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Hi all a few of questions to anyway 147 GTA drivers or previous owners

I am looking at purchasing a 147 gta with the Q2 diff on it. How much of a difference does this make in terms of handling etc to the car?. With the diff how does this compare in terms of handling to other hot hatches? One final question is there a lot of feel through the steering?


Thanks
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[silvervalver]

It gives noticeably more front end grip and sharper turn in. It helps to reduce the heavy nose feel you get with the v6 up front.

I think most will agree the most essential mod for any v6 Alfa.

I haven't got any suspension mods and they may well improve things further but having had Renault sport clios and peugeots which handle very well I would say the GTA is not quite as good for handling. For me though the sheer grunt and sound made the GTA the only option. It is still fun in the corners it just lacks precision accuracy. I would imagine a Vxr astra wont be any better though

 

[Guest]

It's overhyped based on a few diff failures, far better with the standard factory setup and much more fun. This was the way Alfa meant it to be.

 

[GhostyDog]

It's overhyped based on a few diff failures, far better with the standard factory setup and much more fun. This was the way Alfa meant it to be.

Do you have a Q2? If so maybe you aren't driving your car in a manner where you can see the full benefit of it.

A Q2 isn't really a 'handling' device, it's a traction aid, if you put a Q2 diff on a standard car it will 'handle' much the same as a car without a Q2 diff, in fact it actually shows up some deficiencies in the stock suspension setup, as the front end bites more into corners when within the peak torque band it can have a tendency to make the backend feel a little like Jelly.

For pure handling upgrades look to ARB's, strut braces, dampers and springs or coilovers, trailing arms, bushings, etc.

 

[OperationAlfa]

It's overhyped based on a few diff failures, far better with the standard factory setup and much more fun. This was the way Alfa meant it to be.

Are you serious??? :nut: A few diff failures? We are talking 75% of the cars I know of! And that's at lot of GTA's. I will say this it happens more to the 147's, possibly attirubuted to the additional strain of the VDC system which it has. (not on the 156)

Seriously after having a standard diff fail on my 156 GTA (replaced with a Q2) and having tried both a 147 GTA with and without a Q2 the difference is night and day.

Not only does it make a huge difference to the handling, it also potentially saves you in excess of £1500 if the thing fails, and than might not be to you, the previous owner may have been a more agressive driver.

I'm just about to buy a 147 GTA with 58K on the clock and the first thing I am doing is fitting a Q2.

 

[silvervalver]

Do a poll and see how many of us had a standard diff blow and you will change your tune! Mine cost £3k to sort luckily I had a warranty

 

[OperationAlfa]

Do a poll and see how many of us had a standard diff blow and you will change your tune! Mine cost £3k to sort luckily I had a warranty

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gta/132688-diff-failures-a-list.html

This can be seriously updated!!

 

[silvervalver]

Forgot about that it was so long ago!

 

[leeenty]

If your car gets a constant battering then obviously there is more of a chance of the diff blowing due to the amount of stress put on it. If your car is driven smooth and sensible then it reduces that risk.i drive fast cars for a living and a basic Gta w,ill keep up with most affordable saloons on the market today.you set your car up for en.t ering a roundabout keep it balanced then your set up for the exit a Q2 may help in the wet but who wants to rag a car in the rain....

 

[Captain Slow]

It's usless in the wet.

 

[loader]

Operation Alfa are you buying the red one that was up our way that was serviced at CM services?

 

[gtaadict]

Hi just out of interest are you buying the red 147 gta that's on piston heads ?

 

[loader]

Are you talking about the one at 5k in Herts?

 

[leeenty]

Are you enjoying Nuvola white?its a top car, i had it before Sean

 

[gtaadict]

Yes its a great car I haven't insured it yet, its been sat in the garage, I can't wait till I can use her, loving the colour, did you have the 19" alloys on it when you owned her ?

 

[Pud237]

It's usless in the wet.

Can't be any worse than standard. Its tyres & geometry that give you grip in the wet.

 

[Captain Slow]

I agree Dan, no worse than standard, it was just in response to the above.

 

[leeenty]

Yeah the 19s were on when i bought it. . Cost me a fortune to put tires on! But a top car. Enjoy. Got some good pictures of what it was like when i bought it. Pm me your email and will send them

 

[OperationAlfa]

Operation Alfa are you buying the red one that was up our way that was serviced at CM services?

maybe

 

[gtaadict]

Pm sent