Rented a Thing, AMA

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
06/04/2018 at 14:45 • Filed to: Alfa Romeo, 4C, California

It’s a workout for sure, but a blast to drive. Also, yellow coupes are super rare (it was a colour introduced for the Spider).

DISCUSSION (31)

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 14:52

If you buy one, you think it will be more or less expensive than the Ferrari to maintain?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 14:53

OH MY GOD A GIALLO COUPE

GIB

I WANT IT

For Sweden > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 14:55

Can you tell if any Sauber F1 technology made it into the road car?

Steve in Manhattan > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 14:59

Is it possible to look graceful when exiting?

RutRut > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 15:14

Has it broken down yet? How many lights are on the dash?

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 15:15

How planted does it feel? Even with the potential for rough suspension, are the seats at least comfortable?

punkgoose17 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 15:19

How does than manual steering feel? Would you DD it?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > For Sweden
06/04/2018 at 15:33

Hmm, such as?

It does have a carbon fibre tub, that much I do know. Also the rear suspension, despite resting on MacP struts, uses mile-long control arms so there’s that racy bit too.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
06/04/2018 at 15:34

Much, much less.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Steve in Manhattan
06/04/2018 at 15:34

BRB, let me fetch my Friday night dress and heels.

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 15:35

Not surprising, unless it decides it wants to break on all days that end in “y”

I assume this makes the short list then?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > winterlegacy, here 'till the end
06/04/2018 at 15:36

The seats have great bum, thigh and lower back bolstering. The upper back is not as stout but it’s fine. Car is very confidence-inspiring at 7/10ths and the sensory feedback is constant.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > punkgoose17
06/04/2018 at 15:40

The steering wanders a bit on the highway—that’s a known trait. It feels great in the curves and you need to drive with two hands, ready to fight any road feedback.

The car needs to be rolling for any steering input. Parking is every bit as awful as you would imagine. I would NOT DD this with a 10-foot pole.

The car tires you, in a good way.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > RutRut
06/04/2018 at 15:46

I regret to inform you, no and none.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
06/04/2018 at 15:47

*crickets*

Steve in Manhattan > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 16:15

OK - will hold your beer.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 16:33

I you trying it out as a potential replacement to the Ferrari?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
06/04/2018 at 16:35

As long as you don’t crash it, much less.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 17:07

Have you driven an Elise? How does it compare?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/04/2018 at 17:08

The Elise is off the list for being too small, among a few over things.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 17:12

The Elise is that much smaller? I figured the actually leg/shoulder/headroom would be about the same.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/04/2018 at 17:40

The Elise has much less shoulder room; the seats are nearly close enough to touch each other. I don’t really fit inside.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 17:43

I’ve driven one. I fit, but just. Getting in and out is quite an act, and yeah, you can’t really have anyone of any size sit next to you. The salesman and I had a lot of contact - ha!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 18:17

Did you miss having a manual?

Would you consider the open top?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
06/04/2018 at 18:56

I’ve never owned a manual sports car, so I’m probably be wrong person to ask for that one. I’ve driven an Audi R8 with the fantastic open gate shifter, but the stick couldn’t sell the car on its own—the rest of the car was too refined for my taste.

As a default, my wife doesn’t want me buying convertibles for crash safety reasons. Not a hard rule, though—depends on how good the Spider looks relative to the Coupe. For the F355, the coupe looks far better anyway.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 19:05

I would think the Spider in this case would be a wash from a crash perspective.

Good luck in your Searching! I think the 4C is a beautiful unique car.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
06/04/2018 at 22:23

Yes, in the 4C’s case it’s not a huge difference. They are structurally nearly identical.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/04/2018 at 22:27

how well does it hoon?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/04/2018 at 23:38

Not my car, so no hooning. But it demands full attention, blows out your senses and leaves you tired yet wanting more.

I’m sure there’s a dating analogy but I’ll leave that for another day. It’s an incredible fun-to-dollar value.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/04/2018 at 23:39

Any damage to the carbon fibre main structure would probably total the car.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
06/05/2018 at 01:17

Indeed. I’ve seen some video of how they repair carbon fiber tubs. I can’t imagine you can do too much of that before hitting the value of the car.