Re: 147 is closest thing to WRC car?

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

I think you have missed my point. Of course a 147 doesn't have the 
horsepower, doesn't have the AWD and doesn't have the cooled brakes. 
But the Subaru and the Mitsi Evo don't have the sequential gearbox 
either. This is what allows one to drive the car *like* a WRC car and 
that is what I was referring to. I've driven a Subaru WRX and yes its 
quick, but the brakes aren't as good as the brakes on a 147 2.0, and 
the manual shift detracts from the cornering performance. The Evo 7 
hasn't made it to these shores yet, and who knows what we'll get when 
it finally does, but I don't think that any of the Evos have the 
sequential paddle shift of the team cars.

George Graves


On Thursday, September 12, 2002, at 06:44  AM, Greg Stewart wrote:


> > Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 15:22:32 -0700
> > From: George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>
> > Subject: Re: Alfa's return to the usa...
> >
> > .... 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.
> From what I've read, the 147 is certainly an exceptional car - well
> balanced, quick, and agile - and I'd love to have one as a daily 
> driver.
> But comparing it to a WRC car?  Uhmm...I dunno...
>
> For starters:
> - short about 200 hp;
> - no awd; and
> - no liquid cooled brakes.
>
> Cars like the Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Evo 7 are much more 
> similar to
> WRC cars (both have turbocharged 4 cyl engines, AWD, big brakes, 
> etc.).  The
> upcoming 147 GTA will be a real road burner (thanks to the 250 hp 
> drivetrain
> borrowed from the 156 GTA), but even then, it will still likely be
> outperformed by the Subaru and Mitsu.
>
> Again, not to say that the 147 isn't a great car, but let's be 
> realistic.
>
> Cheers,
> Greg Stewart
> Ottawa, Canada
> 74 GTV
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