Re: Alfa's return to the usa...

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

Well, I know EXACTLY what Luca means. Its true that modern Porsches are 
stunning performers, but most of them have been "civilized" to the 
point where all of the driving fun has been engineered out of them. 
However. I did not find this to be true of the late model Alfas I've 
driven. For instance, the 147 has just TWO turns lock-to-lock for the 
steering, and it responds to steering input instantaneously. Turning 
off the stability control system returns the control of the car to the 
driver, and the F1 style push-button shift mechanism (a real 
electro-hydraulic MANUAL gearbox, not a warmed over slush bucket that 
lets one change gears manually. This car has an actual clutch plate!) 
allows one to really dive into corners deeply before shifting, and the 
shifts are precise. With just a bit of practice, you can anticipate the 
apex of a turn, shift at the right moment sure of exactly where the car 
will be when the next lower cog comes into play. This makes for 
god-like cornering control. I honestly believe that 2.0 147 with 
Selespeed is the closest thing a mortal can own to an out-and-out World 
Rally Car. Also, you can feel every undulation in the road through the 
excellent power steering and, surprising for a modern car, you can 
actually feel the road through the seat too. A real seat-of-the-pants 
driving experience, just like my GTV-6 (only the 147 handles better). 
Of course, you have to adjust your technique for FWD, but once 
mastered, the car is a blast. Imagine a car with that much driving 
'simpatico' that is so close in build quality and reliability to a 
Japanese car, that it can be used as a daily driver. I'll guarantee, if 
we Americans could buy them and if you owned one you wouldn't even be 
able to go to the grocery store for a quart of milk without getting a 
grin on your face from ear-to-ear!

That 'something missing' that you talk about that the Milano has and 
the Porsche doesn't is that almost indefinable something that makes 
fanatics out of Italian car owners. Its part and parcel of Italian 
cars. The old Fiat 500 had it as did every Ferrari and Maserati that 
ever left Modena. Lancias have it, Lamborghinis have it. If Alfa ever 
engineered it out of their cars, they wouldn't be either Italian or 
Alfa Romeos any more. Alfa knows this, but that eventually it will be 
engineered out is my greatest fear when I think of General Motors 
getting their spoons in the pot. I mean, is ANYTHING deader-feeling 
than a GM car?


George Graves

On Wednesday, September 11, 2002, at 02:04  PM, dsedon@domain.elided 
wrote:


> hi george,
>
> i won't argue, as i haven't had the pleasure....  but, as luca 
> mentioned earlier, tho his buddy's awd porsche certainly outperformed 
> his 75 turbo in every way, there was still something missing in the 
> p-car that the 75 has in spades.  and, for the money of a new alfa?  
> sorry, i'll take a hotted up gtwe6, an early gtv, a milano, & a 164, 
> to use when the roads are too salty!  :>)
>
> regrds,
>
> doug s.
> =========
>
>    Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 13:28:33 -0700
>    From: George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>
>    Subject: Re: Alfa's return to the usa...
>
>    I wholeheartedly disagree. I have driven a 147, a diesel 156, and a 
> V-6
>    156 extensively in Europe and I can attest to the fact that in 
> spite of
>    these cars being "wrong-wheel-drive" they are VERY MUCH drivers 
> cars.
>    The 147 I had last fall outperformed my GTV-6 IN EVERY WAY. The 
> 156s I
>    drove in Italy 2 years ago out-handled any Bertie I've ever driven 
> with
>    the possible exception of a race-prepared GTA. These cars are quick,
>    the 156s are fast (even the diesel will cruise all day at 120 MPH+)
>
>    George Graves
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! 
> http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp
>
> Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at 
> http://webmail.netscape.com/
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided