RE: Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: Spotted

[Crimson_stallion]

BFleming said:

Regarding handling, I would rate the 147GTA as a pretty amazing drivers car (the one I drove didn't have a LSD, but I imagine it would have been sublime with one). One of the most disappointing drives ever for me was an Integrale.
I would have a 147 GTA in a heartbeat. Someone local has a 156 GTA, and it's aging badly. The 147 though still looks amazing. Beauty & beholder factor applies.

My GTA has the Q2 upgrade and is without quotation one of the best handling cars I've driven, and I've driven a Lexus IS200, Subaru Legacy RSK, 1989 NA6 Miata, 2014 Giulietta QV and a 2017 or so Fiesta ST.

The GTA weighs around 1340kg but it doesn't feel like it. Its ability and ability to change direction quickly remind me of my old MX5, which was weighed under 1,000kg. I think part of that is due to the suspension set-up and part is due to the lightning quick steering which (at 1.7 turns lock to lock) is i believe the fastest starting rack maybe ever fitted to a production car.

But its quite a lot of torque going through those front tyres so you do need a good set of performance tyres for best results. Mine had cheap no-namr tyres when I bought it and was wheelspinning all over the place.

The only other criticism is that the body control isn't that great, so it can get a little fidgety over bumpy road. Handling is infinitely better then the Giulietta QV though. I bought one to replace the GTA... ended up selling the Giulietta instead and keeping the GTA because it's just so much more enjoyable to drive.

[Oilchange]

However you look at it, the simple fact is that having that heavy engine up front will make it nose heavy. You can mitigate it by strut braces, stiffer arbs and fitting a Q2 but you can’t argue with the laws of physics.
Have you seen the Top Gear article on youtube?

You also can’t argue with the noise, oh that noise! It’s like a drug, I’m on my fourth Alfa...

[ITP]

Wouldn’t pay much attention to top gear YouTube video. They deliberately drove it in a ridiculous way just to show what you can do with a lot of power (back in the day) through the front wheels. Plus nearly all of them will have the Q2 diff now anyway.
Sure, it’s no Clio trophy but it’s nowhere near as bad as some make out. Unless it’s been neglected and run on crap tyres of course.

[s m]

ITP said:

Wouldn’t pay much attention to top gear YouTube video. They deliberately drove it in a ridiculous way just to show what you can do with a lot of power (back in the day) through the front wheels.

They did the same with the Vectra VXR on Top Gear

[rxe]

Zombie said:

Mine (a 147 GTA) has cost bugger all to run for the last 2 years....

My experience with a GT as well.

I bought it as as basket case - 35,000 miles, half of the engine was in the boot, interior partially stripped, £900. I rebuilt the 3.2 (new pistons, valves, big end shells), got a tan (cat sick according to some) leather interior off eBay, and had it working for a grand total of 3 grand and 6 weekends spannering.

6 years later? The alternator regulator failed. Couple of driveshaft boots. I’ve put a Q2 in it, and got KW coilovers on it, but they’re upgrades. Other than that, just servicing and a cambelt.