My Black 4C

Author
Discussion

Lost soul

8,712 posts

181 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Stuart J said:
If you haven't seen it this is worth a watch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYgQRGJluKw
thanks smile interesting vid and a lovely lovely little car

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Fantuzzi said:
its very clear what I mean.
I'm sorry but you don't know what you mean! smile

Chassis/tub stiffness and roll stiffness are two completely different things but you are getting the concepts (and the journalists' comments about them) mixed up.


Lightweight car, stiff tub/chassis, soft suspension:



Have there been any road tests of the standard 4C yet, without the sports suspension and bigger wheels of the launch edition? I know the UK testers had mentioned in their 4C tests that they wanted to see if the standard version worked on UK roads a bit better than the launch edition. Of course, when they test the car they will write about the surprising amount of nose-diving under heavy braking and body roll. hehe

I'm looking forward to hearing bobo's review of the 4C. driving

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Friday 12th September 2014
quotequote all
Lost soul said:
Stuart J said:
If you haven't seen it this is worth a watch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYgQRGJluKw
thanks smile interesting vid and a lovely lovely little car
Did someone post this already? Got a lot of detail to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLNr3lPMAhY

Fantuzzi

3,297 posts

145 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
quotequote all
braddo said:
Fantuzzi said:
its very clear what I mean.
I'm sorry but you don't know what you mean! smile

Chassis/tub stiffness and roll stiffness are two completely different things but you are getting the concepts (and the journalists' comments about them) mixed up.


Lightweight car, stiff tub/chassis, soft suspension:



Have there been any road tests of the standard 4C yet, without the sports suspension and bigger wheels of the launch edition? I know the UK testers had mentioned in their 4C tests that they wanted to see if the standard version worked on UK roads a bit better than the launch edition. Of course, when they test the car they will write about the surprising amount of nose-diving under heavy braking and body roll. hehe

I'm looking forward to hearing bobo's review of the 4C. driving
I'm really not getting mixed up at all, rest assured. If you cant see what I mean, I don't think Ill waste my time explaining to you!

bobo

Original Poster:

1,702 posts

277 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
for what its worth i'm probably the only lotus (exige v6) and 4c owner (of sorts) and having driven both (the 4c on the road only) i would say that they feel about as stiff as each other, the 4c is probably a little more compliant over bumpy stuff going v quickly. you can go v quickly indeed in the 4c but you dont know what the front end is up to and rely on mechanical grip 100pc.... when it gives you find out after its happened.

my v6s isn't the Cup car and has unbelievable road manners for what it is. on track its too soft for me and its ultimate pace (yes they really are gt3 v2 quick) but its a 75/25 in favour of road use so thats fine by me. the 4c really is a damn fine 1st attempt, its under rated. deeply impressed with the finish and its performance from a 1.7l and quick dsg. the styling package is first class as are the ergonomics and the detailing (carbon tub, pedals etc...)....

as said, its not a lotus but for the money its cheap imho. great car for road use for people that haven't been contaminated by lotus' perfect steering and weight and that consider latest gen M4 or MB AMG steering good. ie almost everyone!

i can understand the hacks preferring an elise over the 4c because of its perfect steering and feel but to most people the upsides of the 4c easily make up for it.

conclusion, if you haven't driven the lotus go buy a 4c, you wont look back.... as for me i'm a lotus man through and through so i cant live without that steering feel (tried everything from Stuttgart) and don't like small capacity engines but the 4c drives like a big capacity lightweight sports car. its a real acheivement which should be celebrated in a world of dull VAG euroboxes (even the sportscars - ie gheymans).

can you imagine a sorted 4c stradale ? what a wonder that would be smile










Edited by bobo on Wednesday 17th September 16:08

m5touringv10

72 posts

118 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
bobo said:
as said, its not a lotus but for the money its cheap imho. great car for road use for people that haven't been contaminated by lotus' perfect steering and weight and that consider latest gen M4 or MB AMG steering good. ie almost everyone!

i can understand the hacks preferring an elise over the 4c because of its perfect steering and feel but to most people the upsides of the 4c easily make up for it.



I've seen many reviews for the 4c some complain they expected more steering feel and were disappointed others claim it's great.
I guess your comments explain why that is. Not as good as the best but better than the majority!

Do you plan to keep the 4c?







Edited by m5touringv10 on Thursday 18th September 23:23

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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Great write-up bobo, interesting to hear from someone who isn't a journalist who can compare directly with the V6 Exige.

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
Agree with most of what you wrote bobo. In my market the Exige would have been 25k Euro's dearer, and taxed heavier, which tipped the scales towards 4C for me.

bobo

Original Poster:

1,702 posts

277 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
m5touringv10 said:

I've seen many reviews for the 4c some complain they expected more steering feel and were disappointed others claim it's great.
I guess your comments explain why that is. Not as good as the best but better than the majority!

Do you plan to keep the 4c?







Edited by m5touringv10 on Thursday 18th September 23:23
Absolutely .... its for my dad smile and he loves it !!!!!! Infact he put a deposit on the 4c spyder.

Edited by bobo on Friday 19th September 20:56

bobo

Original Poster:

1,702 posts

277 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
errek72 said:
Agree with most of what you wrote bobo. In my market the Exige would have been 25k Euro's dearer, and taxed heavier, which tipped the scales towards 4C for me.
The 4c is so good i wouldnt worry. As i said elsewhere the v6 is worth more than the sum of its parts and the best in show because its been honed for so long with real power now. The 4c is simply put , damn cheap for what you get!!!! A real premium product. Its a fantastic car.... a real success imho.

The steering is fine as long as u dont compare it to a lotus. Same can be said for the cayman frankly ... big deal!!

Plipton

1,302 posts

257 months

Sunday 12th October 2014
quotequote all
braddo said:
Have there been any road tests of the standard 4C yet, without the sports suspension and bigger wheels of the launch edition? I know the UK testers had mentioned in their 4C tests that they wanted to see if the standard version worked on UK roads a bit better than the launch edition. Of course, when they test the car they will write about the surprising amount of nose-diving under heavy braking and body roll. hehe
Standard suspension and wheels on the LE work a lot better than the 'race' setup of the LE on everyday roads. It's still fairly stiff and the steering still follows every little imperfection but your fillings don't fall out over bumps and the wheels won't be wrecked in 5 minutes due to kerbing.

So far I have not noticed any significant body roll or diving under braking but mine's only got 350 miles on the clock so I'm nowhere near giving it the berries yet.



errek72

943 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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You may be right but...

Plipton said:
...the wheels won't be wrecked in 5 minutes due to kerbing.
... 6000km with the 18/19 inch teledials and mine have not got a scratch (lots of brake dust though). I guess it all depends on what are considered "normal" roads.

Plipton

1,302 posts

257 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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errek72 said:
I guess it all depends on what are considered "normal" roads.
Indeed. Here it's all narrow lanes with recycled granite cobbles used to edge the pavements and 8-foot-wide 4x4s coming at you from every angle. Not good for delicate alloys.

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
Plipton said:
Indeed. Here it's all narrow lanes with recycled granite cobbles used to edge the pavements and 8-foot-wide 4x4s coming at you from every angle. Not good for delicate alloys.
Only just realised your location. Never been there, only made it to Jersey once but sounds similar. So I get your comment.
Courageous choice you made, all the more commendable.

Elderly

3,486 posts

237 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
quotequote all
Plipton said:
So far I have not noticed any significant body roll or diving under braking but mine's only got 350 miles on the clock so I'm nowhere near giving it the berries yet.
Other than the Le Val des Terres Hillclimb, where do you 'give it the berries' ?

How do you manage to drive such a feisty car and yet keep within the 25mph and 35mph speed limits?

I've only experienced a 4C LE on track and certainly its fabulous acceleration lifted the nose and it did dive under braking,
but I assumed that was just because the brakes were so very effective.

Plipton

1,302 posts

257 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Elderly said:
Other than the Le Val des Terres Hillclimb, where do you 'give it the berries' ?

How do you manage to drive such a feisty car and yet keep within the 25mph and 35mph speed limits?

I've only experienced a 4C LE on track and certainly its fabulous acceleration lifted the nose and it did dive under braking,
but I assumed that was just because the brakes were so very effective.
I'd never dream of exceeding the speed limit....ahem, officer . Valdees is one for spring (too many wet leaves on the road to go mad this time of year - and it's all over in 40 seconds anyway). Luckily France is a 50 mile ferry ride away biggrin

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
Should anyone be interested, awesome write-up from an ex-Gallardo and current 911 owner.

https://medium.com/@johnnylinden/alfa-romeo-4c-one...


Lost soul

8,712 posts

181 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
quotequote all
errek72 said:
Should anyone be interested, awesome write-up from an ex-Gallardo and current 911 owner.

https://medium.com/@johnnylinden/alfa-romeo-4c-one...
High praise smile

errek72

943 posts

245 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
quotequote all
Indeed.
Some more from the same author, after spending over 100 (yikes) laps on the 'ring with it.

https://medium.com/@johnnylinden/alfa-romeo-4c-dri...

Not sure where he finds the time, but kudo's I'd say.