156 GTA dissapointment

3 weeks of ownership, and haven't managed to get out of town yet!
However, I'm quite dissapointed with the handling over my my old V6 2.6.

the car is standard beside an Autodelta remap, and is running on newish Dunlop SP SportMaxx.

The car feels much heavier than the 2.6, the ride comfort is dreadful - the suspension is unbelievably hard for London's pot holed roads, and all my confidence in the corners has gone.

It's not as bad on the humps as I had expected though.

My other car, an Elise, has a reputation for poor wet handling, but the feedback is superbly recognizable. The GTA is leaving me nervous. Cornering over a variety of surfaces (tarmac, road markings, manhole covers etc.) is a cocktail of confusing messages.

This is my first car with traction control, and I'm very hesitant to turn it off, but suspect it's interfering with the feedback I'm use to, thus it's affecting my confidence. On the other hand it may be that I'm getting more feedback, and feeling under steer (which doesn't feature highly in the S1 Elise repertoire) where I wouldn't have noticed it in the 2.6 before.

Guess I need the Q2 upgrade.

Are you getting any knocking noises from the suspension? If your bushes are shot it will affect the handling..

If you've not been out of town yet, I'm assuming you've not travelled that quickly yet so how have you explored the GTA's handling?

New tyres are usually a bit unpredictable for the first few hundred miles until they scrub in.

The ride comfort around town is not the best (I'd describe it as a bit crashy) but if you feel its nervous at town speeds there is something wrong with your car and you need to get it looked at.

No need to turn the traction control off (especially around town) as it is very unobtrusive system, unless you drive like you stole it.

Maybe you have knocking noises from the anti roll bar that makes the suspension sound worse than it is?
Ive owned a 156 2.5 and driven a 156 GTA and can honestly say that you wont be disapointed when you get to know it.

You need to get the GTA out on the open road mate, its fidgety around town but once up to speed the handling and ride improve dramatically. On a decent fast road its a pleasure to drive you can kick on at a surprising rata. had a q2 in for just over a week and it certinally helps matters...

Personally it took me about 6 months to become comfortable with my GTA in terms of the handling characteristics and firm ride. I was used to a fairly soft car in comparison. I have a love hate relationship with my Alfa but I totally agree with the previous post about getting out of the city, you will have adventures in your GTA if you stick with her.

no knocking, forgot to add that it has the 330mm disks too.

Bonus. I've just got one with the 330's too. Pick it up a week on Saturday

I'm very sure that the way you have described the handling - it's either something to do with drop links, ARB, bushes or the car is needing alignment.

Just before I had lot's of my suspension bits replaced it was exactly as you describe - crashing through pot holes and terrible handling. Once the ARB and drop links were replaced - the transformation was amazing.

I found that the GTA;s are really front heavy, the standard GTA suspension has too much movement in corners. And the diff is weird as it rocks under power through corners and feels like its gonna go which it just might!

I did change the suspension in mine and found it does make a big difference.

Originally Posted by 147Super

I found that the GTA;s are really front heavy, the standard GTA suspension has too much movement in corners. And the diff is weird as it rocks under power through corners and feels like its gonna go which it just might!

Not my experience, especially on the road, I've always been pleased how well it turns in and how well it gets the power down. However, on the track you are under no illusion about about where the weight is, although it can still be mighty quick, particularly on open flowing circuits. Of course, a Q2 equipped car is that much better, or in my case a Quaife equipped GTA.

What is this Q2 stuff i've never heard of them. Are they performance parts people for Alfa.

Do you have a link?

Q2 is a trick diff Alfa introduced on some later 147's and GT's. It is supposed to be a revelation handling wise.
Have a look here
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/tunin...ting-alfa.html (Retrofitting a Q2 to an existing Alfa)

Originally Posted by 147owner

Not my experience, especially on the road, I've always been pleased how well it turns in and how well it gets the power down. However, on the track you are under no illusion about about where the weight is, although it can still be mighty quick, particularly on open flowing circuits. Of course, a Q2 equipped car is that much better, or in my case a Quaife equipped GTA.

Completely agree, as a fast road car the weight over the front wheels keeps the power well planted and very stable which should only be confidence inspiring. On the track it's difficult to ever have too little weight or too much power.

The dampers are poo though, one of the first things to upgrade after ensuring bushes, tracking and tyres are as they should be.

Originally Posted by 147Super

Do you have a link?

Alfa Romeo / Innovations

Originally Posted by Caldo Bollente

Completely agree, as a fast road car the weight over the front wheels keeps the power well planted and very stable which should only be confidence inspiring. On the track it's difficult to ever have too little weight or too much power.

The dampers are poo though, one of the first things to upgrade after ensuring bushes, tracking and tyres are as they should be.

I had an integrale previously and to be honest while it would corner like it was on rails, at speed the GTA feels much more stable. I assume due to the longer wheelbase.

I also find it a very comfortable car on long journeys, and on local roads with pot holes not much worse than my dads family hatchback.

Originally Posted by 147Super

I found that the GTA;s are really front heavy, the standard GTA suspension has too much movement in corners. And the diff is weird as it rocks under power through corners and feels like its gonna go which it just might!

are you talking about a 147 or 156? and do you mean too much roll in the corners? My 156 GTA is pretty flat in the corners.

The "diff rocking under power" is most likely you spinning your wheels and the ASR coming on (lights flashin on dash).

Its actually quite difficult to spin the wheels normally so I would suggest maybe checking you aren't being too sudden with the throttle..
e.g. Stamping on the throttle out of corners is a no-no for any FWD car.

If you really think you are being smooth and quick then switch off the ASR by all means, but its a generally a reasonable good indicator that you are being a bit eager with the throttle.

..Although on bumpy roads it can be easy enough to trigger it.

Originally Posted by mnewlyn

are you talking about a 147 or 156? and do you mean too much roll in the corners? My 156 GTA is pretty flat in the corners.

I was meaning the 147, dont rly know about the 156. The standard 147GTA sticks it butt in the air a little to high for me. And made fair bit off role in the corners.

Thanks for the Q2 update. Apparently the one that my mechanic fitted is the Autodelta one, im not sure if is Torsen base LSD. But that and the PSS9 Bilstein makes cornering issues I had like they had never existed.

Oh right, you have fitted a diff and suspension now and are happy - cool.

I wouldn't worry then about the Q2 diff.
The Autodelta diff is really excellent, and much less torque steer on uneven roads even than the Q2 diff - although very big price difference.
The AD diff is a race style plate diff (similar in design to those used by BTCC cars), so it is a completely different design to a Torsen diff.

The AD diff is better on track too in my experience, and even more so in the wet.
Its practically impossible to spin an inside wheel now which isn't quite the case with the Q2 - although the Q2 is a huge improvement over standard and has zero maintenance.

Originally Posted by 156GTASW

I'm very sure that the way you have described the handling - it's either something to do with drop links, ARB, bushes or the car is needing alignment.

Just before I had lot's of my suspension bits replaced it was exactly as you describe - crashing through pot holes and terrible handling. Once the ARB and drop links were replaced - the transformation was amazing.

I agree on this, sounds like your bushes are knackered. Look them over and change what is needed. It makes a huge difference.

Sounds like a cut and shunt