RE: Alfa Romeo 8C: You Know You Want To
Discussion
jamieboy said:
f328nvl said:
I can't believe that nobody has pointed out the fact that the Alfa suffers a crippling disability that neither 599 nor DBS has: It's only available in left hand drive.
"Crippling disability"?Feels odd for the first couple of hundred miles, after that it's no more than slightly troublesome at car park barriers / bridge tolls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqaySpvIdMA
Oh and some useful info from MacGeek over at AO.
"The concept 8C Competizione and 8C Spider were based on the 4200GT (manual gearbox version).
When designing the production version, it became clear that the already aging platform and the "plain vanilla" Maserati engine weren't going to cut it.
So they took the Quattroporte platform, shortened it, and started revising and updating the structure. At almost the same time, but a little bit later, the GranTurismo project started as well. Some of the updates designed for the 8C that could be used on the GranTurismo were carried over. Just as an example, look at the front structure of the vehicle: the Quattroporte has the older version, while the 8C and the GranTurismo share the updated version.
And as you know, the same thing happened with the engine.
When somebody tells me that the 8C is "just a rebodied Maserati", I always reply that the GranTurismo is just a rebodied 8C which is not really correct as well, since the 8C has a peculiar half-steel and half-carbon structure: most of the carbon is not structural, but the single CF piece comprising the entire windscreen frame, roof, rear pillars and rear quarter panes is structural: there are no steel reinforcements in it.
Joking aside, they could be considered siblings. They have a common ancestor on which they were based on, although with significant updates, and were developed in parallel."
Oh and some useful info from MacGeek over at AO.
"The concept 8C Competizione and 8C Spider were based on the 4200GT (manual gearbox version).
When designing the production version, it became clear that the already aging platform and the "plain vanilla" Maserati engine weren't going to cut it.
So they took the Quattroporte platform, shortened it, and started revising and updating the structure. At almost the same time, but a little bit later, the GranTurismo project started as well. Some of the updates designed for the 8C that could be used on the GranTurismo were carried over. Just as an example, look at the front structure of the vehicle: the Quattroporte has the older version, while the 8C and the GranTurismo share the updated version.
And as you know, the same thing happened with the engine.
When somebody tells me that the 8C is "just a rebodied Maserati", I always reply that the GranTurismo is just a rebodied 8C which is not really correct as well, since the 8C has a peculiar half-steel and half-carbon structure: most of the carbon is not structural, but the single CF piece comprising the entire windscreen frame, roof, rear pillars and rear quarter panes is structural: there are no steel reinforcements in it.
Joking aside, they could be considered siblings. They have a common ancestor on which they were based on, although with significant updates, and were developed in parallel."
Edited by V6Alfisti on Saturday 27th November 17:08
Ken Sington said:
ZOLLAR said:
Thought i'd post a picture of an 8C that i took in the NEC 
Nice to see that again, and wondered where it had ended up, as I had the pleasure of that particular car living in my garage for 6 months. Whilst the 8C both looks gorgeous and sounds even better [Clarkson]God clearing his throat[/Clarkson], I had to get rid for a number of reasons;1) It's a big car, and in the rural area where we live, narrow lanes populated by lunatic tractor drivers and a carbon fibre body do not mix well together.
2) It is not exactly the sort of car you could run down to the shops for a pint of milk in, or leave it unmolested in Tesco's car park, given the green eyed monsters that populate this island. Sadly, I am not in a position to be a collector and have that much wedge tied up in a car sitting in the garage that only goes out once in a while to somewhere like a Goodwood supercar Sunday.
3) Lastly, as someone said above, the interior is very plasticy, badly thought out and it has the most uncomfortable car seats I have ever sat in; they simulataneously create backache, numb bum and a dead leg. Long journeys were purgatory.
All much like a gorgeous but high maintenance woman; fab to look at, but a pain to live with. Shame really as I waited for 2 years for delivery too
Here some more pics to bring back the memories
I can't see this being as quick round the 'ring as the GTR, therefore you'd be better to buy one of those to drive and a painting of an 8C to look at when you're not driving the GTR. Then spend the change on an Alfa Sud if that floats your boat.
Seriously though, the marketing department of Alfa did good!
Seriously though, the marketing department of Alfa did good!
Killer2005 said:
James Dean said:
This does it for me. All the cons of a convertible, but with better handling than the 8C Competizione as well.
+1 The only car in history that I have liked more as a convertible than the hard top version. In white too please. Edited by James Dean on Friday 26th November 16:16
te!for those shallow people among us -
friend/girl/etc "what car are you driving now?"
reply:
1) "Ferrari"
2) "Aston"
3) "Alfa" - "its an 8C. you know that really cool looking very expensive car"
enough said
friend/girl/etc "what car are you driving now?"
reply:
1) "Ferrari"
2) "Aston"
3) "Alfa" - "its an 8C. you know that really cool looking very expensive car"
enough said
Edited by sjp63 on Sunday 28th November 11:00
Edited by sjp63 on Sunday 28th November 11:00
Ken Sington said:
3) Lastly, as someone said above, the interior is very plasticy, badly thought out and it has the most uncomfortable car seats I have ever sat in; they simulataneously create backache, numb bum and a dead leg. Long journeys were purgatory.
All much like a gorgeous but high maintenance woman; fab to look at, but a pain to live with. Shame really as I waited for 2 years for delivery too
This is exactly what concerned me when I was looking at these a couple of months ago. I really fancied a white convertible until I saw it in the flesh. Not only was I disappointed by the colour (the red however, is gorgeous), I couldn't believe how little luggage space it had - it made the FGT look practical! The coupe had a fair amount behind the seats but it hardly compares to that of an Aston and it just isn't anywhere near as pretty (I think it's too high). I got the feeling that whilst original owners have done well, their prices were about to start dropping significantly and I just couldn't justify paying more for one than a FGT. I'll just have to console myself with the fact I've been out in an original All much like a gorgeous but high maintenance woman; fab to look at, but a pain to live with. Shame really as I waited for 2 years for delivery too
.jamieboy said:
f328nvl said:
I can't believe that nobody has pointed out the fact that the Alfa suffers a crippling disability that neither 599 nor DBS has: It's only available in left hand drive.
"Crippling disability"?Feels odd for the first couple of hundred miles, after that it's no more than slightly troublesome at car park barriers / bridge tolls.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff