Am I Mad....Brera?

Lex Luthor · 21-02-2008 9:10am

prospect wrote: »

Oh, get a life and try talking about something you actually understand. :rolleyes:

+1

Tragedy · 21-02-2008 10:08am

Honestjohn on whats bad with the 159; No standard spare. Only pump and spray, but wheel well can accommodate a full-size spare. One report that rattles develop by 25,000km.

On Brera: Very marginal 4-seater. 2.4JTDM a bit disappointing.

On GT Coupe: Feedback welcome.

On Spider: If something upsets the car, the combination of heavy weight at the front, light weight at the back, quick steering and the ESP/traction control system can develop into a pendulum effect.

Trouble with 147's yes, any of the cars launched in recent years seem to be completely problem free.

endplate · 21-02-2008 10:27am

Tragedy wrote: »

Honestjohn on whats bad with the 159; No standard spare. Only pump and spray, but wheel well can accommodate a full-size spare. One report that rattles develop by 25,000km.

On Brera: Very marginal 4-seater. 2.4JTDM a bit disappointing.

On GT Coupe: Feedback welcome.

On Spider: If something upsets the car, the combination of heavy weight at the front, light weight at the back, quick steering and the ESP/traction control system can develop into a pendulum effect.

Trouble with 147's yes, any of the cars launched in recent years seem to be completely problem free.

Yeah Honestjohn's viewer comments are really highlighting the problems Alfa's are having at the moment. One report that rattles develop after 25,000KM that's not exactly going to leave you stranded on the side of the road is it. I like the GT feedback out since '04 and still waiting for feedback.

Who has the comment on their profile that Alfa's are not about depreciation but are about appreciation I liked that one

Oh yeah I see it's Lex Luther

Bluefoam · 21-02-2008 10:31am

Tragedy wrote: »

Trouble with 147's yes, any of the cars launched in recent years seem to be completely problem free.

I don't really understand this comment. Does this mean it is the only trouble free car ever? or am I reading it wrong...

Tragedy · 21-02-2008 10:42am

It means its an 8 year old car design at this stage and fairly well known for developing problems, any of the alfas developed and launched in the last four years rate rather highly for reliability.

Bluefoam · 21-02-2008 10:53am

The only thing that puts me off the 147 is the timing belt cost. I'm used to driving a Focus & it costs nothing in maintenance, so I begrudge having to maintain a car.

I was gonna get the 147 a couple of months ago, but have decided to hold on for the 149 - although I believe it will be closer in size to a 156...

Tragedy · 21-02-2008 10:56am

Have you looked at the pics of what are apparently a clay mockup of it?

Not sure whether I love it or hate it, but its certainly memorable

vengeance52 · 21-02-2008 7:53pm

ive looked in the reliability issues with the Brera from parkers, honestjohn etc and other sources and im fine with them. My mate has one for months now, and its running perfect so far, and the main prob he gets its smudges on the glass from people lookin in it when its parked in town.

taking another spin in my mates 3.2 brera this weekend, so can wait for that.

Lex Luthor · 21-02-2008 9:06pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

the main prob he gets its smudges on the glass from people lookin in it when its parked in town.

nicely put

vengeance52 · 22-02-2008 8:04pm

well got to work this mornin, opened up the internet explorer, and pretty much stared at this all mornin. http://www.cbg.ie/Cardetail.aspx?CBGID=804725&ID=1579649#

How can ya not love the shape of it

Takin a spin in the 3.2 tomorrow lunch so i cant wait

Took a pic of the engine last time i drove it.

Mailman · 22-02-2008 9:03pm

there is a 1.8 turbo planned for the Brera when it gets mid term facelift later this year.
http://www.italiaspeed.com/newsite/futuremodels.htm
I'd expect good CO2 values on that car so it might become the engine of choice in the range especially once people figure out how to boost the turbo aftermarket.
Me, I think I'd wait to see what the Alfa Junior looks like as that will be nearest we'll get to a great accessible Alfa since the AlfaSud.

Lex Luthor · 22-02-2008 9:20pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

well got to work this mornin, opened up the internet explorer, and pretty much stared at this all mornin. http://www.cbg.ie/Cardetail.aspx?CBGID=804725&ID=1579649#

How can ya not love the shape of it

Takin a spin in the 3.2 tomorrow lunch so i cant wait

Took a pic of the engine last time i drove it.

nothing better than the sound of a alfa V6....

i'll be certainly considering one for my next alfa....maybe a 169 2.5 V6

GO FOR IT

Rory123 · 22-02-2008 9:30pm

There a nice car and all that but my brother bought a brand new Brera last year, same one as you're interested... He had it for all of 9 weeks... that might say something?

pburns · 22-02-2008 9:50pm

Rory123 wrote: »

There a nice car and all that but my brother bought a brand new Brera last year, same one as you're interested... He had it for all of 9 weeks... that might say something?

Eh...

could you elaborate???

Lex Luthor · 22-02-2008 10:06pm

Rory123 wrote: »

There a nice car and all that but my brother bought a brand new Brera last year, same one as you're interested... He had it for all of 9 weeks... that might say something?

I've had girlfriends for shorter than 9 weeks...doesn't mean to imply I didn't have a good time...

spit it out....:rolleyes:

vengeance52 · 24-02-2008 1:28pm

well just took a spin in my mates 3.2 brera, and i think im in love. that is such an amazing car. forgot my bloody camera though. Only thing i found strange is the headrest seems to be sloped. so when your resting your head on it, it slides to the left. but i dont care about that

vengeance52 · 30-03-2008 6:27pm

ok, i was thinkin of leaving changing my car for a few months before id change to a brera or 159 (or A6/8)

Then i saw this on piston heads

its the colour i want, the engine i want, and the tan leather i want......prob is i cant afford to change. its not fair

Redsoxfan · 30-03-2008 6:37pm

You could get a facelift 156 the same size engine for a lot less.

Possibly a better looking interior as well.

Will you be able to afford a 159/Brera when VRT is reduced?

And I thought you wanted a petrol?

If so, the engine in a 3.2 V6 GT is meant to be superior to that in the Brera.

vengeance52 · 30-03-2008 6:45pm

Redsoxfan wrote: »

You could get a facelift 156 the same size engine for a lot less.

Possibly a better looking interior as well.

Will you be able to afford a 159/Brera when VRT is reduced?

And I thought you wanted a petrol?

If so, the engine in a 3.2 V6 GT is meant to be superior to that in the Brera.

well i live in NI during the week, so i dont have to worry about VRT thank god, and the tax is less too.

Id prefer a brera or 159 over the 156, its just a personal thing. was in a brera and loved it.

Id love a 3.2 petrol, but dunno if i can afford to run it as it gets about 25mpg compared to 41mpg for the 2.4JTDM but then again, the way diesel prices are going ya never know

Redsoxfan · 30-03-2008 6:54pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

Id love a 3.2 petrol, but dunno if i can afford to run it as it gets about 25mpg compared to 41mpg for the 2.4JTDM.

Take that 41mpg with a large pinch of salt my friend. I have a 1.9JTD and get 37/38mpg. It really depends on the type of driving you will be doing.

I can easily see why you would prefer the 159/Brera over the 156/GT as the styling is quite different.

I think you need to decide on the type (saloon/coupe) and then stick to it.

With the newer lightweight 159 and Brera coming out, I guess residuals on the original models could suffer and you may have a better buying opportunity.

In general, I have found NI cars to be more expensive than their mainland equivalents (Alfa Romeo anyway). There are quite a few 159 JTDs on Autotrader for less than £15k.

Oh yeah, try and get a Ti if money allows!

vengeance52 · 30-03-2008 7:04pm

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Oh yeah, try and get a Ti if money allows!

whats that when its at home

Lex Luthor · 30-03-2008 8:02pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

whats that when its at home

It's the top spec

Redsoxfan · 30-03-2008 8:02pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

whats that when its at home

Alfa Romeo 159 Ti

N.B. even though the article features a SW (estate), it comes as a saloon as well.

vengeance52 · 30-03-2008 8:26pm

i see it comes with QTRONIC. should i look for one with or without it? I know its a 6speed auto gearbox with manual sequential-shift from what i read online but is it a good option?

EDIT i see the qtronic is hard on mpg and has higher emissions

galwaytt · 30-03-2008 9:59pm

vengeance52 wrote: »

i see it comes with QTRONIC. should i look for one with or without it? I know its a 6speed auto gearbox with manual sequential-shift from what i read online but is it a good option?

EDIT i see the qtronic is hard on mpg and has higher emissions

....well seeing as your original choice was a 3.2 petrol, I can't see how you'd have an issue with fuel consumption or emissions of a diesel, not matter how bad........

and, seeing as your max tax is GBP£400, compared to the (soon-to-be) Eur2k p.a. here, I can't see many people having sympathy for that concern either...........oh that we should be so lucky !!

vengeance52 · 30-03-2008 10:46pm

galwaytt wrote: »

....well seeing as your original choice was a 3.2 petrol, I can't see how you'd have an issue with fuel consumption or emissions of a diesel, not matter how bad........

and, seeing as your max tax is GBP£400, compared to the (soon-to-be) Eur2k p.a. here, I can't see many people having sympathy for that concern either...........oh that we should be so lucky !!

well my first choice was the 2.4JTDM, but i test drove the 3.2 cos my mate bought one, an it was a cracking car.

Am I Mad....Brera?

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