I've just got myself a GTA

Collect my Red 147 GTA yesterday. Can't help laughing since then. Hello to everybody here. I have been looking at this forum for quite a while, and finally I've treated myself an Alfa. This is a really good forum, I really learnt a lot about the car before I buy one.

I'm so happy with the car, it's in a completly different league to the cars I have before. The engine delivers its power effortlessly and unbelieveably smooth. I owned other perfomance cars (mainly Japanese) before but they needed to rev so hard to deliever the power. Even though they are as fast, they don't have the class and feel any where as solid than the Alfa. I hope the horror of the lengendary built quality doesn't apply to a modern Alfa. I love Alfa to dead, and everytime when I change my car I want an Alfa, but everytime I did not dare to get one. Eventually I've got one yesterday, hope I won't regret it. So far so good though, apart from the following concern. I would be gratefull if someone can shine me some light on them.

1. I read some where that every Alfa comes with a brown master key, or something like that. But mine one doesn't have, the dealer (not official) garanteed me that new Alfa, including mine don't come with this anymore. And I phoned up Alfa yesterday, and the guy confirmed this. But I'm not very sure with his answer because I guessed he's just a reseptionist. The service department is close on Sunday, so I can't confirm the answer with a technician.

2. The car is on stock suspansion at the moment. The ride is choppy and jarring. Is there anyway I can cure this (I don't think it's anything to do with wearing of the damper or parts, as the car has only done 10700 miles). I don't want to lower the car because in my part of London, there're monster humps everywhere. I managed to scratch the bottom a few times already (I don't know is it the bottom tray or the spoiler. I don't think my car survive if it get any lower. Any idea please?

3. The car is on the factory option 18" spoke alloy. What's the correct tyre pressure. The manuel says 2.8 bar (front) and 2.6 bar (rear), equal to over 40 psi, which seems a lot, as I never have anything over 32 psi on all my other cars before. Is the figure on the manuel wrong?

4. Some people put strut brace or bottom bar etc. on the car. Does the GTA need it? If so what would you recommend and where can I find them?

5. My car comes with the Connect Nav option. and has a CD changer in the boot. Is there anyway I can fit an I-pod/mp3 connector to it?

6. Can the sat nav warn me on speed cameras? Like a Tom Tom you can download the camera loacation and set it as 'point of interest' and it will warn you when you come across them.

7. Can I fit a roof bar to the GTA?

Sorry there're lots of question. Thanks in advance for your kind reply. I shall post some picture later.

congrats dude...cant help with most of your questions, im sure someone will be along soon...on the newer Alfas such as yours i think im right in saying there are no brown or red keys any more, just two black fobs/keys..make sure you have both as they are circa 140 pounds to get re-cut


all the best

Welcome to the forum Rex....Try the search function for all your queries.....you'll find answers to most topics..

Hi blackrex, welcome to the forum. Someone more knowledgeable than me will surely answer your questions!

Ok, heres some answers

2, if you have the 235 35 18 tyres, that will contribute to the ride you describe. With 225 40 18 the ride much better. The engine undertray will be what is scraping.

3, the tyre pressures you quote are for a fully loaded car. For 2 passengers it is 2.3 & 2.5 bar, ~33 & 36psi.

5, I fiited an ipod to my connect nav+ like this Link

6, the sat nav just runs from the DVD in the slot, no way to add anything.

Enjoy the car !

Firstly congratulations & keep SMILING!!!

To answer some of your Q below:

Originally Posted by black rex

1. I read some where that every Alfa comes with a brown master key, or something like that. But mine one doesn't have, the dealer (not official) garanteed me that new Alfa, including mine don't come with this anymore. And I phoned up Alfa yesterday, and the guy confirmed this. But I'm not very sure with his answer because I guessed he's just a reseptionist. The service department is close on Sunday, so I can't confirm the answer with a technician.
A = as previously answered, 2 black keys (1 is just a key & the other has the remote buttons). The remote keys are EXPENSIVE


2. The car is on stock suspansion at the moment. The ride is choppy and jarring. Is there anyway I can cure this (I don't think it's anything to do with wearing of the damper or parts, as the car has only done 10700 miles). I don't want to lower the car because in my part of London, there're monster humps everywhere. I managed to scratch the bottom a few times already (I don't know is it the bottom tray or the spoiler. I don't think my car survive if it get any lower. Any idea please?
A = from experience the ride is choppy & your 18" will not help. The only way to improve is to replace with adjustable coil-overs (expensive, but worth it). FWIW I originally went the lowering spring option for the looks & handling on smooth roads, but recently swapped them out for KW Variant 2 adjustable coil-overs (like night & day... I should have done this earlier & saved the money...)


3. The car is on the factory option 18" spoke alloy. What's the correct tyre pressure. The manuel says 2.8 bar (front) and 2.6 bar (rear), equal to over 40 psi, which seems a lot, as I never have anything over 32 psi on all my other cars before. Is the figure on the manuel wrong?
A = NFI, have 17"


4. Some people put strut brace or bottom bar etc. on the car. Does the GTA need it? If so what would you recommend and where can I find them?
A = a Frot Strut Bar is more than enough unless you are going to track the car (plenty of posts about this). I have the OVER racing Ti FSB (one of the best investments along with adjustable coil-overs)


5. My car comes with the Connect Nav option. and has a CD changer in the boot. Is there anyway I can fit an I-pod/mp3 connector to it?
A = I opted to replace the HU (the factory HU is just all wrong, not easy to use & sound quality is ****e) witha Alpine iPod compatible HU (didn't even have to replace the factory speakers, but what a difference)

6. Can the sat nav warn me on speed cameras? Like a Tom Tom you can download the camera loacation and set it as 'point of interest' and it will warn you when you come across them.
A = NFI, not available in Australia. Though when needed, I use my HP iPAQ HW6515 with the built in GPS running TomTom with all teh alerts I need)

7. Can I fit a roof bar to the GTA?
A = Yes, the factory one is one of the nicest sets you will ever see

Sorry there're lots of question. Thanks in advance for your kind reply. I shall post some picture later.

GodSpeed!!!

Crash

hello and congratulations, keep on smiling

Welcome to the very good highs and some lows of owning an alfa - especially the GTA.....

Add your details to.....

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...here-gtas.html

Welcome Rex, and congrats on yr new 147GTA. As said above ditch the 235/35 tyres, and then get some coilovers. Mine is 15mm lower on coilovers and hasn't scraped at all since fitting them, where as it used to on the stock suspension.

You can fit the Dension Ipod kit. See my website for more info.

www.147gta.co.uk

Mark

Welcome and enjoy...

That V6 is addictive - and you will find yourself going very much quicker
than you think you are on more than one occasion before you get used to
her, the in gear speed is awesome.. (I picked up a wadge of points in my
first 2 weeks of GTA ownership & I'm still suffering now 3 years later)...

connect nav doesn't have camera capability - I bought a Garmin NUVI for the
brera rather than spend the money on connect, but buy a snooper/road angel or
something - it's well worth it as I learnt to my cost.

FWIW - I find 18's on most alfa's upset the handling/road manners too much
even on the Brera which has optional 18's - 17's are fine. After having driven a
156GTA on 18's I was glad I didn't do the upgrade on mine... But yes the 18's
look nice.

Enjoy...

Simes.

Hi Black Rex, welcome to AO and congratulations on your 147GTA

Crashwong has given you the definative answers to most of your questions.

After more than a year of ownership my GTA makes me laugh every day. As you say the engine performance is smooth and effortless with good low end torque, and developes progressively to a rushing creshendo from 5000 rpm to the redline together with a soundtrack that begins with a deep booming at low revs, through grainy metallic mid-range, to a lovely blended howl at the top end. Dont you just love it

Good-work BlackRex!!!!!

You'll keep that GTA Grin beaming from ear to ear for a very long time

Recommend the ali-undertray as that has stopped my Bella srap'n' over the high spots....

Your grin has taken over from GTAdobbin's me thinks.

I im'd him today and it looks like he could be on his third gearbox in as many months. Not surprisingly he is loosing the faith and being pulled to the dark-side.......

B'Rex...what age is your bella??? I am after a newer '55 reg RossoGTA to replace my current BellaBruto.....
BUT IT VERY HARD TO FIND ANY!!!!!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and response. Been so busy in office the last few day, so haven’t sent any reply.

Foxie, my Bella is just 2 years old. First registered in Aug 04, but only has 10700 miles on it. Look and drive like new. Only a few minor stone chips on the bonnet and a few scratches on the under side of the front spoiler, but I guest it’s common on every GTA. You suggested aluminium undertray, where can I get it and how much?

Beatbox & Troll suggested to change the tyres from 235 to 225, that means a narrow tyre which would make the alloy easier to kerb?

How much better is the ride and handling if the car is on 17"? I love the 17" 5 holes GTA alloy as much as I do with mine. Shall I sell my 18" spokes and buy the 5 holes GTA? Or do you know someone would like to swap and offer me some money. The dealer told me the 18" spoke was a £2000 option.

As I said I don’t won’t to lower the car. Is the failing of the stock set up on the springs or the dampers? Or both? If the dampers, I can change the dampers and keep the springs and maintain the ground clearance. Or would you recommend any system that won’t lower the car too much? There’s some speed humps here so high that the car won’t clear even at 5mph!

The steering is hyperactive on rough round at speed. It’s quite dangerous that at some occasions, it almost drag the car off the line I’m travelling. I think the bad suspension setup has contributed to this as well?

And finally for those who has the Conect Nav +, how can you cancel the route on it. It keep giving instructions to the current destination while I don’t need it. It won’t stop until I put it a new destination and re-calculate the route, but then it will guide you to the new destination until I input another one. I don’t need the navigation all the time. How can you cancel the route or switch off the navigation function?

I’m going camping in Wales this ban holiday weekend, should take some picture and post them next week. Can’t wait to bring the GTA there!

Originally Posted by black rex

And finally for those who has the Conect Nav +, how can you cancel the route on it.

There is a delete destination option. I think that you can find it if you click "Other Menus" on the main menu. As far as I remember it is on the bottom of the other menus.

well done chap,_ you are gonna never look back, happy driving!!!

Rex, my handling was the same as you describe, ditch the 235/35 and get 225/40 you will not believe the difference, trust me. Most tyres have a protector on the side wall to help stop kerbing the wheels, I know my Yoko's do.

As Portti says on the Sat Nav if you go into others menu's there is a delete destination at the bottom.

Have you tried the voice commands yet ??

Mark

The failing in the standard suspension is really both springs and dampers, installing good aftermarket dampers/springs kit will radically improve handling, body control, and yes even comfort over uneven surfaces.

If you are not interested in lowering perhaps you don't need a coilover kit, but I can tell you that with a good coilover kit the car won't bottom out even at a slightly lower ride height.

Dampers are the expensive part, springs are the cheaper part of the suspension, make sure you get a kit that somebody can vouch for on a 147 GTA.

235's and 18's do affect comfort, and turning circle slightly.
I'm not sure would the car handle better in outright terms,
turn-in would be a little slower, but grip and tarction would be a little higher.
I would't bother selling your wheels until you see how you get on with a new suspension which will greatly increase your comfort levels once you don't get too extreme a spring set.

The twitchy steering at speed is due in large part to the suspension setup as well, but mainly the fact that the car doesn't have a limited slip differential.
A clutch type LSD such as that sold by Autodelta will completely sort that out and revolutionise the active handling of the car under power.

I wouldn't bother with the strut brace personally initally, I would put the money towords dampers/springs/coilovers

Best of luck with it,
TB

Thanks people. I can finally delete the disination and enjoy my drving.

Thanks so much for the reply so far. I did some research on the suspansion mod. All of them lower the ride height by at least 35mm. It seems quite a lot to me? Or it is actually nothing in real life?

I really don't know which kit to go for. I think i don't need those extreme adjustable system. Just need someting to sort out the handling for spirited road driving and eliminate the bottom out problem, and at the same time offer creature comfort. There are the Auto Delta system, the bilstein system, the koni/Ebich combinton, KW..... I'm comfussed. Would someone shine some light please.

After the Wales trip las weekend. I discovered another thing on the car. Under heavy acceleration, the car always dragged to the left, it never dragged to the right. Is that normal? When crusing on motorway, the car doesn't goes in a completely straight line too. It has a very slight tendency steering to he left. I checked the tyre pressure, they are equal on both sides and of course the tyres are qual make. So does it means the tracking is out? Where can I do a track alignment? Do I need to take it back to the main dealer as i need the factory figures for the set up?

sounds like the trackign is out - get it done quickly or your tyes willbe gone! Get a 4 wheel alignment done.

Originally Posted by black rex

3. The car is on the factory option 18" spoke alloy. What's the correct tyre pressure. The manuel says 2.8 bar (front) and 2.6 bar (rear), equal to over 40 psi, which seems a lot, as I never have anything over 32 psi on all my other cars before. Is the figure on the manuel wrong?


5. My car comes with the Connect Nav option. and has a CD changer in the boot. Is there anyway I can fit an I-pod/mp3 connector to it?

6. Can the sat nav warn me on speed cameras? Like a Tom Tom you can download the camera loacation and set it as 'point of interest' and it will warn you when you come across them.

I think these are the unanswered ones!


3) Thats right - 2.6 to 2.8 bar - thats why the rides so rough, the penalty of low sidewalls I'm afraid. Ours is on 17's and still jarring, I think the suspension upgrades only make it worse!

5) Yes, but you need a 'CD changer simulator' type converter and have to disconnect the changer to do this - it wont display any information, charge or control the MP3 though, just play the audio feed through. As far as I know the £73.00 Alfa unit that works through the 937 hi CD player doesnt work with Connect.

6) No. For this unit, try the Fiat Stilo forums for options, they have all sorts of hacks and software/ map updates