Alfa 4-C and Cayman compared to GT86

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Slash

FD RX7's have the Mac in the rear and double wishbone in the front like the alfa, and that's not mid engine obviously.

FD does not have struts in back. Upper A-arm, lower control arm, trailing link and toe link. Visually it might look a little like a strut to the untrained eye because the spring/shock runs from the upper control arm up to the unibody.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

I'll just leave this here:

Alfa gets handed its hat. Seems like a car someone would only buy if they were infatuated with its looks and simply needed one. Why buy something that's "a bit like an Elise" for that much money when you could just buy an actual Elise instead?

Because faster:
[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VhkQvHLYk[/ame]

Went to the NY International Auto Show yesterday... Having seen one up close now, I'm fairly certain this will be my next car. Give it a couple years due to the current waiting list (which will give me time to get more of my money's worth out of my BRZ/RS6) but when I get the chance I'll be comparing this, a Lotus Evora, and an M3/M4 to select my next car. If it's the Alfa, make mine red with black seats and silver brake calipers!

[Ganthrithor]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Because faster:

Went to the NY International Auto Show yesterday... Having seen one up close now, I'm fairly certain this will be my next car. Give it a couple years due to the current waiting list (which will give me time to get more of my money's worth out of my BRZ/RS6) but when I get the chance I'll be comparing this, a Lotus Evora, and an M3/M4 to select my next car. If it's the Alfa, make mine red with black seats and silver brake calipers!

Counterpoints:

• Elise has a manual box
• Elise is available without drive-by-wire (you just need to find an early one)
• Elise has a better suspension design
• Elise is lighter (marginally vs the Euro 4C, but IIRC the US spec 4C is supposed to be considerably heavier than the Euro version)
• It wouldn't be hard to make an Elise just as fast-- or faster-- than the 4C for less money than it would take to buy a 4C...
• ....not that you'd need to: unless you're buying it for competition purposes, the 4C's speed advantage is irrelevant. The Elise already more than fast enough for public roads.

If you just really want the Alfa, then by all means, get the Alfa. I still think the Elise is the better car in a number of ways (you can add lack of depreciation and lack of turbo lag to the Elise's list of pluses IMHO).

[regal]

Oh new car buyers, the Italian 4C will depreciate fast and be unaffordable to keep on the road after a few years. The biggest part of the charm of the twins is Subaru's and Toyotas stay on the road for decades. But new car buyers could give a shit about that. Its going to be interesting how these forums change has more and more used car buyers join twin ranks.

[WolfpackS2k]

With extremely limited supply I don't see this car depreciating at all the first few years. For reference look at the BMW 1M.

[regal]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

With extremely limited supply I don't see this car depreciating at all the first few years. For reference look at the BMW 1M.

Its Italian! I think the most recent Italian cars to be imported to the US are all getting new motors. It will depreciate exponentially faster the closer it gets to warranty expiration (the real one.)




And to the post on the Elise a few back, I couldn't agree more. The Elise will go down in history as the last true drivers car.

[Turbowned]

I can't fit in an Elise comfortably. PITA to get in and out of, and can't see a damn thing because my eyesight is right in line with the top of the windshield. So for me it's a moot point. Under 6' tall it's a valid argument.

Originally Posted by regal

Oh new car buyers, the Italian 4C will depreciate fast and be unaffordable to keep on the road after a few years. The biggest part of the charm of the twins is Subaru's and Toyotas stay on the road for decades. But new car buyers could give a shit about that. Its going to be interesting how these forums change has more and more used car buyers join twin ranks.

I plan to lease one assuming leasing is available. If not I'd likely keep it for 2-3yrs anyway. I don't particularly care how long it stays on the road after I'm done with it *shrug*

The dual clutch gearbox is admittedly a disappointment. So is the D-shaped steering wheel.