4C

[sunbeam alpine]

Can someone who either has one or has test driven one comment on whether someone who is 6'5" would ever get in one (and sit comfortably)?

(My local Alfa garage laughed when I said I was interested and said I'd never get in one).

[Oilchange]

Here's the Harris-Exige vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_X-cyhk63I

[Zyp]

sunbeam alpine said:

Can someone who either has one or has test driven one comment on whether someone who is 6'5" would ever get in one (and sit comfortably)?

(My local Alfa garage laughed when I said I was interested and said I'd never get in one).

I'm 6' 3.75" and got in one ok.

Found I had more room once in it, and getting in was easier than getting in the Exige.
Another inch and a quarter may be pushing it

[isuk]

sunbeam alpine said:

Can someone who either has one or has test driven one comment on whether someone who is 6'5" would ever get in one (and sit comfortably)?

(My local Alfa garage laughed when I said I was interested and said I'd never get in one).

I'm 6'1" and have the seat in it's furthest back position. There is still headroom above me but not a huge amount. It's perhaps worth asking the question on the 4C forum as there are more owners there.

[prg123]

update - I've decided to order a 4c and PX my R8... Subject to the figures working out I will be placing an order once the dealer gets back to me with figures I am happy with.

Thinking competizioni red, red calipers, carbon front headlight covers, stereo, full black leather, sports kit (exhaust and suspension), rear parking sensors

Anyone else got that specification? Have I missed anything that I should get?

- Pete

[Cresco]

prg123 said:

update - I've decided to order a 4c and PX my R8... Subject to the figures working out I will be placing an order once the dealer gets back to me with figures I am happy with.

Thinking competizioni red, red calipers, carbon front headlight covers, stereo, full black leather, sports kit (exhaust and suspension), rear parking sensors

Anyone else got that specification? Have I missed anything that I should get?

- Pete

I think you've covered everything. Upgrading the alloys may be a good shout too you.

[errek72]

prg123 said:

update - I've decided to order a 4c and PX my R8... Subject to the figures working out I will be placing an order once the dealer gets back to me with figures I am happy with.

Thinking competizioni red, red calipers, carbon front headlight covers, stereo, full black leather, sports kit (exhaust and suspension), rear parking sensors

Anyone else got that specification? Have I missed anything that I should get?

- Pete

Personal territory this, but perhaps consider
- in stead of sports kit go with wheels and exhaust but leave out sticky tires. The standard ones have enormous grip and better wear.
- delete stereo: you remove weight and create room for sunglasses. And you can't hear it anyway.
- bum warming comes by grace of the engine, combined with leather seats... I'd go with fabric or Alcantara
- some colours look nicer without the shiney carbon headlight covers IRL. Also easier to digest an aftermarket upgrade without having first forked out for those.


In the end you've ticked the parking sensors and airco. Both work and are needed.

[errek72]

sunbeam alpine said:

Can someone who either has one or has test driven one comment on whether someone who is 6'5" would ever get in one (and sit comfortably)?

(My local Alfa garage laughed when I said I was interested and said I'd never get in one).

I'm 6 with relatively long legs and had to put the seat forward quite a bit to be able to confidently stomp the brakes. A mate is 6' 7" and barely got in, but the seat has three height adjustments and mine is in the middle one. Height to be adjusted per instructions with tools that is.
As is I have over 10cm room above my head.

[jamieboy]

prg123 said:

update - I've decided to order a 4c

Curious to know what made you change your mind? After the test drive, you seemed pretty underwhelmed.

[prg123]

I thought about it a bit more.... I previously had an Elise and had a lot of fun in that, and in concept the 4c is very similar. Also I like the idea of the 4c being a limited run therefore not many on UK roads.

However since this update I have spoken to the dealer and they have said they have sold the slot now so would have to wait up to 18 months so unless I can find another dealer I may not be getting one after all :-(

- Pete

[Zyp]

I had a call from my dealer this week saying they have more build slots available.
Give Joe at Chris Variava Nottingham a call.

[prg123]

Thanks I will

[shoestring7]

CAR magazine in January; Alfa's 'Sports' chassis a disaster on UK roads and sadly it's the one everybody has ordered. They appear to have tried a 'Normal/Comfort' set up which works much better but they don't give many details.

SS7

[Plipton]

shoestring7 said:

CAR magazine in January; Alfa's 'Sports' chassis a disaster on UK roads and sadly it's the one everybody has ordered. They appear to have tried a 'Normal/Comfort' set up which works much better but they don't give many details.

SS7

That's a bu99er.

TBH of the 6 4Cs I saw prior to getting mine all had the sports setup and I thought they were way to stiff for my 1/2-century-old back so I opted for the girly standard suspenders and little wheels. The rim protection is good too. Stock zorst is throaty without being offensive (personal opinion, of course) and the ride is acceptable, although it does tram-line a bit.

I'm a short-ar5e at 5'11" and have short legs/long body so only just got enough headroom on standard seat height. Will be lowering for track days as my helmet doesn't fit (oo-er matron).

Dealer's son is 6'6" and gets in fine (drives a 500 Abarth as a daily driver which I can't drive comfortably) so I think anyone who is seriously considering one, regardless of height or build, should try one out.

[errek72]

Plipton said:

shoestring7 said:

CAR magazine in January; Alfa's 'Sports' chassis a disaster on UK roads and sadly it's the one everybody has ordered. They appear to have tried a 'Normal/Comfort' set up which works much better but they don't give many details.

SS7

That's a bu99er.

TBH of the 6 4Cs I saw prior to getting mine all had the sports setup and I thought they were way to stiff for my 1/2-century-old back so I opted for the girly standard suspenders and little wheels. The rim protection is good too. Stock zorst is throaty without being offensive (personal opinion, of course) and the ride is acceptable, although it does tram-line a bit.

I'm a short-ar5e at 5'11" and have short legs/long body so only just got enough headroom on standard seat height. Will be lowering for track days as my helmet doesn't fit (oo-er matron).

Dealer's son is 6'6" and gets in fine (drives a 500 Abarth as a daily driver which I can't drive comfortably) so I think anyone who is seriously considering one, regardless of height or build, should try one out.

To add to the above : Top Gear magazine declares the normal suspension (they call it comfort but Alfa does not) also unfit for British roads.
To be honest it sounds like Brits should really get their roads looked at, but for the time being according to Brit press Alfa had better pull out of the UK market altogether. In the end this would shorten delivery time for the rest of us so no objections here really.

[shoestring7]

errek72 said:

Plipton said:

shoestring7 said:

CAR magazine in January; Alfa's 'Sports' chassis a disaster on UK roads and sadly it's the one everybody has ordered. They appear to have tried a 'Normal/Comfort' set up which works much better but they don't give many details.

SS7

That's a bu99er.

TBH of the 6 4Cs I saw prior to getting mine all had the sports setup and I thought they were way to stiff for my 1/2-century-old back so I opted for the girly standard suspenders and little wheels. The rim protection is good too. Stock zorst is throaty without being offensive (personal opinion, of course) and the ride is acceptable, although it does tram-line a bit.

I'm a short-ar5e at 5'11" and have short legs/long body so only just got enough headroom on standard seat height. Will be lowering for track days as my helmet doesn't fit (oo-er matron).

Dealer's son is 6'6" and gets in fine (drives a 500 Abarth as a daily driver which I can't drive comfortably) so I think anyone who is seriously considering one, regardless of height or build, should try one out.

To add to the above : Top Gear magazine declares the normal suspension (they call it comfort but Alfa does not) also unfit for British roads.
To be honest it sounds like Brits should really get their roads looked at, but for the time being according to Brit press Alfa had better pull out of the UK market altogether. In the end this would shorten delivery time for the rest of us so no objections here really.

Top Gear piece here: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/alfa-romeo-4c-c...

Rather than replace several thousand miles of the UK's tarmac, it might behove Alfa to quietly slip Lotus a few quid and get their geo/dampers/bushes fecking sorted. Every journo I've seen/talked to about the 4C starts "I really, really wanted to love the 4C but......."

SS7

[Ruskins]

Do Lotus do consultancy? Perhaps they could take a look at once and recommend some suspension settings....

[errek72]

shoestring7 said:

Top Gear piece here: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/alfa-romeo-4c-c...

Rather than replace several thousand miles of the UK's tarmac, it might behove Alfa to quietly slip Lotus a few quid and get their geo/dampers/bushes fecking sorted. Every journo I've seen/talked to about the 4C starts "I really, really wanted to love the 4C but......."

SS7

Correction : every *UK* journo except for Hammond and Clarkson. So far.

Can't see why Lotus would help a competitor. Although money talks I guess.
But also can't see why Alfa would pay as they can't produce enough of these cars to meet global demand.
Outside of "UK roads" it drives just fine thanks.

[errek72]

Ruskins said:

Do Lotus do consultancy? Perhaps they could take a look at once and recommend some suspension settings....

Very much so. And more than that too, just look at the Lotus Cortina, Lotus Omega/Carlton etc.
And there is also Prodrive that tuned the Brera "for UK roads".

[shoestring7]

errek72 said:

shoestring7 said:

Top Gear piece here: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/alfa-romeo-4c-c...

Rather than replace several thousand miles of the UK's tarmac, it might behove Alfa to quietly slip Lotus a few quid and get their geo/dampers/bushes fecking sorted. Every journo I've seen/talked to about the 4C starts "I really, really wanted to love the 4C but......."

SS7

Correction : every *UK* journo except for Hammond and Clarkson. So far.

Can't see why Lotus would help a competitor. Although money talks I guess.
But also can't see why Alfa would pay as they can't produce enough of these cars to meet global demand.
Outside of "UK roads" it drives just fine thanks.

I cannot understand why you would think that the 4C has a well conceived and executed chassis that for some unknown reason happens to be borderline dangerous on 'UK roads'. Take off the Rosso Alfa tinted glasses and you'd realise there isn't a single other example of a road car (well not that I can think of) where this is the case.

What we have is a poor selection of spring rates, damping, wheel size, geometry, bushes and wheel travel that makes the car unstable over poor surfaces, especially when the front is loaded under braking. Contrast this with the Lotus Evora, which follows Lotus' philosophy of soft-springs and good damping, and is recognised as having class leading ride/handling on UK roads as well as everywhere else. It has the same basic layout as the 4c.

SS7