[Peter A]

@PSk Pete - I just got my 4c and have a lot to learn, and can’t drive it’s limit yet, which is high. Check out the 4c forum. yes the suspension fixes are in...the later cars seem to be better...some is just checking alignment settings and making some changes to factory settings. There is a small but dedicated aftermarket that has produced some amazing stuff for suspension, engine and even interior. It’s not cheap though.

Interesting comments, and consistent:

• Driving a 4c is an experience
• not luxurious
• very fast up to 100mph
• extraordinarily responsive
• not for most people at all
• not a daily driver for most owners
• gorgeous
• quite reliable including tranny, and people have been taking them to the track, granted not that many have high mileage
• relatively cheap to run
• quality has improved
• takes some skill and guts to drive at the limit
• it’s a sports car, not a supercar

Engine derived from mass market design? Yup, Alfa/FCA took an iron block engine and made it in aluminum, gave it full girdle lower end, forged crank and pistons, cast but beefy rods. Plus all the modern digital and turbo stuff, sounds like something that happened once in the 1950s...

CF chassis car that still ends up being heavier than a Miata? Yup. That gorgeous bodywork weighs a bit. And the stuff to make it go really fast weighs something. It’s still less than 2500 lbs US for heavens sake. SZ was not that light.

Steering is heavy in a parking lot? Have you driven a gtv6? 4c feels like power steering.

No manual. Can’t argue about that. I will say that the car has a narrow but vicious power band and I like the TCT and it fits the engine. Gear ratios are short and tight.

No storage. Yup. Pack light like you own a Junior Z. Can’t open the trunk from outside? Pretend you have an old spider.

Too loud? get one with a standard or dual mode exhaust. Too stiff, don’t buy one with a track suspension, go to 17/18 wheels instead of 18/19.

Too expensive? When a new Honda costs $30k? Get a low mileage used one, pretty good values.

A marketing effort? You bet, just like Montreal.

I am actually pretty happy with the audio. The original Parrott radio was a cool idea, just didn’t work. Use my phone for Nav. Or a map.

Heat and AC work. You actually have to turn a dial to adjust heat. Targa top doesn’t leak.

Owners take this bad girl to the track and she runs all day long, like a lot of old Alfa’s. Faster than a GT3 or a Guilia Quad at the ring? No, not stock anyways.

Even if you dont want to own one...and I get that, you should experience driving one. It’s amazing. And gorgeous in person. Like an Alfa.

 

[Peter A]

Definitely Nervosa!

@Max Pershyn I took your counsel from the 4c forum. My car is standard suspension and 18/19 wheels and it is great on the road. If I want more for track I’ll get an adjustable set of coil overs and have the exact stiffness and ride height for Street and track. The 4c requires some fettling I think, like so many of us have done to 101/105/115/116 cars over the years to make it personalized.

Still want...a ‘69 Berlina, oh and a 1970 Buick GS 455.

 

[Peter A]

No rampant tranny issues. Some reprogramming on early cars. If you look in the 4C forum there have been a few failures, but then again a lot of owners have taken their cars to the track frequently and worked them out hard with no issues. A few cars have higher mileage and no problems. Not a lot of cars manufactured, approx 10k worldwide and not a ton of mileage accumulated on most. A bit of an unknown perhaps, perhaps we’ll learn more over time and from experience with the powertrain as installed in the Euro Guilietta Q.

These cars are quick on the road, and in 0-60 especially with the launch control feature. I have never used launch control, didn’t buy the car for stoplight racing and that seems to me more likely to abuse the tranny and clutch. I don’t drop the clutch or speedshift my gtv6 either, which is guaranteed to shorten the life of the driveshaft couplings, clutch and gearbox synchros. 🍀

 

[Peter A]

She is a savage little beast