RE: Alfa 4C UK price announced

[downr]

given a choice between an alfa and the really unimaginative alternatives of a Porsche or an Audi (or heaven forbid a BMW). I'll take the car with some character every day of the week

[E38Ross]

j_s14a said:

matpilch said:

buttonless steering wheel, thank god

Definitely a fact worth celebrating.

However, the wheel is still an abomination. It's FAR too thick for a sports car, and the shape does not lend itself to fluid driving.

However, it's nothing that a lovely aftermarket Nardi wheel couldn't solve, and otherwise this car looks to be a cracker.

Depends really. What's the issue with having buttons to alter the radio volume on the wheel? Depends on the car I guess, on this car, perhaps. On a barge which is to make your life easy then I'd be miffed if it didn't have steering wheel buttons. They've been a revelation for me and wouldn't want another car without them for the daily drive.

[pete.g]

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

Following my brother's experiences with a 159 Ti, I would never buy an Alfa - mechanical, electrical and electronic issues, leaks, dodgy locks and customer service from the ninth circle of hell.

You had electrical AND electronic issues. Blimey, bad luck

You mean that YOU don't know the difference?

[E38Ross]

pete.g said:

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

Following my brother's experiences with a 159 Ti, I would never buy an Alfa - mechanical, electrical and electronic issues, leaks, dodgy locks and customer service from the ninth circle of hell.

You had electrical AND electronic issues. Blimey, bad luck

You mean that YOU don't know the difference?

can't say I do

[anniesdad]

Gorgeous...

[GroundEffect]

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

Following my brother's experiences with a 159 Ti, I would never buy an Alfa - mechanical, electrical and electronic issues, leaks, dodgy locks and customer service from the ninth circle of hell.

You had electrical AND electronic issues. Blimey, bad luck

You mean that YOU don't know the difference?

can't say I do

...get to Google.

[Krikkit]

Puddenchucker said:

Beanoir said:

Oh why did they stick with those headlights...the concept car had such a better look.

According to a recent article in CAR magazine, FIAT boss Sergio Marchionne claimed it saved €4m by ditching the headlights of the concept car. It didn't elaborate further, so I'm guessing that must have been tooling costs?

Tooling, because a low-volume car like this won't really use that many, and homologation costs as well!

I think it looks rather smashing. The steering wheel is the only thing that spoils a rather fabulous-looking (imo) interior - maybe you could solve that with a wheel transplanted from another Alfa? (To retain the airbag)

[pete.g]

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

E38Ross said:

pete.g said:

Following my brother's experiences with a 159 Ti, I would never buy an Alfa - mechanical, electrical and electronic issues, leaks, dodgy locks and customer service from the ninth circle of hell.

You had electrical AND electronic issues. Blimey, bad luck

You mean that YOU don't know the difference?

can't say I do

Then you're probably trying to make melba toast in your DVD player as I write this.

[SWoll]

jamieboy said:

SWoll said:

annodomini2 said:

Quick review on topgear is stating gearbox issues.

Really?

The gearbox is the TCT dual-clutcher, which we've previously slagged off in other cars (we're looking at you, MiTo). But here it's been tuned to suit a sports car and it slips into each gear pretty damn quickly. From what I can tell from this side of the car, there are no dramatic pauses between pulling the paddle and feeling the change (though it appears to be a touch sticky at curbside manoeuvring speeds).

I'm assuming that's the same article you read?

No, I think he means this one: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/alfa-romeo-4c-f...

TG said:

We'll get back to you later with fuller impressions but so far this is what we're thinking: great chassis and steering, supple ride, great performance. It's properly quick. But its flappy paddle gearbox is a pain in the bum, the blown 1.75-litre engine is too laggy until the boost kicks in with a chirruping whooompfhh, and you have to stand on the thing to really get it moving.

A bit lukewarm.

Thanks for that, didn't come up when I did a search earlier.

Damn shame if that is a production spec car.

[loomx]

895kg?! I'm in.

[Ali_T]

I have a ridiculous amount of want for this. Please be good. Pleeeeeeeeease.

[SWoll]

downr said:

given a choice between an alfa and the really unimaginative alternatives of a Porsche or an Audi (or heaven forbid a BMW). I'll take the car with some character every day of the week

How far does character go if the unimaginative alternatives are better built, better to drive and better value for money though?

Doesn't make sense to me if all of the above ends up being accurate. I'd take the best car and not worry about being 'imaginative' personally.

[RichB]

SWoll said:

downr said:

given a choice between an alfa and the really unimaginative alternatives of a Porsche or an Audi (or heaven forbid a BMW). I'll take the car with some character every day of the week

How far does character go if the unimaginative alternatives are better built, better to drive and better value for money though?

Doesn't make sense to me if all of the above ends up being accurate. I'd take the best car and not worry about being 'imaginative' personally.

I have owned 4 Alfas and 3 Porsches and to date the latest Porsche has been less reliable than any of the Alfas or previous Porsches so I tend not to go along with the German is best mantra. Of course I haven't driven the 4C so I am unable to comment on it's abilities as a sports car.

[gwm]

What a dull and drab interior. Where's the flair?

[MarshPhantom]

SWoll said:

RichB said:

So they've not even driven the car

Or complained about the gearbox.

They have driven it, they describe the gearbox as a pain in the bum and say engine is too laggy.

[RichB]

MarshPhantom said:

SWoll said:

RichB said:

So they've not even driven the car

Or complained about the gearbox.

They have driven it, they describe the gearbox as a pain in the bum and say engine is too laggy.

Yes, I saw that reply later.

[torres del paine]

Exige V6 S for me over this dumpy pretender. No contest. Otherwise, the gorgeous Cayman R for a more luxurious take on this sector.

[Toltec]

I have found myself comparing it to the MP4-12C

Carbon fibre chassis etc

The McLaren has 2 1/2 times the power and not quite 50% more weight and crucially nearly four times the price.

So the McLaren is higher tech with the torque vectoring etc, however the 4c does look like it stacks up pretty well as a budget alternative.

The steering wheel would have to go.

[V6GT]

Exciting times!

[Terminator X]

Are there plans for an engine with more cylinders?

TX.