Test Drive Alfa Romeo 155 1992 - 1998 Sedan
Like two aircraft
Audi A4 Kamai VS Alfa Romeo 155 Q4Ivan V. Paderin
The topic of the sports all-wheel drive car is limitless. There is only a regular serial machine to put on four leading wheels and attract a turbine, like yesterday's modest sedan or Hach turns into a monster racing tracks. There is no need to go far for examples. In the yard stands Lancia Delta HF Integrale - the car is almost legendary, the six-time world champion in the rally. Also, a candidate for the Hall of Fame and Subaru Impreza - the 1995 champion. Others got to our test. But they also have all the grounds to be called not easy machines. And that's why... Alfa Romeo 155 Q4
The acute-coronal Alfa 155 appeared in 1992 - the heyday of the biodide. And if then the car of chopped forms presented, say, Toyota, it would not avoid stinging criticism. But Alfa Romeo nobody dreamed even to reproach - so high the prestige of this brand and the authority of Italian design. A year later, 155th forced to talk about themselves the whole car world, winning the German body championship - DTM. Nikola Larini became the champion of 1993, part-time test pilot SCUDERIA FERRARI. On Alfa Romeo 155 V6 T1, he did not leave the Mercedes-Benz and BMW stables on their tracks no chance.
All-wheel drive version and a 2-liter turbo engine appeared almost simultaneously with the basic model. Create the most powerful and expensive version of Quadrafoglio 4 hand did not flour. Italians rightly believe that a four-wheel drive without a turbine is money for the wind. So, Q4. In the appearance of the machine - aggression itself. You will see this in the rearview mirror - immediately give way to the road.
Love Alfa 155 for two reasons: for beauty and power. Alfa conquers. But you need to be a very bold man to buy such a car. Alfa Romeo 155 is designed for a fanatic that does not pay attention to its disadvantages and capable of hours to argue about its advantages. The main advantage of our 155th is the body color. Perhaps any Italian car in red is perceived as a kind of Ferrari. Pseudo-alone elements and other pops on Alfa 155 are missing, there is also no string from Versace - it is applied. The car is designed primarily under a person who knows the car in the machines. It will not hinder pay attention to 16-inch wheels. Tires and ... Pirelli discs. The slots in the disks are made in the form of a capital letter of the company logo.
Salon. To do not spread for a long time, we note that there is everything inside the car. Armchairs in Alfa leather, with good lateral support. But the seat cushion allows you to move booty. It is impossible to call it a disadvantage, you can not please at all. But still, in a harsh chair, it is better to have a dense landing - this is a private opinion.
Everything would be nothing, but only a springtime sun played a joke with me. Started paintings of summer, cabriolet ... no, better spider. Favorite girl and road leaving for sunset. Sometimes it is pleasant to dream. In the meantime, I was dreaming, Miller's racers Pilot rider. I have Alfa Romeo. Yes, when the hijacker is the vice-champion of Russia, to chase his empty business. In the sky, the plane flew over us - I remembered when he heard a bumpy hum. Looked in the sky. Empty. I looked around and saw the racing under 150, not less than, Alfa. With its square aerodynamics, the car literally shook air masses. The car looks very aggressive and in statics, and at a good speed turns into a similar similarity of the CU-27.
Audi A4 Kamai 1.8 Turbo Quattro Audi was not a conveyor, but the Kamai-refined tuning studio. Serious work was carried out inside the cabin. Outside - the wheel arches of the wheels are expanded.
It costs without a hitch of spoilers, antiques and other skimming. Body laconic. But in the face of the car recognizable not immediately. Standard plastic lining Audi A4 with emblem from woven rings gave way to a metal grid with an asymmetric Kamai sign.
One KAMAI design was not separated - inlet and outcomes were reconfigured in the engine: the phases of the gas distribution, the configuration of the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipes were changed. It should be noted immediately that pipes are burning - the sound of the motor has a quick, aggressive ride.
Sitting into the car, the driver is in a special world of skin, walnut, leverware and buttons. To refer to the driver's seat, the word cockpit is more suitable than the left front seat. The salon first seems close - black leather and plastic visually reduce the space. But soon you understand that the places are as much as in the standard A4. Landing low. Having raised the back of the chair as much as possible, got a wonderful review.
Sports steering wheel with airbag, light hand lever box, sports pedals. Everything is so organic that control A4 is a pleasure. It's time to pump Audi Kamai. Motor roar is impressive. Audi engine is less than 1.8 liters. But the specific power of two engines is comparable: 0.95 liters. s. / cube. See Alfa and 0.94 at Audi. In addition, the German is easier without a small 130 kg.
In motion, smooth bodies of the Audi bodies do not shake aerial masses. Su-27 did not flush here. However, the tuning setting of the exhaust also allows not looking to accept Audi for the fighter on the shaving. Only for this car speed should be decent. Our test gradually turned into a kind of air battle. It seemed that both cars would take off. For this there were all the grounds. If it were not for Sir Isaac Newton with his own laws. How cars behaved, tell the Miller pilot team riders.
Special opinion - I
Audi + A4 + 1.8 + Turbo + Quattro Alexey Vasilyev, Racer Miller-pilot team, vice-champion of Russia on the Koltovy Gonbreak of the driver. Comfortable. The entire instrument panel reads perfectly. The passenger seat is located at a sufficient distance and does not create obstacles to the transmission lever.
To make face nothing. Everything is at hand and managed instinctively. Overview in the window and in the mirror is a magnificent. Single. Pretty peculiar, inherent in all models of Audi and Volkswagen, when the seats are adjustable in three handles: back-back, tilt backrest and adjusting the pillow height. Since the lifting of the pillow occurs along the radius, the desired position is not immediately selected. But, oddly enough, in Audi quickly get used to landing, which just seemed uncomfortable. Very comfortable. The anatomy of the seat fully corresponds to the status of a simply charged, but not a sports-racing car, that is, the function of comfort and prestige is more emphasized, rather than sportiness. With rhythmic movement, the body is sufficiently resistant to the chair. Very comfortable for rhythmic work. Soft and smooth hydraulic. The angle of rotation of the wheels is well felt. Date. Located competently, all in their places. Very informative.
Only gas drop has a weak reverse. Maybe the mechanism of the pedal drive itself and triggers clearly, but since the engine turbine has inertia, then turning the revolutions is slow. But you get used to it. The gearbox gear. It is in the right place and fully meets the requirements of an athlete. Planting the driver is oriented to work by the lever, as in a normal racing car. I liked it. There is a professional habit - with rhythmic work, the lever to give a greater stiffness of the hand to sign her right foot, the hand as it should slide on the leg. So, this focus passes on Audi. The handle itself is very pleasant to go to the palm. The coming impression of the salon. The salon is wonderful. Maybe even more convenient than in the BMW cars of the same class. The suspension. Soft and short-terrestrial at the same time. For our roads is not the most suitable option. Lift and box. The engine for this car could be done more powerful.
Overclocking from the spot is not the highest (Alfa starts more dynamic). The speaker is well felt on 3-4 transmissions, and not only with constant acceleration, but also in the mode of cruising. This is achieved due to the optimal selection of transmission transfer numbers and the elastic characteristics of the motor. Refuel. Course stability at height. The car is controlled.
It seemed soft silent blocks in the rear suspension - when driving a tempo snake, a retardation of the stabilization of the task was felt. Very good. Audi brakes are incomparably better than Alfa-Romeo. What is in principle understandable. After all, in essence Alfa is a serial car, and Audi is prepared, almost like a group-A sports car. Absolute informativeness of the pedal. With a sharp press of the pedal at a speed of 150 km / h brakes, it is so cool that it does not even reach the ABS. The car slows down with great progress. Kaif. There is. But I would like more than a lot of impression from the car. On the cabin and appearance is a car for a man 25-30 years. And according to the dynamic sensations of Audi, I would recommend fashionable moving girls who are engaged in aerobics and lead an active lifestyle. Who will win the first stage of the F-1 championship? Wilune. Hill will not even fifth.
Special opinion - II
Alfa + Romeo + 155 + Q4 Igor Mikhalev, Miller team racer + pilotwork driver. All controls are located in their places, at hand. You do not need to be distracted. Problems with visibility - the rear view is practically no due to the high backs of the rear seat. Side view is eaten by wide plastic lining on medium racks. There are no complaints to the mirrors. Very comfortable. The range of adjustments of the driver's chair does not cause complaints. I liked it. I love tight seats. But not everyone gets used to so much. It is like a professional chairs racer in Alfa-Romeo I like more than in Audi.Rul. The car rulits 4 on a five-point scale. The hydraulicer does not accurately respond to the cooler of the steering. The Branca itself is chosen correctly both in diameter and in the cross section. Date. From the point of view of ergonomics, everything is great. Pedals are almost perfect for athlete. We'll talk about the brakes separately. The gearbox gear. The lever is very convenient. However, there is no proper clarity during the lever and the inclusion of the gear. Typical Italian finish compared to the same Audi leaves much to be desired ...
Plastic A-La Ferrari-F40 plays well on Ferrari, and for everyday use it is irregular. Engine and box. A fairly powerful, short-proof sports engine, with an excellent reaction to the pedal. But the box with a very big step of gear ratios. It turns out that the engine is designed for rigid sports riding, and the transmission is on smooth, measured. Transmission noticeably limits the passport capabilities of the motor. The box must be shorter. The suspension. The suspension is also short-terrestrial and, like the motor, is designed for sports. Since the box does not contribute to this, then the need for a tough sports suspension disappears. In addition, in our conditions, such a sensible suspension requires a neat ride. Refuel. Very good.
The machine is fully controlled. All strictly. Dynamics. Liked the initial moment of overclocking. When the turbine is turned on, very good pickup feels. The driver of Alfa-Romeo will have to hope - Dams are in all modes of movement, and even with a stock. Brakes for such a motor and such a car - no. I would not advise chasing this car. With this power, they must be more effective than. Kaif. I did not feel a special bua. But the person who moved to Alfa-Romeo from the ordinary car, this device, of course, will impress the impression of the car. Good car. Good. Alfa does not take it away. But much in it from the Italian wide-up - Fiat.
The design of the machine and the cabin is perceived as a frank sacus under Ferrari. Therefore, in everyday life, the car is also discomfort, as well as supercars. The usual consumer is sooner or later can bother. And so, Alfa is an aesthetic thing. Who wins the first stage of the F-1 championship? Wilune. Beneton will come second-third.
Source: Motor magazine