147 GTA testdrive

[KJE]

Hi all!

Today I took a spin in a red 147 GTA. I had no idea these things were even coming out, then a buddy of mine tells me 3 weeks ago about them. Well, the local Alfa dealer had one to demo.

Does anyone here have one yet? I don|t see any postings here...

Nothing you cant read in a road test here, but my reactions in order of appearance:
Wow thats red... damn those are big wheels... holy s^@& those red calipers look sweet!
Best thing is the exhaust note - what a great sound! Near instantaenous throttle response, a revelation after the jab and wait throttle of my JTS 156. Clutch and gearbox felt superb - nothing like the limp, easy action of my 156. These felt like the business. Very nice rush of power, especially once you hit 4000+. Really pushes you back in the seat!
Brakes are strong - The salesladies face was pressed against the passenger headrest during my brake test :)


I asked what the top speed was, and she told me 280 or 290 kph. Can this really be? I only got up to around 150 kph on some twisty roads, but 280 kph is just insane if true...

Wish I could take it to the Ring over Easter, but I dont think they would approve of 2000km put on their GTA demo,.... I have alreasdy started talks to replace my rented 156 with one in September....

I have some in car video from the drive, if anybody is interested let me know and Ill put in on the web.

Kurt

[geteve]

the sales lady doesn't know her cars...She still has some studying to do! :-{
I read four articles on the 147gta and the top speeds were all around 240 kph! Which is good enough for me :-]

[sudman1500]

280Kp/h??

The official statement of Alfa Romeo: 246Kp/h - 147 GTA
250 Kp/H - 156 GTA

But as geteve said, that' s more than enough!!


http://www.smiliegenerator.de/smiley-flag/smiley-4430.png

[KJE]

yeah I know what the specs say - but Alfa wouldn't be the first to understate a perf figure. I really just wanted to know if anybody had pushed a GTA to the max.

I can confirm that the 156 2.0 JTS tops out at 220 (of course getting from 200-220 takes a little while). Seems to me the extra 80 or hp and extra gear in the GTA should be worth more than 20 kph. Of course GETTING to 240 is a lot more fun in the GTA...

Personally, I wouldn't mind having a 280 kph car.

Kurt

[bötti]

i think with this car its possible to run 280 kph...:-]

http://www.forza-italia.org/frameset.htm


take a look at the GTA-m

c u bötti

[slipstream105]

According to Alfa Romeo. The GTA is electronically limited to 155MPH (250KHP). FYI I've had my 156 2.5 V6 up to 164MHP (265KPH) sucks fuel pretty quick at that speed though.

As for the GTA, I have taken a 156GTA for a spin. Like my 2.5, the throttle response is almost instant and there's a fantastic surge of power between 2,000 and 4,000, by which time you are firmly in the back of the seat and enjoying the touring car sound of the engine / exhaust combo. If I could afford one I'd have one but for now I'll have to make do with my 2.5

[KJE]

hey Slipstream

164?!?! holy crap!

unless the GTA shuts off at 250 then its got to do at least that.

BTW - read your other post about the racing game. Have to check that out next. I was at the Nurburgring last weekend with my 156 and my buddies Spyder and had a compeltely awesome weekend. My car did 16 laps, no problems other than the traction control/stability computer cutting power in the middle of the Karussel each time. Annoying. Even happened when I turned off the ASR. Alfa Engineers must not have programmed in bumpy, banked turns...

later

Kurt
03 156 2.0 JTS SW

[slipstream105]

Hi Kurt,

Yeah the GTA cuts the power at 250KPH, bit like the BMW's do. Shame coz based on the gearbox ration and experience of my 2.5, I'd say it'd probably do 180MPH (290KPH).

Haven't been able to take mine to a circuit yet (only for a weekend on the autobahn) but I'm aiming to have a blast round Monza when I'm over there in Sept.

[KJE]

Hey Ben

Excellent - I am planning a trip through Italy in June, would like to go in Sept for the F1 race at Monza, but my girlfriend has school...
Is Monza open to the public on usually?

Are you in Germany? whereabouts?

There has to be a way to disable the speed limiter in the GTA. Clip a wire here, put in a new chip there...

I know what zou mean about gas at high speeds. I made it back from the Ring in 5 hours, but probably used twice as much fuel vs loping along at 120 kph. Pushing it at the Ring? Holy crap, you can practically watch the gas gauge go down...

BTW - I have a few good Ring pix borrowed from another site - including one snapped of my car here in the "Ring trip easter" folder

http://photos.yahoo.com/kedelbach

also some pix of my hot rod in the USA in the "Misc Car Pix" folder


I downloaded the latest version of Racer, the Nordschleife, and a bunch of cars (Etype, McLaren Can Am, 312, P3, old GTA, etc) now I just have to figure out how to control it. My old Logitech steering wheel doesnt want to be recognized bz my computer, so I may just have to wait until I upgrade wheels to try it. The video does look quite nice, and all those great cars...

cheers

[slipstream105]

Hi Kurt,

No I'm not in Germany I'm afraid, I'm in South East England

I go down to Italia pretty much every year, around Sept. Normally drive down, it's 869miles but it's good fun. Apparently (haven't been able to confirm this) the Monza circuit is open on any day where there is not testing or races going on. Just make sure you can get your car towed if you wreck it as your insurance won't cover you when you're thrashing round the circuit.

There is a way to open the GTA up, it just involves getting the vehicle superchipped. Out comes the old chip with the limiter on, program a new one from the info on the old (minus the speed limiter) and put in the new one, it's not cheap but you do get a delimited GTA and a few more BHP into the bargain as well. Now I wonder how well it'd go with a Turbo or Supercharger conversion......

Took a look at your shots, looks like you get quite a few nice cars go flying past over there, I think you need a GTA to keep up :). I may have to book a trip to the ring to see how my 2.5 (saloon not sportswagon) compares.

I've just got racer as well. I think the physics on the 155DTM requires a little working on. It's gotta be one of the only cars I know that both understeers and kicks the back end out randomly. Can get it round the track in 1m38s though (the default track that is). It's pretty poor I know but the wobbly back end has me off the track lots.

Well gotta go to work

Ciao for now

[TPIACE]

The current GTA's r quite nice machines. Ive driven both the 147 GTA and 156 GTA, and in my opinion the 156 felt more sorted. Steering was more direct and the overall chassis balance entering corners was alot better. The 147 had way too much understeer, understandable given all that weight over the front axle, but the 156 was just so fluent and actually oversteered on a few occasions ;)

After driving both, i jumped online to read some reviews as i was seriously contemplating a trade on a 156 GTA. I actually saw this mentioned a few times in different articles.....that basically all the suspenion setup, spring rates, etc are identical on both cars. Given these settings were determined during 156 GTA development, i now know y the 147 GTA felt a little unsorted.

As was mentioned the engine note is insane and totally addictive. Forget BMWs inline 6 in the M3, Alfa make the most charismatic 6 cylinder engine on Earth. The telephone dial alloys look gorgeous, only minor complaint was it only has Brembo calipers up front.

Im really looking forward to a GTA version of the GT (156 coupe). When that lands in Aus, ill b the first waiting outside my dealer for the doors to open.

[slipstream105]

Quite nice machines? They're bloody gorgeous. If I could afford to insure one, I'd down the local alfa dealers begging them to let me drive away with the demonstrator right now (in Alfa red as well, perfect). I can certainly see why the 147 might feel a little strange, having the same setup as a 156, which has a longer wheelbase and is heavier.

I really am surprised tht they manage to keep the power down on a vehicle pushing out 250BHP through the front wheels, hell my old Passat had trouble getting 115BHP down without wheelspin.

That engine note is just downright sexy, I've never driven anything that sounds like, perfectly tuned to sound like a a racing car without the roughness you get from overtuning or farty sound you get from trying to use a big exhaust to compensate for a small or undervocal engine.

You may say that it only has Brembo's up front but to be perfectly honest I certainly didn't find it short of stopping power.

[TPIACE]

No doubt it has the stopping power, and the cars do look good, i just had trouble justifying the huge premium (in Aus at least) over a standard 147/156 for essentially a bodykit and the same 3.2L engine now fitted in all existing 3.0L models. I too was suprised at how cleanly the 156 especially got power to the ground, it even oversteered. Still tho u come away remembering that these r just the first GTA models, and the newer cars coming out of Italy soon will b RWD/4WD GTA's with even more power and GTA unique engines. Im certainly looking forward to the new GTA GT coupe, if we end up getting it here in Aus that is :-*

Oh try this link for a great 156 GTA video ;) http://www.fimonet.com/alfa/alfa_gb.wmv

[Iakovos]

I expect the GTA Should do 280 km/h on a downhill road
with some trail wind...


I've seen 235 km/h (ie 146mph) on my 146ti 2.0 (150 HP) on a
slight downhill road....

to who it may concern that was on the
Corinthos -> Patras road in Greece :-)

Cheers,

Iakovos

[slipstream105]

280Kph? Thats about 174Mph. Not very likely my friend, if you looks earlier in the thread, the GTA is electronically limited to an absolute maximum of 155Mph / 250Kph. My 2.5 however is not :o).

To tpiace: 3.0????? No sign of one of those in the UK, we only got 1.6 flat 4, 1.8 flat 4, 2.0 flat 4 and 2.5 V6 offerings. That makes the 3.2 V6 GTA that much more special. Also no mention of GT Coupe (2 door???? we only have 4 doors over 'ere) or 4WD versions. I guess you Aussies must be on the Alfa Romeo mentalist register :).

Talking of mentalist, the last time I was over in Italy I saw a *note* original / factory spec *end note* 3.2 V6 Twin Turbo'd Fiat Punto. Probably the same engine as the GTA[1] but with a couple of Garrett T25's bolted on, it was a very scary sight, no wonder the crazy b*stards have so many accidents[2].

[1] They after all, one and the same company[3]
[2] The last time I went, I saw 6 written off cars[4] [5]in the first 4 days
[3] As are Ferrari incidently
[4] Of which, 4 were on fire
[5] The first one I saw[6] was a Ferrari impaled on the barrier of the motorway central reservation, it had gone straight through the car and removed the guys leg, the arterial bleeding was not a pretty sight.
[6] Incidently, this was the first car I saw after entering Italy via the Brenner Pass from Austria, nice!

[Iakovos]

Electronic speed limitation can be "chipped-out" by the
same chips that give you 5-10 HP extra. They also change
the rev-limit.

My 146 2.0 150 HP is chipped to 158 and the
rev limiter is at 7.800 rpm.
You won't really want to rev it there...
... there isn't much power after 7.000 rpm anyway... you
get more upshifting.

I've also seen 260 km/h on my brother's BMW M3 (E30 2.5 240HP)
... so an 156GTA, with better aerodynamics and more horsepower
should do more.... again on a downhill , with trail wind... and
that is the speedo reading... actual speed may be 5-10 km less..

[slipstream105]

I know about the speed limiting and superchips :). A classic example is the Nissan 300ZX, standard spec 3.0 Twin turbo is 280BHP and limited to 156MHP (250KPH) but a chip will take it to 350BHP and the best part of 300KPH, very rapid.

[TPIACE]

slipstream.....

just to clarify what i posted. We only get 2.0L and 2.5L 156s. What i meant by the 3.2L in the 156 GTA replacing all existing 3.0Ls is......the 166 fitted previously with 3.0L will now have the GTA 156/147 3.2L after its facelift (to b released very soon released), and the now facelifted GTV6 has the 3.2L replacing the 3.0L, which incidentally makes it the fastest ever Alfa sold.

On a side note, the GTA 166 will have the 3.5L first seen in the 156 GTA-M.

Here's a link to the coupe, it was referred to as 156 coupe initially, now i think its just GT Coupe. An absolutely gorgeous looking Alfa, in my opinion the nicest ever, and something im eagerly awaiting owning.

http://www.carsfromitaly.com/gen03/gtcoupe.html

[slipstream105]

Urgh! I'm not at all keen on that. The front enlooks like a stretched 147 (which I wasn't overly keen on anyway) and the back like a peugeot. Me, I think I'll just stick with my 156 thanks.

Thanx for the clarifaction on engine offerings by the way.

[Iakovos]

Yes there will be no more 3.0 V6 as it doesn't pass
the Euro 4 emission, while the 3.2 does and there is
not much point in having two engines at about similar
size.

The revised Lancia Thesis (very nice car but not my style)
will use the same 3.2 engine, detuned to just 230 HP

[KJE]

Thanks for posting that 156GTA video link TPIACE. Fun to watch, but I always wish they'd pull off a wheel and show us the suspension/brakes, ot put the car on a lift and video the undercarriage etc.

Kurt

[TPIACE]

I know what u mean dude, a more technical review would b great.

I purchased a Best Motoring DVD of the new Nissan 350Z (im considering it as my next car) and was amazed at how in depth the dvd goes. Just like u wanted, they put the car on the hoist, take off the wheels and probe around underneath. They even pulled out the rear interior lining to get a better view of the rear strut brace. They then do track driving, drifting laps and finish with a track race against Boxster, M3 and S2000.

There was a Best Motoring DVD with the 156GTA. You should b able to find it on Ebay, and if ur lucky its subtitled!!! LOL