooof!

Hmmm - the 3.2 litre petrol is hugely undesirable these days due to the horrific thirst.

2.4 diesels hold their value much better.

I looked at them a couple of years back - my car allowance wouldn't stretch to a 2 year old diesel, but there was an abundance of V6s in budget.

The only snag with your post is that they did not make a diesel Prodrive Brera. I can see your point but that fact is its flaw. So, when comparing the S and the SV6, bearing in mind that the fuel consumption is pretty similar the V6 would be the more attractive option. More grunt and better engine.

Eddie

[Chicharito]

ecain63 said:

The only snag with your post is that they did not make a diesel Prodrive Brera. I can see your point but that fact is its flaw. So, when comparing the S and the SV6, bearing in mind that the fuel consumption is pretty similar the V6 would be the more attractive option. More grunt and better engine.

Eddie

That's only if you want a Prodrive car, though.

For most people, most of the time, the advantages of the JTD (as per what the OP has bought) outweigh the advantages of a Prodrive car.

Prodrives would never even appear on my shopping list for a daily driver - but a JTD would.