jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 No need Dave, not ill received at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Why will you go for the diesel over the petrol when you've ordered a petrol TT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] No need Dave, not ill received at all. [/ QUOTE ] But I have already given myself a good twatting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Mixit, that girl looks as fragile as Alfas used to be. I bet you I would break her within 5 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Why will you go for the diesel over the petrol when you've ordered a petrol TT? [/ QUOTE ] Torque, my 2.4 Alfa is like off a shovel and thats 50bhp down on the latest M-Jet variant in the 159 and Brera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Great review Jim! I love the quad pipes. What did your co-driver think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Why will you go for the diesel over the petrol when you've ordered a petrol TT? [/ QUOTE ] Torque, my 2.4 Alfa is like off a shovel and thats 50bhp down on the latest M-Jet variant in the 159 and Brera. [/ QUOTE ] I demode the diesel Brera, because all the demos are diesel. There will be no 3.2's in the country for another couple of months. However, now I have driven it I feel that this is the best model to go for. The 3.2 is only 1.3 seconds faster to 62mph, which means in the real world there would be very little in it. Then there is the extra range, quieter cruising etc to consider. The Breras big problem is weight. A 3.2 4WD Brera is nearly 250Kg heavier than a 3.2 Quattro Mk2 TT. The diesel is better equiped to deal with the weight. Neil, I had heard that the diesel was to have the 4WD system, but have been informed that this wont happen in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Hmm.. I still can't square sports cars (or cabs) and diesel engines. It's an emotive choice, so why go for the one that sounds bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 It doesnt sound bad. It makes a much nicer noise than an S3 for example. It is a 5cyl so has a nice deep offbeat warble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjfr Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] It makes a much nicer noise than an S3 for example [/ QUOTE ] Well, I'm still to be convinced, every diesel I've been in has sounded awful (but I've not been in many & never driven one. a few Skoda/Ford taxis, a Landcruiser & a clio is my experience of diesel) All I find is that when an A4 diesel rags it off the lights you get a turbo whoosh plus a racket of nails. Yuck! I alos think that a nicer sound makes you feel like you're going faster - my S3 doesn't feel as fast as the SLK 320, but on my performance benchmark tests (little strips o road that are good for a bast ()) they're almost identical. Or my dad's mini cooper S which feels faster than my S3 when the supercharge is whining, but really is nowhere near as fast. IMO noise is v v important in the driving experience. PS> An S3 does sound bad but I just think of her as a Glasgow girl - fast, good looking, nice to be with, but she could do with a sexyer voice..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Thanks for the reply Jim. You didn't say if the drivers seat has good height adjustment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 I can assure you my Diesel has an Alfa/5 pot growl to it, and only sounds like a diesel for the first few mins of a journey until it's warmed up. Jim, weight is the biggest complaint I have heard people talk about the Brera and 159. The 159 looks like a right fatty in the metal, and looks more like it's verging on the size of a 166 rather then 156. There are conflicting reports about the Q4 system been installed on the JTD's in the UK, some people are saying yes others are saying no. I hope it's a yes, so it can properly use all the power and torque available to it and it doesnt end up been like the mess that is the 147 GTA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Mixit, the seat does have good adjustment,both height and tilt independantly. Neil, the FWD chassis is a big improvement. I had the 166 with the 225ps 3.0 and that was exciting to say the least. The Brera coped with the 400NM easily in the dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 That Brera is pure filth isn't it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 It's good to hear. Have Alfa improved the brakes with the 2.4? As the standard set I've got with the 156, are not really confidence giving when your going along a country road at a pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted April 26, 2006 Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Could have had some fun with those models - casually walk up, looking as if you're going to ask them to strike another pose, then ask them to move out of the way as you want a picture of just the car love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixit Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Jim Found these pics Here : ....Sexy Brera pics - Mmmmmmm Make nice desktops They're all 1600 x 1200 and top quality .............This is assuming you are as smitten with the car as I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [/ QUOTE ] Imagine that for a sight when you open your garage door!! Hubba hubba!! "Heyya babya, mea or the cara firsta?" "I'll take the brera first please maria - i'll be back in 10 mins - when i get back i'll have a pizza and then take it from there..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Mixit - that is a fantastic site! Good find!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I wonder if I could get some women to do that on the 156? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biffa Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Its certainly going to have a shiny bonnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmmlmmam Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some nice piccies . But back to the Brera - looks like another near miss for Alfa to me! And that's sad. I've had a couple of Alfa's in the past and loved them but the Brera doesn't make me tempted to splash the cash. Undoubtedly stunning from some angles but why did they have to get the centre console from Aiwa? Now an 8C that seems to be a different prospect altogether! Just fail to see why they can't build one for nearer £40K than the mooted £80k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] It makes a much nicer noise than an S3 for example [/ QUOTE ] Well, I'm still to be convinced, every diesel I've been in has sounded awful [/ QUOTE ] Now change your mind... http://users.pandora.be/bart_debont/Alfa156/EPS-24jtd-Bonte.wmv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 There's a 'Driven' report on the Brera 2.4JTD in this month's evo. They're impressed by the cabin quality, and the car's looks (obviously!). However, their summary boils down to "style over substance". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted May 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I read it to Garcon, the Brera isn't really an EVO car. But it is a nice car to live with. I noticed the turbo lag as well. 60 mph in 6th at about 1700rpm, you put your foot down and it takes a full 6 seconds for the turbo to spin up. Alfa have very thoughtfully provided a boost gauge to make this more obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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