jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Further to my post last week, I had my demo in an Alfa Brera. The car I drove was a 2.4JTD (diesel) in SV spec. Looks - I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but I love the look of this car. It seems a lot smaller in real life, and I have yet to find a bad angle. The car was finished in flat black, and this seems to suit the car well. Engine - The 2.4 diesel has 200ps and performs very well. The manufacturers figures are 141mph and 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. As with most diesels the numbers don’t really tell the story. The car never felt blisteringly fast, but its overtaking stonk was excellent. It definately is not as quick as my A6 , but I wasn’t expecting it to be. Once rolling there is no clatter, and the engine makes a nice 5cyl warble under load. I think this engine suit’s the car very well, though some people wont be able to associate the looks with the typical diesel clatter on start up. Chassis - The ride was excellent, even with the optional 18’’ wheels. It is firm but never uncomfortable. The steering is the typical highly geared Alfa setup, but it lacks the twitchiness of previous Alfa’s I have driven. The chassis seemed very stable, but with a nice light agile feel. The balance felt very neutral, even under strong acceleration (this is a FWD car unlike the 3.2 petrol which is 4WD). It was dry today, so traction was never an issue, and you could put the full 400NM down in 1st and 2nd with no problems. The sales guy said there was a touch of torque steer on greasy roads. Interior - The build quality seems to be very good, this car was totally silent in terms of rattles etc. The dash is a direct lift out of the new 159 saloon, but even so is very stylish. The instruments though are rather over styled and hard to read. My biggest problem is with the headroom, but there again I am 6’6’’so I cant blame the car to much. I am very impressed with the car (and the dealership ) and am now seriously considering one. I will get the chance to drive a LHD Mk2 TT next month, so will make a firmer decision after then. Excuse my ramblings and enjoy the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Another Pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 And another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Inside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Inside 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Julietdiesel liked it alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Pics look great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Stunning looking car - and I love the quad pipes for a diesel!!!! That looks absolutely glorious. The interior looks reasonable too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Don't think those particular alloys suit that car at all. Otherwise, yep, looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Talking of Alfa's, I still think the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen - and they're supposed to be very close to saying they'll actually make it. If they do, I'm having one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Bloody gorgeous! Looks a lot better in the metal than in the fancy promo pics!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Genius looking car. Great design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 I do think thats a stunning looking car. But I arrived home yesterday to some lovely shiny promo pics of the new TT from Audi and I still prefer that. One thing about the Brera I could never live with - the numberplate not being in the centre. I am incredibly symmetrical and cannot cope with things that don't balance or look equal. But a nice review Jim, amazing you get a free child with the test drive too. Keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Trust me LF, she was not free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Talking of Alfa's, I still think the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen - and they're supposed to be very close to saying they'll actually make it. [/ QUOTE ] It is going ahead. They hope to get a working model using the 4.7L Maserati V8 by the Paris motorshow in September, and only 500 (250 of a hard top and 250 of a spyder) will be built as Sergio Marchione confirmed on the 12th. Yours for about £83,000 to £97,000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [/ QUOTE ] Why wasn't she at the Geneva motorshow?! Anyway, not totally convinced by that car... I can certainly think of many others to spend 80k on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Back to the Brera. If your going to get the 2.4 JTD wait a while, as it will eventually get the same 4WD system that's on the 3.2 petrol. I think that this car is stunning, and is even better in the metal. But I still hate the silver bits of that steering wheel! But it's nice to hear that the quality seems to of improved both in car and dealership. I may have to have a trip over to my local Alfa dealer to see if I can have a play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Jim Do you think the headroom would be much better in a lower spec car, without the glass roof? I'm 6'1" Did this one have the leccy blind? Does the drivers seat "Lower" as in your A6 and my Golf? I too am considering one of these, as the looks are enough to buckle my knees. Will be waiting till next year though for used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Oh my god!!!!!! Get her on the Alfa 8C!!!!!!!!! Mama mia! Name your price honey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 I think she's a bit Fiesty Chris, she's broken out of a 4 point harness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Jim Do you think the headroom would be much better in a lower spec car, without the glass roof? I'm 6'1" Did this one have the leccy blind? Does the drivers seat "Lower" as in your A6 and my Golf? I too am considering one of these, as the looks are enough to buckle my knees. Will be waiting till next year though for used. [/ QUOTE ] Both of the Brera models have the glass roof, however strangely on the base model there is no blind, just normal headlining. I have been told that this improveds the headroom alittle as there is no runner mechanisum. The problem is not so much the headroom, but the fact the blind mechanisum is against the side of your head. I found I couldnt lean to the right to gain visablity for overtakes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Jim Do you think the headroom would be much better in a lower spec car, without the glass roof? I'm 6'1" Did this one have the leccy blind? Does the drivers seat "Lower" as in your A6 and my Golf? I too am considering one of these, as the looks are enough to buckle my knees. Will be waiting till next year though for used. [/ QUOTE ] Both of the Brera models have the glass roof, however strangely on the base model there is no blind, just normal headlining. I have been told that this improveds the headroom alittle as there is no runner mechanisum . The problem is not so much the headroom, but the fact the blind mechanisum is against the side of your head. I found I couldnt lean to the right to gain visablity for overtakes etc. [/ QUOTE ] Jimspeak??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 There's more. I think there was a nice car in there somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Dave 2 things: 1) I am dislexic which I apologise for. 2) I am an electrical engineer which I dont. (we never learned how to spell mecanisum!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Dave 2 things: 1) I am dislexic which I apologise for. 2) I am an electrical engineer which I dont. (we never learned how to spell mecanisum!) [/ QUOTE ] I'm only kidding James!!! Apologies if ill received Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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