Popped into my local Alfa dealer on Saturday for a closer look at the Brera.
Staff very friendly and happy for myself and 13 year old son to kick the tyres etc. Had a great half hour or so and putting aside the usual Alfa "concerns" I reckon that Alfa must have the most desirable range of new cars available under 25k.
Brera is very good looker with more space than I had expected. However, overall I prefer the lines of the GT coupe. Anyone out there lucky enough to own one?
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IanS
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Saw a GT Coupe parked down the road on Sunday afternoon, 3.2 I think it said on its shapely bum... but I wd prefer a 4 door version. My wife pretended it looked just like all other cars but then she usually does. Philistine.
Of course I'm a philistine about ballet.
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The Brera has been on sale a very short time, I know several people who have ordered one but they've not been delivered yet.
for a view of Alfas diametrically opposed in bias to the one you get on this site go here -> www.alfaowner.com
For my part, I have driven both GT and Brera in 3.2 V6 form around Alfas Boloco test track and they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The GT is slighty less well screwd together than the brera BUT both are excellent cars, early reports on the GT suggest cars that are every bit as reliable as the rest, there is no reason to suggest the Brera will be any different.
:) JaB
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Until Alfas put their front number plates in the middle I wouldn't even look at one! Pity because otherwise the new ones look good apart from the 147.
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I've also kicked the tyres of a Brera in the local Alfa showroom. It's a spectacular looking machine and the interior is also very nice, especially the leather seats and the metal trim which actually looks and feels like real metal, BMW please take note.
I've not had time to test drive one but the 3.2 litre 4x4 version is getting rave reviews in the German motoring press, the lower powered front wheel drive versions less so.
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Which is the one with the much too small rear lights, doesnt do it for me.
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All the Alfas I've sat in seem to have been designed for people of different proportions to me. I couldn't get a comfortable seat/steering wheel position in any of them. Is it because I'm not Italian?
--
L\'escargot.
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All the Alfas I've sat in seem to have been designed for people of different proportions to me. I couldn't get a comfortable seat/steering wheel position in any of them. Is it because I'm not Italian? -- L\'escargot.
I would guess it's because you haven't tried any really modern Alfas. It is an old stereotype of Alfas (and deserved with some of the older cars), but anything from the 156 forwards has as much adjustability in steering wheel and seat as anything else on the market. If you can't get comfortable in the newer Alfas, then you must be a funny shape. ;)
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Allways loved Alfa's wish i had the balls to go out & buy one
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Same here.
I can feel my reservations ebbing away every time I see a 156 and I find myself asking "Would it really be so bad if I bought one?"
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What was son's reaction to sitting in the back? Quote Autocar 5Apr06 - "We're use to coupés with back seats suitable for only occasional use, but these are hopeless. Despite not having the driver's seat all the way back, the backrest still rests against the base of the seat behind."
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Who gives a monkies. Any more than two people upsets the handling and dulls the performance. Leave the people baggage at home.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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On that theory, perhaps the rear seats should be removable and hence lighten the load.
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Couldn't agree more, mrmender and Adam. I had a 33 Sportwagon 1.7 with two huge Dellorto twin-choke carburettors that slurped petrol and were a devil to tune. Yes it gave me grief but it was brilliant fun to drive. I have got close more times than I can remember to buying a 156 Sportwagon and I just wish i could catch myself off guard and do the deal!
I actually like the assymetric front number plate - then again, I'll never be buying a BMW...
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Same here. I can feel my reservations ebbing away every time I see a 156 and I find myself asking "Would it really be so bad if I bought one?"
A lovely forum member on here send me a breakdown of his costs for the 156 2.4 JTD sportswagon, admitting he drives 'pedal to the metal' style. I was suprised by the actual running costs despite clocking up loads of miles. 2.4 JTD 156 is definately on the cards for me, regardless of the Alfa reputation.
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That'd be me then! And mine was run on main dealer servicing, could be even cheaper if you can use an indie. I'd buy another in the blink of an eye, if I had a big chunk of money to go into a car! A guy over on Pistonheads has just bought his first one & wondered why he didn't do it years ago.
At the mo I'll live with a 3K Porsche that's cost me 25PPM over 22K Miles this year. Although their have been several 166s on E Bay recently for low money, but that'll have to wait until work gives me a petrol card, as I fancy a V6.
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Surely as an engineer and Alfa admirer you wouldn't need all that much courage to buy one mm?
If I had a few quid I think a nice 166 wd make a great buy.
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"
Surely as an engineer and Alfa admirer you wouldn't need all that much courage to buy one mm? "
I thought being an engineer (at least a competent one) and an Alfa admirer were mutually incomptible:-)
madf
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"What was son's reaction to sitting in the back?"
Colin, very little room in the back of the Brera. The lad would n't have fitted behind me, so not a 2+2. That having been, said I'm 6 foot tall (and nearly the same wide) and I could sit quite comfortably in the drivers seat although presonally I would not specify the sunroof as this cuts in on headroom.
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IanS
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I hope you aren't suggesting that mm may not be a competent engineer, madf... There are various sorts of engineer. Soul isn't one of the qualifications, but it is a human characteristic wholly compatible with Mech.E. skills. Indeed I think I would trust an engineer capable of foolish enthusiasm more than one who wasn't. Just a personal view of course. Perhaps soulless=competent to some, but not to me.
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>Lud
No
I was being rude about Alfas (boring I know). Could not resist it. beneath my greying locks I am Adam's age mentally:-)
madf
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A lot older than me beneath my balding scalp then my dear fellow. Adam must be almost what, an adult by now?
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Every time a new Alfa goes on sale the magazines tell us that it looks fantastic (usually true), is great to drive and that the build quality is a great improvement on Alfas of old.
A couple of years later the same magazines are telling us that the build quality of the very same models is rubbish.
Can the goalposts move that far every two years?
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When the build quality was as far back as it was? yes is the answer.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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