350z or Brera Q4?
Discussion
This is a part 2 or continuation of sorts of another thread. After some revised thinking, I came up with the two models above.
They are as similar as they are different.
Both are V6s, but use it in totally different ways. 350Z is the traditional longitudinal front engine, RWD, while the Brera is tranverse, with the engine hanging on the nose, but AWD.
Brera seems to be heavier but the 350Z is no lightweight affair. Both are probably more GT than sports car.
Looks is subjective, but I think most would agree the Brera looks better. But the Brera definitely feels more special in the inside and seems better finished.
Reliability, the 350Z has the advantage?
Performance I would risk saying the 350Z handles better because of the Brera engine hanging in front of the nose, probably making it nose heavy. It's that old stupid thing with cars designed for FWD. Same with Audis. Engine sits in front of front axle. Totally the opposite of what is better.
Speed not that important as this is to be a daily driver.
Which one would you go for?
Do you feel any of them are colour sensitive?
They are as similar as they are different.
Both are V6s, but use it in totally different ways. 350Z is the traditional longitudinal front engine, RWD, while the Brera is tranverse, with the engine hanging on the nose, but AWD.
Brera seems to be heavier but the 350Z is no lightweight affair. Both are probably more GT than sports car.
Looks is subjective, but I think most would agree the Brera looks better. But the Brera definitely feels more special in the inside and seems better finished.
Reliability, the 350Z has the advantage?
Performance I would risk saying the 350Z handles better because of the Brera engine hanging in front of the nose, probably making it nose heavy. It's that old stupid thing with cars designed for FWD. Same with Audis. Engine sits in front of front axle. Totally the opposite of what is better.
Speed not that important as this is to be a daily driver.
Which one would you go for?
Do you feel any of them are colour sensitive?
350Z all day long.
The 3.2 in the Brera is a tweaked GM unit that has some issues and is not particularly nice/Alfa like. Not very quick either. The Brera, whilst a lovely car to look at is heavy and particularly nose heavy with, as standard, uninspiring handling.
The 350Z isn't a light car, but the Brera is pretty bloated meaning performance is nothing to right home about.
Reliability wise, the 350Z is probably a safer bet. Alfas are reliable if they have been driven and looked after properly, but the engine in these is a bit of a weak point, though they will both rust in their own ways...
I went from an Alfa GT to a Nissan 370Z. They are in a different class even though the GT is a more nimble car than the Brera. If you could find an Alfa GT with the 3.2 Busso engine and the LSD then I think it would be a much more difficult decision.
I love Alfas but its no contest. Apart from the badge and the looks the Brera loses everywhere. The hardest part with a 350Z will be finding an unmolested one.
The 3.2 in the Brera is a tweaked GM unit that has some issues and is not particularly nice/Alfa like. Not very quick either. The Brera, whilst a lovely car to look at is heavy and particularly nose heavy with, as standard, uninspiring handling.
The 350Z isn't a light car, but the Brera is pretty bloated meaning performance is nothing to right home about.
Reliability wise, the 350Z is probably a safer bet. Alfas are reliable if they have been driven and looked after properly, but the engine in these is a bit of a weak point, though they will both rust in their own ways...
I went from an Alfa GT to a Nissan 370Z. They are in a different class even though the GT is a more nimble car than the Brera. If you could find an Alfa GT with the 3.2 Busso engine and the LSD then I think it would be a much more difficult decision.
I love Alfas but its no contest. Apart from the badge and the looks the Brera loses everywhere. The hardest part with a 350Z will be finding an unmolested one.
That's an interesting shortlist!
I've no experience of either but from what I have read I would imagine the 350Z would be a better drive, quicker and more reliable.
But the Brera wins in the looks department IMHO, and it is an Alfa!
So I suppose it depends on your priorities really.
When buying used I don't get too hung up on colour for the right car, but I really don't like black or white and prefer an actual colour to some shade of silver or grey!
Red would work well on the Brera, but I've also seen them in a nice metallic blue. There was a fantastic orange offered for the 350Z if you don't mind it standing out!
Good luck anyway.
I've no experience of either but from what I have read I would imagine the 350Z would be a better drive, quicker and more reliable.
But the Brera wins in the looks department IMHO, and it is an Alfa!
So I suppose it depends on your priorities really.
When buying used I don't get too hung up on colour for the right car, but I really don't like black or white and prefer an actual colour to some shade of silver or grey!
Red would work well on the Brera, but I've also seen them in a nice metallic blue. There was a fantastic orange offered for the 350Z if you don't mind it standing out!
Good luck anyway.
Om said:
350Z all day long.
The 3.2 in the Brera is a tweaked GM unit that has some issues and is not particularly nice/Alfa like. Not very quick either. The Brera, whilst a lovely car to look at is heavy and particularly nose heavy with, as standard, uninspiring handling.
The 350Z isn't a light car, but the Brera is pretty bloated meaning performance is nothing to right home about.
Reliability wise, the 350Z is probably a safer bet. Alfas are reliable if they have been driven and looked after properly, but the engine in these is a bit of a weak point, though they will both rust in their own ways...
I went from an Alfa GT to a Nissan 370Z. They are in a different class even though the GT is a more nimble car than the Brera. If you could find an Alfa GT with the 3.2 Busso engine and the LSD then I think it would be a much more difficult decision.
I love Alfas but its no contest. Apart from the badge and the looks the Brera loses everywhere. The hardest part with a 350Z will be finding an unmolested one.
Thanks. I'm not any bothered by the whole not being Alfa when it comes to the Brera engine. I'm not into the purist thing. Alfa put their name on it, good enough for me. Also if you read about it, it's not a GM unit. It's Holden. Yes, part of GM but not the same. And it is only the block. Alfa made it their own. The 3.2 in the Brera is a tweaked GM unit that has some issues and is not particularly nice/Alfa like. Not very quick either. The Brera, whilst a lovely car to look at is heavy and particularly nose heavy with, as standard, uninspiring handling.
The 350Z isn't a light car, but the Brera is pretty bloated meaning performance is nothing to right home about.
Reliability wise, the 350Z is probably a safer bet. Alfas are reliable if they have been driven and looked after properly, but the engine in these is a bit of a weak point, though they will both rust in their own ways...
I went from an Alfa GT to a Nissan 370Z. They are in a different class even though the GT is a more nimble car than the Brera. If you could find an Alfa GT with the 3.2 Busso engine and the LSD then I think it would be a much more difficult decision.
I love Alfas but its no contest. Apart from the badge and the looks the Brera loses everywhere. The hardest part with a 350Z will be finding an unmolested one.
Alfa GT is nice, but I decided I don't want FWD. Also the GT V6 is very nose heavy.
I do agree the 350Z is probably more reliable and might be much cheaper to run too.
Strudul said:
If you've narrowed it down to 2, then just test drive them both and see?
Personally, the Z wins in every way, but I'm biased.
In every way as long as it's not looks, prestige and heritage. Personally, the Z wins in every way, but I'm biased.
I think the Brera looks better from most angles. But the 350Z is probably the better driver's car.
Mr Tidy said:
That's an interesting shortlist!
I've no experience of either but from what I have read I would imagine the 350Z would be a better drive, quicker and more reliable.
But the Brera wins in the looks department IMHO, and it is an Alfa!
So I suppose it depends on your priorities really.
When buying used I don't get too hung up on colour for the right car, but I really don't like black or white and prefer an actual colour to some shade of silver or grey!
Red would work well on the Brera, but I've also seen them in a nice metallic blue. There was a fantastic orange offered for the 350Z if you don't mind it standing out!
Good luck anyway.
I think the Brera wins in looks and practicality.I've no experience of either but from what I have read I would imagine the 350Z would be a better drive, quicker and more reliable.
But the Brera wins in the looks department IMHO, and it is an Alfa!
So I suppose it depends on your priorities really.
When buying used I don't get too hung up on colour for the right car, but I really don't like black or white and prefer an actual colour to some shade of silver or grey!
Red would work well on the Brera, but I've also seen them in a nice metallic blue. There was a fantastic orange offered for the 350Z if you don't mind it standing out!
Good luck anyway.
350Z is probably the better driver's car and maybe more reliable and cheap to run.
What counts more in a daily driver?
I thought I wanted to own a Brera until I went along to buy one.
3.2 Q4 and it really didn't feel very quick.
It also had a noisy transmission, and the front subframe was very rusty.
Car had done 50,000 odd miles, overall condition/history stacked up.
Glad I bought a return train ticket.
3.2 Q4 and it really didn't feel very quick.
It also had a noisy transmission, and the front subframe was very rusty.
Car had done 50,000 odd miles, overall condition/history stacked up.
Glad I bought a return train ticket.
DRVR said:
Thanks. I'm not any bothered by the whole not being Alfa when it comes to the Brera engine. I'm not into the purist thing. Alfa put their name on it, good enough for me. Also if you read about it, it's not a GM unit. It's Holden. Yes, part of GM but not the same. And it is only the block. Alfa made it their own.
Alfa GT is nice, but I decided I don't want FWD. Also the GT V6 is very nose heavy.
I do agree the 350Z is probably more reliable and might be much cheaper to run too.
It sounds like you want to go with the Brera. I can understand that, but do bear in mind that whilst Alfa made the engine 'their own' it was a fairly limited do-over and it was a nothing special engine that was foisted upon them. Nose heavy also applies to the Brera too, just a lot more heaviness in the whole car - about 250kg heavier than the GT and about 150kg more than a 350Z. Alfa GT is nice, but I decided I don't want FWD. Also the GT V6 is very nose heavy.
I do agree the 350Z is probably more reliable and might be much cheaper to run too.
Go for the Prodrive in Misano Blue.
Trevor555 said:
I thought I wanted to own a Brera until I went along to buy one.
3.2 Q4 and it really didn't feel very quick.
It also had a noisy transmission, and the front subframe was very rusty.
Car had done 50,000 odd miles, overall condition/history stacked up.
Glad I bought a return train ticket.
The one and only Alfa I ever had also had a noisy transmission. It rapidly turned into a self destructing transmission- parts of the diff punched through the transmission casing, covered the road in oil, and landed me a £3k bill for a complete replacement.3.2 Q4 and it really didn't feel very quick.
It also had a noisy transmission, and the front subframe was very rusty.
Car had done 50,000 odd miles, overall condition/history stacked up.
Glad I bought a return train ticket.
Never again will I own an Alfa, no matter how tempting the Giulia 3.0 Bi-Turbo seems.
So 350z would be my choice out of those two.
DRVR said:
I think the Brera wins in ... practicality.
Yeah, the 350Z is a 2 seater and furthermore luggage space for large items is heavily compromised by the bulkhead behind the seats and then the strut brace between the turrets. I just managed to get a single standard airline suitcase in, standing up ahead of the cross brace, but a pain to reach to lift it in/out. Bike, a small one and a PITA. A bit disappointing for quite a big/heavy car. Having said that, it's fine for shopping or smaller/squashy bags, there is space just it's split up by the brace.Apart from that tho, I like my 350Z, I find it comfortable for longer trips and fairly easy in town. The easy torque spread of the engine, such that almost any gear will do, gives it a nice GT character and it feels quite precise to steer.
samoht said:
Yeah, the 350Z is a 2 seater and furthermore luggage space for large items is heavily compromised by the bulkhead behind the seats and then the strut brace between the turrets. I just managed to get a single standard airline suitcase in, standing up ahead of the cross brace, but a pain to reach to lift it in/out. Bike, a small one and a PITA. A bit disappointing for quite a big/heavy car. Having said that, it's fine for shopping or smaller/squashy bags, there is space just it's split up by the brace.
Apart from that tho, I like my 350Z, I find it comfortable for longer trips and fairly easy in town. The easy torque spread of the engine, such that almost any gear will do, gives it a nice GT character and it feels quite precise to steer.
350z storage is huge, and despite the brace being in the way, it rarely actually impedes.Apart from that tho, I like my 350Z, I find it comfortable for longer trips and fairly easy in town. The easy torque spread of the engine, such that almost any gear will do, gives it a nice GT character and it feels quite precise to steer.
Achievements
- Full suitcase between the brace and the rear
- Full size mountain bike (after removing wheel and bars)
- 4 wheels / tyres (1 or 2 on passenger seat depending)
- A few Aston Martin Vantage steering racks
- Both side skirts
- AMS GT front bumper
- Both front fenders
- Camping equipment for 2 for a week, including 2 full bedding set (pillows, duvets), 2 6-man tents, loads of spare clothes, and tools
- Moving someone house with 4 years of stuff they accumulated
Om said:
It sounds like you want to go with the Brera. I can understand that, but do bear in mind that whilst Alfa made the engine 'their own' it was a fairly limited do-over and it was a nothing special engine that was foisted upon them. Nose heavy also applies to the Brera too, just a lot more heaviness in the whole car - about 250kg heavier than the GT and about 150kg more than a 350Z.
Go for the Prodrive in Misano Blue.
It's not that I want to go with the Brera. Both have pros and cons. But the engine in the Brera is not a con. I have heard the nonsense from purists over and over. But it doesn't bother me. As far as I heard it is only the block. Head, pistons and everything else is Alfa. So I'm not sure I would call it fairly limited do-over. Go for the Prodrive in Misano Blue.
As for not special, isn't the block also used in the Camaro? While the Nissan engine has been used in everything, from family cars to crossovers and trucks? If we are going there...
But again that doesn't bother me about the Nissan V6. But Busso it is not either.
So I'm fine with both engines and the power they put up.
The Brera looks classier and smarter and is more practical. Can the 350z look smart? Maybe because so many of them have been chav'ed and mod'ed it has this cheap look. But I like that it is a RWD coupe and has a good reputation for reliability.
andburg said:
Of course difference is GTV prices have bottomed out or seem to have so a good GTV V6 should hold or even increase in value, not something i expect to see with a 350z and definitely not a Brera.
Sure, I can see that. But I'm not buying as an investment. I will put miles on it. It will be a daily. I also think the V6 has already started going up.But do you think so little of both the 350Z and Brera? The 240Z has gone up and the Brera is held as one of the prettiest Alfas of all time by many. I think in due time both might go up too.
DRVR said:
The Brera looks classier and smarter and is more practical. Can the 350z look smart? Maybe because so many of them have been chav'ed and mod'ed it has this cheap look.
No contest there. The Brera is a work of art. It's best appreciated in the metal.I know what you mean about the chav look of the 350z. First thing which comes to mind when I think of a 350Z is something like this:
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-0d425/images/stenc...
Even though the stock car looks much better.
Don't know why people kill their cars like that. The stock looks quite good, apart from the front. I think the front lets it down. Too blocky. But being JDM maybe there is a front bumper which cures that and looks classy and not chav? Worth a check maybe. It is a lot of car for the money and RWD beats AWD for the fun.
Or just buy the beauty queen (Brera)
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