Alfa Brera

sandys · 9 Sep 2016 at 14:51

See if you can stretch to a Prodrive fettled S Model, drives well, the 2.2 needs to be driven hard but will go better than on paper stats suggest when you do, the 3,2 on the S does with out 4wd and is better for it.

TBi is a good choice if your budget stretches to it.

Maundie · 9 Sep 2016 at 15:05

Thanks for the advise so far, I was wondering if the 3.2 Q4 would be worth the risk (more things to go wrong I suppose) as I wouldn't mind going back 4WD (having previously had it in my Celica and Golf many moons ago).

I've started trawling the 159s as well as I'm not sure if I want 2 or 4 doors now, bloody hell!!

insane200 · 9 Sep 2016 at 15:19

What about the GT with a 3.2v6, Don't think they ever did the 159 in the 3.2 would love one though if they did.

Would love this one, and low mileage too http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ype/featured-listing/dealer-id/76281/usedcars

tom_nieto · 9 Sep 2016 at 15:34

Acme said:
Except not even the 1750tbi is comparable to either an S3 or a Golf R sadly.

A3 TFSI and Golf GTI perhaps.

Pedantic there! Will correct myself to "any other hot hatch". My point still stands from a personal perspective although many I'm sure would argue against it.

dacads · 9 Sep 2016 at 15:44

insane200 said:
What about the GT with a 3.2v6, Don't think they ever did the 159 in the 3.2 would love one though if they did.

Would love this one, and low mileage too http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ype/featured-listing/dealer-id/76281/usedcars

Doesn't mention service history? hmm..

Maundie · 9 Sep 2016 at 15:53

insane200 said:
What about the GT with a 3.2v6, Don't think they ever did the 159 in the 3.2 would love one though if they did.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...9-v6-jts-lusso---------------2007/6172940?v=c]

Akagi · 9 Sep 2016 at 16:00

tom_nieto said:
Pedantic there! Will correct myself to "any other hot hatch". My point still stands from a personal perspective although many I'm sure would argue against it.

This is motors, we are (mostly) pedants here.

insane200 said:
What about the GT with a 3.2v6, Don't think they ever did the 159 in the 3.2 would love one though if they did.

Would love this one, and low mileage too http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ype/featured-listing/dealer-id/76281/usedcars

They did the 159 with the 3.2 and AWD (Q4), theyre a little rare though.

insane200 · 9 Sep 2016 at 16:25

dacads said:
Doesn't mention service history? hmm..

At 33k it's probably not had many.

Maundie said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...9-v6-jts-lusso---------------2007/6172940?v=c]

Acme said:
This is motors, we are (mostly) pedants here.

They did the 159 with the 3.2 and AWD (Q4), theyre a little rare though.

Cool, 4x4 and V6, Shame they didn't do a GTA model

Hardly anyone ever does a photo of the lovely V6 engine on adverts it's on of the best features.

Cleisthenes · 9 Sep 2016 at 16:39

insane200 said:
Hardly anyone ever does a photo of the lovely V6 engine on adverts it's on of the best features.

Not when it's not a Busso it isn't

Akagi · 9 Sep 2016 at 16:55

The non Busso's still look nice, just don't sound nice.

sandys · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:48

The GMV6 actually sounds fine, just different to the Busso.

Uther · 9 Sep 2016 at 18:41

I think Alfas are something you buy with your heart not your head! Look fab though.

insane200 · 9 Sep 2016 at 19:07

Cleisthenes said:
Not when it's not a Busso it isn't

Is the busso that bad ?

Akagi · 9 Sep 2016 at 19:34

sandys said:
The GMV6 actually sounds fine, just different to the Busso.

I think it sounds crap to be honest. Sounds like its firing on 3 cylinders.

CooK1E · 10 Sep 2016 at 00:02

Owned a GTV for 10 years. If you are buying an Alfa, make sure that you are handy with spanners - otherwise you will spend a lot of time in other cars waiting on the garage. That said I loved every moment and £4000 in parts over 10 years for a '99 plate car is hardly stupid money.

The_Dark_Side · 10 Sep 2016 at 07:50

KiNgPiN83 said:
They still look lovely and apparently all car guys have to own an Alfa at some point?

Has anyone other than Clarkson (or someone quoting Clarkson) ever said that?
Surely if you're a "car guy" you'd know better than to buy a vehicle that has a higher than average chance of letting you down?

paradigm · 10 Sep 2016 at 09:31

The_Dark_Side said:
Has anyone other than Clarkson (or someone quoting Clarkson) ever said that?
Surely if you're a "car guy" you'd know better than to buy a vehicle that has a higher than average chance of letting you down?

Because being a "car guy" means the only thing you want out of a car is reliability?

Surely you've got that bum about face, otherwise you'd never see any exotica sold.

I'd definitely stick with the premise that most petrol heads should enjoy an Alfa at some point, but I would in no way recommend that as an only-car.

dacads · 10 Sep 2016 at 15:33

insane200 said:
At 33k it's probably not had many.

Should still have a record regardless of mileage, and should be serviced every year even if it's not been used rigorously.

Matmulder · 10 Sep 2016 at 16:25

The 2.2 suffers from gearbox issues, chain stretch, hestiation (fixed with a remap) and poor MPG (25mpg, mixed) and average performance.
The 3.2 is very thirsty (18-20mpg, mixed), heavy, chain replacement is £2k (engine out) and is £500/year to tax.
Your only decent option, petrol wise, is the 1750TBi, but these are rare and fairly pricey as a result.

Realistically, the only decent option in the Brera is the diesel. Like you, I wanted a petrol Brera but couldn't justify any of the options given the issues and/or costs involved. Because of this, I'm going for a 159Ti with the 1750TBi in it - arguably a better looking car, more practical and more choice.

That Brera S though....

The_Dark_Side · 10 Sep 2016 at 16:46

paradigm said:
Because being a "car guy" means the only thing you want out of a car is reliability?

No of course not, but most drivers only own one car and that means reliability is a relevant factor, less so if you have another vehicle.

paradigm said:
Surely you've got that bum about face, otherwise you'd never see any exotica sold.

The fact that scanning the classifieds for exotica and, in particular their respective mileages, it's obvious the vast majority of exotica owners have other vehicles. I've owned exotica and I have tolerated less than stellar reliability in exchange for beautiful aesthetics/insane performance/handling etc. Alfa's , for the most part, give the former in spades while giving little of the latter.

paradigm said:
I'd definitely stick with the premise that most petrol heads should enjoy an Alfa at some point, but I would in no way recommend that as an only-car.

I've owned an Alfa, but it wasn't my only car. Clarkson comment (and again it's either his or someone regurgitating his comment) is essentially saying you can't be a car fan if you only have one car. The car nut wants something pretty and rewarding to drive but it also has to fulfil commuting duties, shopping trips and other more mundane tasks.