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Alfa 156 GTA.

Oh, I would not like to appear on a place of that Sicilian old man! As it kondrashka has not sufficed ... It left to me towards on shabby "fiatike. And as it is good that with all these ESP and other ABS I, seemingly, have not had time to lose skills of "ice" driving definitively yet. I passed this turning movement "sideways". Gas, still gas, small correction by a wheel, still gas. Has carried by ... I have passed the Following turning movement moderately, almost without slippages. Following too. But here open right, ah, what yum-yum! And I again for the: the second drive, provocative, more sharply, than it is necessary, a wheel to the right, gas dump, drift, gas, a wheel hardly more to the left ... Wow! Really I on something suit? However, such temperamental partner will get any. Alfa 156 GTA, V6, 250 "horsies" without turbostimulyatorov, to hundred - for 6,3 seconds, and further - to 250 km / h. But that they have made with roadability ...

Organizers of this test risked. Whether it is not enough that in due time, till 1973, this twisting path was a part of a racing line where the well-known races Targa Florio were spent! Now it is usual road, a path of the general using. And movement on the occasion of this test did not block. Unless have agreed, that Sicilian "Carabinieri" here a nose did not put. lux fiat

Smooth, heated-up the southern sun asphalt. Perhaps to that Fiat that went towards, and anything, but I continually had a sensation as if I go on densely rolled snow. And business not only in a covering. And not in tyres. The matter is that at operational development of rideable properties of version GTA alfovskie engineers have led as the finished egoists. They obviously did the car "under themselves", instead of under abstract "the typical client", depressing which image it "tie" children from marketing department for certain tried to draw. And engineers have come off. Go on "pit-lejnu" happy, look at the excited journalists and search for an occasion to get into conversation and once again to tell: "It is the real Alfa, here quintessence alfovskogo spirit!"

It agree, Alfa 156 GTA - most Alfa.

However, it is quintessence of spirit, but not letters! If to be exact in this case index Alfa 156 GTA is not absolutely correct. That it GT - Grand Turismo, - doubts are not present. A problem with a letter "And". When on Amsterdam the motor-show of 1965 has been shown for the first time sports car Alfa Giulia GTA, the letter "And" meant "allegderita" that in Italian - "facilitated". It was the truth. Unlike "base" model (Giulia GT), on Dzhulii GTA many details from magnesium and aluminium alloys were used. And present Alfa 156 GTA on 125 kg it is heavier than the popular "civil" version with the two-litre motor! But we will not be pedants. After all the main thing - spirit?

Those who already could do a bit of travelling on Alfa 156 GTA, will throw up eyebrows: really this spirit did not suffice earlier? Certainly, 250 forces under cowl GTA are not 165 on Alfa with the new two-litre motor and at all 192 on Alfa with motor V6 in volume of 2,5 litres. But unless somebody reproached Alfa with unsportsmanlike behaviour? Unless not alfovskie engineers have developed this magnificent suspender? Unless not Alfa 156 has won in 1998 title Car of the Year?

"We and now consider that Alfa 156 GTA - the standard of successful balance between sports temperament and comfort. But we Italians and if any dish already seems to you sharp enough, we wish to experiment with seasonings". Having told it, mine the neighbour in a dining table, the engineer from alfovskoy commands, has flavoured my macaroni with something similar to ground pepper. I was not very hungry, but now it was necessary to eat up all it and, naturally, to tell that was tasty.

Let's begin with surroundings. Wheels on Alfa 156 GTA - 17-inch and, of course, only on light-alloy disks - or "spitsovannyh", or with five big bores (the last are pleasant to me more is "a firm" design for 156th Alfa). Accordingly, became more and brake plates: diameter of lobbies is increased to 305 mm, and rear - to 276. Fog were strongly displaced to boards, and in it too there is a reason: the air flow to cooling system has increased. The sensation "sportiness" is strengthened by more expressive mouldings on the thresholds, underlining that the car has more strongly nestled on the earth. The rear bumper, including with aerodynamic intention is changed also. Finish a picture two chromeplated "exhaust" funnels.

The interior is added by metal fringings of "wells" of a speedometer and a tachometre, new - it is natural, three-spoke - "a multipurpose" wheel, aluminium mouldings on the central extension housing and shift lever "pedestal". From the aluminium covered with rubber pimples, mouldings of all pedals, and a platform for rest of the left foot are made also.

It has well turned out. And it to the full concerns both a sedan, and to the versatile person (Alfa 156 GTA is issued in these two forms).

But not this main thing. And even not the speedometer not marked to 300 km / h, not shaking ryavkane powerful alfovskoy "six", not dispersal ... I look through press materials with the description of the new car and I see the head "How to steer the car". On two pages! Such I did not meet: after all to similar actions usually invite journalists not only with the rights, but also with certain skills ... Attentively I read. In general, the arch of "front-wheel" rules. Has dumped gas - and dived in turning movement, and on an exit gas you add, without supposing drift development. But with an ulterior motive of all it to journalists have once again decided to remind.

You remember, what Alfa Romeo 156 GTA - the car with record-breaking small for serial cars a steering transmission ratio - 13,7? In other words, at wheel turning movement on 13,7 degrees front wheels turn on one degree, and from a thrust block against the stop the wheel does only two turns. Try to compare it to the car: if the steering is equipped by the hydraulic booster the reduction ratio, as a rule, makes from 15 to 16, and between two extreme positions the wheel does from two and a half to three and a half turns . And so, alfovtsy have decided that the reduction ratio 13,7 nevertheless is not enough for version GTA a little, and "have aggravated" a wheel even more strongly: 11,3! From a thrust block against the stop - only 1,75 turns! That is hands can be "pasted" safely to a wheel: to shift them it is not necessary even in "parking" modes, without telling about all the others. But what feeling of the car, what confidence that at any moment you direct front wheels there where you want! The most surprising that thus even Alfa GTA, not ROAR about "civil" versions, does not tyre with nervous reactions, does not keep the driver in suspense. Tremendous balance!

And still at the wheel Alfa 156 GTA it is impossible to relax. Here that is still written in "manual" on driving: "At work on version GTA engineers managed to avoid in general an understeer peculiar to front-wheel cars. Professional rally driver recognised that the behaviour of the car is perfectly balanced: on an input in turning movement - the oversteer, and understeer degree on an exit is easily supervised by an accelerator ". Indeed! But to feel a side between work of tyres "on withdrawals" and frank slippage to me it was first hard. Though the sensation that "all under the control", did not leave for a second. Steering including by means of gas, becomes intuitively clear: car reactions unequivocal and predicted. And only one thing at times provoked errors. It ... "A short" steering! When on an exit from turning movement it was necessary to extinguish drift, I, besides intuitively, "overwound" a wheel, supposing secondary fluctuation. It turned out not so beautifully. Simply has not had time to get used.

Whether fires Alfa? Not that word! Whether it was pleasant? Still! But here a question ... Whether I Will want to transform each turning movement into an attraction tickling nerves? Whether this infinite game by gas will exhaust me? Whether it is necessary for me so much adrenaline? You will tell: and what disturbs, if has got tired, simply to reduce rate and to go humanly? What disturbs? I am disturbed by this motor-provoker with matchless alfovskim a sound, to me stirs this tremendous wheel, stir these "metal" pedals, this korotkohodny the lever of a six-step box, these ladles-seats ... To me stirs that it Alfa Romeo GTA, at last! Try, having got acquainted with devilishly pretty lady, to start with it boring conversation on how piously you honour matrimonial fidelity, tell to it about degradation of morals of present youth, about danger of AIDS, about a healthy way of life. Also do not forget to mention that you always observe rules of traffic, especially high-speed mode. Short acquaintance will turn out. And with an alpha. If you very correct pick up to itself other car is better. And if hochsh, that to the full extent ...
But here what not bad to remember. Yes, "intuitively clear" reactions of the car of which so engineers are proud alfovskie, - a thing excellent. But, if to trust materialists, the intuition is the subconscious analysis of the saved up experience. And the this experience it is more, the less often the intuition brings. Perhaps, any other car did not convince me of it how Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.