RE: Alfa Romeo 4C vs Lotus Exige
Discussion
The Alfa’s mainstream appeal is going to see it succeed, I think.
Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
I had a good look over the 4C at Geneva on Sunday. The black one at the show really did nothing for the car but the "standard" red was also there and looked fabulous. In my view, the dash really lets the car down and it's crying out for an alcantara recovering or something along those lines. Such a shame alongside the bare carbon tub and the fantastic exterior on the car by having such a cheap dash. I appreciate that the Exige is little better on that front and I'll freely admit that I have replaced the interior on mine due to a dislike of the cheap plastics. However, Lotus is all about minimalist so perhaps it's easier to forgive - this Alfa is a thing of beauty in so many ways and, historically, Alfa's have had glorious interiors. It's a shame this one isn't.
That said, I'm still keen to test drive one.
That said, I'm still keen to test drive one.
poprock said:
The Alfa’s mainstream appeal is going to see it succeed, I think.
Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
Sorry chap, that just sounds like a fail for the girlfriend Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
I ma surprised that there appears (correct me if I am wrong) that no main motoring mag have done a proper test between a new Lotus and the 4C. They wax lyrically about the 4C. To me it is almost a Lotus copy, yet this never mentioned. It is as Lotus has never existed or they would like it to cease.
G0ldfysh said:
poprock said:
The Alfa’s mainstream appeal is going to see it succeed, I think.
Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
Sorry chap, that just sounds like a fail for the girlfriend Bear in mind the ‘girlfriend test’: When my head turns to appreciate a particularly nice Lotus, she says something like “What a stupid, over the top car. No wonder you like it.” When I show her the 4C, she says “That’s beautiful, can we get one?”
My g/f can't believe that I could have bought an Aston V8V for the same price as the Exige.
storminnorman said:
What is the practical reason for making a wide car?
Better roadholding at the limit I think is one reason for a wide footprint, but as someone else said, with big boxy sills you have to have that external width outside the car anyway once you add seats and a space for the handbrake and gear lever.Shnozz said:
I think that's par for the course. Women tend to think the Exige is ridiculous, even more so when giving them a lift and they have to fold themselves into it.
My g/f can't believe that I could have bought an Aston V8V for the same price as the Exige.
My wife likes the Elise, as long as the weather is reasonable. She doesn't like driving it in the rain, though. My g/f can't believe that I could have bought an Aston V8V for the same price as the Exige.
zebedee said:
Shnozz said:
I have replaced the interior on mine due to a dislike of the cheap plastics.
Do you have a pic of what you have done please?A pic of "present" won't inspire you very much I suspect!
Edited by Shnozz on Thursday 20th March 10:55
kambites said:
My wife likes the Elise, as long as the weather is reasonable. She doesn't like driving it in the rain, though.
I think it's fair to say that she is in the minority. Most women quite like the looks from outside of the Elise as its "cute" and not too imposing. Only a handful have not whinged at climbing in though and its too compromised for the majority. kambites said:
Here's a stats comparison with the Elise SC (same dimensions as the Exige):
Look at the difference in width (both width figures appear to include mirrors)!
Hmmmm. Are those weight figures like-for-like? I think the alfa number might be "dry" weight, whereas normal EU figures are quoted with fluids, and 70kg for the driver?Look at the difference in width (both width figures appear to include mirrors)!
schrodinger said:
Hmmmm. Are those weight figures like-for-like? I think the alfa number might be "dry" weight, whereas normal EU figures are quoted with fluids, and 70kg for the driver?
I think the Alfa weight is dry; the Lotus one is probably wet with a full tank but no driver (that's how Lotus usually measure, IIRC). If that is the case, the Lotus will be marginally lighter overall (the performance figures seem to bear that out, although it's hard to know without knowing gear ratios and final drive for both cars). Shnozz said:
kambites said:
My wife likes the Elise, as long as the weather is reasonable. She doesn't like driving it in the rain, though.
I think it's fair to say that she is in the minority. Most women quite like the looks from outside of the Elise as its "cute" and not too imposing. Only a handful have not whinged at climbing in though and its too compromised for the majority. kambites said:
storminnorman said:
What is the practical reason for making a wide car?
I suspect it allowed it to avoid the Elise's problem of lack of cabin space. Both have very poor car width to cabin width ratios because the chassis strength is all in the sill. The 4c is 20cm wider than a Ford Focus!
andyps said:
I don't understand why this car would be compared to the Cayman, to me it is a completely different proposition, certainly closer to the Lotus but why does it have to compare directly with anything, it is different and that in itself is a good thing.
TBH I don't understand why you don't understand.Same price bracket, RWD, 2 seater, mid engined sports car, desirable badge, these two cars are totally in the same market space.
It has to compete with the other cars that are similar and in the same price bracket, and unfortunately for Alfa (or maybe not as they are clearly going to sell) everything I've read on it seems to point to it being not quite there yet.
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