Alfa Brera, perhaps?

[goneape]

Starting to think about the next car, as I've been in the TT 5 years and feel the itch - and also the time for a 4 seater is looming in the next 12-18 months. I want something a bit different and have shameless badge snobbery that precludes anything pacific rim, Nissan, Toyota or GM. So I thought about Alfas and I've always liked the Brera.

What can possibly go wrong? I know it's only got 2 doors, we're OK with that. We get a weekend's stuff including push chair and travel cot into the TT so a proper car should be a piece of piss luggage wise assuming the boot is a sensible shape.

The other options are a string of early 90s classics, one after the other. Golf GTI Mk2, E30 325, 190E, Saab 900 and probably finishing with a W124 320 coupe. If she'll let me

Blue touchpaper lit...

[DoctorX]

Can't comment on cargo capacity but just look at it. Who cares if it (apparently) isn't a great drive. Do it.

I'd rather have a 159 estate mind.

[Troubleatmill]

I almost bought a 3.2 one from new. It was stunningly pretty.
Utter crap to drive - I was gutted

I do still enjoy looking at them though.

[MC Bodge]

I had a drive in a 2.2 petrol.

It looked nice, but it wasn't very good.

Engine performance was nothing special, it had a horrible flat-spot/stumble at low rpm and the handling wasn't particularly good either. It was Also quite thirsty.


It appeared to suffer various electrical faults.

The owner replaced it fairy quickly.

[Ali_T]

I looked at them when I got the RX8 indtead. Sadly, the back seats are near useless. If that doesn't put you off, get a 3.2 Brera S, the Prodrive fettled one. Far better to drive.

[F1GTRUeno]

Might as well get a 159, better looking, more useable rear seats and won't drive any worse.

The Brera is crap and it looks awful from B pillar back.

[Ali_T]

The Brera S drives better than any 159 I ever tried.

[ess]

Troubleatmill said:

I almost bought a 3.2 one from new. It was stunningly pretty.
Utter crap to drive - I was gutted

I do still enjoy looking at them though.

Didn't Prodrive manage to iron out most of the handling misgivings on their joint venture models ?
Those are the ones I'd go for. 2008 >

[Troubleatmill]

ess said:

Troubleatmill said:

I almost bought a 3.2 one from new. It was stunningly pretty.
Utter crap to drive - I was gutted

I do still enjoy looking at them though.

Didn't Prodrive manage to iron out most of the handling misgivings on their joint venture models ?
Those are the ones I'd go for. 2008 >

I never tried a later one.
But the first cars just felt very heavy and sluggish.
I'd guess to over compensate for the flimsy touch/feel of Alfa's of the past.

[MoleVision]

So I bought an 08 Brera 2.4diesel earlier this year.

Its a GT car, not a racer. I think it drives nicely and the cabin is a very nice place to be. Steering and gearchange are quite heavy but I quite like that.
I think it looks stunning from the front but yes does look a bit awkward from the rear 3 quarter view.... this isn't a problem when you are driving it tho.

Cabin is short on headroom, especially with the panoramic roof option. The rear seats are useless - It's a 3 seater at best and that involves the front passenger having the seat right forward. Boot is large and seats fold though the boot does have awkward access.

From my research pre purchase:
Its a heavy car so none of the engines will be that economical - but that's only an issue if you do high mileage right?
- The 2.2 petrol does have a flatspot at 2k rpm but a lot of cars have had this fixed. I think the 2.2 is a bit underpowered for this car but you wouldn't call it slow.
- The 2.4 diesel is either 200 or 210 bhp and is far from underpowered. Has issues with EGR clogging itself up if used for city driving tho (like most diesels). I have had mine remapped, EGR deleted and DPF removed.. now has circa 250bhp and goes very nicely.
- The 3.2 v6 is thirsty (of course it is) but sounds lovely - sadly I refuse to pay £490 a year road tax for that or that would be the choice - it's 4wheel drive as well I think.

I haven't had any reliability issues in my short ownership and it seems solidly built.

Lots more of info here
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-...

The 159 is very similar and of course is more practical.

Hopefully that's more helpful than:

F1GTRUeno said:

The Brera is crap and it looks awful from B pillar back.

[goneape]

Thanks that's good info. I've never been in one and hadn't realised the rear seats were that small, I'll have to have a closer look. I fancy an alfa at some point and this seemed like a good opportunity.
Coming from a tt being heavy and having handling misgivings might not be such a big deal. But maybe that e30 would be the better bet.

[Deerfoot]

goneape said:

I fancy an alfa at some point and this seemed like a good opportunity.

How about the Alfa GT ?

[crostonian]

Deerfoot said:

How about the Alfa GT ?

Getting on a bit now and if you have worries about Brera quality a GT will drive you insane! Far more practical though and a nicer steer.

[Kinky]

Deerfoot said:

goneape said:

I fancy an alfa at some point and this seemed like a good opportunity.

How about the Alfa GT ?

EXACTLY what I was about to post

For me personally, GT wins hands-down over the Brera. See my garage for useful info

[MC Bodge]

Personally, I'd be considering other cars. They are really nothing special, other than the appearance of the front half.

The 2.2 isn't mega slow, but it is neither poky nor a screamer at the top end. The flat spot is more of a dead spot, just at the point at which you are typically getting on the power. How did that 'feature' make it into the production car? Watch for cam chain stretch.

I suppose a cheap shed might be ok, but the faults would probably be annoying and uneconomical.

[kambites]

As many have said, a deeply disappointing car which really has nothing going for it except the styling of the nose and possibly the looks of the interior. The GT is an infinitely more desirable car to my mind, especially with the Busso V6.

If you want something newer and more reliable, the mk2 TT is a vastly superior car to the Brera, IMO.

[anonymous-user]

If you can stretch to the 1.75 TBi it's the one to get. Used prices have come down in recent months with the cheapest ones now at 13k. It's the engine the car should have come with to begin with.

[RicksAlfas]

I enjoyed my Brera. It was not a precision racer but it was a good Grand Tourer with a lovely interior. However the rear seats were laughable and there will be more room in your TT.
I swapped it for an E90 which drives far better but I've never looked back over my shoulder when I've parked it up.

[MC Bodge]

RicksAlfas said:

I swapped it for an E90 which drives far better but I've never looked back over my shoulder when I've parked it up.

is that because you are more confident that the windows haven't opened themselves and the doors and boot have stayed locked?

[Soupie69uk]

Very interesting looking car imo. Was tempted to go and have a look at this one:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Looks amazing to me. £500 tax is a bit off putting as it will affect resale a lot.