Hi,

I'm basically sold on the GP but I'd love to hear impressions (both positive and negative) from driver's with a common frame of reference?

I know this makes for two different perspectives but let me explain. I try to get to the track 4-6 a year, in either a modded M Coupe or a track-prepped Alfa GTV. One is a torque-ish monster that likes to get tail happy and the other loves whip through turns with just a hint of drift. I need to consolidate to one car and I'm hoping the GP will give me the joy of a light(ish), well-balanced, nimble car and a little of the grunt of the M Coupe.

Am I completely wrong? How is the power delivery (do you miss the torque)? How is the build quality? Any issues as a daily driver?

Of course, all opinions are welcome.

For those interested, here's the BMW...



(suspension, exhaust, chip, intake, throttle body, CAI, camber plates, bushings, 50lbs removed, and SSRs).

and the Alfa...



http://www.nathanleland.com/alfa/source/dsc_0047.html

 

omg your alfa is sex... it makes me miss my old milano... Where are you located? I knew a guy that worked at Tamiya america out in aliso viejo that had a similar car setup to yours...

any way onto the meat of the post. you are trading 2 rwd cars for 1 fwd car... while hte gp is a great ride and will pull double duty for you quite well as a street car and a track mobile... you are changing to a pretty different setup. I'm not sure that the gp will have all the torque that you are looking for but it's ability to carry roll speed will prob make up for it.

Either way you've got a pretty fun future garage going. happy motoring.

*erik

 

So I own neither GP, m coupe, or Alfa, but.... I think you'd be making a mistake.

 

I bought the car from a guy in Mission Viejo (we're in West Hollywood) 18 months ago, it's probably the same car. He had spent 8 years restoring it, I 've spent 1.5 enjoying it. I'm sure I will have moments of regret in the future but my wife and I need to consolidate.

The BMW is another story. I've had it for 6.5 years. It's hard not to imagine it around. I've adopted a "better to have loved and lost" attitude about the whole situation. I know the car backwards and forwards, the GP will be something new to learn.

I will miss RWD but I started out with a Scirocco, I guess I've come full circle.

 

cool in that case it sounds like you are ready for the switch...

my old track car was an alfa milano 75 with the 3.5L v6. I had it stripped down to weekend racer trim. The switch for me was more of an emotional switch if anything. I love my mini as much as i loved my alfa... granted it was a pos compared to your cars... but still, it's a very different platform. I have probobly only tracked my mini through a few laps under skip barbers direction and 2 trackdays... so I guess im not 100% qualified for giving advice.

The gp owners can chime in on the specifics of their car. I just wanted to throw a post up there to see what your thoughts were on such a grand switch in the basic formula.

gl either way... it's one of those situations where you are comming out a winner.

p.s. what did you let that alfa go for? and was the guys name that owned it before you eric?

 

I didn't want to offer up his name but that's it. He sold the Alfa to buy an Iso Rivolta GT.

I still have both the BMW and the Alfa. I'm going to take each out for another track day before I let them go. My first trip to Laguna Seca will probably be the last track day for the BMW. I figure that's a good send off (for both of us). The Alfa will probably make one more trip to Buttonwillow (it rules the east loop!!).

I am watching an orange 1750 GTV on eBay right now to see what it goes for, it should give me a good idea what to expect.

 

Having owned and raced many Alfas in the last 40+ years and spent some time as an instructor for the BMW club until I retired from the track a few years ago, in my opinion, I think you are in for a big change on the track.
The Alfas are as close to vice-less track cars as can be. A little understeer that can be tuned out by stiffening the rear springs and a bit of trail braking. Plus the sound!
The M Coupe is the poster boy for BMW TTO (trailing throttle oversteer). Requires some very careful cornering, but has enough power to keep things very amusing. Ever see the video of Jensen Button in one when he was on the Williams BMW F1 squad?
A "S" or "JCW" MINI has all the front-driver characteristics: needs tons of trail braking to overcome understeer and pulls its way out of corners. When I first had students with them, I swore they were as fast at Buttonwillow as the E46 M3 SMG I had then. But I also had some students who tried to tweak the suspension to reduce the understeer with stiffer rear sway bars - and I personally found the cars almost undriveably tail happy. I prefer the car stock with a little front realignment. But you absolutely need the big JCW brakes; stock S brakes are inadequate for heavy brake users like me.
I'd advise keeping the Alfa as a track car - but for me, they're part of my DNA.

J

 

You are absolutely right about both cars.

The Alfa has been out to Buttonwillow twice (the BMW maybe 12+ times) and it had me laughing at how much fun a car can be through the turns. Once the car's inclination to understeer is gone, and suspension has settled, it's as balanced as anyone could want. Unfortunately we still may need to get rid of it for family changes.

The BMW has a full Dinan stage II suspension (with camber plates) but it's never felt like it has met its potential. I decided to keep it and ordered a TC Kline D/A coilover setup (plus their camber plates) to see how the character of the car is transformed. Hopefully it will make it in the car before a Laguna Seca track day this month.

Thank you for the input.

 

I had the pleasure of owning a 2001 S54 M Coupe. A great car! I enjoyed many days at the track aswell ( Heartland Park, KS.)

I now own the GP (1491.) The cars are very different. Lots of power in the M Coupe with great handling (if you know how & have the *****) The Mcoupe has a bad boy persona. If you like the looks it really hard to beat, and of course all the looks you will get in the M. The M Coupe is built like a tank and exudes typical BMW quality.

The GP has less power, brakes and panache. The GP does have a more light & tossable feel. The GP reminds me of hatchbacks of the past. Bare bones, light & little electronics. The GP would do great on low speed tight mountain roads or an autocross. The GP is also an urban warrior in dense city traffic. But overall the M Coupe is a better sports car.

I still love the GP, but its hard to forget the M Coupe. With the GP I feel less pressure about protecting it (dings, parking ,etc.) It does have a great little engine that loves to REV. The exhaust has lots of character.

My advice would be to drive the GP or cooper works first, before selling anything.

 

OP: one thing you might want to consider is the fact that most GP owners will probably want to keep their car stock just because its a GP. Modding a GP might take away from the 'vintageness' of it. Just a thought if you're a heavy modder...