It's still fast

[HenryB]

to day i was coming home from the shops cruising traffic at about 30MPH when some dick in a tricked up Corser VXR came up behind me and was blipping his throttle so the waste gate would hiss he did this constantly and he kept trying to squeeze past me so i planted it, and she kicked down a gear, squatted down on her haunches and leaped to 50MPH i never saw the Vauxhall again.

this got me thinking even now in 2012 my old 1999 166 still flies along with no effort this is why the 166 is still a proper Alfa Romeo

[djtrauma]

hear hear...i got the sport mode fixed on mine today and what a difference. still smiling now thinking about it. and all i want to do is drive it again. not many cars can have that effect

[HenryB]

thats nice

[Chris Cousins]

The Corsa driver will have just wanted to hear the Busso V6 as you accelerated away, hope he had some tissues handy.....

[Dr GTA]

I hate VXR's....... especially the Corsa VXR's, driven by wee cocky Neds around here.

[ChrisS]

A properly driven genuine Corsa VXR would leave the 166 for dead in the 0-60 dash.....but there are a few provisos there!

The book says 0-60 in 6.8 for the VXR - that's the same as my Jeep Sadly, rather longer for our beloved 166 Sporto Spec says 8.6 0-62

Isn't there a fake VXR?? all the badges but not the actual 1.6 turbo engine or something?? Certainly wouldn't be surprised to see some Ned with a fake BOV fitted to go with the badges.

[Chris Cousins]

Quite possibly but there's also the issue of driver capability to consider.

I recently beat an Impreza WRX in a 0-100 dash in my 156 V6 Veloce. The Scooby should have been at least 2 seconds clear by 60 but for some reason the driver didn't seem able to get the best out of it.

On the other hand, with an MSA racing license and a fair amount of experience of standing start accelerations, people who take me on really need to know what they're doing.....

[HenryB]

i was roling

[a17esh]

I've raced a few cars that a quicker 0-60 but after £&@ the 166 really kicks in.

0-60 for the 166 is a weak sport as the power as you know is at 4k+.........the vkr is quick tho, 0-150 I think the 166 will have it! I'd like to think so...

[lisknik]

I see one of those Corsa vxr things cruising round the town where i live quite often, had him up me arse on a small dual caraigeway the othr night...........till i dropped a gear and left him for dead, they don't seem all that fast to me

[TomX19]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Isn't there a fake VXR?? all the badges but not the actual 1.6 turbo engine or something?? Certainly wouldn't be surprised to see some Ned with a fake BOV fitted to go with the badges.

They do (or did) a 1.2 which looks virtually identical. I've seen white and yellow ones about, but the dump valve noises would suggest that the one described was a real VXR, unless of course he had one of those fake dump valve noise generators.

[alfa166italian]

Why are we talking about blasting Corsa VXRs on here? Personally, my little tussle with an Audi S3 was much more exciting, very close & I the only reason I backed off is because of a dip in the road that the 166 doesn't handle well at "some" speed. A better driver in the S3 would have left me for dead, but it was an even match

[djtrauma]

any idea what the difference is between proper manual gearbox and the sportronic manual mode?

[ChrisS]

Honestly though, why are we talking about racing Neds at all? The 166 is not a sports car. It's a nice big luxury saloon with a half decent turn of speed for an old girl. The car is an old design and things move on. There are many quicker cars out there, many of them pretty pedestrian by modern standards.

My reference to the Jeep was to make a point. I don't think that's a sports car just because it'll do a 0-60 dash in under 7 seconds (as long as the driver has enough wit to mash the throttle to the carpet).

I love the 166 for what it is. Again, it's not a sports car......

There isn't a production Alfa that qualifies for that term these days. The 8C isn't one, the 4C might be regarded as such. The others are just hot hatches, nice though they may be.

[GLPoomobile]

I totally agree with ChrisS on this. I find it somewhat ironic that you are sneering at chavs in Corsas when this type of boy racer talk is total chav behaviour anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be all 'holier than thou' about it, but you must be able to recognise the hypocrisy of it

I don't class the 166 as fast. Perhaps "quick" would be a better term. Given the weight of them I reckon you need to knocking on the other side of 300bhp before you could call one properly fast. Plus they are far too long-legged to be able to exploit on the public road. Unless you enjoy driving everywhere in the first 2 gears, you'll be constantly in license losing territory from 3rd gear onwards if you really want to get the best out of the engine.

I've hired a Guilietta (sp?) 2.0 JTDm a couple of times and it felt much quicker in most circumstances. As much as I love a good screaming NA engine, you can't beat a good bit of thumping mid-range torque like you get in most modern turbo diesels.

[chrisf_v6]

"thumping mid-range torque like you get in most modern turbo diesels"
I suggest you sell your Super ASAP. It is clearly wasted on you.

[Dr GTA]

Originally Posted by fryercjn

"thumping mid-range torque like you get in most modern turbo diesels"
I suggest you sell your Super ASAP. It is clearly wasted on you.

Calm down dear, it's just the internet.

[GLPoomobile]

Originally Posted by fryercjn

"thumping mid-range torque like you get in most modern turbo diesels"
I suggest you sell your Super ASAP. It is clearly wasted on you.

First of all, I will be selling my Super soon, because unlike many on here I'm well aware of the 166's short-comings.

Secondly, what the hell do you even mean "clearly wasted on you"? Do you care to back that comment up? Is that some sort of suggestion that I don't recognise the quality of the car, of the engine, or that just because I've suggested that modern diesels feel superior in some circumstances that I should be cast out? Get over yourself!

[Pomeo]

Originally Posted by GLPoomobile

First of all, I will be selling my Super soon, because unlike many on here I'm well aware of the 166's short-comings.

Secondly, what the hell do you even mean "clearly wasted on you"? Do you care to back that comment up? Is that some sort of suggestion that I don't recognise the quality of the car, of the engine, or that just because I've suggested that modern diesels feel superior in some circumstances that I should be cast out? Get over yourself!

"He's a witch...What do we do wie witches...burn him"

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...RJVLSzWJFFAOdg


Pomeo

so wie awe its shortcomings..what you really after..I am more than happy wie mine 3.BUTT its a car a real comfy car if I was ayoung buck i'd have stuch wie my bone shaker Stag awe those years ago.
I did see a nice Aston Martin but that's afew years doon the road.If I'm still here that is.

PS I am calm OA you dont wanna see me ANGRY.I'd make the Incredible sulk look like one of bo peeps sheep.(Are you still allowed to say that nooadays?

[Dr GTA]

Originally Posted by Pomeo

"He's a witch...What do we do wie witches...burn him"

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...RJVLSzWJFFAOdg


Pomeo

so wie awe its shortcomings..what you really after..I am more than happy wie mine 3.BUTT its a car a real comfy car if I was ayoung buck i'd have stuch wie my bone shaker Stag awe those years ago.
I did see a nice Aston Martin but that's afew years doon the road.If I'm still here that is.

PS I am calm OA you dont wanna see me ANGRY.I'd make the Incredible sulk look like one of bo peeps sheep.(Are you still allowed to say that nooadays?

Nearly spat my tea over my computer!

[Pomeo]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Honestly though, why are we talking about racing Neds at all? The 166 is not a sports car. It's a nice big luxury saloon with a half decent turn of speed for an old girl. The car is an old design and things move on. There are many quicker cars out there, many of them pretty pedestrian by modern standards.

My reference to the Jeep was to make a point. I don't think that's a sports car just because it'll do a 0-60 dash in under 7 seconds (as long as the driver has enough wit to mash the throttle to the carpet).

I love the 166 for what it is. Again, it's not a sports car......

There isn't a production Alfa that qualifies for that term these days. The 8C isn't one, the 4C might be regarded as such. The others are just hot hatches, nice though they may be.

Totally agree with Chris....Also its not a new phenomenon.
See

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...ml#post1570738 (HELP HELP! I've broken my car!)

And that was a long long time ago.Just recalled perhaps the stag was a V8..was a long time ago and i only had to replace 1 valve which is still in my old toolbox.

Pomeo

[Pomeo]

Originally Posted by OperationAlfa

:Cheese: Nearly spat my tea over my computer!

that could have been costly OA.

Sorry about the headbangers at the begining of the clip..should have watched it before posting....Gloopies point one and point two reminded me of...the bridge of doom.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...DQAO8pBYZ8t26A


Pomeo

[chrisf_v6]

Originally Posted by GLPoomobile

First of all, I will be selling my Super soon, because unlike many on here I'm well aware of the 166's short-comings.

Secondly, what the hell do you even mean "clearly wasted on you"? Do you care to back that comment up? Is that some sort of suggestion that I don't recognise the quality of the car, of the engine, or that just because I've suggested that modern diesels feel superior in some circumstances that I should be cast out? Get over yourself!

Didn't mean to cause offence, just a little anti-diesel jibe.

I hate diesels. I know they're torquey, quite fast and cheap to run but I've never found one even slightly engaging. Dull, dull, dull, dull, dull. In other words, the exact opposite of an Alfa V6.

You prefer the mid-range torque of a 2.0 JTDm to your 3.0 Busso? Go and get one.
The charms of the 166 Super are clearly wasted on you.

[Paul S]

I'd have to agree.

Whilst diesels are a hell of a lot better than they used to be, I still visibly cringe every time I hear one of the two 159s around here clattering away.

Call me old fashioned but those engines still belong in workaday trucks and vans, not elegant cars.

[a17esh]

I was droopling over a brera until he started the engine.........put me right off!