Every day I take off from playing tennis... (1 Viewer)

Every day I take off from playing tennis...I get in trouble.




It's been 42 years since my last Alfa (of five). 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Sport, with the option track differential and
shocks.

If there's anyone out there who can afford the Quadrafoglio, I doff my sombrero to you in envy.

Just responded to your other post. Well done.

Below is a prototype test vehicle my best friend drove for three years. I got to drive it for a day. He has the best job perks evah.

Oh, man -- gorgeous! Front end masking to hide the development work?

gopherblue said:

Just responded to your other post. Well done.

Below is a prototype test vehicle my best friend drove for three years. I got to drive it for a day. He has the best job perks evah.

View attachment 182785 View attachment 182786

Click to expand...

Looks a bit like a Lotus from the back...

The "prototype test vehicle" is interesting, though. That is the current 4C coupe, except for the hood and headlight treatment.

And the three years -- was your friend in Europe at the time? The 4C Coupe came out here in mid-2015.

pltrgyst said:

Oh, man -- gorgeous! Front end masking to hide the development work?

Click to expand...

Yes. But the headlight group was the original concept. Ugly if you ask me and I’m glad they changed it. The car had more masking on it, including no badges front or rear, but this pic was taken a month or two after it was officially unveiled, so they had removed most of the masking and reinstalled the badges. Frankly, the grill made it obvious what it was, but whatever.

My dream car, along with the Giulia.

Very jealous of you—that car AND those Lucky Derby $500s! ;-)

Nice Traded the Mini ?

Dunno how this agrees with your day driving the 4C proto, but from the first evening of driving the Giulia:

1. Steering is light, maybe not quite as much feedback as I'd prefer for the track. The car has a *really* tight turning radius. Is it a coincidence that it also has a built in digital lateral accelerometer?

2. Despite that, the car is rock solid and tracks dead straight at triple-digit speeds. (No, sir, ossifer. Don't even ask. And in fairness, all the valet parking attendant at Woody's River Roo told me as we left was to "Keep it under 120".)

3. The seats are extremely comfortable and laterally supportive, with one exception: despite having extendable thigh support, the seat bottoms are not angle-adjustable to raise the front edge. They need those 11th and 12th power adjustments, like BMW sport seats.

4. 3150 pounds is a tad more than I'd prefer, but fairly minimal for today's cars. Not bad with 280 HP.

5. The stagger -- 225/40-19 fronts and 255/35-19 rears on 8- and 9- inch wheels, respectively -- works well.

6. Horizontally-oriented GPS displays suck.

7. SWMBO loves the seats, but isn't ready to drive it yet. That will change soon...

k9dr said:

Nice Traded the Mini ?

Click to expand...

Tnx. No trade. Ultimately, Mini and Escape will go, replaced by a manual Miata. (Master plan, not to be divulged to SWMBO.)

Anyone needing a 2016 burgundy Escape Titanium with very low mileage, or a 2013 Mini Roadster S (auto., w/ paddle shifters) in Kite Blue, at good prices, pm me. :

pltrgyst said:

The "prototype test vehicle" is interesting, though. That is the current 4C coupe, except for the hood and headlight treatment.

And the three years -- was your friend in Europe at the time? The 4C Coupe came out here in mid-2015.

Click to expand...

He works in the US for the German company that did all the vehicle testing and engine/transmission/computer integration for the 4C. They had 4-6 of the cars for several years prior to its debut. It was camouflaged and had a trunk full of telemetry computers/equipment, and he literally had to drive it every day as his daily driver, as well as take it out on testing trips (hot weather, cold weather, high altitude, etc) as part of his job. (Seniority has its privileges!)

Crazy thing was that it stood out like a sore thumb, and people would always ask him about it when stopped. At gas stations, for example, people would say “what kind of car is that?” And he was required to NOT tell them, so he’d have to say “I can’t tell you.” For 3 years people thought he was a total asshole.

He drove it to Courage’s for the meetup in 2014, and picked me up at the Cincy airport. For the record, it’s cargo capacity sucks. I had a small bag, and had to hold it in my lap for the drive.

But it goes like a bat out of hell and I love it.

She who must be obeyed? Haven’t seen that one before, funny (and smart)!

@pltrgyst, the steering on the 4C is not for the faint of heart: no power steering whatsoever, and a small wheel. Translates to awesome road feel and responsiveness when driving on the road or track, but it is an absolute bitch to steer when parking.

gopherblue said:

@pltrgyst, the steering on the 4C is not for the faint of heart: no power steering whatsoever, and a small wheel. Translates to awesome road feel and responsiveness when driving on the road or track, but it is an absolute bitch to steer when parking.

Click to expand...

Yes, for sure. Both my Formula Fords and the Formula Atlantic had (of course) no power steering, nor did my track Miata R Type. And in pursuit of better lap times, I once removed the power steering rack from my TR-8 and replaced it with a manual. You get used to it, and to getting the car moving, however slightly, before providing any steering input.

It's actually a lot easier with a clutch than with an automatic. You get used to the dance...

My biggest complaint with cars nowadays: no stick.

gopherblue said:

My biggest complaint with cars nowadays: no stick.

Click to expand...

Yep. I don't care if dual-clutch autos shift faster, or better. You just don't feel the same sense of involvement.

I suspect the current generation of F1 drivers might disagree, though.