Looking at 4200 6 Speed manual - What to look out for

2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
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20,291
I've just done 25,000 + miles in a year in a 2001 Sillyspeed 156 without so much as a false neutral, the ONLY criticism I have is the slow speed kangaroo/ reluctance to give you 1st gear which is the same issue. They have been hard miles fully or overloaded almost all the time after three years laid up!

The 4200cc is just perfect and when Voicey read the parameters last year it had never thrown a false neutral, missed any gear or indeed registered any problems whatsoever.

Who amongst the manual drivers can honestly say they have never missed a gear???
 
Ewan

Ewan

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6,830
Years ago we had an Alfa Sportwagon Selespeed on the company. Worst car ever. By the end, it was virtually undriveable with the gearbox randomly selecting any gear at any time. Pushed it the last 50 yards to the garage where we'd arranged to part exchange it. Thankfully they just came out and gave it brief viewing without actually test driving it. Good riddance.

Never had any problems with the CC boxes on my 4200's, other than being a bit slow and clunky by modern standards. And other than when in town I'm a big fan of the DS system on QP's, especially in GT Sport guise with the faster changes.

Also never had any issues with the Getrag 6 speed on either of my 3200's. Had the same box in my Ghibli Cup's and one of them required a full rebuild at 40,000 miles. Even after that, on start up on a cold morning it could be very difficult to get it into first. Lovely box when warmed through though.
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,646
Suppose the Sillyspeed was just the test bed for Ferrari and Maserati, we all have to start somewhere. It was naughty of Alfa to live develop on customers cars though.

As Newtons car has proved, they got there in the end.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,046
Whats the common parts between the Alfa Selespeed and the CC box?
Okay the pump and hydraulics for the gear change, but the actual box of cogs themselves must be different?
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

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5,517
mjheathcote said:
Whats the common parts between the Alfa Selespeed and the CC box?
Okay the pump and hydraulics for the gear change, but the actual box of cogs themselves must be different?
Click to expand...

Basically Mike, both the Alfa and the 4200 were basically manual gearbox's to start with then with addition of hydraulics, actuators and some early electronics control systems. you ended up with the CC or sillyspeed whatever you want to call it...

And that was the problem!

Move on 15 years, now we have 6 or 7 speed ZF auto gear boxes that work brilliantly in either manual or auto mode

Dave
 
gjwilson

gjwilson

Junior Member
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146
BTW............Didnt mean to kick the hornets nest with this question.........:).....but feel I may have............
 
Andy Marshall

Andy Marshall

Member
Messages
297
If its properly adjusted the MT gearbox has a sweet change. Out of whack it can be a pig though. If you try one and it does not change cleanly, especially in the 2 - 6th gear range then it's out of whack! My Spyder is a manual and I have only had to have it adjusted once in 6 years. I have covered 32k miles in that time and the car has covered 58k overall. Most changes are finger and thumb light, and when warm the box is very smooth. The only slightly awkward change is 1st to 2nd, but even that gets better as the box warms. It's the gate that can confuse a bit on that one, but get the "geography" right and its perfectly tolerable. Manuals are much rarer and there is an argument that maybe they will be worth more in the future, but I don't think that should be part of the decision making process. You either like the CC experience ( I did not) or you prefer the 3 pedal manual experience. A spirited drive through the Stelvio Pass with a manual is great fun and a satisfaction when you get it right!
 
outrun

outrun

Member
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5,017
Angelus said:
**** it, I should have kept my mouth shut. Give it to me straight, do I need new back tyres?
Click to expand...

Least of your concerns.

Actually, it's all tucked up with a couple of special heaters underneath that trigger when the temperature goes below 5deg. Shame it's so dirty...
 
L

Luna 06

Junior Member
Messages
74
gjwilson said:
That is was.......do you know it?
Click to expand...

I was tempted to go and see this one when I was looking because I had one like it.
I thought it a rather good price.
My old 06 Luna blue cc one is for sale at the mo. It's come down from 23k to 20k and is for sale in north london. Bullet garage I think.
I was almost tempted to buy it back. But at that price the GS seemed a better route. The add doesn't state that it has Larini rear boxes and lowered to GS spec. I had the clutch replaced by Maranello before I sold it, and it's done about 5k since.
The photos they have posted are grim, and would put anyone off going to see it.
But in the flesh I think it is one off the nicest face lifts out there.
 
Angelus

Angelus

Junior Member
Messages
164
outrun said:
Least of your concerns.

Actually, it's all tucked up with a couple of special heaters underneath that trigger when the temperature goes below 5deg. Shame it's so dirty...
Click to expand...
Forgot about that, I need to get it cleaned.
 
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