Brera's, yay or nay

[homerjay]

I'm in the Market for a 10k covertible (possibly 2 seat coupe)

front runner is currently a z4 but still considering an s2000 if I can find the right one.

Then I noticed quite a few brera's is the classifieds.

What the story with these in terms of reliabilty, pace, handling and depreciation?

I think I'd have to go for the 3.2 if I did choose over the z and s
Cheers

[Hitch78]

Look lovely, go slow, handle like a boat. Such a shame really.

[Pat H]

Nay.

They look nice, but they have the wrong engine.

You need a pre 2005 Alfa to get one with a proper Alfa V6.

When you open the bonnet, it needs to look like this:



This means you need to look at the old GTVs and the Alfa GTs.

[J4CKO]

I was looking at one in the local Alfa dealers, the paint looked like it was applied by roller !

[vonuber]

Pat H said:

Nay.

They look nice, but they have the wrong engine.

You need a pre 2005 Alfa to get one with a proper Alfa V6.

When you open the bonnet, it needs to look like this:



This means you need to look at the old GTVs and the Alfa GTs.

I wish the pipes on mine were that shiny

[adycav]

Hitch78 said:

Look lovely, go slow, handle like a boat. Such a shame really.

Dead thirsty too. All of'em.

One of those cars that you want to like, but cannot.

[anonymous-user]

Key points:

• Interior is very nice and well screwed together, unlike some previous Alfas
• The 3.2 doesn't sound as nice as it should really, nothing like the older V6's. Still pretty quick though. Avoid the 2.2, the 2.4 diesel is a real monster and probably a good all-round choice
• NO room in the back. I'm a shade under 5'8" and don't fit.
• Some cars have an upgraded leather interior ("Pontrona-Frau" or somesuch, offers more varied colours for the seats + dash), it looks absolutely gorgeous but cost a bomb when new so it's rare. Keep an eye out.

Overall it's very nice, plenty of gizmos and the 4wd version is biased to the rear, can't see it seriously standing up to a Z4 or S2000 for driving dynamics, but its unlikely to embarrass itself either. No idea if the fwd is any good though.

[chrisr29]

Depends if you want a sports car or a 4 wheeled trinket.

[Garett]

Isn't the V6 engine a GM unit?

[ClintonB]

Garett said:

Isn't the V6 engine a GM unit?

Yep, Holden IIRC.

[Mr Dave]

"Fitted with the compact Rotrex C30-94 supercharger with intercooler and remapping, the Autodelta Brera offers 352 bhp and 435 Nm torque, the additional 92 bhp over the standard model turning this into a powerful four wheel drive 2+2 sportscar easily capable of fulfilling its driver’s innermost demands and desires. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 5.3 seconds while top speed is 260 km/h."






Only worth it if you are willing to spend some cash on it at Autodelta. Lovely.

[homerjay]

Gutted. I really wanted to hear some decent reviews.

May still have to go and test one just for the experience.

[undred orse]

please do not get the 2.2 - by far the worst engine i have ever had the misfortune of having in any of my cars.its gutless,thirsty,sounds rubbish and has a known fault at lowish revs which i found almost dangerous.

also stupidly expensive to service.

potentially great car ruined by a rubbish engine and fairly pathetic handling which just adds to the disappointment.

don't get seduced by the looks as i did.

[k-ink]

After a string of Alfa's I really wanted one of these, until I read the road tests.

[stuckmojo]

k-ink said:

After a string of Alfa's I really wanted one of these, until I read the road tests.

Same here. I considered the 3.2 Q4 as an alternative to the 350z or z4 3.0, but, looks aside, it's just not good enough.

Shame really, since I am an Alfa nostalgic and I wish I still had my trusty (so to speak) 75 TS

[The Wookie]

Nay

Girlfriend's Dad had one for a year, it was ridiculously unreliable and pants to drive.

He'd had several Alfas over the years and put up with the foibles, but it was a terrible, terrible car and put him off for life.