gaddafi

we live in a bubble where everything is a future classic - even the crappiest cars are somehow absolved of all their faults when the cars reach a certain age

if holding value or making a bit matters then it probably has a fair chance, but not with big miles and wear and tear

as for what they are like to drive, that depends on how you like to drive and what you want from a car

try one and if you like it buy it

phil121081

Not as bad a response as I had feared...

that pic of the rear looks great Nott.

As said, I know it's not the sharpest tool, but I just like the idea of a ruddy big V8 in a small package.

I wouldn't drive it often... if at all, I just like the idea... I think

Looked at the options mentioned (every one in fact!) and none seem to have anything that really stands out, although I am sure most a better propositions... I guess it would like dating the girl with the huge 'lungs'... for that reason alone It's never going to end well...

unclefester

If all you're going to do is boot it in a straight line / play in tunnels and amble about the rest of the time, why not.

s2k4tony

Agree with what's said...nice ass. Have plenty of ££££ in reserve for some sort of german idiotic sensor fault though. Christ I bet it's a dear service.
TVR of some sort for 15k? Maybe a bit old now.. that noise though. Proper V8 bellow.
Exige is better in all respects (tiresome eventually though). On today's roads though, you have to weigh up what suits you best.
(cheers for the heads up on the lease BTW :-) - I'm car shopping in the next 4 weeks and considering my options. I just haven't seen any nice enough used cars in the 5k bracket, I don't want to lease this time. I was eyeing up an 08 Brera 2.4 JTDM SV and think I need to drive one to see what's what. I'm a fan of the shape, it's full of character. It would be just a commuter so diseaseal it would have to be. And enough will go wrong so I can tinker with it. I'll end up bottling it and go back to a 3 litre german diesel.. AGAIN!

Shiskine

What's it they say? You've got to own an Alfa at least once in your life ...

gaddafi

I know you're exaggerating but they are a lot more than straight line specialists.

I haven't driven the 55 but I have driven the 320 and it's a very capable machine.

s2k4tony

It's become a TG quote for years. I'm teetering towards one.
As for the Brera, reliability is one of its better points compared to past variants of the marque. DPF is the main niggle but cheap enough to swap out or clean. Not entirely economic for a 2.4 soot chucker.
My wife has a petrol A3 2.0T 200bhp 2009 - I get 40mpg on commutes using that. The Brera is somewhere near that!
Gad - with your wealth of cars you've owned, have you tried one of these?
Thanks Tony

unclefester

I am - if only to make the point - I have also driven the 320 and it was an utterly pleasant thing to be in - i doubt there's many here (MB aside) who would really be able to extract any meaningful handling differences.

gaddafi

Edit - the one I've driven was a 350

But I have never seen any correlation between road craft and racing and track day expertise and road driving