Alfa 4C Spider

CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Paddles on the wheel or otherwise seems to engage passions out of all proportions. I've only ever driven the 4200 with paddles, and that suits me fine.

C
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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14,150
Think my drives in the Ferrari 458 and the McLaren MP4 both had paddles moving with the wheel from memory, but you could almost get a 90deg turn with your hands in same place as straight on, which helped..!!
 
M

Mr.Cambio

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Paddles is not a problem. It's a matter of getting used to, and you'll never mix gears. I had at the same time the 4200 -with paddles static- and the saab -paddles moving with the wheel- .
Never ever i did mix them up.
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

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CatmanV2 said:
Paddles on the wheel or otherwise seems to engage passions out of all proportions. I've only ever driven the 4200 with paddles, and that suits me fine.

C
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It's not paddles per se.

The Masers have their paddles on the steering column, which is fine, but the 4C has them attached to the wheel itself. As soon as you cross hands and try to accelerate out of a roundabout, you are completely guessing where the upper shift paddle is. The only way to get around the problem, theoretically, is to never cross hands, which is what we all try to do as aspiring racing drivers (!) but the 4C forces you to cross hands long before full lock.
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

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I can see that could be a weird enthusiastic drive, not knowing what gear you might be going in to is a bit of a gamble..??
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Maser Sod said:
It's not paddles per se.

The Masers have their paddles on the steering column, which is fine, but the 4C has them attached to the wheel itself. As soon as you cross hands and try to accelerate out of a roundabout, you are completely guessing where the upper shift paddle is. The only way to get around the problem, theoretically, is to never cross hands, which is what we all try to do as aspiring racing drivers (!) but the 4C forces you to cross hands long before full lock.
Click to expand...

I can absolutely see that would be an issue

C
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

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Yeah, it's a real pain. There are a series of roundabouts and sharp turns on the last mile of the approach to where I live. I now press the 'Auto' button for those sections. But that's still not ideal either, as the 4C is reticent in auto to go into 3rd, and rather shunty in the other direction, i.e. when (usually unpredictably) dropping from 3rd to second.

Doing the same route in my Abarth is slightly less painful, but still not issue-free as the indicator stalk gets stuck when I indicate right but turn left (briefly, to enter the roundabout). I had the same issue with one of my GranSports, IIRC.

Gotta love Italian design! Anyway, I'm sure we wouldn't love our cars as much if they were as 'perfect' as their German cousins... :)
 
hoyin

hoyin

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Maser Sod said:
Yeah, it's a real pain. There are a series of roundabouts and sharp turns on the last mile of the approach to where I live. I now press the 'Auto' button for those sections. But that's still not ideal either, as the 4C is reticent in auto to go into 3rd, and rather shunty in the other direction, i.e. when (usually unpredictably) dropping from 3rd to second.

Doing the same route in my Abarth is slightly less painful, but still not issue-free as the indicator stalk gets stuck when I indicate right but turn left (briefly, to enter the roundabout). I had the same issue with one of my GranSports, IIRC.

Gotta love Italian design! Anyway, I'm sure we wouldn't love our cars as much if they were as 'perfect' as their German cousins... :)
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It the Mercs have the paddles attached to the wheel as well.

I got a bit confused when driving one.
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

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1,965
Shiftme said:
I need to go and see a 4C. Really intrigued by them.
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Good luck, there's not many about. They are built to order and the dealerships were never given demo cars.

I've not seen a single one on the roads ever (well, apart from mine - on the inside).
 
hilts uk

hilts uk

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I expect these will go for a minimum £10k premium if you can get one. Most of the stock for the next few years will be tied up by car flippers.
 
M

Mr.Cambio

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I am watching Andy's lik about the 4c. The interior is cr@p.. It's far better my Mito's interior.
I think we should get back to the car that started it all...The "real'' C series..

[video=youtube;aQ8xDia5RNY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8xDia5RNY[/video]
 
lofty

lofty

Junior Member
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Its strange how the values have done so well considering every review I've read has been less than complementary. It does look great and I'm tempted by a roadster now the lights have been improved, but I'm just a bit worried about its relatively low rent interior and stories of poor road manners, I think I'd have to drive one before committing, which is easier said than done.
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

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The interior is deliberately minimal and low-rent, just like (to a slightly lesser extent) an MC Stradale. It's not Alfa being tight, it's all in the name of saving weight. Bare carbon fibre is everywhere.

The seats are comfortable, which is really all that matters as when you are driving a performance car you aren't spending an awful lot of time looking around the interior.

Anyway, don't be fooled by the 4C, it's for the most part a track car that just happens to look like something that would be nice to cruise in on a summer's day.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

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Maser Sod said:
The interior is deliberately minimal and low-rent, just like (to a slightly lesser extent) an MC Stradale. It's not Alfa being tight, it's all in the name of saving weight. Bare carbon fibre is everywhere.

The seats are comfortable, which is really all that matters as when you are driving a performance car you aren't spending an awful lot of time looking around the interior.

Anyway, don't be fooled by the 4C, it's for the most part a track car that just happens to look like something that would be nice to cruise in on a summer's day.
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I do love the look of the 4C, but having owned an Elise for 8 years, and sat in (but not driven) the 4C, I think they are a bit steep price wise compared to an Elise or Exige.
 
Maser Sod

Maser Sod

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mjheathcote said:
I do love the look of the 4C, but having owned an Elise for 8 years, and sat in (but not driven) the 4C, I think they are a bit steep price wise compared to an Elise or Exige.
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It's funny, some people think they are overpriced, others think the 4c is very good VFM for a carbon-fibre car.

I've thought both at different times.

I've thought 'overpriced' when I look at the minimal interior and the 4 pot engine. But then I think 'underpriced' when I consider the cost of a 'from scratch' design carbon tub, other technical aspects that aren't borrowed from other Alfa models or group cars, and the low number of units that will be made each year (so less economy of scale to offset the up-front R&D).

The Elise is a bit less costly with similar performance, but so it should be given that its base R&D costs will have been long paid off.

I doubt Alfa turn much of a profit on the 4C, but we should be tip our cap to them for at least trying to re-ignite the sporting aspect of the marque. And it's a half-decent first effort.
 
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