Alfa test drives

[Tizzy]

Went up to Hellaby Hall near Rotherham today courtesy of an kind invitation from Alfa Romeo to have the "Alfa Romeo Experience". Basically it was their version of the Audi "Ultimate Expression of Quattro" event that some of us on here also went to a couple of months or so ago and also an opportunity to see/drive the new Brera Spider before the official launch next year. Wasn't quite as well organised as the Audi event because you couldn't pre-book your drives beforehand, so it was a bit of a lottery as to what was available, unless you were prepared to wait around there all afternoon. I went with a mate so we got three drives each, I've done a brief review of those I drove below:

Brera 3.2V6 Q4: This was the one I was most looking forward to, the spiritual successor to my (fairly) fondly remembered 3.0 GTV. Looks wise the car is fantastic, another example of a concept car making it onto the road - seriously head-turning and big in the Wow factor stakes, even in the silver that "mine" was. Sadly the test drive didn't have the Wow factor I was expecting. Firstly, the build quality inside was nowhere near German standards - didn't feel any better than my GTV of 6 years ago - i.e. poor. Lots of leather and very high quality (the Italians do leather so well), but sadly covering some of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat on - in common with the GTV, you sat on them, not in them (and no I'm not that fat!!). To drive, the engine note through the four pipes was everything you'd expect of an Alfa V6 - real Ferrari like scream as you revved hard. Unfortunately it was rather a lot of show and not a lot of go. I can only assume that under it's pretty skin the Brera is a bit lardy - as it was slowww. OK I know you're thinking unfair comparison, he's got an S4 with a big V8, but it was slow compared to my old GTV, worse, it felt slow compared to the 2.7 Boxster that replaced the GTV. Ride was OK, steering was over assisted, the brakes on the test-car were already shot sadly so it was hard to be totally objective. In short great to look at, real disappointment to drive and certainly didn't feel as planted as a 4WD car should. My mate drove the 2.2JTS version, and made much the same comments, although he thought the performance was "acceptable".

Next up was a 159 - we wanted the 3.2V6 Q4, we got the 2.2JTS Sportwagon. I'll be brief, it looks and feels and drives just like a 156 - i.e. perfectly OK, but not that special compared to some competitors now. Leg-room inside was about on a par with an A4, i.e. not much in the back. Build quality seemed a few notches above the Brera. There's nothing more to say about the car - it made no lasting impression.

Finally I got the Alfa GT - also a car that I've wanted to drive for a while. They had no V6's so it was 2.2JTS again or 1.9 16V JTD. We ended up with the JTD. Not good I thought. A few minutes later I was sat in leather sports seats that felt virtually on a par with the S4 Recaros (why the hell are these not fitted to the Brera & Spider??)and ensconced in a cosy interior that felt & smelled like a real Alfa. The drive didn't disappoint either. Whilst the diesel could have done with a bit more power it was very willing (much better than the old VAG 1.9 115's) and hooked up to a really nice 6 speed box. The car felt tight and handled sharply, with very responsive steering that didn't feel at all over assisted. The ride was firm, but still compliant and had very little roll. There was a smidgen more room in the back than the Brera (which is to say not a lot) but the hatchback boot is huge and the rear seats fold completely flat. All in all I was well impressed and would imagine that with the V6 engine, this would be one excellent car - for me it looks really good too - "mine" was dark blue with lovely dark grey leather. About the only poor thing inside (other than a few interior rattles) was the (optional) Sat-Nav system, it makes you realise just how good and clear the Audi Nav Plus is!

Finally, I sat in and had a good look at the Brera Spider, but didn't drive it. There were a few comments about scuttle-shake from some people who did, and one of the car's electric roof systems failed in the half way up/down position whilst the driver was trying to show off by raising it on the move - but then it is an Alfa (and I've seen an SLK do the same!). The Spider looks superb roof up or down, much better than the old GTV Spider. The hood looks very high-quality with a large glass heated rear screen - seemed to fold away pretty fast too, although not as quickly as say a Boxster's does. All in all an interesting couple of hours and thankyou Alfa!

[NeilB]

Lottie has got an invitation to one of these, I think it's on the 1st. The 159 and Brera do have a weight problem, and to be honest the 2.4 JTD's are the only ones that can haul them around properly, the V6 can do the job but the Q4 system adds even more weight.

However the 159 is a far better drive then the 156, you don't actually have to pray you don't take the sump off on a bumpy country road with the 159.

[simonb]

I've just been looking at the price of used Breras on the auto trader website and was thinking that like all good Alfas, they'd be down to the £8k mark for a 6 month old model, but theyre still up there in the late teens and early twenty thousand marks!

Give it a year or so though!!