Cars We Drive!

[TheFoo]

The proportions are exactly what would expect from a mid-engine car. I don't like the 4C due to the detailing, not its proportions--although, it is certainly a bulkier looking car than the Elise, which is very low-profile.

As for the black plastic: it is there, but I don't think there is an egregious quantity of it. Most cars, even very expensive ones, have a similar amount of black plastic molding--usually to make openings look bigger and cut down on apparent surface area.

 

[UnFacconable]

R&T says this about the 4C:

"Approaching in the oncoming lane, the mid-engined Alfa Romeo 4C looks every bit as exotic as a Ferrari. It has, after all, about the same width-to-height proportions as a 458 Italia. It is impossibly wide, incredulously low, and breathtakingly beautiful."

And in comparison to the Cayman and waterbug:

Oh, and with its proportions—2.5 inches wider and 4.3 inches lower—and gorgeous looks, it makes twice the visual statement. .. (The 4C is much closer in size to a Lotus Elise. The Lotus is 6.4 inches shorter—but it’s a massive 5.7 inches narrower, too. Cute car, but it’s got nothing on the Alfa, proportions-wise.)

And most disappointingly (and this could be somewhat of a spoiler, even at $54k base price)

When pushed about the U.S.-spec 4C, Alfa Romeo engineers started quoted all kinds of different changes. Some are due to regulations (side and knee airbags), some to customer tastes (air conditioning, a moveable passenger seat, a radio—things that American car buyers expect for 50 grand. Or 15, for that matter.) Alfa Romeo brand boss Harald Wester smiled and said the weight penalty could perhaps be 100 pounds. But the engineers admitted the U.S. cars could weigh more than 2500 lb.

Before you panic, remember that a 2500-lb 4C would still be nearly 500 lb lighter than a Porsche Cayman.

 

[HRoi]

Aand before we get TOO excited, let's remember that reliability-wise, Alfas are utter pieces of ****. But their owners still love them, my father included. His hasn't run in 3 years but he refuses to get rid of it

 

[j944]

I love this forum. So many common interests. I feel at home.

Wifes and the weekender


The DD

 

[edmorel]



Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This to me is more representative of cars on the streets. You think this is gorgeous too?

I don't like to argue about cars because it's like arguing about girls but I just don't get this car. It doesn't look like a production car to me, looks like someone took a miata or solstice an added a ton of body kit ****. I'm sure it's a great drivers car but I hate the design.

 

[GreenFrog]

I've never liked the way lotuses look.

Anyway, home sweet home after two weeks!

Time to drive.

 

[GreenFrog]



I love this forum. So many common interests. I feel at home. Wifes and the weekender The DD

Welcome. I'm assuming the X3 is your wife's.

 

[jet]

I always love how every e46 has bits of rice on it.

 

[GreenFrog]

I'm on my phone so the picture is small and I couldn't make out what you were talking about.

And then I saw it.

Meh. It could be worse.

 

[HRoi]

ok. the admins at bimmerpost got a hold of the BMW press release regarding the new M3 M4. quite a bit more impressive than even the more recent reports/speculation

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892746

 

[jet]

can't get over how ugly it is, hope that's not the final steering wheel either

hate the throttle blip on manual why? they can't just leave the manual alone

everything else is impressive especially that torque curve

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

ok. the admins at bimmerpost got a hold of the BMW press release regarding the new M3 M4. quite a bit more impressive than even the more recent reports/speculation

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892746

good gawd!

 

[GreenFrog]

Holy light weight batman!

Booooo at the electric steering.

Was amused at the graph showing the gains in HP / Torque throughout the years / generations where it shows the exponential leap in torque after the e90/92 with the introduction of turbochargers in the f80. Before that, it's all pretty linear, which makes sense, given that all the previous engines were all naturally-aspirated.

So long, S65 .

I want to own an e92 in dct, e46 in manual, e30 in manual, and my e60 m5.

All at the same time.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

ok. the admins at bimmerpost got a hold of the BMW press release regarding the new M3 M4. quite a bit more impressive than even the more recent reports/speculation

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892746

ACTIVE SOUND

• Live amplification of the S55 engine's natural sounds into the passenger cabin (via stereo speakers)
• No artificially generated sound or pre-recorded track being played

Really BMW? Really?

 

[jet]

apparently so, they did it with the m5 too you didn't know?

between that, stupid throttle blip, ugly exterior it's been ruled out for me

even stupid porsche is out, i'm about to stop being a car fan as nobody makes proper ones anymore