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#1
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Alfa 156 GTA vs A4 with sports suspension?
For three years, I owned a 156 2.0 Selespeed. Unfortunately, a Toyota Hiace
hit me in a front accident and totally smashed the car. Immediately after, I replaced the car by an Audi A4 2.0FSI (shame on me) with sports suspension and 18" rims. Today, I had a testdrive of a used 156 MY2001, similar to the one I crashed, Frankly, it was like driving and sitting in a soft-cushioned sofa: I was really disappointed. However, I am seriously considering buying a 156 GTA since Alfa is The Car. How would you compare the GTA with the A4 in terms of road handling, steering response, suspension, etc? The A4 suspension is quite hard (with 235/40 tyres) and very responsive. The GTA has 17/215/45 tyres as standard, if I remember correctly. Some car magazine articles have indicated that the front suspension of the GTA is too soft. Thanks. |
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#2
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>For three years, I owned a 156 2.0 Selespeed. Unfortunately, a Toyota Hiace
>hit me in a front accident and totally smashed the car. Immediately after, I >replaced the car by an Audi A4 2.0FSI (shame on me) with sports suspension >and 18" rims. > >Today, I had a testdrive of a used 156 MY2001, similar to the one I crashed, >Frankly, it was like driving and sitting in a soft-cushioned sofa: I was >really disappointed. However, I am seriously considering buying a 156 GTA >since Alfa is The Car. > >How would you compare the GTA with the A4 in terms of road handling, >steering response, suspension, etc? The A4 suspension is quite hard (with >235/40 tyres) and very responsive. The GTA has 17/215/45 tyres as standard, >if I remember correctly. Some car magazine articles have indicated that the >front suspension of the GTA is too soft. > I was discussing the GTA with an Alfa main dealer recently. They told me that the suspension is a lot firmer than my 156 V6 and implied that I might find it too firm. I have to say that as an ex Audi A4 owner myself (2.6 V6), I'm shocked that you think the Audi handles better than an Alfa. I was amazed at how much better the Alfa cornered than the Audi. The Alfa suspension seems well set up to me - around town it is soft enough to absorb the pot holes (unlike Audis and BMWs) yet if you push it hard on bends it corners beautifully. I don't think rock hard suspension equates to good handling. Go and test drive the GTA and tell us what you think of it! Phil 156 V6 |
#3
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"MacIglebek" > wrote in message
... > The GTA has 17/215/45 tyres as standard, > if I remember correctly. > > Thanks. No the GTA (and the V6 GTV now) uses 225/45R17 tyres. -- David C 156 Selespeed sp3 + Brembo conversion |
#4
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#5
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The 147GTA has a much smoother set up from the beginning compared to the
156GTA of the first production year. The original 156GTA had a track layout which was not very good for the "normal" day-to-day" road use. Both (new) GTA's are quite similar now but like all Alfa's quite critical on the tyres. An other brand tyres can make a hughe difference! And the handling of a standard (new) GTA (147/156) is indeed "softer" than an Audi which in my opinion is scandalously hard. And doesn't corner half as good as an Alfa (I don't even name the GTA's!!) And for the replacement of my 156SW1.8 (tuned) I test drove the new GT with 2.0JTS, 3.2V6 as well as the 1.9JTD Alle 3 corner at least as good as the GTA's (!!), they are slightly softer in front. In my opinion the GT 3.2 gets the power even better on the road than the GTA's and all three brake at least similar! As it will be a company car I had to compromise a bit (better: budget limit), so a full option GT 2.0JTS will be mine in October! And I love the looks of the GT. Classic Bertone design (with a beautiful rear) with the 147 nose that looks nicely in balance with the rest of the car. Dashboard as the 147 and (leather) seats that outperform 147/156 by a mile (fit & looks)! Forget the Audi! -- Ciao from Holland AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan) Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000) Golden Montreal (1973/4) "Max Reheat" > schreef in bericht ... > On 17 May 2004 08:22:52 GMT, (Ppelectron) selected > combat throttle and flew into a dogfight with: > > > > >I was discussing the GTA with an Alfa main dealer recently. They told me that > >the suspension is a lot firmer than my 156 V6 and implied that I might find it > >too firm. > > > > When I test drove the 147 GTA and 156 GTA back-to-back I found that > the 147 had similar ride to my 156 Selespeed (Veloce), which I like, > but the 156 was harsh and hence little disappointing. I'd say the > dealer is probably correct in this instance. > > Of course, I have no complaints about the performance (I could easily > live with the torque steer). > > I wonder what the Autodelta 147 is like (apart from totally mental?). > > -- > Max Reheat () - deselect Part Throttle Reheat to reply. > > Alfa 156 2.0 JTS Selespeed Veloce > Lancia Dedra 1.8i.e.SE |
#6
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I've owned a 156GTA Sportwagon for 18 months, and still every time I get in
its a new adventure, you turn the key n it GROWLS into life, the leather seat hugs you the controls are there facing you (not there to look pretty for passengers) I drive off , if I'm driving steady I keep it in gear at 2000 rpm just to hear that engine (and keep things very responsive) then when I want to play I put my foot down HEAVEN it still scares n excites me FANTASTIC performance, it kills off all the boy racers (who luv to give you a try) n beema boys its Cool, most people dont understand what your driving untill u say BYE BYE lol. I still take it out to the country just to drive on those winding B roads , N HELL it holds the road FANTASICALLY( except when its wet on my Michelin Pilotsports A Dry road tyre) DAM ITS JUST SO MUCH FUN. The power to burst past someone the cornering it holds the road like glue when it dry, DAM you just want to drive it. How many cars would you want to just go out n drive just for the FUN? NOT MANY yes the ride is firm but not over firm so you still feel comfatable to potter along. In short THE GTA IS A DRIVERS CAR MADE TO BE ENJOYED BY A REAL DRIVER . I rest my case Audi good but NOT THAT GOOD "MacIglebek" > wrote in message ... > For three years, I owned a 156 2.0 Selespeed. Unfortunately, a Toyota Hiace > hit me in a front accident and totally smashed the car. Immediately after, I > replaced the car by an Audi A4 2.0FSI (shame on me) with sports suspension > and 18" rims. > > Today, I had a testdrive of a used 156 MY2001, similar to the one I crashed, > Frankly, it was like driving and sitting in a soft-cushioned sofa: I was > really disappointed. However, I am seriously considering buying a 156 GTA > since Alfa is The Car. > > How would you compare the GTA with the A4 in terms of road handling, > steering response, suspension, etc? The A4 suspension is quite hard (with > 235/40 tyres) and very responsive. The GTA has 17/215/45 tyres as standard, > if I remember correctly. Some car magazine articles have indicated that the > front suspension of the GTA is too soft. > > Thanks. > > |
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