GTA so far

I've now owned my 147 GTA for a fortnight. So far most things are pretty good. However, I have now experienced the torque steer some tests have noted. Whoa, its a pretty wild ride, especially if your turning into a side street at the same time.
I took it to Oran Park last Sunday for some speed limited parade laps of the circuit during the lunch break of the AROCA super sprint. It's surprising how quietly the car cruises with a constant throttle. Fuel economy was pretty good too, with a best of around 8.5 litres per 100km with the cruise control on.
The laps around the Oran Park circuit were also instructive. While we were limited to 100 kmh, this was fast enough through the twisty bits to get a feel for the car. Having run my previous 147 TS around this circuit during an AROCA training day, I could compare the GTA with the standard car. The GTA is is more precise and changes direction easier, although both feel a bit nose heavy. The GTA rolls far less.
I've also noticed how easy it is scrape the nose, as I'd hate to lose a sump for obvious reasons. I'm trying to be careful when it comes to humps and dips. Overall, the GTA has met my expectations.

Yep, I've noticed a shade of torquesteer to mainly at around 5k when its on cam, wild ride as you say, mostly well behaved though, you might want to take it somewhere to get the geometry adjusted to liven it up a bit more as it is setup for safe understeer out of the factory. also on the fuel consumption side of things for the first few thousand I was seeing 22mpg (don't know what that is in litres per 100kms) which had me thinking of trading for a GT JTD but now she is nearing 20k miles ( done in only 9 months ) its a more respectable 27-30mpg which is not bad considering the performance, my old Fiat Coupe Turbo couldn't do as well on fuel as this.

Good to hear you're enjoying it.Hey you've only had it for a fortnight and already you've taken it on the track..good effort.I've been meaning to do the same not only to realise its potential but i think it would be good for the car aswell..help open it up a bit..All this city driving can't be good for it,especially as its still on low km's.You'll probably notice that your car's torque steer gets progressively worse on uneven roads,especially those grooved roads caused by heavy vehicles..at times i've had uncontrollable tramlining and so i'd sugget you watch out for that even though Canberra probably has far less uneven rds.
By the way,we're gonna try and organise a cruise this time with the alfa guys hopefully within a month or so and would be great for you to come along..I'll keep you up to date when we know more.

Originally Posted by sandys

Yep, I've noticed a shade of torquesteer to mainly at around 5k when its on cam, wild ride as you say, mostly well behaved though, you might want to take it somewhere to get the geometry adjusted to liven it up a bit more as it is setup for safe understeer out of the factory. also on the fuel consumption side of things for the first few thousand I was seeing 22mpg (don't know what that is in litres per 100kms) which had me thinking of trading for a GT JTD but now she is nearing 20k miles ( done in only 9 months ) its a more respectable 27-30mpg which is not bad considering the performance, my old Fiat Coupe Turbo couldn't do as well on fuel as this.

Are you saying you've had your geometry changed. If so where did you go ?

Local to you as well.

BTW what colour is your GTA. My missus (it's her car) has seen the light blue and a red one around the Bristol area ?

Cheers

Mark

I've experience the ol'Torque steer - keen to hear where/how you had the geometery tweaked.

More concerned about brake fade and the occassional scrape of the underchassis engine shield every time I hit a sleeping policeman - might have something to do with my driving however.

Jozza let me know about this cruise too, timing mite coincide with a nice drive to run in the new car

Originally Posted by Gizmo555

Are you saying you've had your geometry changed. If so where did you go ?

Local to you as well.

BTW what colour is your GTA. My missus (it's her car) has seen the light blue and a red one around the Bristol area ?

Mark

Yep had it adjusted at Powerstation in Cheltenham after having the front and rear lower arms and anti roll-bar replaced, which of that lot sorted the car out its hard to say but I suspect it was the geom settings as I didn't recall the car ever feeling so good.

Could be me you have seen, Mine is Gabbiano Blue which is sort of bluey silver colour, only seen one other in Bristol and it was the same colour as mine but with a GTA plate.

Originally Posted by sandys

Yep had it adjusted at Powerstation in Cheltenham after having the front and rear lower arms and anti roll-bar replaced, which of that lot sorted the car out its hard to say but I suspect it was the geom settings as I didn't recall the car ever feeling so good.

Could be me you have seen, Mine is Gabbiano Blue which is sort of bluey silver colour, only seen one other in Bristol and it was the same colour as mine but with a GTA plate.

Thats hers. That would have been in Wick then a fair while ago

Powerstation are the boys when it comes to geometry. Well reknown for their bumpsteer setup on the Impreza.

Cheers

Mark

Originally Posted by Gizmo555

Thats hers. That would have been in Wick then a fair while ago

Powerstation are the boys when it comes to geometry. Well reknown for their bumpsteer setup on the Impreza.

Mark

Yep that was the one I saw, nice car and colour, not that I am biased in any way , I was gutted when I saw her though as I was no longer unique

Powerstation couldn't really do to much to the Alfa as not a lot is adjustable but whatever they did made a difference and it was cheaper than Pro-Tyre who didn't have a clue as GTA wasn't on the computer, so thought I'd use Powerstation as they seem to know what they are doing Been considering getting their coilovers and stiffer rear ARB but desperately trying no to go down the modding route as I don't know when to stop.

Originally Posted by sandys

Yep that was the one I saw, nice car and colour, not that I am biased in any way , I was gutted when I saw her though as I was no longer unique

Powerstation couldn't really do to much to the Alfa as not a lot is adjustable but whatever they did made a difference and it was cheaper than Pro-Tyre who didn't have a clue as GTA wasn't on the computer, so thought I'd use Powerstation as they seem to know what they are doing Been considering getting their coilovers and stiffer rear ARB but desperately trying no to go down the modding route as I don't know when to stop.

She said it took her a while to realise it was another GTA as she thought she was unique as well. Plate cost me £250 from DVLA which thought was a bargain seeing as first letters and numbers spell her name

Also might have seen your car in a pub on a Tuesday night in EG on a quiz night a long time ago. Was it suppplied from Cardiff cause that one was ?

Know what you mean about the modding route. Slowly going down that route with the Impreza.

Used Pro-tyre for new SO3's a few weeks ago and they pointed out that the RNS and FOS camber is out and wasn't adjustable. They used the 147 settings they had on the 4 wheel alignment system.

Given the numbers to Simonstone as not happy that its out and they're supposed to be finding out from Alfa if the spec values pro-tyre used are accurate for the GTA.

You don't happen to know (from Powerstation) what they should be do you ?

Cheers

Mark

Originally Posted by Gizmo555

She said it took her a while to realise it was another GTA as she thought she was unique as well. Plate cost me £250 from DVLA which thought was a bargain seeing as first letters and numbers spell her name

Did the same with my previous car I had a Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo Limited Edition (LE) and bought A 20V LE for same sort of money

Originally Posted by Gizmo555

Also might have seen your car in a pub on a Tuesday night in EG on a quiz night a long time ago. Was it suppplied from Cardiff cause that one was ?

Yep that was me, been going to that pub for years, though have just moved recently and that was my last time I had been there, nothing to do with the fact I was crap at the quiz Got the car from cardiff after SimonStone Salesmen gave me attitude, basically I asked for a test drive before placeing and order and was told we are getting a Demo in next week but YOU can't drive it (I look like a proper tramp most of the time, guess they thought I was a joyrider, their loss, they have missed out on three car purchases from me now due to their rubbish sales guys) so went to Cardiff as they had a demo, both them and SimonStone mentioned 6 month wait etc. for new so I bought VCardiffs demo

Originally Posted by Gizmo555

Used Pro-tyre for new SO3's a few weeks ago and they pointed out that the RNS and FOS camber is out and wasn't adjustable. They used the 147 settings they had on the 4 wheel alignment system.

Given the numbers to Simonstone as not happy that its out and they're supposed to be finding out from Alfa if the spec values pro-tyre used are accurate for the GTA.

You don't happen to know (from Powerstation) what they should be do you ?

The GTA Geometry settings are in the manual (probably under Wheel Geomtery finding out from Alfa indeed, Simonstone technically competent as usual) although Dirk at PS disregarded them, I do have the printout from Powerstation but its in one of the many unpacked boxes in the house from the move, I should be clearing them out next week I'll see if I can dig it up.

Cheers

Hi 147 owner and Jozza,
I got a 147GTA as well and like you I love it, but one thing I can't understand is how Motor mag can't get a better time than 7.25sec for the 0-100 dash, and how they figure that the Golf R32 is quicker, I mean a had a run with a Mazda RX8 and I creamed him, I saw a video of Top gear in the Uk and they run a GTA against an R32 and a focus RS and the Alfa wins by 2 car lengths, and the top gear and car got 6.0 and 14.4 for 0-100 and 0-400, while Autocar got 5.9 and 14.0 respectfuly, while Motor's times are slower than an Alfa 75 3.0. So can I get your thoughts on this matter.....by the way Alfa concorso this weekend and I'd love to go for a cruise.
Killer

Hi,
One of life's mysteries I guess. Could be Motor tests with two people on board, I don't know. I will probably miss the Concourso, can't really afford the time this Sunday tripping up and down to Sydney. I hope you enjoy the show....

I've had my 147 GTA since last October but I've only just joined this forum, so if you want any news or pics of my motor let me know. Saying that why can't I upload my photo so my car appears next to my note I've tried but nothing appears?
The 0-60 dash is misprinted all over the place, I too have seen that Top Gear where the GTA trounces the RS and R32. I've also seen tests in the mid sevens,thats just stupid a fool could get a better time than that even in the wet. From my own experience and what I've read I'd say with a bit of wheel spin low to mid sixes but I've seen tests and had runs myself dead on 6. This really splitting hairs though, I'm sure some cars are sold on there 0-60 runs and yeah it's great pub talk but I drove the R32 and the RS also Imprezas, Evos and ha ha the RX8. And none of them came close to the 147 GTA package. I added the laugh to the RX8 as it's a truely awful car, I can't believe the press coverage. Granted it may be fun on a circuit with the rear wheel drive set up and it was well ballanced but the interior is made from the cheapest ill fitting plastic imaginable the seats disgusting to sit in and look at and that whole rear doors thing ...no. Y'know when you sit in a car and it just doesn't feel right thats an RX8. Sorry, this is a GTA forum but I have a personal beef with that car I can't stand it.