Brera inspection - Port Melbourne

[Rocco166]

Hi All,
I want to add a Brera to my Alfa garage and have found a low K (47,000 klms) example at a Dealer in Port Melbourne (Top Gear Prestige - anyone heard of these guys?) for a good price - trouble is I am in Perth and due to work commitments can't fly over to check it out for myself for at least a few weeks. 

Can anyone recommend a Melbourne Alfa specialist that conducts on-site mechanical inspections or is located close to Salmon Street in Port Melbourne so I can ask the dealer to take it to them for a thorough assessment?

I had an inspection done by the RACQ last week which didn't go well because the inspector did not have the correct connector to run an engine diagnostic so I am not confident that spending another $250 to be told what a car looks and sounds like is good value 

thanks

[Stuart Thomson]

Hi Rocco,

I think that Top Gear Prestige are a shopfront for the car wholesalers in Vic.  I work around the corner from Salmon Street, there is no regular car dealer there, so probably just a warehouse.  If you can get the VIN of the car, any Alfa dealer should be able to look up the service history if it's been serviced at an Alfa dealer.

Other than that, I have a diagnostic plug and reader software on a laptop. I don't know what it'll tell you though unless there are errors still in the system.  I may be able to drop in over lunch one day, but I won't really be able to tell you if there's something wrong with it unless it's major and obvious.

Cheers
Stuart

[Stuart Thomson]

Hi Rocco,

If it's the Grey one on Carsales, it looks like it's been serviced at Zagames, there is a picture of the Rego sticker with the Rego, VIN and engine number.  Call Zagames.

Cheers
Stuart

[ANG156]

Hi Rocco,

I've personally been to look at this car about four weeks back.

The car appeared to be in good condition but needed a very good detail inside and out. Visually looking at the car there appeared to be no signs of accident damage. I checked inside the boot and bonnet and it all seemed fine. There was a dent on the right hand rear quarter just above the crease line but should easily pop out using paintless dent removal technique. The paint work needed a very good cut and polish to remove the scratches. Some were surface scratches from washing with a sponge other were a little deeper but nothing requiring new paint. There was also some scratches on the rear lights. Mechanically the car seemed ok. The oil looked as though it had about 5000kms on it since it was still golden and not black. It felt pretty smooth and not metallic meaning internally it was ok. The radiator bottle was clean as well. It drove good but as we all know it lacks the classic Alfa rasp. Tyres looked as though they had been changed at some point but all four wheels had pirelli's. The rear brakes were a lipped but without measuring not sure whether they were undersized or not. The front may have been the same. I also believe the previous owner parked the car outside since the front windscreen wiper cover had heaps of leaves on it and the engine bay was dusty.

The main issues with the car for me personally was the interior. The aluminium fascia in the centre console had numerous scracthes due to the ingnition key ring swinging side to side while driving. Around the gear lever it was the same. The aluminum trim on the door cards had dents and scrathces which most likely was caused by driver and passenger letting go of the seatbelt too quick when getting out. My suspicion was confirmed as i read about it on the alfa owner forum. The leather had some marks but nothing major. Overall the interior is what really let the car and at $300 each for the door card trims + fitting it didn't seem feasible. Also the seats wern't electric or heated. One of the rims also had a small gutter rash.

Don't count me on the details since i looked at the car 4 weeks ago and ultimately it will be your decision but best you fly to melbourne to have a look. My assessment is based on the fact that I expected a turn key car for the km's this brera had and not something that requires an additional $1000 or so dollars to get it to my standard. The next week i had a look at the $33000 lance dixon brera and this was absolutley stunning requiring no work at all. But again it was $10,000 more for a year old model. If your able to do the work yourself then the port melbourne brera would suit you. However, if you want something better then i would say wait a little longer for the right car. Either way these cars present excellent value at what is new hyundai prices. Presentation makes a big difference to a buyer so I did not understand the seller when he said ''we like to present our cars just how they have been traded''. Looking at this brera it seemed to me the previous owner was a little careless.  

[ANG156]

The colour was beautiful though.

[Rocco166]

Thanks everyone for your input, Ang156 that is a great assessment 
I have already discounted a car here in Perth because it was really unloved and had a filthy interior and engine bay, I will have a bit of a think about it and maybe if I can negotiate a better price it will be worthwhile... At the moment I am not even sure I can fit in a Brera, at 192cms tall I believe it could be s squeeze???
Thanks again for your input guys 

[orgigeorgie]

Thanks everyone for your input, Ang156 that is a great assessment 
I have already discounted a car here in Perth because it was really unloved and had a filthy interior and engine bay, I will have a bit of a think about it and maybe if I can negotiate a better price it will be worthwhile... At the moment I am not even sure I can fit in a Brera, at 192cms tall I believe it could be s squeeze???
Thanks again for your input guys 

Nah you'll be right. Just recline a little further back. No one will sit behind you though.