Is a Brera a good buy? Where do you see it going?
Discussion
I always liked the Brera. With all it's apparent flaws it is still a very unique car, with nothing out on the road being like it.
Now as it ages and some of the original complains no longer make a difference, as it's slowly entering the classic slot, it's looking even more appealing.
I mean, who cares at this point if it's heavier, any "electric super mini" beats even M cars these days. And what if the V6 is not fully Alfa? Neither is the 1750TBI or the 90s-2000's Twin Spark. All Fiat lumps. Bentleys have VW engines. All that becomes a moot point as cars age and the Brera is aging beautifully in my opinion.
For my surprise, prices on the V6 never really reached V6 GT and V6 GTV levels of low. And now, at least where I'm looking, they are already going up. Peculiar, for a car which was nothing but bashed by the press and Alfa fans alike. While the GTV, the 90s one of course, was celebrated. Yet, even the FWD Breras never really dropped to the peanuts level of cheapness of a GTV or Fiat coupe. Makes you wonder.
So what do you think the Brera's future is going to be? It's looking like it will definitely be a classic, despite all. I think prices are going just one way from now on and it's up. The Q4 V6 is already similarly priced with the newer V6 GTVs and more expensive than the older ones. But it's a much younger car. Do you think it's a good buy? For now and for the future.
I quite fancy a Q4 V6 in red, with the skyroof. I know it makes it even heavier, but again, the great thing is, at this point, who cares? It's a car to buy, sit in and cruise around enjoying it. Stop, grab a coffee, look at it and talk about it. Then drive some more. Isn't that what all classic cars are for?
But with the advantage that, at this point you could still daily drive a Brera and have something rare and special looking while at it.
Now as it ages and some of the original complains no longer make a difference, as it's slowly entering the classic slot, it's looking even more appealing.
I mean, who cares at this point if it's heavier, any "electric super mini" beats even M cars these days. And what if the V6 is not fully Alfa? Neither is the 1750TBI or the 90s-2000's Twin Spark. All Fiat lumps. Bentleys have VW engines. All that becomes a moot point as cars age and the Brera is aging beautifully in my opinion.
For my surprise, prices on the V6 never really reached V6 GT and V6 GTV levels of low. And now, at least where I'm looking, they are already going up. Peculiar, for a car which was nothing but bashed by the press and Alfa fans alike. While the GTV, the 90s one of course, was celebrated. Yet, even the FWD Breras never really dropped to the peanuts level of cheapness of a GTV or Fiat coupe. Makes you wonder.
So what do you think the Brera's future is going to be? It's looking like it will definitely be a classic, despite all. I think prices are going just one way from now on and it's up. The Q4 V6 is already similarly priced with the newer V6 GTVs and more expensive than the older ones. But it's a much younger car. Do you think it's a good buy? For now and for the future.
I quite fancy a Q4 V6 in red, with the skyroof. I know it makes it even heavier, but again, the great thing is, at this point, who cares? It's a car to buy, sit in and cruise around enjoying it. Stop, grab a coffee, look at it and talk about it. Then drive some more. Isn't that what all classic cars are for?
But with the advantage that, at this point you could still daily drive a Brera and have something rare and special looking while at it.
Sure. I would think any car of that age will have issues.
I'm just wondering why the prices never really came down, like the GTV did?
I have not looked at production numbers, maybe the Brera is that much more rare. Again it's just strange since many still bash the Brera and praise the GTV.
For example the cheapest Brera I could find at the moment is £2200. You can still find GTVs for under 1K. Both 4 cylinders of course. For the V6s the GTV starts at under 6K, while the Brera starts at 8K, IF you can find one. Even the diesel Breras are more valuable than the Twin-Spark GTV it seems.
But the GTV is arguably a classic car at this point, with the first examples coming out in 1995. The Brera is still in that limbo where it's old now but not old enough to be a classic, which is when cars are normally at their cheapest.
From a technical perspective it's not surprising. The Brera is better built, more advanced, more reliable by all accounts and the style still works. But this is not how the market works. The better car is not always the one to appreciate more. Subjective opinions matter more and the Brera was severely bashed, mainly because it was misunderstood and people wanted something like a 4C, when it clearly was meant to be a GT. Yet, against all odds, the Brera is appreciating more than the GTV.
So is this a sign the Brera will be more valuable than the GTV in the future?
I'm just wondering why the prices never really came down, like the GTV did?
I have not looked at production numbers, maybe the Brera is that much more rare. Again it's just strange since many still bash the Brera and praise the GTV.
For example the cheapest Brera I could find at the moment is £2200. You can still find GTVs for under 1K. Both 4 cylinders of course. For the V6s the GTV starts at under 6K, while the Brera starts at 8K, IF you can find one. Even the diesel Breras are more valuable than the Twin-Spark GTV it seems.
But the GTV is arguably a classic car at this point, with the first examples coming out in 1995. The Brera is still in that limbo where it's old now but not old enough to be a classic, which is when cars are normally at their cheapest.
From a technical perspective it's not surprising. The Brera is better built, more advanced, more reliable by all accounts and the style still works. But this is not how the market works. The better car is not always the one to appreciate more. Subjective opinions matter more and the Brera was severely bashed, mainly because it was misunderstood and people wanted something like a 4C, when it clearly was meant to be a GT. Yet, against all odds, the Brera is appreciating more than the GTV.
So is this a sign the Brera will be more valuable than the GTV in the future?
They're a marmite car, so I'd say buy one because you want one the S cars are the pick as they do drive well but if you want an SV then just get one.
TBH I'd say the same about any car someone wants to buy, as long as you like/are happy with it who cares what anyone else thinks.
One word of caution buying a car in the hope of it appreciating, is the equivalent of expecting Liz Truss to come out with a well thought out economic policy!!!
TBH I'd say the same about any car someone wants to buy, as long as you like/are happy with it who cares what anyone else thinks.
One word of caution buying a car in the hope of it appreciating, is the equivalent of expecting Liz Truss to come out with a well thought out economic policy!!!
I came close to buying a Brera, although the styling never quite worked as well as the concept, its still a good looking car. My brother ended up buying a V6 and only kept it for 6 months and then swapped it for a 147 GTA. I ended up with GT instead (had 2). The V6 in the Brera just isn't that special compared to earlier V6 Alfas, it's not the best drive either, definitely more of a cruiser, 159 is probably a better car.
ZX10R NIN said:
They're a marmite car, so I'd say buy one because you want one the S cars are the pick as they do drive well but if you want an SV then just get one.
TBH I'd say the same about any car someone wants to buy, as long as you like/are happy with it who cares what anyone else thinks.
One word of caution buying a car in the hope of it appreciating, is the equivalent of expecting Liz Truss to come out with a well thought out economic policy!!!
Makes sense. What would be your guess for the reason for the stronger prices over the GTV ? I find it curious, for the reason I mentioned. What led me to think the car is done depreciating. TBH I'd say the same about any car someone wants to buy, as long as you like/are happy with it who cares what anyone else thinks.
One word of caution buying a car in the hope of it appreciating, is the equivalent of expecting Liz Truss to come out with a well thought out economic policy!!!
I’ve always liked them, and did look into buying one of the prodrive ones.
They do seem to have started to go up in value recently, so I think I’ve missed the sweet spot, and I’m not prepared to spend the necessary on what a good one goes for now.
I think that, despite the fat bum, they genuinely do look different and unusual, plus utterly gorgeous wheels.
They do seem to have started to go up in value recently, so I think I’ve missed the sweet spot, and I’m not prepared to spend the necessary on what a good one goes for now.
I think that, despite the fat bum, they genuinely do look different and unusual, plus utterly gorgeous wheels.
ChevronB19 said:
I’ve always liked them, and did look into buying one of the prodrive ones.
They do seem to have started to go up in value recently, so I think I’ve missed the sweet spot, and I’m not prepared to spend the necessary on what a good one goes for now.
I think that, despite the fat bum, they genuinely do look different and unusual, plus utterly gorgeous wheels.
When it comes to the V6 I think it never really came down in value, which is the whole point of this thread. Just why? According to people, they are thirsty, heavy, not a good steer, suck because no Busso, GM lump etc etc etc. Yet they are worth more than the GTV with the mighty Busso. Now the GTV V6 is worth good money. But for a long time you could buy them for cheap. Never happened to the V6 Brera for some reason. What reason? Rare? Or maybe they just are not as bad as people say.They do seem to have started to go up in value recently, so I think I’ve missed the sweet spot, and I’m not prepared to spend the necessary on what a good one goes for now.
I think that, despite the fat bum, they genuinely do look different and unusual, plus utterly gorgeous wheels.
ZX10R NIN said:
One word of caution buying a car in the hope of it appreciating, is the equivalent of expecting Liz Truss to come out with a well thought out economic policy!!!
Sure. But I find it hard ever loosing much money on a Brera V6 by the look of things. Surely a better investment than anything less special from the same era, such as some saloon. Even if an Audi or Lexus right.So called car jornos talk a lot of non sense. Sometimes I think they are paid by the German car industry to say good things about them and bad things about anything British, Italian or American. Then people who never driven the cars let alone owned them start repeating the nonsense. Has happend with so many cars for me. I hear they are dull, not a good steer, bad or whatever, then drive it, don't think that at all.
Go drive a Brera Q4 and see what you think. At least it has proper and real AWD, which is more than you can say about VAG cars, including many so called Audi Quattros, which are not even actually Quattros and other supposedly AWD cars out there.
Go drive a Brera Q4 and see what you think. At least it has proper and real AWD, which is more than you can say about VAG cars, including many so called Audi Quattros, which are not even actually Quattros and other supposedly AWD cars out there.
Edited by Shifter1 on Sunday 23 October 23:13
Shifter1 said:
So called car jornos talk a lot of non sense. Sometimes I think they are paid by the German car industry to say good things about them and bad things about anything British, Italian or American. Then people who never driven the cars let alone owned them start repeating the nonsense. Has happend with so many cars for me. I hear they are dull, not a good steer, bad or whatever, then drive it, don't think that at all.
Go drive a Brera Q4 and see what you think. At least it has proper and real AWD, which is more than you can say about VAG cars, including many so called Audi Quattros, which are not even actually Quattros and other supposedly AWD cars out there.
This is so true. What's interesting is some of the same people who put the Brera down praised boring stuff like the Golf. Maybe the Brera's sin is people expect too much of an Alfa. But nobody has addressed the elephant in the room in this thread. After all that, how do you explain the current values for the Brera, specially in V6 guise?Go drive a Brera Q4 and see what you think. At least it has proper and real AWD, which is more than you can say about VAG cars, including many so called Audi Quattros, which are not even actually Quattros and other supposedly AWD cars out there.
Edited by Shifter1 on Sunday 23 October 23:13
I don't normally comment on threads where I don't have actual experience of a particular car, but I do have quite a few Alfas, and both of the garages I use have told me not to buy a Brera, and if I do, not to bring it to them.
Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
sunbeam alpine said:
I don't normally comment on threads where I don't have actual experience of a particular car, but I do have quite a few Alfas, and both of the garages I use have told me not to buy a Brera, and if I do, not to bring it to them.
Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
Alfa snobbery?Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
paddy1970 said:
sunbeam alpine said:
I don't normally comment on threads where I don't have actual experience of a particular car, but I do have quite a few Alfas, and both of the garages I use have told me not to buy a Brera, and if I do, not to bring it to them.
Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
Alfa snobbery?Both garages are well-known Alfa specialists (although not in the UK).
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff