159 3.2 Ti on the track.

[alfagtv100 (Biggus)]

A 'friend' had his 159 3.2 Ti out on a performance drive day at Sandown yesterday.   
During the first couple of sessions, the effect of the 1700kg weight was obvious, especially at the front end.  The car demonstrated sharp initial turn-in but the light rear end would become slightly unsettled, throwing off the balance of the car.  Peter Barr was instructing on the day and provided some valuable tuition, allowing my 'friend' to adjust his cornering technique.  Adopting an approach similar to that used in a front wheel drive car (the 3.2 is AWD) of slow in-fast out helped achieve greater cornering balance.  By mid-afternoon, my 'friend' was able to four wheel drift the car through turn 1, which was exhilarating (according to my friend).

He also commented that the brakes suffered very little fade and remained consistent throughout the day.  Even though temperatures were in the mid-30's.
He also revelled in the lovely engine note, though agreed it could be a little louder to give the observing public a bit of a treat.

His final verdict was that the 159 makes a lovely sporting saloon for road use.  Removing 200-300kgs would turn it into a entertaining, well balanced, performance track day toy.

Driving well within his and the car's limits (not wanting to f*ck up a $80k car), he achieved a 1:40.2 lap time.  A real driver could have done considerably better.

[Brad M]

How does your friends time compare to your best time around Sandown in the 105?

Was he able to give you any tips? 

[alfagtv100 (Biggus)]

Hey Biggus,

My best in the little old 105 is a 1:46.3, so my friend (in his thumping 3.2l) needs to take a nice big glass of 'harden the f*ck up princess'.
He gave me a tip.  Be nice to your mother.  I don't even know your mum.

Cheers,
Marco.

[Brad M]

Just a glass?

Wonder if it comes in slabs or even a keg ... a Heineken like 5 litre keg in an esky at the next performance driving day should do the job.

[shiny_car]

sounds like he had a good time. is his Ti manual or QTronic? if the latter, was he pleased with it?

i hope he didn't wear the tyres down too much (presuming he was using the factory road tyres). costly items! 

[alfagtv100 (Biggus)]

His car has the QTronic transmission.  Ran the car in Tipronic mode, with 'Sport' activated (changes gear at a higher rev point).  Though not as rewarding to drive as a manual, he was actually impressed with how well it worked.  However, on downshifts, if a gear was selected when the revs were too high, the transmission would not allow the gear to be selected.  This forced him to show more discipline in matching downshifts to the appropriate speed.  Something he doesn't always do in his 105 (compression lock up).
So QTronic is not the best choice for track work but you would argue a big heavy car like a 159, isn't really suitable for this purpose anyway.  He still had fun with it.
He replaced the costly tyres (Pirelli PZero Nero) and believes approximately 15% of the rubber went to tyre heaven.  They performed exceptionally well.

[pep105]

Thanks for the feedback Marco on the your 'friends' track experience with 'his' 159 Ti, interesting to see how the rather portly girl performed around the track, with AWD and Qtronic box, good stuff.

Hey so your mate owns a 159 Ti and a 105, jeepers you too should go cruising together   

[shiny_car]

His car has the QTronic transmission.

He replaced the costly tyres (Pirelli PZero Nero) and believes approximately 15% of the rubber went to tyre heaven.

cool. thanks for the feedback.

i've been reluctant to ever take my Alfas onto a track because of the high stress you can put them through (tyres, brakes, transmission, etc). but i can appreciate how much fun it would be, and why people do it. kudos to him with the Ti.

i can vouch for the car being great on the streets.

[Paul Gulliver]

i've been reluctant to ever take my Alfas onto a track because of the high stress you can put them through (tyres, brakes, transmission, etc)

You don't know what your missing that's what there designed to do.

[JOHN G]

Which model was designed for the track?

John

[alfagtv100 (Biggus)]

i've been reluctant to ever take my Alfas onto a track because of the high stress you can put them through (tyres, brakes, transmission, etc). but i can appreciate how much fun it would be, and why people do it. kudos to him with the Ti.

Yes, only a fool would do this.  However, my friend is awesome, a legend and possesses enormous testicles.  So doing something so reckless, just made him ever more awsomer.
Cheers,

Marco.