Q system? Can someone enlighten me please?

[mccrackenj]

Hi all

I've just seen a yr 2000 156 2.5V6 advertised locally and described as having a "Q System Trip Tronic" gearbox. Can someone explain what this means please?

Also, I've seen earlier posts advising people to steer clear of the Selespeed transmission - but what's the difference beteween "Selespeed", "Sportronic" and this "Q System"

Thanks

[twinspark]

Selespeed (aka Sillyspeed) is the F1 inspired 'flappy paddle' type gearbox (although it doesn't, as I recall, have flappy paddles, it has buttons). This is the one to avoid as they're problematic and hugely expensive to fix when they go wrong.

Q-System is a conventional type auto with the Tiptronic style 'manual' selection of ratios - ie. push / pull arrangement to select the 4 gears as an alternative to fully auto.

As far as I know, Sportronic is just another variation of Q-system.

[mccrackenj]

Thanks Twinspark.

Anyone know of reliability issues with the Sportronic/Q System? Is it on a par with the Selespeed or is it OK?

I've tried entering sportronic into the search facility but only seems to get 2 or 3 hits.

I'm really looking for a 166 but can't find any locally so I quite fancy this as an alternative. It's a 2.5 V6 Lusso in black and only 32k.

Thanks

[Grif500]

mccrackenj said:

Anyone know of reliability issues with the Sportronic/Q System? Is it on a par with the Selespeed or is it OK?

I've owned a few Q-systems over the years and have never had any issues with the gearbox, the last one was sold with over 130,000 miles on the clock and still ran perfectly.

There are the standard issues with these cars though to look out for, cambelt, bushes, wishbones, but so long as it's been looked after it's a great car

[dgr]

Q system, is a standard 4 speed auto box with a torque convertor. The Q system allows you optionally to have a H pattern 'manual' selection. In addition the gearbox has a sport mode which delays up shifts and keeps the engine on cam as it were.
Had ours 6 years now and only use the manual mode on motorways these days to flick into 3rd for instant overtakes. Mind you I drive an Elise every day.

It's good for an automatic, if you have to have one (My wife will only drive automatics and the Alfa is hers). It's also been totally reliable, the only fault we've had was the air intake coming loose and one of the kids jammed the tailgate catch.

Totally different to Selespeed which is a true semi-autonatic with a clutch and loads of the finest Italian electronics. I bought an almost new V6 Q system over a new selespeed for this reason.

Hope this helps

[mccrackenj]

Thanks DGR & everyones else. That's useful. No need for me to avoid Q system or a 166 with sporttronic if I find the right car then.

Cheers