TVR eats Alfa 156!

[kentishS2]

After cleaning my injection system I went for a run and found myself on the A2. I stopped at a set of traffic lights next to a V6 badged 03 reg Alfa 156 with the full veloce body trimmings. There was a youngish fella driving it, just him in the car and just me in my S. I was on the outside and him the inside and we were at the front of the lights with two clear lanes ahead of us and a 70mph speed limit. I knew I was in for a bit of fun as he kept glancing towards me and as the lights changed I heard him rev high as did I and we were off. I was gaining on him as I changed up into second but he then pulled up a bit but when I got upto third, I left the S hanging in third until 5000rpm then up into fourth and did the same until changing into fifth and I trounced him, he was way behind me by now and I could see he was trying to have a challenge. I carried on for a short distance then slowed down and he roared past (as he was still trying to keep up) but a bit too late to hide his shame. I was surprised that I had out dragged him but I was amazed when I looked at the figures for the V6 Alfa 156 when I got home, 0-60 in 6.3 with 250bhp.

Since having the heads skimmed and gas flowed and now having cleaned the injectors, my S appears to be a little flyer! Can't wait to fit the new PB valve too...

[ettore]

Could it be a normal V6 Alfa rather than a GTA?

If so, it has quite a bit less power and quite a lot more weight than an S!

[kentishS2]

ettore said:

Could it be a normal V6 Alfa rather than a GTA? If so, it has quite a bit less power and quite a lot more weight than an S!

I don't know if it was a GTA but it did have the veloce body kit and was badged as a V6, is the GTA the 250 bhp model? My mag had another listed which was faster, I was assuming that I had been up against the slower one (the 6.3 sec car) as listed in my What Car.

[ettore]

If it was a GTA it would have been badged as a GTA. 0-60 is about 6.3 for the 156 but quicker for the 147 GTA.

Normal V6 alfa does 0-60 in the mid/high 7`s.

[kentishS2]

ettore said:

If it was a GTA it would have been badged as a GTA. 0-60 is about 6.3 for the 156 but quicker for the 147 GTA. Normal V6 alfa does 0-60 in the mid/high 7`s.

It wasn't badged as a GTA, so looks like it could have been this one then??

Derivative: 2.5 V6 24V Veloce 4d
CC/Cyl: 2492/6
BHP: 192
MPH: 143
0-60: 7.1
MPG: 23
CO2: 282
IG: 16

I'm still pleased with the performance of the 14 year old S against this almost new and later technology Alfa with a 0-60 time of 7.1 secs.

I'm most certainly not being critical about the 156 though as I personally think they are a lovely car. I'd love one and I know it'll be on my shopping list when the VW goes one day!

>> Edited by kentishS2 on Monday 16th August 11:13