Saving Our £1700 ROTTEN Alfa Romeo Brera!

Thank you to Lanoguard for sponsoring today's video, check out their underbody protection products here: www.lanoguard....
We're back with our £1,700 Alfa Romeo Brera - Clarkson's favourite hatchback - to try and get it through an MOT and back on the road. Being an Italian car however, the Alfa predictably puts up a fight...
See if our Brera passed its MOT here: • The Drive Tribe Alfa R...
Subscribe to our second channel: @MoreDRIVETRIBE
Check out our merch: bit.ly/DTmerchYT

[@jungl3boy]

As an Australian, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with Salted roads… it blows my mind how bad cars get over in the UK…

[@Objektiv_J]

I think salting will become a thing of the past anyway for environmental reasons (it's already been phased out in parts of Europe/Scandinavia).

[@1dameister1]

Actually this is what happens when the owners don't take precautions and protect the car, when it's new and out of factory from future corrosion, but of course living in a warm climate where it's not as salty or no salt at all is the best, but water can do it's fair share of damage.

[@grievuspwn4g3]

There's a land Rover specialist in Quebec that blows my mind.

[@ivandoe33]

Just maintain and wash your car properly and even old Hyundai will last long.

[@readmore7180]

Salted roads aren't the only thing, a relatively small island surround by sea has much to do with it. Go look at cars on smaller islands in Mediterranean . They rust badly too.

[@razick0]

"You owe Mike a 10 second car" A gentleman of culture

[@Maxwell_Millz]

Rite of passage for any car guy. 😂

[@shanewindridge3815]

I have nightmares of rusy

[@friggincanvee]

This guy has so much more charisma than the guy in the first video.

[@JonManProductions]

I will be disappointed if Clarkson himself doesn't get a chance to drive it. You had fixed May's Tesla, Hammond's Subaru and other many things... we gotta have Jezza drives the upgraded Brera once it's done.

[@HendrickT-bi4iw]

Doubt he will. He seems to have zero interest in Drivetribe

[@RoryStarr]

Clarkson has zero interest in pretty much anything that isn't Clarkson. He's a great presenter, but it's very clear what he's about.

[@HendrickT-bi4iw]

​@@RoryStarrYup

[@jrbuch]

Yeah, I think the dude is done with cars, he's all about his farm now I suspect.

[@Snivic-music]

oh, hey there Jon

[@sentinelboy8827]

Finally an advert on KZbin video worth further looking into, well done drivetribe and lanoguard. Makes a change from skipping over the usual car check advert that they all do.

[@simmadpaul2880]

If only they made the subframe out of the same material they made the bolts that held it in by

[@christianolsson834]

I think the same! Or aluminium at least! take a pick of any luxury car. 5 year or older. Subframe rusty. Cliché

[@douglasreid699]

its a car designed for the Italian market where its nice and hot and sunny and very little in the way of icy roads. UK is not a place for those types of cars, unless you are going to treat the underside out of your own pocket.

[@soundseeker63]

@@christianolsson834 20 year old BMW E60 here, UK, zero rust - Full aluminium subframes, struts and arms FTW 😀

[@rajaq9752]

Just checked the mot its passed no need to wait till next week to find out🤣

[@red9zero]

😂

[@jordangeoffrey]

Rude

[@Fabulousprofound168]

Dude…. Spoiler alert 😂

[@tdoteva4973]

Spoiler I was gonna wait

[@Bnm-fk9fi]

I am always surprised when clever people like Mike and Ben work under a rust bucket and proceed to do rust removal and rust proofing without even considering using eye protection 😞 come on guys, show some leadership and use safety glasses. You only get one set of eyes. 🙏

[@RoryStarr]

I couldn't believe that either

[@michaelzerk9541]

Was going to mention that. Hitting rusty metal with a hammer at eye level is asking for trouble.

[@mantarayal]

I couldn't believe they just painted on the "product"" straight over thick rust. FGS. It needs blasting first. No product will stop that rust if it isn't taken down to what is left healthy first.

[@Zeem4]

@@mantarayal That's exactly how Lanoguard products are meant to be used. They're based on lanolin which is chemically attracted to the steel underneath the oxide, and forms a barrier against salt, water and oxygen. From all the reviews and "before and after" videos I've watched, it appears to work very well at halting the progress of rust. I'm not affiliated with this company but I intend to use it on my project Peugeot Expert. In fact I've already been using the grease as shown in the video - it's very thick and smells of sheep, which is fun.

[@joelaw728]

For anyone who doesn't agree with this statement, Google "Corneal Burr tool" its what they use in hospital to remove the "rust ring" that attaches to your eyeball after getting steel in it. And yes it's literally a miniature burr tool you'd use on a Dremel or inline grinder, but for your eye. The saltyness of your eyeball causes the contamination to rust (if it's ferrous) almost immediately. But it requires going back a few days after the incident to make sure all of the iron has fully rusted.

[@DarrylHart]

Some brand new Hwheels.

[@South4153]

With some Coo-Hwhip

[@South4153]

With some Coo-Hwhip

[@Frostfly]

Maxwell needs to be on Camera a lot more. He's got great charisma, great vibes, great voice.

[@Maxwell_Millz]

I totally agree, he's definitely a future star presenter. 🌟

[@pl3a5enophotoz]

Those wheels look sick!! Love that you kept the original design. It’s pretty amazing the rats nest that was hiding under the shell. Just got take it one thing at a time.

[@grandmoffporkins]

Who would've thought that the only Top Gear star we loved for something other than their personality... had one of the most charming personalities all along.

[@suad01]

Michael Gambon next please

[@mariozaratex2]

Mike, you know that vibe you were on for the first 5 minutes of this video? That's what I'm on every single day at work because I work in an insanely poor school setting. You gotta stay positive even if the subframe is collapsing.

[@christophb2736]

Finally I understand, what „superleggera“ stands for! 😂

[@darrinnoble]

Translucent. 😂

[@Flatmat]

We Lanoguarded my Son’s Type R 2-3 years ago. At the recent MOT the garage said it was epic underneath 🤭🤭 - We swear by the stuff.

[@danielhillier7417]

Glad to hear this I have some waiting to go under my classic Saab, MX5 and LS400.

[@rkan2]

I bet you bash it around in the salt in the winter too...

[@Maxwell_Millz]

I agree, just a shame it smells like cow 💩 when being applied. They need to get some better fragrance in there

[@simonyounger9583]

Very enjoyable to watch and reminds me of my Fiat SuperMirafiori ownership experience back in the 80s. Love the fact that the Alfa guys drives a Honda Civic!

[@DVGTS1]

As the owner of a 159 tbi, I don't find the chassis to be disappointing to drive. On the contrary, it handles really well. Probably because I have one of the lightest configs, the 3.2 V6 was a really heavy lump. Also, how does the UK manage to make everything rot/rust? I know its italian, but mine has 0 corrosion despite being dailied.

[@braddbradd5671]

It must be cheap metal

[@jjvdk90]

That’s because your TBi is a facelift model. Their body is lighter than the ones

[@DMC_Motorsports]

It's due to the salt on our roads, it eats away at the metal and causes lots of corrosion

[@soundseeker63]

Salt. Thousands and thousands of tonnes of salt. Keeps the roads navigable in winter, but at a cost, as we can see here!

[@robertemmett415]

Come on boys, set an example. Wear your PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), as in, safety goggles. Rust flakes in the eyes are no joke!

[@rayduggan5077]

At least the camera lens has probably got a filter on the end of it.

[@DMC_Motorsports]

Please be quiet

[@robertemmett415]

@@DMC_Motorsports I'm a health and safety professional and have seen some totally avoidable eye injuries, so, no, I won't be quiet. Being so accident prone, you would think the Hamster would be more careful.

[@redhotsheep]

Got to agree. Hammering like that into rust is madness. I'm an ophthalmologist and have seen people have fragments enter their eye.

[@chrisbaker121924]

I got some rust in my eye once… doing something similar. Wasn’t fun… luckily I managed to wash it out after a day or so of trying. Had the goggles on ever since.

[@DangerousDac]

Did Mike drop a molly before this or something?

[@jamesdean8785]

I liked the sweet Mike. He seems to have been replaced with an arrogant pr%ck.

[@qre268Zrtb]

what's a "molly", please.

[@stevesmith9351]

yep unwatchable absolute muppet

[@lakelandstu2804]

I've had lots of cars over the years, many Beemers, a TVR (yup, left it in a hedge backwards), MX5, European cars... the only cockpit that always made me smile was my Alfa 159... average drive, but what a place to drive from. Oh, and those beautiful triple lights.. beautiful... but shocking in snow, as they just trapped it and made everything go dark... remember driving back from a gig in Glasgow in a snowstorm, only the inside lane open, and had to pull over every few miles to clear the headlamps... would I have another... absolutely... (and my current is a 330d x drive.. way way quicker ) but the Alfa made me feel special... got written off because someone hit the front wing in a car park (Seriously)... damaged the bonnet, lights and wing (£190 for second-hand lights.. OEM no longer available) .

[@langheproperty]

Not designed for UK weather... looks like it's been parked under the sea for a couple of years. What shame. Well done for giving life again! My 18-year-old Brera is near perfect. It's the country, not the car.

[@PhilOsGarage]

It's hard to believe that car is 17 years old now!

[@mr.getoarmaloku8046]

Great car great choice , i daily drive my brera 2.4 i put a stage 1 remap and removed dpf , i lowerd it and the car is a beast on the road great in the corners , apsolutely amazing car to drive , and the best design ever.

[@danielhillier7417]

It still amazes me that my 52 year old classic Saab has never been welded. As far as im aware it was Ziebart protected from new.

[@jeremyroberts2782]

Having fixed a holed exhaust with some Gun Gum and a Baked bean tin can with a couple of jubilee clips you over spent on that fix.

[@Maxwell_Millz]

😂 gotta love an exhaust bodge. But in their defence, it's going full stainless in a few weeks, so absolutely no point doing anything more to the old rusty stock exhaust

[@finnashworth9323]

I think Mike is such a brilliant presenter for this content, as ever! Absolutely have to get clarkson driving this once it’s finished.

[@skeblehask4353]

Passed 8 days ago, should get that sorted tho 🤣!- Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

[@socalguy829]

lanoguard is useless for a car as rusty as this. you really need a proper rust converter like dinitrol rc900 or bilt hamber hydrate80 then maybe dynax S50 on top

[@b2tall239]

That frame remids me of the '67 Mustang GT I acquired in '85. Fortunately it was given to me for free by a family friend, the original owner. Ultimately I had to sell it for parts.

[@morganevans423]

Great video guys, also check the sills in front of the rear wheels for rust. Alfa and Fiat in their widsom put sound deadening foam in there which traps water and rots out, happens on 147, GT 159, Stilo Giulietta etc etc. Vacuum out as much as possible (it will be dust by now) and apply the Lanoguard generously. HTH

[@johnandrews3568]

"super leggerro" funny AF

[@TheCarEnthusiast]

When the camera zoomed in on Mike's face, I was totally expecting "in the bin"

[@RetroKingOG]

Finally someone calls it for what it is, a hatchback! I love these but they are so hard to find one

[@gofres]

Mikes presentation and comfort in front of the camera grows by the upload. It's great to see him relax into the job more and just have a bit more fun and be a bit more daft than his early days. Long may he upload cool videos!

[@filipwennergren2712]

Owning over 25 AR´s this is nothing ;) I´m not the smartest but i love cars. Keep on, it´s paying you back in terms of driving and feelings. Love from Sweden.

[@MuitoDaora]

Just make 2 little holes in the subframe pockets.

[@valleurz]

Dude, it's been years since I've seen a 1st Gen Fiat Ulysse, my dad had one in the mid-90s, how nostalgic!

[@royklchan1942]

Superleggera😂

[@darralnolan5792]

I forgot how old these cars are now, it was a favourite of mine when it came out in 05 when i was about 13.

[@kevinfitz8516]

6:15 Clarkson doesnt give a monkeys about this channel he would never do that 😆

[@Shanghaimartin]

Weirdly, I thought they were doing the fake-out over Ben Collins. Like it OBVIOUSLY isn't Ben Collins, so I wonder who else it might be.... ohhh.... I see it's just Ben.... again..... :(

[@AntoBarnett]

Max was great on camera, lad

[@xxxyz721]

Done plenty of those exhaust patches in my time… :).

[@Maxwell_Millz]

They definitely do their job in times of desperation.

[@andrewmoylan6295]

Wow, the salted roads have done its work, It's like Suisse cheese.Still, you caught it just in time, Mike.The Alfa will be solid again. I love your enthusiasm, mate.. Great stuff

[@jacobmoses3712]

I love the Superleggerra comment made by one of the crew

[@theoriginalwallace]

Never use an impact gun on alloy uprights... i found this out when i fitted coilovers to my old E91 beamer 🤦‍♂️

[@mdg163]

I'm suddenly hearing "cheerful Charlie" from Clarkson's Farm in Ben's voice 😵‍💫

[@Bikingmad]

Those strut yokes breaking is caused by over tightening. I had it happen when I worked in an Alfa dealer back in 09 on a car that wasn’t old

[@Sverkell]

Always wanted a Brera, but could not bear thinking of all the problems, much less dealing with 'em. Also the performance issue... Really looking forward to this one. Great project.

[@Sverkell]

@@MrPrajitura, I hear you, but after having enough problems with my previous car, I'm sticking to something a little newer now. But, who knows, I might get one as a project after all - if the opportunity presents itself.

[@YOEL_44]

Don't worry, my 10k Abarth is too, it'll get better the more you spend on it!!

[@simonh870]

The Brera had nice individual styling details on the outside but for me they didn't gel together all that well. The inside however was fantastic.

[@zzota]

"superleggera"!!🤣🤣🤣

[@hoodwinker7932]

Get back on that Rover 620ti Mike, give the people what they want!

[@redline589]

Please no, id rather have an eye infection than a Rover.

[@marcusgeorge9140]

As subframes go….. that’s worse than we used to get with the classic mini 😂😂😂

[@petec2583]

Superleggera 😂 EDIT: Alfa mechanic but drives a Honda... sensible man.

[@RedcarBoy94]

For everyone whining about the antics included in the video and how they do things. If you don't like it, don't watch. Simple 🤷‍♂️

[@stephencooper5040]

5:21 how quickly can you modify/protect that new subframe to ensure it last longer than the first…?

[@ecopennylife]

Should have safety glasses on under the car with all that flaking rust 😉

[@SpectreFleet]

"What makes them wrong" "They're different" lmfao.

[@jordanfc8181]

Wish drive tribe could use the airfield fully and use the studios and such.

[@Maxwell_Millz]

One day I'm sure they will. 😊

[@grahamhaynes7658]

Car itself looks clean underneath,assemblies rusty,better than lots of VW/Bmw i see with wheel arches,sills rotted.

[@Kozmos16]

Mike saying "ALFA" into the camera deadpan 💀💀💀💀💀

[@Yet_Another_Steve]

Can I recommend gas strut clamps for that bonnet for anything other than checking the oil/screenwash.

[@69memnon69]

I’m so glad that I live in a country where the climate doesn’t devour the car.

[@tidysampler585]

This is a similar story to that was on AutoAlex. Taylor bought a Red one that was in a terrible condition.

[@GangsterJoey]

When this is done, they have to give it to Clarkson to do a mini road test right? that would be the best ending to this series

[@Blast_HardCheese]

With that zoom in at 3:37 I naturally expected him to say "In the bin"

[@amiesheik6222]

A rule. Always carry a sample when going for spares😂

[@mtomlinson84]

Without watching this, if it was Clarkson, it's probably a wreck...even matt Armstrong would struggle to bring that back to life

[@michaeldunham3385]

And you've just shown watching the video first before commenting is the sensible thing to do.....

[@IloveElon2]

My car failed it’s MOT for a hole in the exhaust 3 years ago. I stuffed some exhaust putty in the hole and it passed the test. It’s passed twice since. We can’t all afford custom exhaust systems.

[@Rising3216]

Nfs carbon nostalgia.

[@MercSLRFan]

Yup

[@mrnordyk1125]

Still looks modern, sharp. Top design. Beautiful car🤘

[@mrmikemotors]

Overnight parts from Italy.

[@Maxwell_Millz]

Best comment so far! 😂

[@Drivetribe]

😂

[@2dcutout]

'How do we stop this happening to the new subframe?' Well, you COULD drill a drainage hole on each side to stop the water collecting, but lets just use Lanoguard - preventing problems isn't how we work... A drilled hole, and then doused in Lanoguard seems like the ultimate solution for an extra 2mins work.

[@andrezzz_]

"Superleggera" 😂

[@georgewaugh8817]

Fancy letting me have the 17 inch alloys 🙏🤣 been trying to get some for ages! For my Alfa

[@fosterfuchs]

Imagine all the 70's British cars that would still be around if the anti-rust products had been around back then and had been applied right away after the cars had been purchased new. 😂

[@saltroy9349]

surely the subframe corrosion should have been picked up on the MOT?

[@Czechbound]

The look on Mike's face on the thumbnail ia *classic* 🤣

[@jagervonweebs610]

Am i mussing something, does the uk have silver impact sockets?

[@enricomercado4671]

Did they consider drilling out new drainholes for the subframe so water can not😮 accumulate in it??

[@Luke_alien420]

When you have done the car and gave it a little tune you should take it to misha for a lap around the Nürburgring

[@Lopez_the_heavy]

There’s something mesmerizing about watching the Stig, the driving demigod that doesn’t know how a phone or oyster card are supposed to work; yet has no problem getting his hands dirty underneath an Alfa. What a chap lol

[@chriswvtr]

You know he's not the Stig right? Ben Collins was the Stig.

[@Lopez_the_heavy]

@@chriswvtr Admittedly; But that’s why I like Ben. He’s the Stig I remember watching as a kid, when I first saw top gear

[@cockbeard]

"superleggero", I just pissed myself, top work sir

[@edwardk6764]

Looks like salty winters.

[@bodymaker16]

i like how mike says "we gonna go fuel custom" :D

[@alexgreen2747]

I’m no H&S expert but I have had dust, rust and flecks of metal give me enough grief to know you have to look after yourself!

[@bannerzone_UK]

#BenCollins, From Stig to Rust Prevention on a Alfa. What a career move. LOL.

[@Lee_Pitcher]

Should have dropped me a line. I’m breaking a 2.4 and have the forks available. Also have a pair of almost new brembo drilled front disks with ebc pads

[@kings3803]

I love the way you and ben hate each other and at the same time love each other 😂😂

[@thb9926]

9:24 The lap time was 1.36.9- I used to have the top gear top trumps!

[@kitsvn]

It’s going to be so awesome

[@yarost12]

Mike and Ben have better chemistry than the new Top Gear crew could ever dream of. Even though Ben is essentially Mike's childhood hero. That's remarkable.

[@john-cb3ie]

That question in the title answers itself😂

[@stephensteward2087]

whens the next video with full breakdown of costs !

[@rastarn]

4:30 made me think Alex Brooker grew proper arms.

[@lukeeboy149]

Man that workshop is dark and un loved 😂

[@Reaktora]

man i had one of those in the same color and everything it was a 2.2 jts tho i you buy one of these get the v6 the car was to heavy for the power it got.

[@Iskelderon]

"Broken" is an Alfa's default state, anything else violates the laws of nature..

[@Stan_the_Belgian]

he's like a yogi, protecting the vibe throughout the video

[@jaydenclark9885]

My dream car is a 3.2. I test drove one from a "supers and classics dealer" the wheel fell off during the test drive...

[@Dragonballguy270]

Loving having Ben Collin’s involvement