I'm seriously considering about buying an Alfa Romeo Brera 2.2 S, as a first car - any thoughts and advice on the matter? Reading around various places, looks like it's a good idea to be weary of the gearbox possibly needing new bearings, the subframe not rusting and timing chain problems. Is there anything major that I missed in my research?
To put the above in context; I'm 34 and haven't had the need to own a car (or driving license), living in London most of my life, but do need to have a car now for various reasons. I always said to myself that my first car would be either a Lancia Delta Integrale or an Alfa, and since I don't feel like spending 35-70K on a first car, the Brera it is. I've been a huge fan of the Brera since its concept debut and really the only 'modern' Alfa I like the look of.
7K GBP seems like can get you a good 2.2 S - but I was a bit surprised to find that there don't seem to be that many Breras for sale in the UK as a whole. Even toyed with the idea of importing a left hand drive 1.75 TBi and doing a right hand drive conversion, but it looks like the Brera is a lot more appreciated in continental Europe than it is over here (thus really not worth it).
The diesel variants all seem a bit rubbish and the 3.2 seems to be unnecessarily thirsty/heavy, Prodrive or not - is that a fair assessment?
If you have your heart set on a 2.2 JTS, then the points to look out for are the ones you've listed so you have researched well. :thumbs: Also, if you can find a Prodrive version, the tweaks they made to the base car are worth it.
However, pick of the engines IMO for the Brera is the 2.4 JTDm. Even is stock form, it'll give a 3.2 petrol a run for it's money & if you throw a few hundred quids worth of ECU remapping at it, it'll blow the 3.2 away. For me, the 2.2 & 1.75 TBi engines are too weedy with neither having enough torque to haul along the heft of the Brera at a pace worthy of a sexy Alfa Romeo coupe. The 3.2 JTS is both too thirsty & aurally not up to the standard of the previous Busso V6 engines - I could live with the thirst of the 3.2 if it made the right noise but it doesn't. So that leaves the diesel. Granted, it makes the same noise as all diesels; somewhat agricultural at idle but once on the move, it's OK to live with & you'll be getting sensible MPG out of it while leaving all the petrol engined versions in your wake.
If you're looking for a Brera then make sure you check the front subframe, they rot like early Alfasuds. (had 2 of those where the front end only stayed together when the bonnet was securely shut!)
...rest of the car is galvanised but not the front subframe...I know I've just had mine done..
..and the rear shock / lower spring cups...capture the water and rust out...
Not sure I'd agree with the 2.4 weasel engine, great torque and yes it'll give the 3.2 a run for its money, but it'll always be an oiler...and they're about a welcome as a smoker at an asthma convention these days and only going to get worse...prices are dropping as ULEZ looms. 3.2 all day long, provided you had shares in BP....but dont tell me you are buying with you head and not your Alfa embossed heart
It's no Busso but it is a silky smooth V6 with oodles of smile generating grunt....I know, I've one for sale as well as a old oiler Sportwagon....apparently only 21 left on the road ... also for sale....somethings got to fund the Guila
How do you check the subframe without lifting the car up and moving parts out of the way? Aside from ferreting under the car and hoping you spot something obvious, there's not much you can do I guess? Or hope you get one that's been sealed already.
From what I've seen around the interwebs the JTDm doesn't seem that great; sure you can squeeze a few more ponies into it with remapping but it's still a heavy car and as FesterII said, it sounds and smells bad. Personally, I dislike how the diesel sounds and I want to enjoy every aspect of the Brera. Thinking I'm going to plow the field every time I start it won't help!
The 2.2 JTS S seems to strike a perfect balance, from reading, but I'll most likely test drive both S versions and see what I prefer. Though apparently the 3.2 still under-steers and has a much bumpier suspension than the 2.2
Just jumping in to defend the 2.4 here, it is the better of the JTDm engines, granted diesel is not what you're looking for, but for the time it was a pretty good engine - it does sound agricultural on idle, but it does have a lovely 5-pot warble, and a good remap gets you about 250bhp and 600 (odd) Nm of torque.
Given the ULEZ, and the likelihood of being used around London, it's completely the wrong engine for you.
Best of luck with your search, but as it's your first car, worth getting some quotes from an insurer before you jump in.
Sounds like you’ve done your research! The Brera values are on the floor at the moment so it’s a good time to buy, you should be able to pick up a good 2.2 S for not much money. It’s a lovely looking car and the 2.2 handles very well too, but it is very thirsty. I average mid to low 20s in mixed driving. 3.2 is even thirstier still, and as mentioned has a very heavy front end and much firmer suspension, as well as greater potential to throw bigger bills.
Here’s some of us from the ‘S club’ at Festival Italia on the weekend.
Just be very aware that if the front sub-frame has rusted through / beyond repair you;re looking at £800+ to get a new one with fitting, so make sure you get it rust-proofed / treated as soon as you buy one. Also stretched timing chain costs about £400+ to get sorted at an Alfa specialist, so make sure that's been done recently / no error codes. They do go. We had a 2.2 Brera for 18 months which got hit with both these issues at the end hence us getting rid of it @ 96k miles.
Also get the gearbox oil topped-up or even over-filled (which some wise sages on here suggest) to lower the risk of any potential issues with the M32 box.
Truth-be-told I don't miss the Brera at all. I never gelled with it like my GTV V6 / 156 (diesel!) / current 166 2.0 TS.
Pretty sure my mind is made up to avoid the diesel variants; as others mentioned, I'll be driving around London and from what I've gathered - the diesel Breras don't like shorter stop-start trips and can cause issues with filters and such. Not to mention the ULEZ.
Insurance wise, I've had a few (online) quotes for around 1,300 annual for fully comprehensive cover - seems alright to me... I think? That's for a 2.2 JTS S.
Unless the work has already been done, it looks like I should have the following done soon after getting the car:
- rust proof the subframe
- check and possibly replace timing chain
- make sure gearbox and oil levels are good
Overall, I think I'm going to go for a 2.2 JTS S, since the 3.2 just doesn't appeal that much :shrug:
Plus that 'S club' gang LiamBates mentioned looks cool
Yep, you're right to avoid the diesel; who'd want a sporty Alfa coupe with one of those engines clattering away, not to mention all the usual DERV issues (this forum's full of them)?
The 2.2 has many flaws, but is the only one worth considering if you don't want the potential for horrendous bills.
Prodrive looks great with those 19'' 5-hole alloys, but I'm not convinced they're worth the big premium over a normal 2.2.
The 1.75 TBi is probably the best of the lot, but hardly any around, and the odd ones that do come up for sale are priced at silly money. And it still has the M32 gearbox and an uninteresting engine sound.
The "S" is a lot more expensive as a used buy than the standard 2.2 but it is a much better car, a total transformation by all accounts. And you'll get more for an "S" of course when you sell it as they are far more desirable (for good reasons) and much rarer. But just don't expect it to feel very fast!
Let's face it, I'm mostly going for the looks here. I'm 34, my boy racer days are long gone, along with Need For Speed Most Wanted.
On a more serious note - assuming you have near a identical 1.75 TBi and 2.2 S - which one would you go for? Personally I would say the Prodrive because of the aesthetics and the fact it's a limited run, but is the TBi a better car?
First car... Brera might be a bit of a big lad, tricky to manouevre and park etc.
Might not a MiTo be cheaper to buy, run and more nippy/easier to park in the Smoke? Unless you need the slightly bigger cabin of the Brera, it'll transport you and your Saturday Night Squeeze around, here and there without too much problem, if it's the 1.4 with 120 or 155bhps.
I had a 2.4 159. For a diesel engine it sounds OK and in fact quite good when pushed being a 5 - pot.
It would be fine in a Brera too I'm sure but I was never really a diesel fan and only bought my first diesel in 2011 which was a 1.9 GT. Loved the car but detested the engine.
I am thinking in a couple of years to perhaps buy a Brera Spider. If I do, as much as the 3.2 would be my first choice it will probably be a 2.2. Can't have a masturbating skeleton in a biscuit tin coming :shocked: from the front in a Spider :rofl:
If you're tootling around the city then definitely get a petrol engine. Don't bother with Mito (someone suggested) if it's a Brera you want.
It's definitely the Brera that I want, like I said before, I liked the look of it from the moment I saw the concept and since I'm looking to buy a car now, this is the one that's gonna be.
I'll keep my eye out over the next month or so for the 2.2 S and more than likely opt for that one, unless something special happens and I happen to come across a 1.75 TBi that's ridiculously good value, but to be honest, deep down I want the Prodrive...
If your "need for speed" has waned the Prodrive S is definitely the one to go for over TBi for the reasons given above. And it should be cheaper to buy.
Note, pootling around town like what you say you'll be doing (and what my missus did when she had one) you'll prob get mid-20's max mpg in the 2.2. Which reminds me - the 2.2 does actually feel very responsive & peppy low-down the revs / around town / stop-start etc, well ours did at least.
And if your heart is set on a Brera you must get one, not a Mito - believe me, you'll only regret it if you don't especially every time you see a Brera on the road (which won't be that often, again another reason to buy one!). I totally get why you want one, it is a great looking car - perhaps a bit was lost in translation from the original Giugiaro concept, but it's still a lovely looking thing.
I totally get why you want one, it is a great looking car - perhaps a bit was lost in translation from the original Giugiaro concept, but it's still a lovely looking thing.
You mean aside from the all carbon fibre body, 400 BHP engine and suicide doors? :rofl:
My all-time favourite car is the Lancia Delta Integrale - perhaps not surprising I love the look of the Brera since Giugiaro had a hand in designing both.
Well..... had my Brera 2.2JTS for 3 years now and I have loved every minute of it. Never broke down once! Always smile driving her, and when i get out, can t help having one last look before it goes out of sight!
Do it ! DO IT NOW
So why am i selling it ? 83k miles on the clock (its a 59 plate) and i've started a new job so need to drive Bolton to Birmingham frequently - so rather than run her into the ground, thought I'd get a new one (well new for me) and let someone else be pleasured by the Brera.
Picking up my 64 plate Guilietta Quadrifoglio Verde tomorrow.
Won't be 'now' now but definitely soon. Probably about a month or so from getting one.
I've been shortlisting 2.2 S cars for a bit now and had it narrowed to 5, sadly 2 of them have gone now. There better be some around this time next month :grumpy:
I've been following this thread out of curiosity. Yonks ago I bought my 147 TS 2L (2nd hand) from Meridian Milano. They had a spanking new Brera in the shop. I sat in it. I pretended to drive it. It was flipping lovely, but somehow felt cavernous to my soon to be 147.
Anyhow, Brera screeching like a Banshee around the nring...(the wrong way?)
Get yourself a Playstation and Gran Turismo cause that's an in-game video.
Makes me wonder if a Brera ever went around the Ring for real though...
And speaking of video games - this chap, played NFS for real with his 2.2 JTS S and ruined the car, in my opinion, by adding hydraulic suspension like a Miami cholo.
How much would it cost to return this to stock, you reckon? onder:
Buying a Brera as a first car might be a slippery slope. A bloke I work with learned to drive at a similar age. The only car he ever had that didn't have a fancy badge was a Mondeo and he only bought that because his XJ40 virtually bankrupted him. Otherwise it's been Range Rovers, Jags, BMWs, Audis, and always full fat ones.
He's well past 60 and still working to pay for his expensive habit.
I spend several hours every day convincing myself I don't want a Brera. Good luck with finding one you're happy with.
Buys a Prodrive, a limited edition centred on a bespoke suspension setup... Proceeds to bin said suspension. Bizarre, yes you could get hold of some remanufactured parts but honestly I would avoid a car that's been messed with like that personally.
99.9995% sure I won't bother with this one, but out of curiousity, does anyone know how much it cost to have that done?
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