One look at the Alfa Brera was enough to send people reaching for their cheque books: orders were piling in before the car had even been launched in the UK, which goes to show how desirable it is. And those buyers will certainly not have been disappointed when they finally got behind the wheel of their new Alfas because the Brera holds firm to the Italian manufacturer's tradition of building dynamic, responsive cars with fine engines and a beautiful soundtrack from under the bonnet. One tradition that won't be upheld is the reputation for verging on the flimsy side; bosses in Italy have set targets to match the likes of Audi in build quality - and the Brera certainly seems well put together. The safety rating should earn 5 Euro NCAP stars and there is plenty of equipment to keep the driver happy. Even so, the car is expensive compared to rivals and depreciation may be above average (although only time will tell). AutoeBid can get cars for immediate delivery - and discounts in the auction are reasonable.