Joined
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92 Posts
Hey
So, I introduced myself, and my car, a 147 JTD 16v.
Having now owned it for 3 months, including 1 medium drive and one long one (CT to ceres and back and CT to grahamstown and back)
I love it. The suspension is still firm, just like the old one, but it seems to grip more, even though the set of tyres I have are on the way out. The engine is willing, maybe a bit flat below 2000rpm, before the turbo kicks in, but over 2500rpm it pulls like a train in any gear,
On uphills it sticks in top at over 170kph. The torque is great.
I simply, love it. I'm sure, not having a petrol engine will anger some of the proper proper purists, and, in truth, I was sad myself at not getting another T Spark. But, having had it and driven it it's great.
Being practical I can get under 7.5l/100km and can still give it serious stick and get below 11l/100km. The handling is a teeny, tiny bit more sluggish than the old one, probably due to the extra weight upfront from the bigger engine.
But over all. It's a great car.
Now to make it better.
I stated my intent on the modification thread my current plans, restated here they are:
1. Change out 16' spoked type standard rim for teledial 17'(one with 3 circles)
2. Change brakes for something bigger, better, more stylish.
3. Remap/Chip tuning.
4. Bigger intercooler?
As you can see I currently have the 16 inch rim. Meaning pricey tyres and less presence, Not to mention the fact that the 3 circle teledial is unbelievably hot.
As I said there, this is a slow work in progress. I am a student and this is an expensive car to maintain, let alone uprate. So this will be a gradual change over the next 2 years into the car I want it to be.
My final vision is something in these lines:
Similar drive to the current one, just a bit firmer, and grippier. So maybe some kind of aftermarket suspension in the future, suspension from a GTA?
Engine doing around 150kw. The stock output is 110kw. If I could get it reliably, drivabley and still maintain "reasonable" economy the 200BHP mark is the goal. Enough to show a Golf V GTI a pair of clean heels
Brakes as solid as rock. The current set is very good. My preference would be the ones out a Brera, a GT or a GTA model.
Basically I think with the teledial rim the brakes need to look as good as the car. I'm not a huge aftermarket fan and would way, way rather have a set that says Alfa Romeo, than one that says Brembo or AP Racing or whatever. So a stock set of brakes from an upper end car would be sweet. That would be calipers and discs.
Possibly change up the stereo. Although I've read enough and seen enough pics to know that the aftermarket radios look like a dogs breakfast. I have the changer in the back and to maybe change that for another blaupunkt model, just with MP3 recognition. Maybe change up the speakers too, but keep it stock looking, nothing drastic, nothing that is visible as a change.
Finally maybe changing the gearknob for something akin to the style of a Ferrari F355 style one. It looks like it's been milled from a solid block of aluminium. And also some nicer pedals, dlilled aluminium style ones down there too.
So. The wheels are the first, that will be in the next couple of weeks.
Then it'll be a while, i'm hoping to use this thread to discuss what, and where to do these mods.
Oh, and if anybody knows where I can get that gearknob and the pedals, a scrap yard maybe?
That would be fab.
Thanks
T
Edit
Here are two pics so you can get an idea of what I mean
A
http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/images/models/alfa_gt_interior.jpg
B
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1XknPAfZh...Kv680dCI/s400/2003+Alfa+Romeo+GT+interior.jpg
A is the same knob I have at the moment (excuse the pun) but the pedals are the kind I want
B is the kind of knob I want to upgrade to (again)
http://www.m-99.co.uk/Mod_chip_mk2a.jpg
here is a f355 knob. thats the kind of thing I like. The raw aluminium look of it is awesome.
So, I introduced myself, and my car, a 147 JTD 16v.
Having now owned it for 3 months, including 1 medium drive and one long one (CT to ceres and back and CT to grahamstown and back)
I love it. The suspension is still firm, just like the old one, but it seems to grip more, even though the set of tyres I have are on the way out. The engine is willing, maybe a bit flat below 2000rpm, before the turbo kicks in, but over 2500rpm it pulls like a train in any gear,
On uphills it sticks in top at over 170kph. The torque is great.
I simply, love it. I'm sure, not having a petrol engine will anger some of the proper proper purists, and, in truth, I was sad myself at not getting another T Spark. But, having had it and driven it it's great.
Being practical I can get under 7.5l/100km and can still give it serious stick and get below 11l/100km. The handling is a teeny, tiny bit more sluggish than the old one, probably due to the extra weight upfront from the bigger engine.
But over all. It's a great car.
Now to make it better.
I stated my intent on the modification thread my current plans, restated here they are:
1. Change out 16' spoked type standard rim for teledial 17'(one with 3 circles)
2. Change brakes for something bigger, better, more stylish.
3. Remap/Chip tuning.
4. Bigger intercooler?
As you can see I currently have the 16 inch rim. Meaning pricey tyres and less presence, Not to mention the fact that the 3 circle teledial is unbelievably hot.
As I said there, this is a slow work in progress. I am a student and this is an expensive car to maintain, let alone uprate. So this will be a gradual change over the next 2 years into the car I want it to be.
My final vision is something in these lines:
Similar drive to the current one, just a bit firmer, and grippier. So maybe some kind of aftermarket suspension in the future, suspension from a GTA?
Engine doing around 150kw. The stock output is 110kw. If I could get it reliably, drivabley and still maintain "reasonable" economy the 200BHP mark is the goal. Enough to show a Golf V GTI a pair of clean heels
Brakes as solid as rock. The current set is very good. My preference would be the ones out a Brera, a GT or a GTA model.
Basically I think with the teledial rim the brakes need to look as good as the car. I'm not a huge aftermarket fan and would way, way rather have a set that says Alfa Romeo, than one that says Brembo or AP Racing or whatever. So a stock set of brakes from an upper end car would be sweet. That would be calipers and discs.
Possibly change up the stereo. Although I've read enough and seen enough pics to know that the aftermarket radios look like a dogs breakfast. I have the changer in the back and to maybe change that for another blaupunkt model, just with MP3 recognition. Maybe change up the speakers too, but keep it stock looking, nothing drastic, nothing that is visible as a change.
Finally maybe changing the gearknob for something akin to the style of a Ferrari F355 style one. It looks like it's been milled from a solid block of aluminium. And also some nicer pedals, dlilled aluminium style ones down there too.
So. The wheels are the first, that will be in the next couple of weeks.
Then it'll be a while, i'm hoping to use this thread to discuss what, and where to do these mods.
Oh, and if anybody knows where I can get that gearknob and the pedals, a scrap yard maybe?
That would be fab.
Thanks
T
Edit
Here are two pics so you can get an idea of what I mean
A
http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/images/models/alfa_gt_interior.jpg
B
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1XknPAfZh...Kv680dCI/s400/2003+Alfa+Romeo+GT+interior.jpg
A is the same knob I have at the moment (excuse the pun) but the pedals are the kind I want
B is the kind of knob I want to upgrade to (again)
http://www.m-99.co.uk/Mod_chip_mk2a.jpg
here is a f355 knob. thats the kind of thing I like. The raw aluminium look of it is awesome.
