Brera V6 noises

[verdimistral]

I have a Brera V6...a delightful car except for two queries No 1.Anybody familiar with a ticking noise at idle that dissapears over1500 revs.....possibly the elctronic rev counter?
No 2. Also how can I increase the exhaust noise...its too damn quiet? I read in Auto car that if you remove a fuse on an Aston V8 the exhaust system valves allow the "out of town noise" to remain "in town". Can I do the same with tha Alfa?

thanks for your interest

[SCOOTERMAN]

I'm unable to help you re. 1), but as for 2), the answer is "no": the Brera has no such susyem, and is quiet by intake/exhaust design rather than mere "temporary restriction" as per the Vantage, the Z06 etc, etc. The only "fix" for this is to ) punch holes in the silencers, bor b) buy a throatier aftermarket exhaust from the likes of Autodelta, Supersprint etc,etc, assuming they're available.

[comdiver]

I had a ticking similar to yours on my 156 V6, turns out it was a cam belt tensioner/idler on its way. All replaced problem solved. As for exhaust check out
www.haywardandscott.co.uk they did mine and i have no regrets.

[verdimistral]

Re my Brera V6. To those kind people who replied.....Many thanks

[cirvy]

My V6 Brera has a strange rattle from the bulkhead when idling. It is particularly loud on cold start up. Have been back to the dealers many times, they havent a clue

As for the exhaust note, it would be good to have more oomph.

Can i ask, what do you get combined mpg?

[alfaspiderman2]

sorry to hi-jack the post, but I wondered how you Brera V6 boys were enjoying your cars?

I'm thinking about a 159 V6 but have some resevations about the performance - the qouted figures are not exactly blistering for 260 or so bhp?

however, I wondered what they felt like in the real world of everyday driving?

[cirvy]

alfaspiderman2 said:

sorry to hi-jack the post, but I wondered how you Brera V6 boys were enjoying your cars?

After 7000 miles, i'm finding mine particularly disappointing. Too slow, too thirsty, too ponderous, too compromised, crap seats/driving position. I could go on.

Nice to look at though

[alfaspiderman2]

not a good recommendation then

can you expand on the 'too slow' and 'too ponderous' at all?

[pwig]

Alfa just drive one yourself and see what you think

[alfaspiderman2]

obviously that's a solution and something that I'll get around to

however, test drives can be artificial and I hoped to get a longer term view of how people felt about their V6s

[jamieboy]

Have you looked over on alfaowner.com? There are a few people over there who have V6 Breras.

[Wombat Rick]

alfaspiderman2 said:

however, test drives can be artificial

See if you can get a 24 hour one. I did for my Brera.

[alfaspiderman2]

jamieboy said:

Have you looked over on alfaowner.com? There are a few people over there who have V6 Breras.

had a quick look over there and someone asked pretty much the same question as I guess I'm asking i.e "What does the V6 on road performance compare to?"

the answer was "faster than a 530d or RX8 but slower than a GTA or Focus ST (but better at getting the power down than any of them)" - none of that is a revalation except perhaps that it's faster than the 530d which has (on paper) better performance

[cirvy]

alfaspiderman2 said:

can you expand on the 'too slow' and 'too ponderous' at all?

Difficult to describe, but the performance is somewhat numb. I came to this car from a V6 GT, & by comparison, i really dont have the same midrange or low down oomph of the older V6. This is most apparent when overtaking, i do have to be more cautious in the Brera. It has a lazy power delivery, more akin to a big V6 saloon than a sporty coupe.

It does grip very well, but it's far from being a drivers car, i think that is what has pi$$ed me off the most. I did expect an Alfa coupe to be a drivers car, not too much to ask you would think

[alfaspiderman2]

thanks, that's a useful explanation

sounds like the V6 might be better suited to the 159 Sportwagon (my choice) rather than the Brera

in comparison to other similar cars (e.g. BMW tourings) I suppose the extra grip means that there's actually little in it terms of on-road performance

[verdimistral]

Brera V6,
Its taken some time to appreciate this car,but after4000 miles its becoming much more entertaining. Its the most German Italian car ever and nothing like previous Alfas...but nevertheless I like it a great deal. I admit that for its engine size its hardly greased lightening but its probably the inevitable product of the over protective, safe ridden,greenhouse gass stifled society we live in..........my 6 year old Maserati 3200 GT on the other hand is "flawed" but SOooooooothrilling...a fantastic super exciting untameable sports car....with the same size engine as the Brera

[twit]

Having driven both the V6 and the 2.2 diesel in both 159 and Brera I would go with the diesel every time. The V6 isnt a patch on the old classic V6 and in real terms I don't think the V6 is any quicker, just thirstier. I think the 159 as a sportwagon with the diesel engine is a pretty good buy... Didnt go for it in the end as when I sat down and did the consideration I just didnt need the space but if I did thats the way I'd go.

[alfaspiderman2]

if it were my own money, I'd not be considering the V6

similarly, if I could find the time for a 'hobby car' as well, I'd save the cash and get the 2.4 JTD

however, it isn't and I haven't....so it'll be a six cylinder petrol in my next car whether it's an Alfa or not...I'd very much like it to be an Alfa but the 3.2 does it's best to spoil an otherwise 'perfect' car as far as I'm concerned